One-Piece Swimsuit (Maillot)

File N. 26

Picture Object One-piece swimsuit (maillot)

Designer Year Gianfranco Ferré 1991

Label Season GIANFRANCO FERRE/MADE IN ITALY, Spring-Summer M/MARVEL/MADE IN ITALY Collection Ready-to-wear

Look 37

Inventory Size 1 (small)

Materials White Lycra jersey with black geometric arabesque print (Verga Luigi, Cadorago), white Lycra jersey, black corset hook/eye, black and white faceted pieces of plastic in different sizes and shapes (oval, diamond, circular, heart), multi facet cut beads

Working processes Hand application embroidery (probably Brambilla, Gorgonzola)

Description One-piece swimsuit in four sections of fabric, very high cut on hips. Shapely low-cut neckline in front, medium wide shoulder straps. Fastening at nape, low cut with opening in back. White and black plastic decors in different sizes and shapes accentuate the print pattern. The maillot is fully lined in white Lycra so as to conceal the reverse side of the embroidery stitching. Completing the look on the catwalk were a wide brim white straw hat with black geometric designs and a series of matching bracelets with folk flair.

Remarks It’s a one-piece suit for setting classy style on a luxury yacht and/or poolside. Surely not for swimming or even sunbathing. Ferré fashions this gorgeous maillot by creating an op design complete with distinctive pieces of plastic expressly exalting and enhancing the pattern. The result is a swimsuit with tridimensional surface projecting an image somewhere between majolica-tiled wall and ethnic tribal jewelry.

Sources

Bibliography Italian Vogue, March 1991 issue British Vogue, February 1991 issue Ferré, Supplement of Italian Vogue (no. 510), February 1993 issue Gianfranco Ferré, by Giusi Ferré and Samuele Mazza, Leonardo Arte, Milan 1998

Exhibitions

Acquisition Author of file Enrica Morini

Present location Date of file 02/09/2009

Condition Good

Details

Drawings

Runway shots

Editorial image