Consuelo Crespi
Encyclopedia
Consuelo Pauline O'Brien O'Connor Crespi (May 31, 1928 – October 18, 2010) was an American-born Italian countess who served the world of high fashion as a style-setting model and editor of Vogue Italia
. During the same period, her twin sister Gloria Schiff was a major influence on fashion as editor for the American edition of Vogue
magazine. She was also a member of the International Best Dressed List
since 1959.
, with her twin sister later assuming the married name of Gloria Schiff. She grew up in Nova Scotia
and was spotted as a potential model when she moved back to New York
with her mother and sister, appearing on the cover of Look
magazine in 1945 and was introduced to society as a débutante
in 1947. She met Count Rodolfo (Rudi) Crespi (1924-1985), son of Count Rodolfo Crespi (1874-1939) and Countess Marina Crespi, on a blind date in a New York City restaurant. They were married three months later, on January 22, 1948, in a ceremony held at Church of St. Ignatius Loyola
on the Upper East Side
of Manhattan.
The couple had two children, Count Brando Crespi and Pilar Crespi.
and Missoni
. Valentino
credited Crespi with giving him a break into the fashion industry and it was a Valentino dress worn by her twin sister that convinced Jacqueline Kennedy to try the designer. In addition to her role as editor of Italian Vogue, Crespi's appearances at social events such as the Black and White Ball thrown by Truman Capote
in 1966 were widely reported. In a best-dressed list published in 1958 by the New York Dress Institute, Crespi was ranked third, behind the Duchess of Windsor, but ahead of Queen Elizabeth II in fourth place and Audrey Hepburn
in fifth. She was included on the International Best Dressed List
and was recognized by the Fashion Hall of Fame for her "faultless taste in dress without ostentation or extravagance".
In addition to her editing duties, Crespi and her husband both did public relations for major designers. Her husband had been involved on the editorial staff of Vogue Brasil and Vogue Mexico. After returning from Rome
in 1961, she received notice from the fashion world by wearing skirts that were four to five inches longer than the prevailing fashion, helping to promote a new line from the designer Fabiani, saying "I now can't stand the sight of my knees showing" after donning the longer skirts. The government of Italy bestowed its highest-ranked civilian award to Crespi for her assistance in promoting the fashion industry in that country.
Crespi lamented the decline in Italian social life among the wealthy and aristocratic crowd in the 1970s in the wake of social unrest and a wave of kidnappings, telling Time
magazine that "In Italy now you want to feel rich and look poor".
Crespi died at age 82 on October 18, 2010, at Mount Sinai Hospital
in Manhattan
due to a stroke
. She was survived by a daughter, a son, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her husband had died in 1985. Her daughter Pilar Crespi was an assistant editor at Vogue and has spent most of her career in the fashion industry.
Vogue Italia
Vogue Italia is the Italian edition of Vogue magazine. Owned by Condé Nast International, it is the least commercial of all editions of Vogue magazine and has been called the top fashion magazine in the world....
. During the same period, her twin sister Gloria Schiff was a major influence on fashion as editor for the American edition of Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
magazine. She was also a member of the International Best Dressed List
International Best Dressed List
The International Best Dressed List was founded by fashionista Eleanor Lambert in 1940 as an attempt to boost the reputation of American fashion at the time.People who have been on the list include from A to Z:-The International Hall of Fame: Women:...
since 1959.
Biography
She was born on May 31, 1928, in Larchmont, New YorkLarchmont, New York
Larchmont is a village in Westchester County, New York. The population was 5,864 at the 2010 census. It is located within the town of Mamaroneck, on the shore of Long Island Sound, northeast of Midtown Manhattan...
, with her twin sister later assuming the married name of Gloria Schiff. She grew up in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and was spotted as a potential model when she moved back to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with her mother and sister, appearing on the cover of Look
Look (American magazine)
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...
magazine in 1945 and was introduced to society as a débutante
Debutante
A débutante is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who has reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal "début" presentation. It should not be confused with a Debs...
in 1947. She met Count Rodolfo (Rudi) Crespi (1924-1985), son of Count Rodolfo Crespi (1874-1939) and Countess Marina Crespi, on a blind date in a New York City restaurant. They were married three months later, on January 22, 1948, in a ceremony held at Church of St. Ignatius Loyola
Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (New York City)
The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola is a Roman Catholic parish located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City, administered by the Society of Jesus . The parish is under the authority of the Archdiocese of New York and was established in 1851 as St. Lawrence O’Toole’s Church....
on the Upper East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
of Manhattan.
The couple had two children, Count Brando Crespi and Pilar Crespi.
An ambassador of Italian fashion
Through her choices in attire and in publishing, Crespi played a major role in influencing the fashion world and giving a boost to the careers of designers such as FendiFendi
Fendi is an Italian high fashion house best known for its "baguette" handbags. It was launched in 1925 as a fur and leather shop in Rome, but today is a multinational luxury goods brand owned by LVMH...
and Missoni
Missoni
Missoni is an Italian fashion house based in Varese. It is famous for its unique knitwear, made from a variety of fabrics in colourful patterns. The company was founded by Ottavio and Rosita Missoni in 1953.-Brands:...
. Valentino
Valentino SpA
Valentino SpA is a clothing company founded in 1959 by Valentino Garavani. Nowadays it is a part of Valentino Fashion Group. New creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli will take Alessandra Facchinetti's seat as creative designer...
credited Crespi with giving him a break into the fashion industry and it was a Valentino dress worn by her twin sister that convinced Jacqueline Kennedy to try the designer. In addition to her role as editor of Italian Vogue, Crespi's appearances at social events such as the Black and White Ball thrown by Truman Capote
Truman Capote
Truman Streckfus Persons , known as Truman Capote , was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the true crime novel In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel." At...
in 1966 were widely reported. In a best-dressed list published in 1958 by the New York Dress Institute, Crespi was ranked third, behind the Duchess of Windsor, but ahead of Queen Elizabeth II in fourth place and Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was a British actress and humanitarian. Although modest about her acting ability, Hepburn remains one of the world's most famous actresses of all time, remembered as a film and fashion icon of the twentieth century...
in fifth. She was included on the International Best Dressed List
International Best Dressed List
The International Best Dressed List was founded by fashionista Eleanor Lambert in 1940 as an attempt to boost the reputation of American fashion at the time.People who have been on the list include from A to Z:-The International Hall of Fame: Women:...
and was recognized by the Fashion Hall of Fame for her "faultless taste in dress without ostentation or extravagance".
In addition to her editing duties, Crespi and her husband both did public relations for major designers. Her husband had been involved on the editorial staff of Vogue Brasil and Vogue Mexico. After returning from Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1961, she received notice from the fashion world by wearing skirts that were four to five inches longer than the prevailing fashion, helping to promote a new line from the designer Fabiani, saying "I now can't stand the sight of my knees showing" after donning the longer skirts. The government of Italy bestowed its highest-ranked civilian award to Crespi for her assistance in promoting the fashion industry in that country.
Crespi lamented the decline in Italian social life among the wealthy and aristocratic crowd in the 1970s in the wake of social unrest and a wave of kidnappings, telling Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine that "In Italy now you want to feel rich and look poor".
Crespi died at age 82 on October 18, 2010, at Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is one of the oldest and largest teaching hospitals in the United States. In 2011-2012, Mount Sinai Hospital was ranked as one of America's best hospitals by U.S...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
due to a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. She was survived by a daughter, a son, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her husband had died in 1985. Her daughter Pilar Crespi was an assistant editor at Vogue and has spent most of her career in the fashion industry.