Today, only notable experts in the fashion world know who Elsa Schiaparelli was. However, in the old days, the name of this amazing woman did not leave the lips of journalists. Every collection of fashionable garments she created was admired by the fashion fans and the envy of the competition.
From the biography of Elsa Schiaparelli
The future star of world fashion was born on September 10, 1890. Her father was in charge of the Royal Library of Italy. From a young age, the girl was surrounded by the care of her relatives. The girl's favorite pastime was looking at books in her father's library. Elsa was most interested in illustrations. Books were a great passion for the head of the family. He was an avid numismatist; his collection of coins contained completely unique specimens.
Elsa's mother was born in Malta, where her father served as consul. Many of the girl's relatives were representatives of the elite of that time. Elsa herself did not stand out for her external data - she could not be called a beauty. The parents of their daughter did not allow any liberties. The father rejected all potential suitors out of the box. Elsa concentrated her efforts on her studies.
Elsa broke free of the shackles of parental care only in 1914, when she went to London at the invitation of a friend. Here the girl got a job as a governess. On the way to Britain, Elsa stopped in Paris, where she was invited to a ball. The girl whipped up an outfit for herself. She attached a piece of bright silk to a navy blue crepe de Chine dress. Hastily made myself a hat. All elements of the outfit were pinned together. The local public welcomed the girl in such an extravagant outfit. However, during the next dance, the fabulously beautiful outfit disintegrated into separate parts, leaving the audience in a state of shock. This is how Elsa began her career as a fashion designer.
Elsa Schiaparelli's Life Path
In London, Elsa took up her child-rearing responsibilities. There was not much trouble, there was time for personal life. Intrigued by the occult, Elsa signed up for lectures on Theosophy given by Count William de Wendt de Curlor. Once Schiaparelli started an argument with a lecturer, which lasted for several hours. By morning, the young people were engaged. The daughter informed her strict parents about her choice only after the wedding ceremony.
However, family life did not work out from the first days. The husband did not have a stable income. The couple moved from London, where they rented an apartment, to Nice - the parents of Elsa's husband lived there. Once Schiaparelli went to Monte Carlo to try to improve her financial situation at a green cloth table. She returned home penniless, vowing never to visit a casino.
Trying to change their fate, the couple went to New York. But William began to indulge in entertainment, starting numerous novels and forgetting about the purpose of his trip to America. Debts grew, and there was nothing to pay for the family's stay in the hotel. The husband was indifferent even to the news that Elsa was expecting a baby. When Schiaparelli left the maternity hospital with her daughter, she had to look for a new shelter for herself - they were evicted from the hotel for debts.
After a while, William, while being heavily drunk, died under the wheels of a car. Mom and daughter huddled in the cheapest hotel. Elsa was interrupted by odd jobs. On top of that, the girl was diagnosed with a serious illness. In search of funds for the treatment of her daughter, Elsa turned to the wife of the French artist Picabia. She invited her to start selling collectible clothes.
Shortly thereafter, Elsa, on the advice of doctors, returned to Europe. She placed her sick daughter in a boarding house for children with musculoskeletal disorders, located in Lausanne.
Schiaparelli's creativity
Elsa joined the fashion world by accident. One evening she met a woman wearing a handmade sweater. Schiaparelli ordered the outfit she liked for herself. Coming out into the light, Elsa made an impression on the public. She soon established ties with the Armenian diaspora, which began to supply her with clothes that Elsa sold to French fashionistas. Success inspired Schiaparelli. She started designing her own clothing designs.
Soon, clothing collections under the Elsa Schiaparelli brand were in great demand in Paris. Elsa came up with the idea of creating women's toilets with a high waist and drapery elements. These antique silhouettes were popular among French women of fashion. Schiaparelli's fame grew with every fashion show.
In the 30s, Elsa opened her own boutique in Paris and a Fashion House in the capital of the USSR. In 1938, a creative union was born between Schiaparelli and Salvador Dali. The designer's works became even more shocking, which fueled interest in her work all over the world.
In 1940, Schiaparelli had to leave Paris occupied by the Germans. She went to the United States, where she lived until 1946. After returning to Europe, Schiaparelli began the production of perfumery. The design of perfume bottles was made by Elsa's friend, Salvador Dali.
Elsa presented her last collection of clothes to the public in the mid-50s. After leaving the profession, Schiaparelli took up the upbringing of her granddaughters. After moving to Tunisia, Elsa took up literary work, writing a shocking book about her life.
Elsa Schiaparelli passed away on November 13, 1973.
