Philadelphia, Museum of Art: Roberto Capucci - Designer Extraordinaire

A couple of months ago, my mom came across an article in Architectural Digest Magazine for an upcoming exhibit art show at the Philadelphia Museum Art featuring clothing designer, Roberto Capucci.  Luckily for me, my friend Sharon who lives in Philly, coordinated our visit to the museum.  Last weekend, I finally got a chance to see over 80 Capucci designed dresses, coats, and evening gowns.

Sketch of Roberto Capucci's dresses

Before I viewed the exhibit, I had heard that Capucci's clothes were like pieces of art to be viewed and studied like a masterpiece hanging in a private gallery.  

Photo taken in the Main Entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

After receiving a headset for a series of recordings for the exhibit, we waited a relatively short time for the 11a.m. showing.  During this time,  I was informed my museum personnel that I could not take any pictures since the dresses were not covered in glass.  I was a little disappointed because I wanted to share with my readers what I saw in person. I did get a chance to snap a photo of the banner hanging in the main lobby and also took a picture of a sketch.


Roberto began his work when he was 25 years old and through out his lifetime found inspiration in a variety of ways. Capucci's work span was from the 1950's and continued into the 1980's.  Having spent time in Paris, India, Italy and the United States, Capucci drew ideas from those places he visited.  There is an amazing "Nove Gonne" 9 Skirts dress that is made our of silk taffeta that apparently was used to promote the 1957 Cadillac 62 Series Convertible. Capucci's inspiration for this dress was the the concentric rings created when a pebble was thrown in the water.

Capucci made dresses that looked like flowers, butterflies, leaves, oranges, fans, fire, baroque angels and big cupcake paper liners. He used a great deal of woven and pleated silks to construct his dresses.  Capucci also went through a period using stones, wire, bamboo, ostrich feathers to adorn some his creations. In some of his works you will find peasant like trimmings and in other's Roberto used glow in the dark beads.  The craftsmanship in each piece of clothing could be defined as stupendous!  


Lastly, I wanted to mention that Yves St. Laurent, Valentino and Oscar de la Renta have all at one time pulled their inspiration from Capucci's designs.  From architectural elements to nature, Capucci's works are timeless masterpieces.


The Roberto Capucci, Art Into Fashion Exhibit is being held until June 5th.  Tickets are required and if you would like to see some of his pieces online or want more information regarding the designer's life, go to the following link:


http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/411.html


The Philadelphia Museum of Art sells this book in it's museum shop:





Philadelphia Museum of Art
26th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130