IS was inaugurated on July 4th Shocking! The surreal world of Elsa Schiaparellithe exhibition organized by Musée des Arts Décoratifs from Paris dedicated to the legendary stylist of Italian origin. An unmissable retrospective that highlights the fil rouge which links Schiaparelli’s work to the most influential artists of the twentieth century, highlighting, at the same time, the absolute contemporaneity and the vocation for the present of the maison.
The majestic entrance to the retrospective dedicated to Elsa Schiaparelli (Courtesy Press Office Schiaparelli / Dominique Maitre)
The rebirth of the Schiaparelli maison
The one in progress in Paris (open until January 2023) is the first retrospective dedicated to the Italian couturière, after the reopening of the maison originally closed in 1954. In 2006 it was in fact Diego Della Valle, owner of Tod’s, to buy the fashion house, bringing it back to its historic address in Paris, 21 Place Vendôme. While the idea of paying homage to the founder of the brand was taking shape, it was the arrival of Daniel Roseberry at the helm of the maison to change everything. The American designer has been able to revive surrealism and the deeply innovative soul of the brand, rekindling the interest and charm towards a one-of-a-kind maison.
In recent years, many celebrities have chosen to wear Schiaparelli for moments of historical significance or for the most prestigious red carpets. Lady Gagafor example, for President Biden’s inauguration ceremony he wore a voluminous gown with a bustier and a dove-shaped brooch.
For the Grammy Awards 2021 Beyoncé chose a black leather mini dresswhile Bella Hadid he enchanted Cannes with the necklace in the shape of a bronchial tree. Adelefinally, it never separates from the maison’s maxi planet-shaped earrings. A testimony of how much the artistic language and references of the brand still speak to a vast and varied audience.
Also on show in Paris is the dress worn by Lady Gaga at the inauguration ceremony of President Biden (Courtesy Press Office Schiaparelli / François Goizé)
When fashion becomes art
«The exhibition is based on the intention to discover Elsa Schiaparelli – a woman of today who lived in another era – through her relationship with art and artists at the center of the retrospective. But the exhibition also tells of the powerful influence that his work and his legacy have had on several generations of couturiers and designers »said Dephine Bellini, CEO of Schiaparelli.
The exhibition includes over 520 art objects, including works, photographs, illustrations and jewels. Schiaparelli, who between the 1920s and 1940s revolutionized the wardrobe of the modern womancould boast a deep connection with the art world. From the partnership with the surrealists – like Man Ray, Jean Cocteau, Salvador Dalí and Meret Oppenheim – to collaborations with Alberto Giacometti and Jean Schlumbergerup to the tributes by Yves Saint Laurent, Azzedine Alaïa, John Galliano and Christian Lacroix, the retrospective tells the eternal influence of Schiaparelli’s work.
The iconic 1937 Lobster Dress, with the illustration by Salvador Dalí (Courtesy Press Office Schiaparelli / François Goizé)
A path between past, present and future that highlights a creative mind like no other, which still remains inimitable today.
The exhibition not to be missed this year is undoubtedly the one dedicated to the unique and surreal universe of Elsa Schiaparelli.
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