NAPLES, December 11, 2025 – The Naples Fashion Museum, Italy’s sole public fashion museum, is paying tribute to Fausto Sarli, the Neapolitan couturier who, in the 1960s, introduced the prestigious tradition of Neapolitan tailoring to international haute couture. Sarli’s signature style was characterized by impeccable cuts and sculptural lines.
‘Sarli’ Exhibition: A Journey Through a Master’s Work
The ‘Sarli’ exhibition, which opened today and will run until May 31, 2026, was conceived and curated by Maria d’Elia, president of the museum, and Paola Maddaluno. The exhibition receives support from the Campania Region, is sponsored by the National Chamber of Italian Fashion, and was developed in collaboration with the Sarli Archive.
Visitors have the opportunity to admire 22 gowns donated by Sarli to his hometown in 2003, which are now part of the Naples Fashion Museum’s permanent collection. The garments showcase sharp lines, sculpted volumes, and dynamic geometries. Highlights include pieces from the ‘Polinesia’ collection, featuring floral motifs, spectacular capes, and bold colors; the ‘Cerchio’ collection, which explores the perfection of geometric forms by recreating them in bodices or with wing-like pleats; and the ‘Diva’ collection.
Sarli’s Vision: Rigor, Craftsmanship, and Plasticity
The exhibition offers a comprehensive journey through Sarli’s prolific career, spanning from the mid-1950s to the early 2000s. It is organized into five thematic sections: movement, color, sound, concept, and anticipation. These sections collectively convey Sarli’s artistic vision, which was deeply rooted in rigorous research, exceptional manual craftsmanship, and the plasticity of the final result.
“Our commitment has been to bring Sarli’s extraordinary creations to light,” explained Maria d’Elia, president of the museum. “We aim to restore their original aura, celebrate this master tailor, and introduce a younger audience to the strength, rigor, and beauty of his works.”
Iconic Gowns: Liz Taylor and Mina
Among the most striking pieces on display are two haute couture garments from the Spring/Summer 1969 collection, famously worn by Liz Taylor. One is a sleeveless, ankle-length coat entirely crafted from pearls of various sizes, forming a geometric pattern of empty and filled squares. The other is a short, sleeveless dress with a deep V-neck, a reinterpretation of the Charleston style, also made entirely of pearls, with an alternating arrangement of white and brown pearls creating an abstract motif.
The exhibition also features a garment that holds a piece of Italian music history: a black silk cady sheath dress with a draped neckline, adorned with tone-on-tone jet, and a ‘holy water font’ neckline. This was the dress Mina wore in 1961 when she sang ‘Il cielo in una stanza’ on the television show ‘Giardini d’Inverno,’ for which Sarli designed the costumes.
“Sarli redefined the rules of couture,” emphasized curator Paola Maddaluno, “through the skillful gesture of cutting. This act reveals the sense of freedom of a ‘baroque creative’ who conceived fashion as an infinite fold, a testament to a fluctuating aesthetic.”
The Naples Fashion Museum, located in Campania, Italy, continues to be a vital institution for preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Italian fashion.
