Sandra‘s Closet

The Florentine fashion house reveals a new publication «Unexpected Pucci», edited by Laudomia Pucci and published by Rizzoli New York. A book narrating the world of Emilio Pucci beyond fashion by presenting key projects explored in the field of interior design and art from the 1960s to present.

The introduction is signed by Suzy Menkes, editor of Vogue International, followed by the valuable contributions of independent journalist Angelo Flaccavento, architect and designer Piero Lissoni and artists Francesco Vezzoli and Joana Vasconcelos.

«Unexpected Pucci defines the designer’s wider world, encompassing colorful rugs, modernist porcelain, furniture and interior design – all in the spirit of the early years of Milan’s Salone del Mobile. Perhaps the easiest artistic flow was in the rugs, where blocks, swirls and linear shapes were contained inside a geometric square – just like in the famous “Emilio” head scarves, as worn by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and the Capri set. Bringing things together—history and modernity, linear and rounded, pattern and plain – were all part of the artistry of Emilio Pucci. His prints stamped their place on the body or in the home». – Suzy Menkes

The brand’s artistic journey – from Mediterranean colours and silk scarves to ground-breaking
partnerships with international leaders of art and design – is told through chapters covering rugs,
porcelains, art and collaborations.

An archive treasure rediscovered. The Pucci rugs, first launched at the Museum of Decorative Arts,
Buenos Aires in 1970 have been reissued in the brand’s historic prints (Ovali, Occhi, Giardino,
Lamborghini, Menelik and Hawaii) available through a bespoke service at the Emilio Pucci Heritage Hub.

A dedicated chapter to chinaware, includes masterpieces made in collaboration with Rosenthal, where iconic prints (including the «unexpected» Pebble motif) adorn coffee and tea sets, vases and plates.

The final chapter of the book chronicles the brand’s collaborations and partnerships with leading brands of homeware and interior design. With Bisazza, Emilio Pucci turned prints into handmade decorative panels for interiors and swimming pools. Whereas unique seating solutions have been produced with Cappellini, including the Rive Droite armchair designed by Patrick Norguet, and the poolside collection by Piero Lissoni. With Kartell, the Florentine brand in 2014 launched the iconic Madame chair, designed by Philippe Starck. In 2016, the patterns from the Pucci’s project «Cities of The World» embellished the cups designed by Matteo Thun in 1991 for Illy.

To celebrate the launch of the book, an installation will be set up in Palazzo Pucci – also known as the Emilio Pucci Heritage Hub (via de’ Pucci 6, Florence), – where key elements from the book will be exhibited in a labyrinth inspired by the graphic and unexpected Torre print. Key highlights will include, chinaware, rugs and never-before exhibited artworks inspired by the founder Emilio Pucci.

«With this book, we want to narrate the versatility and the universe of our brand. These objects have overtime embellished key moments of our fashion house and I’m excited to share the creative richness of these deluxe collaborations, especially with the younger generation. » – Laudomia Pucci

Unexpected Pucci will be available September 2019 in all Emilio Pucci boutiques and online store as well as in the Rizzoli networks. Price 90 $| 90$ Euro.

I will be soon in Florence and cannot wait to discover this beautiful universe of one of my favorite brands. To read an interview that I did with Laudomia Pucci many years ago, click here please.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Emilio Pucci

As you already know, I am a huge Emilio Pucci fan. So you might imagine my excitement when I heard about the Italian house’s collaboration with Guerlain. The limited edition make-up collection which is called TERRA AZZURA BY EMILIO PUCCI for GUERLAIN draws inspiration from Italy in summertime and offers everything you need for the perfect summer glow.

The collection consists of eleven products with accents of the Italian Riviera, created by Olivier Echaudemaison, Guerlain Creative Director, and Laudomia Pucci, Pucci Image Director.

For a previous interview that I did with the wonderful Laudomia Pucci, please click here.

