Feb
2013
16
Fiorucci: “Looks wild to me.”
Recently, someone told me that I reminded them of Fiorucci’s. For some reason, with my obsession with pop art and New York’s hey days, I totally missed this huge chunk of pop culture history…
Fiorucci’s ads (above)
Debbie Harry, Madonna, Basquiat, Warhol, Truman Capote, Betsy Johnson, Marc Jacobs, Maripol…. Pretty much everyone I’ve ever obsessed over or idolized hung out here.
Dubbed the “daytime Studio 54,” Fiorucci was the place to be in the late 70s – early 80s. The East 59th Street store opened near Bloomingdale’s in 1976 and was filled with glitter, gold, lamé, and skin tight jeans. The store is credited for launching Madonna’s career (her brother worked there) as well as hosting the launch of Warhol’s Interview Magazine and exhibiting Keith Haring’s work. Fiorucci had avant garde, affordable fashions for everyone, waaayyyy before H&M or Forever 21 came into play. Unfortunately, mismanagement of the company led to bankruptcy in 1989. In 2001, the store tried to make a comeback in NYC, but it never would be like it was during Andy Warhol’s New York days. Fiorucci seemed like an amazing place and I wish I could have been a fly on the wall back in its hey day. ..