August, 2014 - Elsa Schiaparelli - French Connection

Elsa Schiaparelli - 1890-1973

Known for her surrealist designs and madcap aesthetic, Schiaparelli had the ability to seamlessly transform the odd into the chic.  From suit buttons in the shape of flying trapeze artists to beetle-adorned collars and the now-iconic upside down shoe hat, Schiaparelli's designs were a perfect marriage between the practical and fantastical.  Her name is synonymous with strange beauty, and she became a pioneer for women with a quirky sense of style.  For Schiaparelli, the line between fashion and art was blurred.  She collaborated with surrealist artists (like one Salvador Dali) to help create her designs.  Schiap (as she was lovingly known) showed the world that women could look elegant and beautiful while embracing their love for the strange.

Schiaparelli died on November 13, 1973, in Paris, France.  In the decades since her death, Schiaparelli has continued to be regarded as a giant in the fashion world.  In 2012, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art featured her work, along with that of Italian designer Miuccia Prada, in a major exhibition.


The Drink:

French Connection

1 1/2 ounces Cognac
3/4 ounce amaretto liqueur

Drinkability: 4
Drunkability: 4
Taxic Diversity: 2
Accessibility: 3
Priority for Conservation: 4

Comments:  "whoops, we're done"

From "Women in Fashion Design" hosted by BanditQueen