The Moschino story begins in the early 1980s, when Franco Moschino (1950–94), a freelance magazine illustrator and Gianni Versace collaborator, founded a label in Italy whose ethos was all about having fun.
Moschino initially pursued a degree in painting at Milan's Brera Academy of Fine Arts during the late 1960s, turning to freelance illustration to help pay his way through school. He found inspiration in Pop art, Dadaism and bold graphics. During the 1970s, he began to work for Gianni Versace’s now-legendary house as a sketcher and freelanced as a clothing designer with other fashion labels. In 1983, encouraged by Versace, he launched his own extravagant and excessive couture collection.
Moschino's expertly tailored, vibrant designs for casual wear and more, each adorned with loud, playful details, spoofed the chic high fashion of the day, and Franco's close relationship with fine art — as well as his eye for innovation — welcomed comparisons to Elsa Schiaparelli over the years. The label’s work essentially mocked the industry even as its hand fed Moschino, with the founder emblazoning shirts with slogans such as “Good taste doesn’t exist” or embroidering jackets with the phrase “Waist of money,” while the theatrical shows were positioned with an undercurrent of critique.
Today, the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds two vintage Moschino handbags in its collection: one shaped like a milk carton and the other an iron.
“Under all the surface witticisms, [Moschino] had a serious knack for running class pieces through a wringer of irony or Surrealism,” observed Vogue. “Chanel-isms were his favorite trope, though he also poked fun at Jean Paul Gaultier’s lingerie dressing and put out pasta bags in a parody of the Prada accessories craze.”
Accessories, jeans and the first men’s collection were presented at the Regal Palace in Milan in 1985, with his Moschino Jeans womenswear collection following in 1986. Then Moschino released Moschino for Women, its first fragrance, the next year in Europe.
In 1988, long before brands had considered the concept of a spin-off, Moschino bowed its cheeky diffusion line for men and women, Moschino Cheap and Chic, during the shows in Milan. The label thrived, adding its first stores in Italy and campaigning for eco-friendly fur. Its retrospective-slash-fashion show “X Years of Kaos” in the early 1990s benefited a children’s AIDS organization.
After Moschino’s untimely death at the age of 44 from AIDS complications, Rossella Jardini, his longtime friend and colleague, took the reins. She carried the torch for nearly 20 years, adding eyewear, watches and jewelry. American designer Jeremy Scott was named creative director in 2013.
Scott, who grew up on a farm and once unveiled a collection of evening dresses charred with burn marks, imbues all his work with a message of inclusion, be it his Fast Food collection in 2014 (hot dog dress included) or Moschino Barbie.
“I don’t care if the critics don’t like me,” Scott told Vogue. “I want to be the people’s designer, like Diana was the people’s princess.”
Find vintage Moschino clothing on 1stDibs.
Vintage MOSCHINO Massive Black Flower Vegan Leather Novelty Earrings
By Moschino
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage MOSCHINO Massive Black Flower Vegan Leather Novelty Earrings Features: - 100% Authentic MOSCHINO. - Massive black vegan leather flower earrings with pink resin bud. - Engrav...
Vintage MOSCHINO Massive Purple Flower Vegan Leather Novelty Earrings
By Moschino
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage MOSCHINO Massive Purple Flower Vegan Leather Novelty Earrings Features: - 100% Authentic MOSCHINO. - Massive purple vegan leather flower earrings with yellow resin bud. - En...
Vintage MOSCHINO Swirl Embedded Resin Dome Earrings
By Moschino
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage MOSCHINO Swirl Embedded Resin Dome Earrings Features: - 100% Authentic MOSCHINO. - Dome lucite earrings with embedded swirl resin in orange color. - Gold tone hardware. - Si...
Vintage MOSCHINO Numeral 90 Gold Tone Novelty Earrings
By Moschino
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage MOSCHINO Numeral 90 Gold Tone Novelty Earrings Features: - 100% Authentic MOSCHINO. - Numeral 90 novelty earrings. - Gold tone hardware. - Clip back earrings. - Signed MOSCH...
Vintage MOSCHINO Good Luck Horseshoe Earrings
By Moschino
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage MOSCHINO Good Luck Horseshoe Earrings Measurements: Height: 1.57 inches (4 cm) Width: 1.22 inches (3.1 cm) Weight per Earring: 14 grams Fea...
$303
H 1 in W 0.75 in D 0.5 in L 1 in
Stylised clear paste and metal 'flower' earrings, Ciro, London, c1950s
Located in Greyabbey, County Down
A classic pair of clear paste earrings, with overtones of Georgian and Victorian real jewellery, these smart floral style earrings by Ciro Of London are easily wearable and adaptable to many occasions. CIRO was established in 1917 and continues its reputation for high quality imitation jewellery and pearls. Having started out as a mail order company selling costume jewellery, clip on earrings, and cultured pearls, with the launch of the imitation pearl in the 1920s CIRO became a much sought after brand with the elegant flapper girls and early film stars. In the 1950s they again were a byword for glamour, smart and high quality designs. CIRO's classic collections, embodying timeless and ladylike glamour, now sit alongside must-have fashion pieces with their pieces regularly featured on the pages of glossy magazines. Their flagship store is located on the prestigious Burlington Arcade...
