PERETTI, ELSA

(1940- )

Born in Florence, Italy, to a well-to-do family, Peretti studied interior design at Volbicela School in Rome. She moved to New York in the 1960s and began designing jewelry fordesigners Oscar de la Renta,Halston, and Georgio Di Sant'Angelo. In addition, she designed the containers for Halston'sfragranceand cosmetics lines. In 1974, Peretti partnered withTiffany&Co. and produced some of the most sought-after jewelry of the time. A trip to Jaipur, India, inspired her gold bra and scarf designs in metal mesh that she did for Halston in 1975. Other revolutionary designs for which she received fame are her "Diamonds by the Yard," her sculptural "Open Hearts" pendants, her "Bone Cuffs," and her "Wave and Sevillana" collections. Another inspirational reference is the traditional craft ofurushi(Japanese lacquer) with which she has created the most extraordinary bangles and pendants. Peretti's awards include the 1971Coty Awardfor Jewelry, the 1994 Divine Design Award for Jewelry, and theCouncil of Fashion Designers of America(CFDA) Award in 1996 forAccessory Designerof the Year.