1950-1994 Franco Moschino

[SomethingElse]

Franco Moschino, a native Italian, was born in 1950 in the town of Abbiategrasso, near Milan. Sadly, Franco's father died when Franco was a young boy of four. Franco developed a keen interest in art and drawing as a young child.

Pursuing his love of art and drawing, Franco Moschino attended the Accademia di Bella Arte in Milan to study art and painting in 1967. However, in order to finance his education there, he began to sketch fashion designs and illustrations for fashion magazines and houses. Eventually, his clever designs caught the eye of fashion designer Gianni Versace.

In 1971, Franco Moschino began his fashion career with Gianni Versace as a sketcher, when he was asked to draw for a publicity campaign. His sketches were for a collection of ready-to-wear, Genny and Beged'Or, two of Versace's collections at that time. His contribution to the Versace house of fashion continued until 1977. In 1976, Franco also took on a position as a designer with another Italian fashion house, Cadette.

In 1983, Franco left Versace and opened his own company, Moonshadow, on Via Ceradini in Milan, under his label, Moschino. His first showing was wildly successful, as was his second show. Moschino was well-liked by the press for his playful nature and flaunting of the so-called norms of fashion.

Although established fashion houses looked on in horror at the sensational acclaim garnered by Moschino, the adoring fans clamored for more. More is exactly what Moschino gave them- more powerful and evocative combinations and creations, more irreverent styles, and more out-of-this-world fashion.

Although Moschino wanted people to laugh at fashion, he knew they took it too seriously to laugh for long. However, Moschino grasped the challenge anyway, and he created thought provoking fashions replete with original messages through text on cloth or visual puns for his adoring public.

Next, Moschino Couture! was launched. In 1986, his masculine line began with an introduction of men's fine underwear, Uomo. A fine oriental fragrance for women, "Moschino,� was introduced into the world of fashion in 1987. In 1988, his first boutique opened on Via Sant'Andrea in Milan, Italy.

Then, a Moschino fragrance, light, floral, and fruity in scent, was released under the name, "Cheap and Chic.� In 1994, a collection, Ecouture, launched specifically for the purpose of using only environmentally friendly dyes and fabrics was created by Moschino.

Sadly, Moschino died before his time at the tender age of 44. Rosella Jardini, the chief designer, and Marco Gobbetti, the chief executive grasped the reins after Moschino's death to lead Moschino's Fashion house, still located in Milan, Italy. Together they strive to continue Moschino's fashions in the fun and truly extravagant way that Franco had so popularized.

Moschino's clever sense of the inane shined through in almost everything he did and said. His sense of fashion flouted the norm, the contemporary, the classic, and the established. Willing to take that walk out onto the gangplank and tempt the tides of fate, Moschino proved time and time again that he was indeed the man of fashion with an exciting twist. His sense of style was uncanny, his sense of cut and proportion perfect, and his sense of what the public was willing to buy right on the mark.

Women of all ages love his designs, especially his clever use of attachments that are out of the ordinary, artwork that is reminiscent of childhood favorites, and a playful disregard for the expected. Moschino fashions are Italian elegance coupled with a unique and youthful taste of fun.

His untimely death in 1994 has left the fashion world bereft of his enigmatic and dazzling personality, eclectic fashion statements, and avant-garde visions. His goal was to set the fashion world on its ear by upsetting the norm and instead he achieved a high level of success that he found embarrassing. Before his death, Franco Moschino founded a non-profit organization to which part of the Moschino proceeds go.

Moschino, a charismatic, innovative, and imaginative man, was a gift to the world of fashion. His eclectic array of fashion items includes jeans, casual wear, eveningwear, shoes, ties, lingerie, eyeglasses, watches, and perfume. His legacy and interpretation of fashion continues without him as his fashion dynasty expands to more products and continues to produce new and clever fashions.

