Pucci Galore

The name Pucci is synonimous with colour; a wealth of bright colours and prints to lift you out of the blackest of moods. The Pucci print has been around for years, and fashion - contemporary or otherwise - is unthinkable without it. During Milan Fashion Week next month, the Vintage Spirit Multistore in Milan will showcase a collection of 50 Emilio Pucci vintage creations.

The collection will consist of ready-to-wear pieces, accessories, eyewear, swimwear and innerwear pieces that were designed by Pucci especially for the American market in the 1960s. "We felt this was the right moment for a Pucci exhibition," Angelo Caroli - a major collector of Pucci for 18 years who is lending the pieces to the boutique - told WWD. "There are peaks for most designers, but Pucci is always up there. His colours and patterns are recognizable, and those who followed never had the same strength or use of colour."

Caroli keeps over 50,000 vintage creations from various designers in his " Vintage Palace " in Lugo di Romagna, off the Adriatic coast. According to him, Pucci still has an incredible influence because he is so powerful. "Influential designers may wane for a while, but they always eventually come back," he said. Pucci was a master of creating head-to-toe looks. Everything from the hat and the coat to the accessories were meant to be worn together in a way that is almost unthinkable today. These days we're told that we should combine different prints and designers. Wearing one print all the way through is a fashion no-no.

The Vintage Spirit Multistore, which opened a year ago in Piazza Cantore, is one of the largest, high-quality vintage stores in Milan . Its collection includes pieces from Hermes to Christian, Burberry to Church's. The boutique has been known to hold various events focusing on different aspects of fashion and design history. In April, it held an event focusing on the use of plastic and synthetic materials during the furniture and design fair Salone dei Mobile. The exhibition will run from 23 September to 2 October.