{{short description|Italian fashion designer (born 1930)|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox fashion designer | name = Roberto Capucci | image = Roberto Capucci (Cropped).png | image_size = 250px | caption = Capucci in 2012 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1930|12|2|df=y}} | birth_place = Rome, Italy | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|yyyy|mm|dd|1930|12|2|df=y}} --> | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | education = | label_name = | awards = | known_for = Sculpture dresses | alma_mater = Accademia di Belle Arti | occupation = Fashion designer | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = | signature = | website = https://fondazionerobertocapucci.it/en/ | footnotes = }} '''Roberto Capucci''' (born 2 December 1930) is an Italian fashion designer. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Abbiadati |first=Alice |date=2024-09-11 |title=Roberto Capucci, storia del sarto architetto, amato anche da Emily in Paris, oggi celebrato in una grande mostra a Villa Pisani |url=https://www.vogue.it/article/roberto-capucci-biografia-completa |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Vogue Italia |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Roberto Capucci: Art Into Fashion |url=https://store.philamuseum.org/roberto-capucci-art-into-fashion/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Philadelphia Museum Of Art Store |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Capucci was born on 2 December 1930 in Rome, Italy. He studied art at the Accademia di Belle Arti, where he studied with artists such as Marino Mazzacurati, Marcello Avenali, and Libero De Libero.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=B |first=Roxi |date=2021-05-31 |title=Roberto Capucci - An Italian Sculptor's History and creations |url=https://lifeinitaly.com/roberto-capucci/ |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=Life in Italy |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Career== During the 1950s, he started his first atelier on Via Sistina in Rome and showed his work at Giovanni Battista Giorgini's villa in Florence. A young Oriana Fallaci, reporting for the weekly Epoca, covered the news.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Epoca n.95/1952 |url=https://www.petitesondes.net/Epoca/Estratti/1952-095-estratto.pdf}}</ref>

In 1952, he presented his work at the Sala Bianca of Palazzo Pitti in Florence alongside other designers such as Vincenzo Ferdinandi, Sartoria Antonelli, Atelier Carosa, Giovannelli-Sciarra, Polinober, Germana Marucelli, Sartoria Vanna, Jole Veneziani and 16 sportswear companies and boutiques.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fallaci |first=Oriana |date=2 August 1952 |title="A quaranta gradi moda d'inverno" |url=https://www.petitesondes.net/Epoca/Estratti/1952-095-estratto.pdf |work=Epoca |language=Italian}}</ref>

In 1958, he introduced the ''Linea a Scatola'' (Box Line), which earned him the Boston Fashion Award (Filene's Young Talent Design Award) alongside Pierre Cardin and James Galanos.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Kyle |date=2018-08-30 |title=An Assault of Art with Roberto Capucci |url=https://www.gpsradar.com/blog/industry/assault-art-with-roberto-capucci/ |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=GPS Radar}}</ref>

In 1961, he received positive reviews from French critics at the Paris fashion shows, leading him to open his atelier at 4 Rue Cambon in Paris in 1962.<ref name="VI">{{cite web |last1=Abbiadati |first1=Alice |title=Roberto Capucci, the story of the tailor-architect also loved by Emily in Paris, whom Dior called the best Italian creative |url=https://www.vogue.it/article/roberto-capucci-biografia-completa |website=Vogue Italy |access-date=13 March 2025 |ref=VI |date=11 September 2024}}</ref>

In 1968, he returned to Italy and began working in his studio on Via Gregoriana in Rome, where he presented his collections as part of the official fashion calendar organized by the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana. In the same year, he designed costumes for Silvana Mangano and Terence Stamp for Pier Paolo Pasolini's film “Teorema”.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roberto Capucci {{!}} Costume Designer, Costume and Wardrobe Department, Actor |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0135744/ |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>

In July 1970, Roberto Capucci presented his creations for the first time at the ''Nymphaeum'' of the National Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia in Rome. The fashion show featured models without makeup or hairstyling wearing low-heeled boots. During this period, he began experimenting with rigid and structural decorative elements, such as precious fabrics, stones, and straw.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roberto Capucci - fashion designer (1930) - Designers - designindex |url=https://www.designindex.org/designers/design/roberto-capucci.html |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.designindex.org |language=en}}</ref>

His career took a new direction in 1982, two years after he decided to leave the Camera Nazionale dell'Alta Moda, keeping his collections outside of official fashion calendars and institutions, showcasing them only when he deemed them ready.

A turning point in his career was in 1990 with the exhibition ''"Roberto Capucci, l'Arte nella Moda – Volume, Colore, Metodo"'', held at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence. His work has been exhibited at Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna, 1991), Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia, 1991), Schauspielhaus Theatre (Berlin, 1992), Nordiska Museet (Stockholm, 2001) and the Venaria Reale (Turin, 2007, 2016).<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2012-03-20 |title=Roberto Capucci: note biografiche |url=https://fortuny.visitmuve.it/en/mostre-en/archivio-mostre-en/roberto-capucci-at-palazzo-fortuny/2012/03/6260/roberto-capucci-note-biografiche-1/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Museo Fortuny |language=it-IT}}</ref>

In 1995, he was invited to show his creations, such as ''Allanite'', ''Antimonite'' or ''Cinabro'' at the Esposizione Internazionale di Arti Visive at La Biennale di Venezia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scheda persona/istituzione |url=https://asac.labiennale.org/persone/375087 |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=asac.labiennale.org}}</ref>thumb|Capucci Museum in 2012

