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Born in Italy, Nina Ricci (Maria Nielli) (1883-1970) moved to France in her early teens, where she became an apprentice dressmaker and went on to design for various houses. It wasn’t until she was almost 50 that she set up the house of Ricci in Paris in 1932, supported by son Richard, who went on to manage and inherit the business.

Nina Ricci retired from designing in the early 1950s when she was in her 70’s. Jules Francois Crahay was made the head designer for the label in 1954. When he left to go to Lanvin in 1963, he was soon replaced by Gerard Pipart, who designed the collection until 1998 when the company was sold.

The design house continues to serve wealthy customers to this day, maintaining its reputation for classic designs. Lars Nilsson designed the collection in the mid-2000s. In 2006 Olivier Theyskens became head designer at Nina Ricci. As of spring 2010 the designer was Peter Copping.

Written by artisannes


from a 1950s black silk cocktail dress - Courtesy of artisannes

from a 1950s black silk cocktail dress

Courtesy of artisannes

from a 1956 evening coat - Courtesy of poppy'svintage at babylon mall

from a 1956 evening coat

Courtesy of poppy’svintage at babylon mall

from a mid 1950s dress - Courtesy of poppy'svintage at babylon mall

from a mid 1950s dress

Courtesy of poppy’svintage at babylon mall

from a 1950s cocktail dress - Courtesy of luckysparrow

from a 1950s cocktail dress

Courtesy of luckysparrow

from a 1960s skirt suit - Courtesy of denisebrain

from a 1960s skirt suit

Courtesy of denisebrain

from a 1960s dress - Courtesy of antiquedress.com

from a 1960s dress

Courtesy of antiquedress.com

from a mid 1960s dress - Courtesy of coutureallure.com

from a mid 1960s dress

Courtesy of coutureallure.com

from a 1970s evening gown and jacket set - Courtesy of Ryerson University Fashion Research Collection

from a 1970s evening gown and jacket set

Courtesy of Ryerson University Fashion Research Collection

from a 1970s weekend dress - Courtesy of chezmov

from a 1970s weekend dress

Courtesy of chezmov

from a 1970s bathing suit cover-up - Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a 1970s bathing suit cover-up

Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com

from a late 1970s evening dress - Courtesy of bartondoll

from a late 1970s evening dress

Courtesy of bartondoll

from a late 1980s/early 1990s sweater coat - Courtesy of chezmov

from a late 1980s/early 1990s sweater coat

Courtesy of chezmov

from an early 1990s jacket - Courtesy of claireshaeffer

from an early 1990s jacket

Courtesy of claireshaeffer