Elsa Schiaparelli

Elsa Schiaparelli
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Name	Elsa Schiaparelli
Birth date	September 10, 1890
Birth place	Rome, Italy
Death date	November 13, 1973
Death place	Paris, France

Elsa Schiaparelli was a renowned Italian fashion designer known for her innovative and provocative designs, which often featured collaborations with famous artists such as Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau. Her designs were highly influential in the fashion world, with notable clients including Wallis Simpson, Greta Garbo, and Mae West. Schiaparelli's work was often showcased in prominent fashion magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, and she was a contemporary of other famous designers like Coco Chanel and Christian Dior. Her designs were also featured in various fashion shows and exhibitions at institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

● Early Life and Education

Elsa Schiaparelli was born in Rome, Italy to a family of nobility, with her father, Giovanni Schiaparelli, being a professor at the University of Rome. She was educated at the University of Rome, where she studied philosophy and philology, and later moved to London to work as a governess for a family. In London, she met her future husband, William de Wendt de Kerlor, a Theosophist and philosopher, and the couple moved to New York City and then Paris, where Schiaparelli began to develop her interest in fashion design. She was influenced by the works of Paul Poiret and Madeleine Vionnet, and she also drew inspiration from the Ballets Russes and the Art Deco movement.

● Career

Schiaparelli's career in fashion design began in the 1920s, when she opened her own fashion house in Paris, House of Schiaparelli. She quickly gained a reputation for her innovative and provocative designs, which often featured bold colors and unusual materials. Her designs were highly influential in the fashion world, and she became known for her collaborations with famous artists like Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau. Schiaparelli's designs were also featured in various fashion magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, and she was a contemporary of other famous designers like Coco Chanel and Christian Dior. She was also a member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, an organization that promoted and regulated the fashion industry in France.

● Designs and Collections

Schiaparelli's designs were known for their bold and provocative style, which often featured collaborations with famous artists like Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau. Her most famous design is probably the Shoe Hat, a hat shaped like a high-heeled shoe, which was designed in collaboration with Salvador Dalí. She also designed the Lobster Dress, a dress featuring a large lobster motif, which was also designed in collaboration with Salvador Dalí. Schiaparelli's designs were highly influential in the fashion world, and she was known for her use of bold colors and unusual materials. Her designs were also featured in various fashion shows and exhibitions at institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. She was also influenced by the works of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, and she also drew inspiration from the Surrealist movement and the Art Nouveau style.

● Influence and Legacy

Schiaparelli's influence on the fashion world is still felt today, with many designers citing her as an inspiration. Her designs were highly influential in the 1930s and 1940s, and she was known for her use of bold colors and unusual materials. She was also a pioneer of the ready-to-wear movement, which made fashion more accessible to the general public. Schiaparelli's legacy can be seen in the work of designers like Alexander McQueen and John Galliano, who have both cited her as an inspiration. Her designs are also featured in the permanent collections of institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. She was also awarded the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award in 1940, and she was named one of the most influential people of the 20th century by Time Magazine.

● Personal Life

Schiaparelli's personal life was marked by her marriage to William de Wendt de Kerlor, a Theosophist and philosopher, and the couple had one daughter, Gogo Schiaparelli. She was also known for her friendships with famous artists like Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau, and she was a contemporary of other famous designers like Coco Chanel and Christian Dior. Schiaparelli was also a member of the French Resistance during World War II, and she worked to help Jewish people escape from Nazi-occupied France. She died in Paris, France in 1973, at the age of 83, and her legacy continues to be felt in the fashion world today. She is buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, alongside other famous artists and writers like Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. Category:Italian fashion designers