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Step Inside Federico Forquet’s Magical World of Fashion, Gardens, and Interiors

A new tome written by sartorial and interiors expert Hamish Bowles enchants with the many facets of the storied Italian designer's rich career

By Jacqueline Terrebonne
Elegant vintage living room with classic furniture, patterned wallpaper, and historical portraits on the walls.
For this living room in Rome, Forquet designed the handpainted fabric wallcovering and selected rose-printed chintz curtains. Photo: Guido Taroni

Fashion designer, decorator, collector, and creator of gardens Federico Forquet has a talent for the sumptuous and the ravishing that knows no bounds. The new monograph The World of Federico Forquet (Rizzoli) by Hamish Bowles assembles all his obsessions and achievements into one splendid volume.

“Federico Forquet is sui generis, an authentic tastemaker who has been able to apply his unique style to the worlds of fashion, interiors, gardens, collecting, and friendship, and to excel at all of them,” says Bowles.

Book cover featuring a vintage dress in a luxurious room, titled "The World of Federico Forquet" by Hamish Bowles.
The World of Federico Forquet (rizzoli) by. Hamish Bowles. Photo: Courtesy of Rizzoli

Photographs by Guido Taroni of Forquet’s couture, set within Rome’s Palazzo Torlonia, which he decorated, are masterfully mixed with vintage images of the couturier’s la dolce vita style as well as studies of his richly layered interiors. Says Bowles, “The thread that runs through all these passions is his love for Naples, the storied city of his birth, where classicism meets whimsy, harmony meets eccentricity, and grandeur meets charm.” 

Man sitting in a room filled with antique vases, framed artworks, and decorative items, holding a photo album.
Frederico Forquet surrounded by art and objets that relate to his beloved Naples. Photo: Guido Taroni
Vintage dress on mannequin with bold circular patterns in elegant room, historical painting and globe in background.
A Spring/Summer 1967 day ensemble by Forquet, photographed in front of a portrait of Philip II of Spain. Photo: Guido Taroni
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Federico Forquet Conceived A Magical World of Fashion, Gardens, and Interiors

For this living room in Rome, Federico Forquet designed the handpainted fabric wallcovering and selected rose-printed chintz curtains.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

A silk gazar and bead embroidery evening dress by Federico Forquet from circa 1965u201367.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

The World of Federico Forquet (Rizzoli) explores the Italian designers work with interiors, gardens, and fashion.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

A design from Forquet’s Spring/Summer 1966 collection originally worn by Giuliana Alecce Forquet.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

An Forquet-designed evening ensemble of yellow and black crepe.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

A Spring/Summer 1967 day ensemble by Forquet, photographed in front of a portrait of Philip II of Spain.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

A jumpsuit from Forquet’s Autumn/Winter 1967-1968 collection.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

Two of Federico Forquet’s timeless evening dresses are displayed alongside period mannequins by Piero Tosi.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

Two circa-1970 designs by Forquet, photographed at Palazzo Torlonia in Rome.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

The winter sitting room in Forquet’s house in Rome featured an 18th-century oil painting of Mount Vesuvius by Pierre-Jacques Volaire atop trompe-l’oeil walls.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

In addition to being a designer and couturier, Forquet was also a collector; included in this bedside array is a gilt-bronze trees he created with silversmiths Claudio and Roberto Franchi.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

Frederico Forquet surrounded by art and objets that relate to his beloved Naples.

Photograph by Guido Taroni

A 1969 Forquet-designed evening dress now in the collection of Massimo Cantini Parrini.

Photograph by Guido Taroni
Elegant vintage living room with classic furniture, patterned wallpaper, and historical portraits on the walls.
Gold dress on mannequin in elegant room with gold decor and ornate chandelier.
Mannequin displaying a long, shimmering silver cape with intricate details against an ornate stone wall background.
Abstract-patterned green and white blazer on mannequin surrounded by white draped objects in minimalist setting.
Mannequin wearing an elegant yellow and black gown in a richly decorated vintage room with ornate furniture and tapestry.
Vintage dress on mannequin with bold circular patterns in elegant room, historical painting and globe in background.
Patterned jumpsuit with horse design draped over stacked wooden chairs in a dimly lit room.
Two headless mannequins in red and pink dresses with silver sleeves, surrounded by five plaster statues of female figures.
Two mannequins displaying black and white geometric-patterned outfits in an elegant marble-floored hallway.
Luxurious vintage living room with rich wooden decor, elegant furniture, and large dramatic painting on the wall.
A table with various decorative items, including vases, a gilded cross, a candle, and small bowls on a green cloth.
Man sitting in a room filled with antique vases, framed artworks, and decorative items, holding a photo album.
Elegant black and white dress displayed in ornate red room with golden furniture and classical painting.
Elegant vintage living room with classic furniture, patterned wallpaper, and historical portraits on the walls.
Gold dress on mannequin in elegant room with gold decor and ornate chandelier.
Mannequin displaying a long, shimmering silver cape with intricate details against an ornate stone wall background.
Abstract-patterned green and white blazer on mannequin surrounded by white draped objects in minimalist setting.
Mannequin wearing an elegant yellow and black gown in a richly decorated vintage room with ornate furniture and tapestry.
Vintage dress on mannequin with bold circular patterns in elegant room, historical painting and globe in background.
Patterned jumpsuit with horse design draped over stacked wooden chairs in a dimly lit room.
Two headless mannequins in red and pink dresses with silver sleeves, surrounded by five plaster statues of female figures.
Two mannequins displaying black and white geometric-patterned outfits in an elegant marble-floored hallway.
Luxurious vintage living room with rich wooden decor, elegant furniture, and large dramatic painting on the wall.
A table with various decorative items, including vases, a gilded cross, a candle, and small bowls on a green cloth.
Man sitting in a room filled with antique vases, framed artworks, and decorative items, holding a photo album.
Elegant black and white dress displayed in ornate red room with golden furniture and classical painting.

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2020 Fall issue. Subscribe to the magazine.