Those two products above are my collection’s favourites:
The Terra Azzura powder is very versatile to use. For a natural effect, you apply just the bronzing shade all over the face. For a bronzed complexion, you blend the three blusher shades and sweep them along the top of the cheekbones to sculpt the face. 
The Khôl Kajal is another easy-to-use product. Applied solely along the inside of the lower eyelid, it underlines and enhances the eyes with a provocative depth. Worked in a thick line along the upper lashes, it adds modern sophistication and widens the eyes.

Below you can explore the delightfully sunny shades:

STAR PRODUCT
Terra Azzura
Bronzing Powder & Blush, CHF 103.-

FACE PRODUCT
Météorites Perles d’Azur
Illuminating Powder – Pure Radiance, CHF 76.-

EYES PRODUCTS
Ecrin 4 Couleurs
Long-Lasting Eyeshadows, Captivating Colours, N°13 Capri, CHF 80.-

Terracotta Khôl Kajal
N°02 Blu Acqua, CHF 48.50

Mascara Le 2 De Guerlain
Two Brush Mascara for 360° Lashes, N°14 Blu 2 Pucci, CHF 53.50

LIPS PRODUCTS
Terracotta Gloss
Moisturising Gloss – Sheer & Shine Finish,
N°10 Porto Fino, N°11 Porto Ercole and N°12 Porto Azzuro, CHF 44.- each

NAILS PRODUCTS
Terracotta Vernis
Nail Polish, N°02 Riviera and N°01 Paradisio, CHF 35.- each

The products will be available in a limited edition starting the 4th of May, 2012.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Guerlain/Emilio Pucci and © Sandra Bauknecht

Luisa Via Roma’s Firenze4Ever is just amazing. After having been invited for the third time, it feels like visiting old friends. Last night we had dinner at the church Chiesa di Santo Stefano al Ponte which is deconsecrated to make something like this possible. What an atmosphere! A gigantic festive table was waiting with thousands of candles lightening the inside of the church. Please enjoy my photos of last night and all those familiar faces!

Wonderful Laudomia Pucci with me. Remember my interview that I did with her at the last Firenze4Ever. If not, please click here.

From left to right: Andy from Style Scrapbook, shoe designer Diego Dolcini, Laudomia Pucci, Chiara from The Blonde Salad and me

From left to right: Famous Bryan Boy (love him), me, Rumy from Fashiontoast and Tina from Bagsnob…

…looking so stylish in her striped woven dress by Thakoon.

My look: Panther-print dress and clutch by Givenchy, studded suede platform sandals
by Yves Saint Laurent, watch by Roger Dubuis and bangle by Stella McCartney.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Sian Oflaherty, Sandra Bauknecht © Sandra Bauknecht

While being in Florence for LuisaViaRoma’s Firenze4Ever event, I was able to meet Laudomia Pucci, the daughter of Emilio Pucci who serves as deputy chairman and image director of her family’s fashion house.
(For further information on Pucci, I recommend a previous post. Just click here).

Laudomia with me

The charismatic lady was very delighted to see me in head-to-toe Pucci and answered all my questions enthusiastically. Please enjoy my little interview with her:

Laudomia, how was it to be the daughter of Emilio Pucci? Was he a strong character?

The more I go ahead in life, the more I think that those people in general to leave such a legacy behind them, they must have worked very hard and been very very strong.

I also worked with Hubert de Givenchy. That is of course a different kind of person but an esthete to the last tip of his finger. These people had a vision of everything, a culture to die for and a very very fascinating life.

When you think of my father, there was the war, the upbringing in America, a fashion career, his politcal career and his success as a skier. It was basically five lives in one. Of course, those people who survived and who had seen so much, they had to be special.

So to be the daughter of all of that was normal because that was my life. But the story is that he wanted me to work in his business. He adored women. So to have a little woman was the best thing that could have happened to him.

You are a mother yourself. How do you balance being a mum and a business woman?

