Comparison of Two Major Fashion Designers of History!

Elsa Schiaparelli Life history: Schiaparelli or “Schiap” -as she was called by her friends-had a very affluent and well-educated family background. She was born in 1890,in a posh division of Rome and despite the aristocratic graces that she was raised with, she was a rebel: she wanted to pursue acting- while studying philosophy at University- and family resistance made her publish a book of sensual poetry for which she was sent to a strict convent in Germanic Switzerland. Her individuality and flare for designing was reflected in 1913, when she arrived at a ball wearing a gown put in place by only pins! Against her family’s wishes, she married her professor, Count William de Wendt de Kerlor in 1914. Enroute to NewYork, where the couple was to begin their life together, they encountered Gabriella Picabia, wife of the Spanish Dadaian artist Francis Picabia. Schiap and her husband were then introduced to the Greenwich Village Circle of artists which belonged to the Avant-garde Movement at the time. This was important as these artists were to reflect on her style and design philosophy in the coming years of success. Following the birth of her daughter “Gogo”, she got divorced and was also dejected by the demise of her father. She moved to the artist colony of Woodstock, New York where she led a hand to mouth life. In 1922, she was invited by Gabriella Picaba and moved to Paris. This was a turning point in her life: she met Paul Poiret, the Master of Couture at the time, in 1924 and started freelancing designs on his advice and from there; there was no turning back for her. Fashion career: * Style and design philosophy: Schiaparelli epitomized REAL style, one that was unique to an individual. It was also termed as “Shocking” given that the colors, silhouettes and detailing that her designs entailed were idiosyncratic and even eccentric for the time. Just as artists of the Surrealism Movement were using canvases to express themselves, Schiap chose