Nina Ricci: An Extraordinary Mother-Son Collaboration

Nina Ricci - a name synonymous with the fashion world for more than a century. Her fashion house created designs for the average elegant woman, choosing not to cater solely to the aristocracy. Who was this famous designer, and who was her son, with whom she founded her first business?

Who was Nina Ricci?

Although she established her own brand, Nina Ricci, at the age of 50, she had been honing her tailoring skills since childhood. At the age of 12, she became an assistant in a dressmaking shop, where she was most fascinated by creating beautiful elements from what was left over from completed orders.

Over the years, she worked in various fashion houses, including La Religieuse and Raffin in Paris, where she stayed until she established her own brand. Her private life was not without hardships as she became a widow at a young age. However, she had already given birth to her son, Robert, who later proved to be her best collaborator in the fashion business.

Mother and Son - the Perfect Duo

Nina always knew that she would eventually establish her own fashion house. When Robert grew up and proved to be a great talent in the field of advertising, they both concluded that it was time to start their own business. Nina designed, and Robert made marketing and business decisions. They both shared a vision, which allowed them to achieve continued success.

From the beginning, the Nina Ricci brand focused on creating clothes for ordinary women, from the city and the provinces. This was a time of rising popularity for two great designers, Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, yet Nina found her niche. While her eternal rivals vied for the recognition of the wealthiest women in Paris and all over Europe, Nina Ricci focused on women like her. This turned out to be the key to success.

What distinguished Nina Ricci's style? First and foremost, excellent tailoring, which the designer considered more important than fancy sequins or other applications. Ricci's clothes were beautiful, yet functional, and suitable for wearing in any situation. Her range included evening wear, as well as everyday suits and dresses. Her outfits were complemented by stunning headwear, which Nina Ricci herself loved more than anything. Her wardrobe never lacked jewelry and turbans.

Nina Ricci – Perfumes with a Timeless Scent

During the war, the fate of the fashion house was strongly shaken, but unlike Coco Chanel, Nina Ricci kept her business open. In 1941, Robert initiated the creation of their first perfume under the Nina Ricci brand. The perfumes complemented the creations and accessories, attracting new clientele who, post-war, were able to purchase the first Coeur Nina Ricci scent. The perfumes that were created in the following years enjoyed great popularity and are still bestsellers among the scents created by the fashion house.

Nina Ricci stopped designing for her brand in the 1950s. Robert collaborated with a French designer, who created a well-received collection. Later, after the death of Nina (1970) and her son Robert (1988), the Nina Ricci fashion house was bought by the Puig group. However, this did not prevent the preservation of tradition and timeless style, in which the spirit of the great designer is still present today.