Evening dress

Designer Elsa Schiaparelli Italian

Not on view

A theme that Schiaparelli continually revisited throughout her career was the cosmic realm. In this evening dress from fall 1939, the belt, featuring glyphs of Jupiter and Mars, is the more obvious reference, but the embroidery, all applied by hand, could symbolize shimmering stardust or astrological symbology. In planetary mythology, Mars, the god of war, is the rebellious son of Jupiter and Juno. Jupiter, or Zeus, was worshipped as the king of gods in ancient Greece. Although A-line construction was not typical for 1939, Schiaparelli's designs often differed from the accepted style, choosing instead to express her ideas unfettered by the trend of the moment.

Evening dress, Elsa Schiaparelli (Italian, 1890–1973), silk, glass, rhinestones, metal, French

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Evening dress, Elsa Schiaparelli (Italian, 1890–1973), silk, glass, rhinestones, metal, French
Evening dress, Elsa Schiaparelli (Italian, 1890–1973), silk, glass, rhinestones, metal, French
Evening dress, Elsa Schiaparelli (Italian, 1890–1973), silk, glass, rhinestones, metal, French

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