Elsa Schiaparelli Haute Couture Coat-Dress 1950s
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Style:vintage (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3143222652612
Elsa Schiaparelli
From her signature color Shocking Pink to her collaborations with Surrealist artists, the boldly original Elsa Schiaparelli transformed fashion with her haute couture house from the late 1920s to the early ’50s. Experimenting with elements like trompe l’oeil images and colorful visible zippers, the Italian designer instilled a provocative avant-garde artistry in her clothing and accessories, including those created with Salvador Dalí, such as the lobster dress and a hat shaped like a shoe.
Born in Rome, Schiaparelli was a rebellious child who grew up among the city’s intellectual elite. She had a voracious appetite for reading and became interested in ancient cultures, astronomy and world religions. Schiaparelli studied philosophy at the University of Rome, and after publishing a collection of poems on love and sensuality that so mortified her conservative parents that they tried, unsuccessfully, to confine her to a Swiss convent, she left for London.
A quick marriage to Count Wilhelm de Wendt de Kerlor brought her to New York, but it would be in Paris following her divorce that Schiaparelli embraced her artistic passions. She moved to the French capital city in 1922 with her young daughter and happened to meet master couturier Paul Poiret, who loaned the stylish Schiaparelli his clothes, sparking her own fashion interests.
Schiaparelli opened her modest atelier in Paris and debuted her first collection of knitwear in 1927, and later that year, she designed a black-and-white pullover hand-knit wool sweater featuring a trompe l’oeil bowknot that captured the attention of the fashion world. Vogue called it “an artistic masterpiece.” The success led to her moving her house to 21 Place Vendôme in 1935 where thousands of garments were produced each year.
Schiaparelli’s knitwear collections were later accompanied by revolutionary swimsuits and other clothing and accessories. Her inventive designs would include culottes — a radical statement in the 1930s when women still could cause a scandal by wearing pants — as well as printed fabric, such as the 1938 Tears dress with a print designed by Dalí making it appear as if the evening gown had been savagely ripped.
Schiaparelli was among the first designers to use materials like rayon and Lurex as well as explore wrap dresses and transparent raincoats. She also introduced unisex fragrances and brought her artistic partnerships into jewelry, such as bronze brooches made with Alberto Giacometti and fur-lined bracelets with Méret Oppenheim. As she wrote in her 1954 autobiography Shocking Life, women should “dare to be different.”
Despite her acclaim, her shop closed in 1954 after a tumultuous time during World War II. By then, fashion had moved on with Christian Dior's New Look, and the closure of Schiaparelli's business coincided with a comeback mounted by Coco Chanel, her archrival in the early days.
In 2006, Italian businessman Diego Della Valle acquired the brand and its archives, and the Maison Schiaparelli was reopened in 2012, back at 21 Place Vendôme where Schiaparelli's fearless and enduring work began.
Find vintage Elsa Schiaparelli hats, evening dresses and other clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Chanel Haute Couture Lace Gown 1940sBy ChanelLocated in New York, NYThis is a very rare vintage 1940s Chanel couture gown. Straight silhouette gown comprising a skirt and a blouse, delicate plunging backline decora...Category
1640s European Aesthetic Evening Dresses
- Chanel vintage 1988 pleated navy blue silk dress MBy Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, ChanelLocated in New York, NYVintage Chanel Spring/Summer 1988 runway show silk navy blue dress , size Medium. Chanel dress is made of navy silk. Decorated with gold-tone chains. Fitted silhouette, pleated skirt...Category
1680s European Day Dresses
- Vintage Chanel Runway 1996 F/W dress by Karl Lagerfeld worn by Linda EvangelistaBy ChanelLocated in New York, NYRunway 1996 F/W dress worn by Linda Evangelista created by Karl Lagerfeld size FR 36 excellent condition , smell free, no defects thick 100% silk with crystals collector's find...Category
1990s European Cocktail Dresses
- Chanel Chartreuse Lambskin 3/4 Coat - 40 - 04CBy ChanelLocated in West Palm Beach, FLChanel Chartreuse Lambskin 3/4 Coat - 40 - 04C. This beautiful 3/4 coat has 4 pocket slits, big "CC" buttons, long sleeves and a collar. It is in ver...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Coats and Outerwear
- James Perse Gray Wool Black Ribbed Trench Coat ShirtLocated in Downey, CAJames Perse Gray Wool Black Ribbed Trench Coat Shirt James Perse simple takes on coats are a must have for your closet! Made with quality materials and made in the USA . Add a stapl...Category
2010s American Coats
- S.T. Dupont Motorsport Nascar Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon Reversible CoatLocated in Downey, CAS.T. Dupont Motorsport Nascar Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon Reversible Coat This Oversize Multi Fabric Blend Reversible Jeff Gordon Bomber Jacket is cool and stylish. It features...Category
2010s Coats
- Comme Des Garcons X Supreme Polka Dot Logo Print Men's HoodieBy Comme des GarçonsLocated in Downey, CAComme Des Garcons X Supreme Polka Dot Logo Print Men's Hoodie The Comme Des Garcons x SUPREME polka dot box logo pullover hoodie is another fine example of the minimal styling and a...Category
2010s Japanese Hooded Jackets
- Gucci Small Scarlet 80's Sold Out Rare Hoodie GG-0624N-0002By GucciLocated in Downey, CAGucci Small Scarlet 80's Sold Out Rare Hoodie GG-0624N-0002 Fresh from the House of Gucci brings a sweatshirt continues to evolve with each new collection, the Oversize GUCCI print ...Category
2010s Hooded Jackets
- James Perse Gray Vintage Full Zip Hoodie ShirtLocated in Downey, CAJames Perse Gray Vintage Full Zip Hoodie Shirt Simple cuts made with quality materials, James Perse is a must for any minimalist. A easy throw on for any o...Category
2010s American Hooded Jackets
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
You Saw It at the Met Ball. Here’s What Camp Fashion Is Really About
This year's Costume Institute exhibition is all about embracing the eccentric.
The Met’s Latest Blockbuster Tells a Powerful Story through 230 Jewels
A captivating show at the Manhattan museum explores how jewelry has ornamented the body through the millennia — and redefines it as high art.