PITTI PALACE | TWENTIETH CENTURY WOMEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT | SUSAN NEVELSON | VACCARI FOR KEN SCOTT

Susan Nevelson

in front of some of her print designs for Ken Scott

Photograph: Jerry Lee Ingram | Source: Susan Nevelson

At the exhibition "Twentieth Century Women In The Spotlight" at Pitti Palace's Costume Gallery (Florence), a few dresses and accessories focus on the work of artist/textile designer Susan Nevelson (born Susan Wilson, 1924 - 2015). After modeling for artists in New York, she started her career as a painter in 1951. She specialized in printed fabric designs and from 1960 she developed the brightly colored prints so distinctive of the Ken Scott production. 

The exhibition shows the collaboration between Ken Scott and Susan Nevelson which continued after Ken Scott's death in 1991 with the company of the same name.

1971 | Sukari Evening Dress | Ken Scott

Printed textile designed by Susan Nevelson

From the collection "La komonomania" F/W 1971-72

2005 | Rose Bamboo Evening Dress

Ken Scott (the company) | Printed textile designed by Susan Nevelson

2005 S/S collection

Photographs: Irma Vivaldi

Shoes by Vaccary for Ken Scott. Year unknown. The same model in different colors with dresses from different collections. 

Pitti Palace Fashion Gallery

Among the accessories, on display four uncredited pair of shoes. The curators paired the dresses with the sole criterium of the color palette: two identical pairs (a sandal in gold kidskin and the other in black) matched dresses from 1968 and 2005, two others with dresses from 1966 and 1971. 

There are no listed credits about the shoemaker, and frankly Vaccari of Bologna - that can be read on the insole labels - deserves a little more respect.

We wrote to the Costume Gallery - twice - asking for more information but to no avail. What a Pitti!

Year unknown | Vaccari (Bologna) for Ken Scott

On display at Palazzo Pitti Fashion Gallery, 1966 High Fashion collection

Photograph: Irma Vivaldi

The shoes above are shown matching the Papavero Evening dress and apparently are Nevelson's favorite.

Susan Nevelson (and friends) wearing the Papavero Evening dress | Detail

Vaccari shoes

Photograph: Jerry Lee Ingram | Source: Susan Nevelson

Year unknown | Vaccari (Bologna) for Ken Scott

On display at Palazzo Pitti Fashion Gallery, matching the St.Anne Evening ensemble
[1988 S/S High Fashion collection]

Photograph: Irma Vivaldi

Year unknown | Vaccari (Bologna) for Ken Scott

On display at Palazzo Pitti Fashion Gallery, matching the Sukari dress

From "La komonomania di Ken Scott" F/W 1971-72 

Photograph: Irma Vivaldi

Year unknown | Vaccari for Ken Scott

Photograph: Irma Vivaldi

VACCARI | BOLOGNA
I N D E X

Year unknown | Vaccari for Ken Scott | Detail

Photo by Irma Vivaldi