Full Description
Published to accompany the major exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, this book is destined to become a must-have work of reference for all fashion lovers.
The couturière Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973) was a key figure in Paris fashion between the two World Wars. Following in the footsteps of her mentor Paul Poiret, she designed her first knitwear collection in January 1927. Decorated with trompe-l'oeil motifs in black and white, her sweaters were an immediate success in both France and the USA. In 1935, the Maison Schiaparelli opened in the Place Vendôme in Paris, selling collections designed for sports, city and evening wear.
Like her arch-rival Gabrielle Chanel, Schiaparelli also worked closely with artists, including Man Ray, Jean Cocteau and Salvador Dalí, with whom she created a lobster dress. Taking a cue from Surrealism, her creations were hugely imaginative and made use of innovative new materials. The 'Schiap' style continued to develop through the 1930s. Her most famous collections had themes including the circus (summer 1938) and astrology (winter 1938-39). In 1937, Schiaparelli launched the fragrance Shocking, named after shocking pink, which had become her signature colour.
Alongside vintage photographs, sketches and contemporary features from Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, this volume presents specially photographed masterpieces from the collection of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. All 120 garments and accessories from the Schiaparelli archive are illustrated, along with a selection of her drawings dating from 1933 to 1953.
Contents
Preface by Johannes Huth
Elsa Schiaparelli, a Last Dance - Olivier Gabet
Essays
Shocking: Life between the Lines - Marie-Sophie Carron de la Carrière
Man Ray and Elsa Schiaparelli: Fair Weather for Creativity - Emmanuelle de l'Écotais
Three Asides - Patrick Mauriès
Dressing the Modern Woman - Dilys Blum
When Dalí Discovered Fashion - Jean-Louis Gaillemin
Clothing and Accessories
Elsa Schiaparelli - Valérie Belin
Jewelry
Costume Jewelry and Accessories
Schiaparelli Today
More Beautiful When Broken: A Conversation with Daniel Roseberry - Hanya Yanaghirara
Appendices
Clothing and Accessories from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris Collection
Bibliography
Chronology of the Life of Elsa Schiaparelli
