untitled design

Smiley: 50 years of (trendy) smiles have already passed!

Smiley and fashion: 50 years (and more) of history. Yes, because the first smile was spotted in 1963, when the entrepreneur and artist Harvey Ball he designed it, without paying much attention to it (but above all without ever registering it), for an American insurance company that was merging with another company. The idea was to place smiling prints and stickers in the offices, to boost the morale of the workers, who were at that moment disoriented by the new set-ups. From then on, the yellow dot entered the made in USA visual culture.

After years, the French journalist Franklin Loufranihe was the first to decide to register it and use it the following year to illustrate his column in the French newspaper France Soir, where he collected the good news of the day.

Instagram content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

The smile has thus become the smile we all know and The Smiley Company, a licensing company that has dedicated itself, over the years, to managing collaborations with various trendy brands and which is now managed by his son, Nicolas Loufrani. A decidedly important milestone to celebrate, so much so that Franklin has decided to do it with an edition Assouline dedicated to their history: Smiley: 50 Years of Good News.

Smiley: 50 Years of Good News published by Assouline.

Photos Assouline

The result? A story, in words and images, of this positive symbol that made history and that, in these five decades, has conquered everyone. From celebs to design, from the universe of fashion to that of music (think of the Nirvana logo born in the early nineties), passing, in spite of itself, also through that of rave culture which for a long time also made it associated with a certain type of drugs, such as ecstasy.

Content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Up to modern times… the most used yellow emoticons in the world, after all, are only the 3D evolution of this simple and immediate graphic.

Instagram content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

And to celebrate this birthday I am many stylists and brands have created happy collaborations and capsule collections to wear immediately and that will become a smash this spring-summer 2022. Some examples? From the bucket hat of Michael Kors to the entire hippie-pop capsule of Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafinifrom the streetstyle capsule of H&M up to the luxury jewels of Messika, who created very precious talismans of positivity, paved with yellow diamonds.

Michael Kors x Smiley.

Philosophy x Smiley

H&M x Smiley.

Messika x Smiley.

And if you pass through Paris, until April 3rd, don’t miss the big celebrations organized at Galeries Lafayette.

Instagram content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

In the most chic French department stores you will find the collection of over 50 exclusive collaborations with the famous Smiley logo reinvented by the artist André Saraivabut also installations and other animations that will, we are sure, make you smile.

Instagram content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Here we have collected the Smiley fashion capsules fun and glamorous officers made with the most iconic smile, perfect for starting the new season shopping with the right amount of enthusiasm. And, as Franklin Loufrani’s mantra says “Take the time to smile”: remember to take the right time to smile!

The motto of The Smiley Company.


Other stories of Vanity Fair that may interest you:

– Maxi plateau: fashion flies higher and higher!
– The hottest sandals of the season? The slippers with fur
– Boots: welcome back square toe!
– Patchwork jacket: we bet it will be the next hit?
– The foulard (vintage style) enters the list of essentials for the summer by right


Source: Vanity Fair

You may also like

Get the latest

Stay Informed: Get the Latest Updates and Insights

 

Most popular