Image of Moschino from 10 years of kaos, 1989




Article by Susan M. Keenan / lifeinitaly.com
designboom.com

 

[SomethingElse]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/3927258482/fashionwindows07

Book Description
Humor, surrealism, and idealism are not usually the first elements of fashion that come to mind unless of course you are talking about Franco Moschino. Gingko Press' new monograph contains a visual overview of the fifteen year history of the house of Moschino and gives the reader a strong feel for the message laden fashions. Franco Moschino seemed concerned with the clear delivery of his message at least as much as with the medium by which it was delivered, he was not afraid to throw together disparate elements to create the desired effect. Moschino designs are often involved with their message, whether it's in the form of text on cloth or a visual pun in the form of a sprout covered bikini. The issues that concerned Moschino, AIDS, ecology, and peace for example always seem to emerge in his work as if they were simply impossible for him to repress. Moschino would be pleased to know that his sensibilites are being honored by the House of Moschino staff even in the face of his passing on, so that he may forever be known as the Dali of the fashion world.

amazon.com

 

[SomethingElse]

1988 Teddy bear coat.

artnet.com

 

[SomethingElse]

1989 - 1989 Leather handbag

artnet.com

 

[SomethingElse]

1980 - 1989 Dress - acetate, rayon, rope with fish charms.

artnet.com

 

[SomethingElse]

Moschino. X years of Kaos! 1983-1993

The book records ten years of Moschino’s creativity in the many forms it has taken both in fashion and beyond fashion. The chapters of this journey of images as related by Moschino himself are: The imaginary inventory, or rather the symbols, the themes, the sources of inspiration; The recipe, or rather the designs, the printings, the clothes, the collections; Les grandes défilées, or rather the fashion shows as spectacles and their demise; The "buticks", or rather the interior decoration of the shops; La réclame, or rather the publicity campaigns

lybra.it

 

[SomethingElse]

1990 Linen and jute plain-weave double cloth suit.

lacma.org

 

[SomethingElse]

1988 - 1989 Rayon, acetate, silk; metallic chain and faux pearls, entitled Puta, puta, pero muy catolica!

lacma.org

 

[SomethingElse]

1989 Garment Bag Coat, in polyester, silk, rayon, metal studs, and metal hooks.

lacma.org

 

[SomethingElse]

1980s Black Sequined Motorcycle Style Jacket. Embroidered overall with vertically overlapping sequins, trimmed with zipper pockets and side closure, size 6, labeled: Moschino Couture.

imageevent.com

 

[DosViolines]

Moschino was one of the first brands I knew as a child.
I just loved the silly designs and ad campaigns

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Moschino Couture Black Dinner Dress and Jacket
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Italian, early 1980s
The strapless sweetheart neckline fitted cocktail mini dress with white linen napkin and gilt-metal desert knife, fork and spoon applique at center front bodice, the collarless wool jacket with horizontal applique down each side front of same cutlery, applique knife at each cuff, padded shoulders, size 6, labeled: Moschino Couture.[/FONT]

doylenewyork

 

[SomethingElse]

Late 1980s "Cruise me, Baby". Dark navy gabardine life preserver and fish dress.

antiquedress.com

 

[DosViolines]

^ Just stumbled upon the same dress

Moschino Life Preserver Dress
Spring 91
Sample, navy blue strapless with two red and white life preservers surrounding the bodice, with dangling painted gilt-metal fish, labeled: Moschino Couture/Cruise Me Baby/Made in Italy.

doylenewyork

 

[DosViolines]

Moschino Couture Life Jacket
Spring 1991
Original sample, one of a kind, black and yellow collarless life jacket, embroidered on back, Life Jacket

doylenewyork

 

[DosViolines]

Moschino Couture Peace Coat
Original sample, black wool with stand up collar, embroidered squares depicting love and peace

doylenewyork

 

[DosViolines]

Moschino Couture VIP Dress
1984
Original sample, black silk long sheath V-neck, sleeveless with large letters from V to floor, V.I.P., labeled: Moschino Couture/Made in Italy.

doylenewyork

 

[La bordélique]

I'd never wear the teddy bear coat. Without the teddy bears, the coat would be just too plain, but with them, it would feel quite heavy around the neck.

Black Sequined Motorcycle Style Jacket - I think this piece is insanely gorgeous. I want it!

V.I.P. ...

 

[SomethingElse]

A group of amusing Moschino underwear, circa 1989-90, comprising: `Safe Sex' cotton body with embroidered gold and silver Moschino lock and chain to the hips; a pair of eye test knickers; and a black and white striped bra and knicker set trimmed with elasticated tape-measure bands.

kerrytaylorauctions.com

 

[Alejandro]

1990 "cartoon couture" collection

wool bustier with eyes applique

wool dress with gold embroidered thread trompe l'oeil "chain belt" ... "cartoon couture" written on the coin.

leslie hindman auctioneers

 

[Alejandro]

ca. 1980s silk "lamp shade" bustier

leslie hindman auctioneers