The Initial Connection of Art and Fashion Through Elsa Schiaparelli

In this day and age, none of us are strangers to the mixing of art and fashion. Whether it’s as minimalistic as mixing different patterns in an every-day outfit, or as outlandish as the outfits at the wildly celebrated annual Met Gala, it’s clear to see that art and fashion go hand in hand. The most recent example of this comes from Kylie Jenner’s show stopping piece in Paris: a form fitting black velvet dress accompanied by a life-sized lion’s head resting on her torso.

While this look would undoubtedly raise curiosity any other day in Paris, at the Schiaparelli Couture Runway, it fit right in. Afterall, this show is meant to celebrate one of the most renowned designers in the world, and one of the strongest figures that bridged the gap between fashion and art in the first place: Elsa Schiaparelli.

While this might be a new name to the common ear, it’s certainly not one in the fashion industry. Coming out of the second World War, the population in Europe was ready for a change; they wanted to live exorbitant days full of tremendous spending to enrich their lifestyle. Schiaparelli and her vision fit into this narrative and was able to create a new era in fashion that would define the time, as futurism and dadaism were not just art styles at this time, but the talk of the world. This environment made it possible for her to cross the borders of what fashion was supposed to look like. She was able to pull materials such as tree bark, cellophane, and glass to create, not just a piece of clothing, but a masterpiece.

Schiaparelli’s work screamed creativity and individualism—something that was one of her most important statements. Her work was known not for their beauty (although that was part of the wonder of her pieces), but for the artistic air she had when creating. While collaborating with renowned artist Salvador Dalí, they created one of her most famous pieces, the Lobster Dinner Dress. This stunning dress incorporated hand-drawn work from Dalí, which was ultimately printed into the silk fabric of this A-line evening gown with an empire waist thanks to a sheer, coral inset sewn below the bust. This artistic piece aligned with Schiaparelli’s ideals, creating an art piece within a type of clothing.

The legacy Schiaparelli left on the fashion industry was revolutionary, as we can see from the couture show in her honor thrown in Paris every year, along with how many runways are lined with her designs today. Schiaparelli was a firm believer that “clothes [have] to be architectural”, as the body is like a plain statue waiting for details and design to be added. I hope in the future of the fashion industry, all bodies are treated like bare statues, draping them in looks that continue to bridge the two industries of fashion and art. The two go hand-in-hand, and if the legacy of Schiaparelli continues to stick, they will continue to work together forever.

Sources

Borrelli-Persson, L. (2022, July 1). Everything You Need to Know About Elsa Schiaparelli Ahead of the Shocking! Exhibition in Paris. Vogue. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.vogue.com/article/everything-you-need-to-know-about-elsa-schiaparelli-ahead-of-the-shocking-exhibition-in-paris

Fleming, K. (2023, January 23). Kylie Jenner's 'Sickening' Lion Dress Defended by Designer: It's Not 'Literal'. New York Post. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://nypost.com/2023/01/23/kylie-jenners-lion-dress-defended-by-schiaparelli/

Flickr. (2010). Schiaparelli Lobster Dress. Flickr. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/48990726@N05/4492623261/.

Testa, J. (2022, July 4). The Mother of Strange Fashion. The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/03/style/elsa-schiaparelli-exhibition-surrealism-paris.html

Vintage Industrial Style. (2016, July 7). 7 Most Iconic Fashion Designers. Vintage Industrial Style. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from http://www.vintageindustrialstyle.com/iconic-fashion-designers/

Written by Ann Harper Covington

Copyedited by Mia Romans

Graphic by Ritika Sharma