In 2005, with the Associazione Civita, he founded the Roberto Capucci Foundation, a foundation aimed at preserving his archive of 439 historical dresses, 500 signed illustrations, 22,000 original drawings, a full press release, and a photo and media library.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foundation |url=https://fondazionerobertocapucci.it/en/foundation/ |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=Il sito della Fondazione Roberto Capucci |language=en-US}}</ref>

thumb|Capucci Museum in 2013 thumb|Capucci with one of his creations, ''Cerchio in Raso'' (2007). In 2007, he inaugurated the Roberto Capucci Foundation Museum at Villa Bardini in Florence, hosting exhibitions and workshops. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Museo Roberto Capucci |url=https://www.ruckstuhl.com/en/references/details/museo-roberto-capucci-florence-italy/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=www.ruckstuhl.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 2010, he collaborated with the artists Maurizio Martusciello and Mattia Casalegno on the audiovisual installation ''Il Gesto Sospeso'', commissioned by FENDI and premiered at the Hadrian Temple during Rome Fashion Week. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Designers Roberto Capucci and Robert Wun Discuss Being Fashion Innovators |url=https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/roberto-capucci-robert-wun-fashion-designers-scad |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=L'Officiel Singapore |language=en}}</ref>

From June to October 2012, the competition “''Roberto Capucci per i giovani designer. Oltre agli abiti – Il design prende una nuova piega''” ran. The awards ceremony for the competition took place on 9 April 2013 at the Royal Palace of Milan, with the finalists’ work being exhibited alongside dresses and 50 original sketches by Capucci at Palazzo Marando from 9 to 14 April 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bando {{!}} Concorso Capucci |url=http://www.modaemodi.org/concorsocapucci/bando/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023204012/http://www.modaemodi.org/concorsocapucci/bando/ |archive-date=2016-10-23 |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.modaemodi.org |language=it-IT}}</ref>

Since June 2025, an exhibition of Capucci's works, sketches and pictures is being held in Villa Pisani (Strà, Venice), curated by Enrico Minio Capucci, Paolo Alvise Capucci and Francesco Trentini. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Fenini |first=Rita |date=2025-06-10 |title=Roberto Capucci, i suoi abiti-scultura in mostra a Villa Pisani |url=https://www.panorama.it/lifestyle/moda/roberto-capucci-i-suoi-abiti-scultura-in-mostra-a-villa-pisani |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Panorama |language=it-IT}}</ref>

==Exhibitions== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title |- |2011 |Roberto Capucci: Art into Fashion<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/411.html?page=1 |title=Roberto Capucci: Art into Fashion |accessdate=2011-05-27 |publisher=Philadelphia Museum of Art |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614035323/http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/411.html?page=1 |url-status=live |archivedate=2011-06-14}}</ref> |- |2009 |Fabric Sculpture Exhibit at Odescalchi Castle<ref>{{cite web |url=http://romeitaly.blogspot.com/2009/08/capucci-fabric-sculpture-exhibit-at.html |title=Capucci "Fabric Sculpture" Exhibit at Odescalchi Castle |accessdate=2011-05-30 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826085447/http://romeitaly.blogspot.com/2009/08/capucci-fabric-sculpture-exhibit-at.html |archivedate=2011-08-26 |url-status=live |date=August 19, 2009 |publisher=WebVisionItaly.com}}</ref> |- |2009 |Roberto Capucci at Bracciano Castle<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gleni.it/blog/the-supreme-elegance-of-roberto-capucci-on-view-in-a-new-exhibition-at-bracciano-castle/ |title=The "supreme elegance" of Roberto Capucci on view in a new exhibition at Bracciano Castle |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310002055/http://www.gleni.it/blog/the-supreme-elegance-of-roberto-capucci-on-view-in-a-new-exhibition-at-bracciano-castle/ |archivedate=2012-03-10 |url-status=live |date=December 2, 2009 |publisher=The Gleni Blog}}</ref> |- |2009 |Roberto Capucci fashion design at Palazzo Fortuny<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.venice-tourism.com/en/Venice-Tourism/Events/Roberto-Capucci-fashion-design-at-Palazzo-Fortuny.html |title=Roberto Capucci fashion design at Palazzo Fortuny |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324191411/http://www.venice-tourism.com/en/Venice-Tourism/Events/Roberto-Capucci-fashion-design-at-Palazzo-Fortuny.html |archivedate=2012-03-24 |url-status=dead |publisher=Venice-Tourism.com }}</ref> |- |2008 |“Fantasie Guerriere” Warrior Fantasies<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/1537/1/roberto-capuccis-warrior-fantasies |title=Roberto Capucci's Warrior Fantasies |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021105812/http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/1537/1/roberto-capuccis-warrior-fantasies |archivedate=2012-10-21 |url-status=live |publisher=Dazed Digital |first=Anna |last=Battista }}</ref> |- |2007 |Returning to Origins<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tuscanypass.com/events_tuscany/12854_roberto-capucci-equot-returning-to-originsequot-exhibition-in-florence.html |title=Roberto Capucci "Returning to Origins": Exhibition in Florence |year=2007 |publisher=TuscanyPass.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320100033/http://www.tuscanypass.com/events_tuscany/12854_roberto-capucci-equot-returning-to-originsequot-exhibition-in-florence.html |url-status=usurped |archivedate=2012-03-20}}</ref> |}

== Family == Roberto Capucci has a younger brother, Fabrizio Capucci, and a niece, Sabrina Capucci, both with careers in acting.

==Notes and references== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *{{fashiondesigner|id=roberto-capucci}} *[http://www.1stdibs.com/introspective/creators/roberto_capucci/ Creators: Robert Capucci] by Donna Paul at 1st dibs *[http://www.fondazionerobertocapucci.com/ Fondazione Roberto Capucci] Roberto Capucci Foundation

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Capucci, Roberto}} Category:Fashion designers from Rome Category:1930 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century Italian artists Category:Businesspeople from Rome Category:20th-century designers Category:Italian fashion designers