Elsa Schiaparelli is a renown fashion designer who was born in Italy. She is most famous for her outrageous designs that were influenced by surrealism and artists like Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp.
Born to a wealthy family in Italy, she was creative and flamboyant even as a child. Around 1913, Elsa met and married William de Wendt in London and had a daughter named Gogo in 1919. The marriage ended in divorce in 1920 and Elsa became a single mother.
Eventually Elsa traveled to Paris and met famous fashion designer Paul Poiret. She opened her own boutique in 1927 called the Rue de la Paix. With no sewing experience, Elsa employed seamstresses to create her designs. Her first famous design was inspired by an American friend which involved a black sweater with a large bow motif. They were well received and launched the beginning of her success.
Elsa became famous for her original designs. They were eccentric and drew a lot of attention. Her greatest fashion rival in Paris was Coco Chanel who's designs were conservative and minimalist; a contrast to Elsa's flamboyant and outrageous designs.
In addition to design, Elsa was recognized as an artist. She included artist Jean Cocteau's drawing on an evening cape. Elsa's famous "Lobster dress" was a collaboration with artist Salvador Dali and the Surrealist movement. Her interest in art and innovation set her apart from other fashion designers. Elsa also introduced "off the rack wear" so that her clothes were available to everyone and not just the upper class. Over time, her designs began to focus on comfort rather than couture. When World War II began in 1939, Elsa moved and continued her designs in America.
After the end of World War II, Elsa's designs were no longer popular and other designers such as Christian Dior was taking over the fashion scene in Paris. She would eventually retire from design and began selling perfumes until her death 1973.
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