The surreal fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli, VA

Elsa Schiaparelli (1890 1973) pushed boundaries as a fashion designer, transforming functional items of clothing into unique style statements. Her evening suits embody the height of 1930s haute couture, owing to their intricate embellishments, luxurious textiles and severe tailoring. Her collaborations with Surrealist artists like Salvador Dali produced provocative, even shocking designs. Theatrical accessories such as the shoeshaped hat, her Tears dress patterned to look like torn flesh, and the unca