Rhodium, Base Metal
Retro Sunburst Gold Earrings
Located in Darnestown, MD
Retro Sunburst earrings in 14 karat rose gold. Domed centers add dimensionality to the earrings. They have eight round brilliant cut diamonds with a total weight of .32 carats and si...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
$533
H 1.5 in W 1.4 in D 0.75 in Dm 1.4 in L 1.5 in
Large coloured, aurora borealis paste 'cluster' earrings, Christian Dior, 1959
By Henkel and Grosse for Christian Dior
Located in Greyabbey, County Down
A stunning and highly collectable pair of 'cluster' earrings by Christian Dior from 1959, true examples from when Yves Saint Laurent was at the helm of the couture house, the success...
Base Metal, Rhodium
Rena Koopman Gold and Diamond Earrings
Located in Darnestown, MD
Abstract design earrings by American designer, Rena Koopman. The earrings are made of 18 and 22 karat gold with the sense of abstract painting often seen in Koopman's work. A small r...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Pearl Earrings in Triple Band Gold Collar
Located in Darnestown, MD
Classic round pearl earrings set in a triple tier collar of twisted gold. The pearls are 12.5 mm. The earrings are 3/4" in diameter. Clip backs can be converted to posts. They are th...
Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage Chanel clip-on earring Paris 70/80s gold plate, turquoise Cabochon
By Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Stuttgart, DE
An early 70/80s Chanel ear clips in the middle of turquoise colored glass, rimmed with 24 carat gold plating and 4 entwined CC. Measurement: In diamet...
Crystal, Gold Plate
Large opalescent glass and gilt metal earrings, French, 1960s
Located in Greyabbey, County Down
Beautiful and unusual large earrings, hand made in gilded metal and opalescent hand created enamel glass, in soft pastel hues .These earrings have 'French' clips, a thin but strong l...
Gilt Metal
Lucite studded topaz paste 'ball' earrings, 1960s
Located in Greyabbey, County Down
These wonderful sphere earrings are fun to wear, light and easy. Made from clear lucite balls, they are studded with various shades of paste, topaz, orange and yellow, with a nice fi...
Gilt Metal
Jean Paul Gaultier Vintage Oversized Signature Clip-On Earrings
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Nice, FR
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER vintage oversized enameled clip-on earrings with JPG monogram. Embossed JPG. JEWELRY CONDITION CHART - New or never worn : item i...
1980's Vintage Chanel Large Gold & Pearl Clip Earrings
By Chanel
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Chanel large satin gold clip earrings with faux mabe pearls center. Collection 25. Comes with original pouch.
Jean Paul Gaultier Vintage Resin Jewelled Heart Inlaid Clip-On Earrings
By Jean Paul Gaultier
Located in Nice, FR
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER vintage domed resin clip-on earrings featuring a heart inlaid with rhinestone embellishement. Marked GAULTIER. JEWELRY CONDITION CHART - New or never worn :...
Oscar de la Renta Scarab Clip On Dangling Earrings In Gold
By Oscar De La Renta
Located in Milford, DE
Luxurious clip on earrings in Oscar de la Renta's signature style. A pair of elegant gold-plated stylized scarabs! Hallmarks: Oscar de la Renta, Made in USA
1980s Moschino Acid Smile Face Clip on Earrings
By Moschino
Located in London, GB
1980's 'Franco Moschino' iconic smiley pearl clip on earrings, double twist antique gold effect surround, hand mounted/painted smiley face pearl accent, outside gold no tarnishing, pearls no peeling, minor wear only on very close inspection This unique collectible piece is sure to add a touch of vintage...
Vintage MOSCHINO Zipper Leather Disc Novelty Earrings
By Moschino
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage MOSCHINO Zipper Leather Disc Novelty Earrings Measurements: Height: 1.89 inches (4.8 cm) Width: 1.26 inches (3.2 cm) Weight per Earring: 16 g...
Vintage Massive MOSCHINO Jewelled Heart Earrings
By Moschino
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage Massive MOSCHINO Jewelled Heart Earrings Measurements: Height: 1.85 inches (4.7 cm) Width: 1.85 inches (4.7 cm) Weight per Earring: 23 grams Features: - 100% Authentic MOSC...
Moschino Folding Sunglasses Shoulder Duster Earrings 2000s
By Moschino
Located in Wilmslow, GB
Moschino Sunglasses Earrings. Every year H&M ask a high end design house to create a collection for them. In 2018 it was Moschino and it proved a resounding success. The concept to bring high end design at affordable prices to the H&M following. Jeremy Scott, head designer of the eclectic fun-loving, life-embracing Italian fashion brand Moschino led the design for the H&M Collection. Jeremy Scott's tyle is an enthusiastic, and passionate and as the collection showed, never too shy to use logo's, fun symbols, from often completely unrelated to fashion, in his designs. The jewellery collection was a sell out. The pieces were incredible quality, not downgraded for the mass marketing of H&M and will continue to be sought after as pre-loved and eventually will no doubt stand the test of time to establish themselves as future vintage...
Gold Plate
Moschino Couture NEW Gold Metal 'SHOP' Round Stud Button Earrings in Box
By Moschino
Located in Charlotte, NC
CURATOR'S NOTES Metal Gold tone Clip on closure Measures 1" W x 1" L Includes original Moschino Couture storage box