Vintage Schiaparelli Clothing

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Elsa Schiaparelli was born September 10, 1890 in Rome, Italy to a wealthy family. Schiaparelli studied philosophy at the University of Rome and went on to work in London as a nanny. She moved to New York where she met artists Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray. When Man Ray moved to Paris, Schiaparelli accompanied him. In Paris, Schiaparelli opened her own business.

After a failed first attempt, Schiaparelli’s 1927 collection took off and was featured in Vogue. The knitwear collection featured tromp l’oeil images. The next year, Schiaparelli added a sportswear liner and designed the precursor to shorts, the divided skirt. An eveningwear line was added in 1931. After Paris fell to the Nazis, Schiaparelli returned to New York until the end of the war. After she returned, she found Parisian fashion changed and unable to adapt was forced to close her brand in 1954. Schiaparelli is known for her innovative designs. She was the first designer to use colored zippers and use shaped buttons. She created the wedge show and culottes and popularized turbans, embroidered shirts and belts. Schiaparelli introduced the use of music in runway shows and popularized the use of long, lean models.

Schiaparelli’s designs are characterized by their use of Dada and Surrealist influence, such as a lamb-cutlet hat and a suit with pockets imitating a chest of drawers. Auction highlights include a vintage bold fuchsia and black striped dress sold by Cornette de Saint-Cyr sold on July 2, 2009 for €43,749.

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