Shocking: The Surreal World of Elsa Schiaparelli

Published to accompany the major exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, a must-have book for all fashion lovers

Brilliant, witty and liberated, Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973) was a key figure in the world of mid-20th-century fashion. From her first sweaters in 1927, decorated with trompe-l’oeil bow motifs, to her baroque gowns of the early 1950s, via her designs inspired by her friendship with Surrealist artists – the lobster dress and shoe hat inspired by Salvador Dalí, and her collaborations with Man Ray and Jean Cocteau – this striking and talented woman shaped fashion history with her vivid imagination. Her salons in the Place Vendôme were designed by Jean-Michel Frank, and her designs immortalized in sketches by Leonor Fini and Marcel Vertès. Diving into the world of Schiaparelli is a fascinating journey into the heart of Paris couture.

Contents List:

Preface by Johannes Huth
Elsa Schiaparelli, a Last Dance - Olivier Gabet

Essays
Shocking: Life between the Lines - Marie-Sophie Carron de la Carrière
Man Ray and Elsa Schiaparelli: Fair Weather for Creativity - Emmanuelle de l’Écotais
Three Asides - Patrick Mauriès
Dressing the Modern Woman - Dilys Blum
When Dalí Discovered Fashion - Jean-Louis Gaillemin

Clothing and Accessories
Elsa Schiaparelli - Valérie Belin

Jewelry
Costume Jewelry and Accessories

Schiaparelli Today
More Beautiful When Broken: A Conversation with Daniel Roseberry - Hanya Yanaghirara

Appendices
Clothing and Accessories from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris Collection
Bibliography
Chronology of the Life of Elsa Schiaparelli

About the Author:

Marie-Sophie Carron de la Carrière is a senior curator at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and head of the fashion collections from 1800 to present.