Designer Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973) is not only known as Coco Chanel's greatest rival, but also as one of the most creative couturières of the 1930s and 40s. Ahead of her time in many ways, Schiaparelli brought a completely new talent to the world of haute couture by fusing fashion with art.
Initally focusing on knitwear, Schiaparelli's first success was a line of black sweaters with an illusionistic "trompe l'oile" bowknot on the front . She then opened a boutique in 1927 called "pour le Sport" consisting of sports wear, bathing suits and ski apparel. In 1931, Schiaparelli stunned the world by creating a new "divided skirt", basically shorts or culottes, for Lili de Alvarez to wear at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Evening wear and costume jewelry soon followed and the shop moved into the upscale Place Vendôme.
The Surrealist movement was a huge source of inspiration for Schiaparelli. She worked with a number of artists including the great Salvador Dalí. Her many collaborations with Dalí, such as the hand painted "Lobster Dress", "Tears Dress" and shoe hat have became some of her most famous designs.
Schiaparelli was a trail blazer. She was was the first to ulitilize shoulder pads in women's wear and invented the wrap dress decades before Diane Von Furstenberg. She also was the first designer to use animal prints in fashion. Schiaparelli even coined the term "shocking pink", using it as her signature color and name of her well-known perfume line.
