Elsa Schiaparelli

Profession: Fashion Designer

Nationality:

Biography: Elsa Schiaparelli was an Italian fashion designer remembered for her avant-garde work during the interwar period, particularly in the 1920s and 1930s. She founded the Schiaparelli fashion house in Paris, gaining recognition for her inventive knitwear and collaborations with Surrealist artists. Her fashion rivalry with Coco Chanel added to her notoriety, and she dressed many notable figures of the time.

Elsa Schiaparelli was born in 1890, in Rome, to Giuseppa Maria de Dominicis and Celestino Schiaparelli. As the daughter of an academic and an aristocrat, she received a well-rounded education, studying philosophy at the University of Rome. Unsatisfied with her life in Italy, she authored a book of poems and eventually left to work in a London hospital, which led to her relocation to Paris.

After settling in London, Schiaparelli married Willem de Wendt, who turned out to be a con artist. They moved to the United States in 1916, only to face financial struggles. Their daughter, Maria Luisa Yvonne Radha, nicknamed Gogo, was born in 1920. Once her marriage dissolved, Schiaparelli went back to France in 1922 and connected with members of the Dada and Surrealist movements, including Gabrielle Buffet-Picabia.

With guidance from fashion designer Paul Poiret, Schiaparelli began her own fashion business in Paris. Although her first venture faltered, she relaunched in 1927 with a line of stylish knitwear that was well-received. Her business grew, and by 1935, it had relocated to the prestigious Place Vendôme.

Schiaparelli became known for her creative collaborations, particularly with Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau, resulting in iconic creations such as the Lobster Dress and the Shoe Hat. She was also a pioneer in using zippers, new fabrics, and faux jewelry in high fashion. Additionally, she designed for film and introduced successful perfumes, including "Shocking!"

The advent of World War II negatively affected Schiaparelli's business, as did the changing fashion landscape afterward. In 1954, she made the decision to close her fashion house and went on to write her autobiography, "Shocking Life."

Her brand experienced a revival in the 21st century with new creative leadership. Her descendants, granddaughters Marisa Berenson and Berry Berenson, have carried on aspects of her fashion influence.

Born: September 10, 1890
Birthplace: Rome, Italy

Generation: Lost Generation
Star Sign: Virgo

Died: November 13, 1973 (aged 83)