description Elsa Schiaparelli Overview
Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973) was an Italian designer based in Paris who established her house in 1927. She collaborated with Surrealist artists including Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau, and Man Ray on garments and accessories. Notable works include the 1937 Lobster Dress and designs featuring her signature "shocking pink." She was a principal rival of Coco Chanel in the interwar period.
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Elsa Schiaparelli ranks #3 of 127 in the Fashion Designer ranking, behind Alexander McQueen, ahead of Christian Dior.
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What was Elsa Schiaparelli's relationship with Surrealism?
Elsa Schiaparelli frequently collaborated with prominent Surrealist artists, including Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau, and Man Ray. Together, they created daring, avant-garde garments and accessories that blurred the line between fashion and fine art.
When did Elsa Schiaparelli establish her fashion house?
The Italian designer established her highly influential Paris fashion house in 1927. She quickly became the main rival to Coco Chanel, representing the conceptual, avant-garde side of 1930s fashion.
What is Elsa Schiaparelli's famous Lobster Dress?
The Lobster Dress, created in 1937, was a groundbreaking collaboration between Schiaparelli and Salvador Dalí. It featured a large, red lobster painted by Dalí onto the white silk faille bodice of a gown famously worn by Wallis Simpson.
What other iconic designs is Elsa Schiaparelli known for?
Besides her artist collaborations, she is credited with the divided skirt (an early precursor to shorts for women) and the iconic "shocking pink" color. She also popularized structural, architecturally bold shoulders in women's eveningwear.
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