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Schiaparelli Review

V&A South Kensington, London. The Italian designer loved to shock, and this dazzling show is like sashaying through a party in 1930s Paris with Schiap and her darling friends Cocteau and Dalí.

Schiaparelli Review

TL;DR

  • The V&A exhibition showcases the surreal and witty designs of Elsa Schiaparelli.
  • Schiaparelli collaborated with artists like Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau, blurring lines between fashion and art.
  • Her designs featured imaginative elements such as a shoe-hat, a skeleton dress, and a lobster dress.
  • The show positions Schiaparelli as an artist in her own right, not just a designer who associated with artists.
  • Contemporary designer Daniel Roseberry's modern pieces are interspersed with archive items, showcasing Schiaparelli's enduring legacy.
  • Schiaparelli's use of 'shocking pink' and her ability to shock were key elements of her brand.