Elsa Schiaparelli is one of the most unique voices fashion has ever seen. Her penchant for daring designs was often inspired by her close friendships with Surrealist artists. We look at the life and legacy of the enigmatic designer in celebration of the opening of the exhibit “Shocking! The Surreal World of Elsa Schiaparelli” at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.

ADDITIONAL READING:

• Berenson, Marisa. Elsa Schiaparelli’s Private Album. London: Double-Barreled Books, 2014.
• Blum, Dilys E. Shocking!: The Art and Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2003.
• Schiaparelli, Elsa. Hommage à Elsa Schiaparelli. Paris: Musée de la Mode et du Costume, 1984.
• Schiaparelli, Elsa. Shocking Life: the Autobiography of Elsa Schiaparelli. London: V&A, 2007.
• White, Palmer. Elsa Schiaparelli: Empress of Paris Fashion. New York: Rizzoli, 1986.