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Fortuny Day Dresses

Italian

Spanish fashion designer Mariano Fortuny was an innovator in the world of textile design. He drew on classical Greek tunics for his rich and interesting garments and worked with a revolutionary system for creating pleats. He designed a range of clothing for his couture house, and today, vintage Fortuny evening gowns, gemstone-colored day dressescoats and accessories like drawstring bags are known for their fine craftsmanship and signature elegance.

Fortuny was a true artist who worked with beautiful fabrics as his medium of choice. Although he showed talent in painting, sculpting, photography and architecture at an early age, fashion was where he really shined.

Fortuny was born Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo in 1871 in Granada, into a family of artists. His father died when Fortuny was only three years old, and his mother moved the family to Paris. As a child, Fortuny was fond of experimenting and figuring out how things worked. He even dyed pieces of fabric from his family's textile collection, which had been amassed from shops around Europe.

In 1889, the family moved again, this time to Venice. Here, Fortuny found inspiration in the past, which would influence his future designs. Not long after, the young Fortuny set off to travel the continent. In 1897, he visited Paris and fell in love with a dressmaker named Henriette Negrin. She became his muse, his wife and his creative partner — Negrin worked with Fortuny on clothing designs and fabrics — and the two settled in the French capital.

A lifelong inventor, Fortuny began patenting his creations in 1901. By 1934, he had registered more than 20 patents. At the same time, his fashion career was taking off.

In 1907, he designed the Delphos gown with Negrin, which French novelist and essayist Marcel Proust described as "faithfully antique but markedly original." Fortuny had worked from his home until 1922 when increased demand required large-scale production. He opened a factory in Venice, where due to the scarcity of silk, he began experimenting with cotton. 

In 1927, New York interior designer Elsie McNeill traveled to Paris to meet Fortuny and became his exclusive American distributor. She returned to the United States and introduced Fortuny's designs to New World audiences. Shops opened in Paris, New York and London. Toward the end of the 1930s, Fortuny returned to painting and stepped away from the busy fashion industry.

After Fortuny passed away in 1949, McNeill took over the label and continued running it until 1988, when it was purchased by the Riad family, who remain at the helm of Fortuny today.

On 1stDibs, find vintage Fortuny clothing and accessories.

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Designer: Fortuny
Mariano Fortuny Black Peplos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. The...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny Day Dresses

Mariano Fortuny Black Silk Peplos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated black colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with matte frosted colored glass beads threaded through the cordin...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny Day Dresses

Mariano Fortuny Shell Pink Silk Peplos
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated shell pink colored silk with silk cording along side seams ,shoulders , and tunic hem, and mat frosted colored glass beads threaded through the...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny Day Dresses

Mariano Fortuny Amythest Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated amythest colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. Named after a Greek cla...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny Day Dresses

Mariano Fortuny Claret Delphos. Provenance Tina Chow
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated claret colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. The beads are amber glass with...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny Day Dresses

Mariano Fortuny Sienna Peplos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
This dress is made of finely pleated sienna colored silk with silk cording along side seams,shoulders and tunic hem with multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. The...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny Day Dresses

Mariano Fortuny Rare Shell Pink Long Sleeved Delphos Gown
By Fortuny
Located in New York, NY
Description: This dress is made of finely pleated shell pink colored silk with silk cording along side seams, and multicolored glass beads threaded through the cording. Named aft...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Fortuny Day Dresses

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Previously Available Items
Mariano Fortuny Black Delphos Gown
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Located in New York, NY
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Fortuny day dresses for sale on 1stDibs.

Find an extraordinary range of authentic Fortuny day dresses available on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing our collection of unique vintage and designer fashion to elevate your daily look or to introduce new colors to the dazzling formal wear in your wardrobe, this designer’s body of work includes elements of orange, blue, purple and other tones. Customers who are interested in this designer might also find the work of Romeo Gigli, Valentino Miss V, and Moschino Jeans appealing. On 1stDibs, find haute couture, vintage and designer Fortuny day dresses from top boutiques around the world.
Questions About Fortuny Day Dresses
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Founded in 1922, Mariano Fortuny’s designs are handcrafted on the island of Giudecca, in Venice, Italy. Fortuny is famous for its pleated dresses, and for its technique of pleating, which has never been revealed. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Fortuny pieces from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 10, 2025
    Mariano Fortuny was famous for his work as a designer. The Spanish fashion designer was a true artist who worked with beautiful fabrics as his medium of choice. Although he showed talent in painting, sculpture, photography and architecture at an early age, fashion was where he really shone. A lifelong inventor, Fortuny began patenting his creations in 1901. By 1934, he had registered more than 20 patents. At the same time, his fashion career was taking off. In 1907, he designed the Delphos gown with Negrin, which French novelist and essayist Marcel Proust described as "faithfully antique but markedly original." Fortuny had worked from his home until 1922, when increased demand required large-scale production. He opened a factory in Venice, where, due to the scarcity of silk, he began experimenting with cotton. Despite his success, by the end of the 1930s, Fortuny returned to painting and stepped away from the busy fashion industry. Explore a range of Mariano Fortuny pieces on 1stDibs.

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