1930s Fashion
to
1
1
1
19
2
1
2
6
8
2
52
6
5
4
4
2
2
2
Period: 1930s
Designer: Elsa Schiaparelli
An Elsa Schiaparelli Woolen Embroidered Couture Evening Coat - France Circa 1939
Located in Toulon, FR
Circa 1938/1940
Paris France
An Elsa Schiaparelli (attributed to) long black woolen coat embroidered by the Maison Lesage with large baroque volute patter...
Category
French 1930s Fashion
Extraordinary Elsa Schiaparelli Haute Couture Evening Jacket
Located in New York, NY
"In difficult times, fashion is always outrageous"
Elsa Schiaparelli,1930's.
"Life has changed so much, A Schiaparelli was never made for the streets."
Karl Lagerfeld, 1970's.
2 quotes,2 designers, 4 decades apart.
4 decades later.
Although these quotes are highly debatable, especially in the context of today's high-low designer collabs and pop up retailing, iconic fashion endures. Whether now relegated to a museum exhibition, a collector's acid free box or a celebrity one nighter, these fashion artifacts from the french Haute Couture of the 1930's echo a time, pace and culture unrecognizable to most people today.
Schiaparelli changed the definition of what it meant to be a designer at an important time in the evolution of the Haute Couture. Rather than simply making beautifully elegant garments (which she also did), she focused on the concepts behind the pieces. For her fashion was a fluid medium and she effortlessly blended fashion, politics and the fine arts. She was one of the most innovative and rebellious designers of the period working against what she considered the stale fashion currents of the day.
She was elegant yet untrained. As a protege of Poiret, she gained entry into the world of Parisian fashion. While her rival Chanel was essentially uneducated and a “primitive” in the artistic circles in which she socialized, Schiaparelli’s impeccable social credentials as the daughter of an old and distinguished Roman family gave her a relatively easy entree into Paris society.
She was a subversive, a punk, a desecrator, a collaborator, an innovator as well as the ultimate insider whose plans on design domination and creating "la zone rose" for the modern world were cut short by the advent of WWII. She was at the height of her influence and power showing 4 iconic collections in the last years of the decade.
Fascinating to consider what the House of Schiaparelli could have brought forth in the following decades had the world not been swept away in turmoil at that moment.
In the context of her short prewar career, few remaining masterworks have survived. The rare "moment" she created in the 30's lives on within each art piece, safelocked away within each stitch and sequin. Each design retains her spirit and legacy as a free thinking, modernist rebel who used the avantegarde as her platform in the most creative period of fashion design in the 20th Century.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rare and Important Elsa Schiaparelli Haute Couture...
Category
French 1930s Fashion
Related Items
1980S MICHAEL NOVARESE Black Haute Couture Silk Taffeta Duster Covered In Excep
Located in New York, NY
1980S MICHAEL NOVARESE Black Haute Couture Silk Taffeta Duster Covered In Exceptional Embroidery & Beaded Gold Work
Category
American 1930s Fashion
VERSACE for H&M Greca Studded Cropped Women's Leather Jacket 34
Located in PUTNEY, NSW
Elevate your wardrobe with the unmistakable allure of the VERSACE for H&M Greca Studded Cropped Leather Jacket. This exquisite piece effortlessly combines luxury and edgy sophisticat...
Category
European 1930s Fashion
GUCCI Cape Showstopper Silk Velvet Gorgeous Gold Rhinestone Embellishment Jacket
By Gucci
Located in Berlin, BE
Father, Son and House of Gucci <3
So obsessed with this gorgeous SHOWSTOPPER piece!
Rare and so beautiful GUCCI silk velvet Cape, new with tag.
Dark...
Category
Italian 1930s Fashion
1940s Moire Opera Coat
Located in Water Mill, NY
A gorgeous black moire full length opera coat. It has 15 round self covered buttons and loops closing up the front and an A line skirt portion. It is line...
Category
Unknown 1930s Fashion
Bordeaux Red Velvet Gold Brocade Coat and Hat
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Amazing bordeaux/red velvet gold brocade gown
We offer more exclusive vintage items, view our frontstore
Details:
Red velvet embroidered with ...
Category
1930s Fashion
YVES SAINT LAURENT YSL Black Blazer with Dome Buttons
Located in Genève, CH
Exclusive Yves Saint Laurent Variation black 100% "Fresco" summer wool jacket from the early 90s.
Collarless, with large 5 gold dome shaped buttons down center and slash pockets on each hip. Both sleeves have three large dome buttons...
Category
French 1930s Fashion
Vintage Terry Paris Gold Medallion Leather Lace Jacket
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fabulous early 1990's Terry Paris Versace style jacket. Beautiful decorative goldtone medusa head medallions. Lace embellishment. Goldtone button closure a...
Category
French 1930s Fashion
Amazing Vintage Caftan, Caramel Velvet and Gold Embroidered, ca. 1960s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Amazing vintage handmade caftan, caramel color crushed silk velvet heavily with gold rim threads. Circa 1960's The honey gold velvet kaftan is embroidered and embellished entirely by...
Category
Moroccan 1930s Fashion
Dolce & Gabbana mauve mesh evening coat dress with floral motifs, ss 1998
Located in London, GB
▪ Dolce & Gabbana mauve mesh evening coat dress
▪ 66% Cotton, 34% Nylon
▪ Hand-sewn three-dimensional floral motifs
▪ Double breasted
▪ Metal hook and snap button fastenings
▪ Stan...
Category
Italian 1930s Fashion
Size: IT 42 - FR 38 - UK 10 - US 6
Azzedine Alaia Spring 1991 2 Pieces Set
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Incredible and very rare Azzedine Alaia 2 pieces set in sting ray embossed leather from Spring Summer 1991 collection. This one of a kind set includes a cropped jacket that closes wi...
Category
1930s Fashion
Dolce & Gabbana ivory silk hand-painted kimono dress coat, fw 1998
Located in London, GB
▪ Dolce & Gabbana ivory kimono dress coat
▪ 65% Silk, 35% Nylon
▪ Hand-painted design of flowers and birds
▪ Black silk lining
▪ IT 44 - FR 40 - UK 12 ...
Category
Italian 1930s Fashion
Size: IT 44 - FR 40 - UK 12 - US 8
Alaia Double Breasted Blazer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Black double breasted blazer. Collared. Fitted style. Button closures. Front pockets. Viscose.
*Condition: Excellent vintage condition. No visib...
Category
1930s Fashion
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Hourglass Skirt
Vintage Style Dresses 1930
Chanel Vintage Pink
Gucci Belt Black Leather
Gucci Black Leather Belt
Black Leather Gucci Belt
Louis Vuitton Paris Monogram
Vintage Suitcases Used
Mens Vintage French
Rolex Range
Fall Sale
Gucci Vintage Tag
Ysl Belt Used
Used Ysl Belt
Silk Maxi Dress 1970
Orange Luggage
Silk Chiffon Designer Dresses
Vintage Leather Belt Straps