From the late 70s to early 80s, Fiorucci was about as cool as you could get. The Italian New Wave brand had a flagship boutique on 59th St. in Manhattan that was essentially the epicenter of all things hip. At night there was Studio 54, but during the day the party was at Fiorucci.
“Customers such as Marc Jacobs, Cher, andTerence Conran would rub shoulders with Jackie Onassis and Lauren Bacall, you might see drag queen Joey Arias serving the King of Spain, author Douglas Coupland absorbing the store’s pop culture, or Calvin Klein and Gloria Vanderbilt buying some jeans. In the early 1980s the Fiorucci art director was jewelry designer Maripol, known for creating Madonna’s look at the time. Other employees included Madonna’s brother Christopher Ciccone, Terry Jones of i-D magazine fame, Oliviero Toscani, who shot many of the famous Benetton ads, and famed interior designer Jim Walrod.” -Wikipedia
By the late 80s the party was over, though. Some blame it on poor management, but Betsey Johnson has suggested “Fiorucci was the most happening place. It never stopped being happening — it just left New York City, because I don’t think New York City was happening enough by the mid-80′s.” It’s a loss either way. Though the company and clothes are still around today, Fiorucci has never been the same.
