Elsa Schiaparelli twelve commandments

Elsa Schiaparelli twelve commandments
Born Elsa Luisa Maria, into a noble Italian family, Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973) is a renowned Parisian fashion designer. Noteworthy, the well-known Coco Chanel wanted to be like her, in witty look at things, and the courage of the experimenter. She cooperated with the best representatives of the artistic elite of the time. The gift of the artist forever provided for Schiaparelli a place in the history of fashion. She still amazes and inspires artists, costumers, and designers from all over the world.
The phenomenon of Surrealism played a huge role in the development of modern fashion design. Schiaparelli grew up in an eccentric environment, and in New York she eagerly followed the development of the Art Deco and Cubism.

Having returned to Paris, Schiaparelli launched her career as a designer. She started with sports clothes – dresses and sweaters with polka dots and stripes, with a pattern imitating bows and collars. Today, black jersey dress with a pattern in the form of a bow or buckle seems ordinary thing. However, in 1927, this outfit was a real revelation, the answer to what was happening in the arts.

In collaboration with such iconic people as Salvador Dali, Jean Cocteau, Kees van Dongen, photographers Horst P. Horst, and Maine Reyem, she created her surreal collections.

Elsa Schiaparelli twelve commandments

In 1954 Elsa Schiaparelli published her autobiography “Shocking Life”, which contains a list of 12 commandments for women:

Since most women do not know themselves, they should try to do so.

A woman who buys an expensive dress and changes it, often with disastrous result, is extravagant and foolish.

Most women (and men) are color-blind. They should ask for suggestions.

Remember, 20 percent of women have inferiority complexes, 70 percent have illusions.

Ninety percent are afraid of being conspicuous, and of what people will say. So they buy a gray suit. They should dare to be different.

Women should listen and ask for competent criticism and advice.

They should choose their clothes alone or in the company of a man.

They should never shop with another woman, who sometimes consciously, and often unconsciously, is apt to be jealous.

She should buy little and only of the best or the cheapest.

Never fit a dress to the body, but train the body to fit the dress.

A woman should buy mostly in one place where she is known and respected, and not rush around trying every new fad.

And she should pay her bills.

Elsa Schiaparelli twelve commandments