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Maria Antonelli (fashion designer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maria Antonelli
Born1903
Died1969
NationalityItalian
OccupationFashion designer

Maria Antonelli (1903–1969) was an Italian fashion designer. A pioneer of Italian fashion design, Antonelli took part in the first Italian fashion shows.

Early life

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Maria Antonelli was born in 1903. She was apprenticed at Battilocchi Tailoring in Rome.[1]

Career

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Antonelli founded her eponymous fashion house in 1930. In July 1951, together with other designers such as Vincenzo Ferdinandi, Roberto Capucci, the Atelier Carosa, Giovannelli-Sciarra, Polinober, Germana Marucelli and Jole Veneziani, she took part in the show organised by Giovanni Battista Giorgini in Florence that attempted to establish Italian fashion as a rival to France.[2] Her designs have been described as having "minimalist silhouettes which pre-empted the 60s trend".[3] She dressed the actresses Clara Calamai, Anna Magnani, and Alida Valli. In 1969, she took part in the Mare Moda festival, where her models were described by Antony King-Deacon of The Times as "thrashing about with their arms and legs in a sort of frenzied apathy. On they ran, harem-scarem, wiggle, scream, and they were gone."[4]

Death and legacy

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Antonelli died in 1969. Her designs featured in the Victoria & Albert Museum's exhibition The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014 in 2014.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Settembrini, Luigi. (2001) 1951-2001: Made in Italy? Skira. ISBN 978-8884910004
  2. ^ "Italy gets dressed up", LIFE, 20 August 1951, pp. 104-112 (p. 105).
  3. ^ Trailblazing Women in Italian Fashion. Daisy Woodward, AnOther, 27 March 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Capri caprices", Antony King-Deacon, The Times, 17 October 1969, p. 17.
  5. ^ From Gucci to Gaultier: London hosts two major fashion exhibitions. studio international, 17 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
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