The Surreal World of Elsa Schiaparelli/ Musee des Arts Decoratifs

 

Another late night at the museum. MAD/musee des arts decoratifs is open Thursdays till 9. And another spectacular don’t-miss exhibition is on in Paris till January 22.

The first room you enter is covered, including the floor you’re standing on with her fashion sketches. The ceiling is mirrored, so you’re inside a box 📦 of drawings ✏️ Designer Elsa Schiaparelli made a donation in 1973 of over 6000 drawings in bound albums.

                                                                Photo c/of MAD

Then you enter the dark. Flashlights were not provided. I nearly fell over a raised platform

I was so dazzled by the glittering outfits. 

There is a lot of sparkle plenty to Elsa Schiaparelli (1890 - 1973). I wrote about the Met show in 2012 but this show has much more depth and is more expansive.

Schiaparelli was one of the leading designers of the 1920s - 1930s with a flair for the witty, fantasical and the Surreal. 

Here drawn superbly by Jean Cocteau, she was first designer to use shoulder pads, animal prints 

And she created the first perfume bottles as art pieces and was the inventor of the perfume shocking pink. 

She collaborated with artists including jean Cocteau, Alberto Giacometti, Christian Berard and 

With Salvador Dali to create the Dali Lobsters dress and famous shoe hat. Her witty creations during a time of depression helped raise spirits and caused great jealousy from Coco Chanel.

There are 520 works including 272 costumes and fashion accessories, 248 paintings, sculptures, jewelry, perfume bottles, ceramics, posters in the exhibition.

And collaborations with the most famous artists of her time, from Man Ray, Salvador Dali

Jean Cocteau to Meret Oppenheim and Picasso. 

After assisting Paul Poirot, In 1927, Schiaparelli presented her first collection of sweaters decorated with trompe-l'oeil knots that made her name known in la mode (designs later to be copied by Sonia Rykiel). 

Interesting that In 1947 Elsa hired Hubert de Givenchy, then 19, to be her first assistant later making him artistic director of the shop. 

Every new collection had a specific theme, like butterflies here, often the result of a collaboration with a particular artist. 

In 1954 the house closed. 

But the tradition lives on with new American artistic director, Daniel Roseberry at Maison Schiaparelli since 2019 at 21, Place Vendôme. 

This exhibit is an enormous chunk of French fashion and art history well worth visiting, especially if you visit Thursday night when less crowded. Listen to Stella Jang while you dream of glittering Paris. Thanks for all your great post ideas and for showing up dear PBers! Notes ✏️ have been made. 

Thanks for reading PB. 🎁 Gift yourself and others Parisbreakfast letters 💌, maps and watercolors🎨 now in my Etsy shop.  ❤️💋🥂😊 🐻