Place: Tbilisi
Born: 1916
Death: 2006
Biography:
Princess Irene Galitzine was a Russian-Georgian fashion designer, born in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 1916. She is best known for her creation of the palazzo pyjama, a type of formal trousers for women. As a member of the House of Golitsyn, a Russian princely family, Galitzine's designs were popular among the international jet set and were worn by celebrities such as Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn.
Galitzine was born into a aristocratic family and was forced to flee her country following the 1917 October Revolution. She studied art in Rome, English at Cambridge, and French at the Sorbonne. After studying, she joined the Italian designers Sorelle Fontana in 1943 and worked with them for 3 years. In 1946, she opened her own salon and presented her first collection. Her palazzo pyjamas became a firm fixture of the fashion scene during the 1960s. Galitzine's designs were worn by some of the most famous women in the world, including Sofia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, and Lee Radziwill. She was named Designer of the Year by the Italian fashion press in 1962 and won the British Sunday Times International Fashion Award in 1965. Her creations are now part of notable museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Costume Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Galitzine was married to Silvio Medici de Menezes, an aristocrat from Portugal, in 1949. She died at her home in Rome on October 20, 2006, at the age of 90. Her legacy continues to be celebrated through her designs, which are now part of the MAXXI National Museum of XXI Century Arts in Rome, Italy.
In conclusion, Princess Irene Galitzine's legacy continues to be celebrated through her designs and contributions to the fashion world. Her palazzo pyjamas remain a staple of 1960s fashion, and her influence can still be seen in the designs of modern-day fashion designers.