I have three kids. A girl, a boy, a girl. I have just added my kids to my life. It was a fabulous accessory to have and it became much more of an accessory (laughs…). It just completed my life. I was a late mother and my children are just so precious for me.

Emilio Pucci

Was your father similar to you being a parent? How did your father prepare you to take over one day?

My father had me also quite late in life. It must have been totally alike. So for example, when we launched perfumes. I went back to research  how my father did perfumes and I remembered. He was in my room when I was sick at the age of four . He was in there mixing perfumes and asking me: “Laudomia,  do you like that or do you like this?”

He was always putting me in his vision. I think when you have children, you see yourself moving on. So he saw his fashion move on and that was the message I got. I started working with him in the early 80s when I just had graduated. In the late 80s when he was not feeling well, we decided let’s move on, let’s bring the company where he wants it to be. And that is what I have done. Basically for the past 25 years of my life.

You sold 67% of the company to LVMH in 2000. How do you feel today about your decision?

First of all, I would have never thought that I would have sold and it feels funny enough very much the same as before. The reason for this is more than the influence, there is a mutual respect. That is very very important.

When you are with a partner, when people see there is a point in what you are doing. When you both hardly object it. When you have the patience in life to make it happen. I realised after ten years of managing the company, that I didn’t have the creative talent of my father. I realised that very early. It became such a competitive business, such a difficult business, you couldn’t find talents and production facilities.

And to have that know-how behind you with LVMH now all around the world, is just fantastic. We have great designers. We have been able to open beautiful shops. We have been able to save so much.

Peter Dundas

You worked with many well-known designers like Christian Lacroix and Matthew Williamson in the past years. Today, the enchanted slumber seems completely over and Peter Dundas has taken Pucci back on a fast ride up to the top. How  do you see him?

Peter is a very different approach. All the designers I worked with, I am grateful to. I needed a lot of input, a lot of energy. But Peter is a different approach. He is a dream! Peter gives all his time, all his energy to the company.

He is good with the girls, with the fashion, with the company, with the feeling. When you see him, he is big, he is blonde, he is sexy, “the blonde beau”. He has got all that and he gives that image to the company. When you asked about my father before, my father had a total different energy, but  also the same strong energy. But one thing that I like a lot is seeing the difference now 50 years later between my father and Peter. My father would ask if I had gained weight and Peter just loves bodies.

It is all about the body looking sexy. Women, the moment you make them look sexy, they are smiling, they are happy. And that is our job! The buzz at the moment is amazing. Peter is happy, I am delighted. So it is not the influence, it is what everyone of us can bring in to make Pucci the most succesful.

Thank you Laudomia for taking your time!

It was such a pleasure to meet Laudomia in person and I was so happy to see this on the official Emilio Pucci Facebook page:

As you already know, I am a huge Pucci fan and love Peter’s designs. For F/W 2011, he has seeked inspirations from Tyrolea and hunting, a little like Romy Schneider in Sissy or Anna Karenina. The beautiful embellishments and the corset-style dresses are absolutely divine. He laid the emphasis on the bust and the outcome is a collection that will make every Bavarian jump up with joy. Be prepared to see me at the next Oktoberfest in those suede knickers with the matching jacket. Love, love, love!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Pucci

Today, I had an amazing and long day: The LuisaVia Roma Total Styling Lab, many interviews, a panel discussion about blogging where people could ask us all sort of questions and finally a great dinner at La Specola in Salone Degli Scheletri.

Stay tuned for all the photos to come and an interview with Laudomia Pucci, daughter of Emilio Pucci.

In the meantime, have a look at my outfit today that I told you about before. So here you can see the final result of my shopping spree. It is all about Pucci…

Embroidered Dress – Emilio Pucci, Suede Overknee Boots – Emilio Pucci, Bag – Bottega Veneta, Earrings – Chanel and Watch – Roger Dubuis.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht