Dress

spring 1938

Not on view

Schiaparelli was known to embellish her simple silhouettes with provocative textiles, such as this subtly glimmering dress fabric from spring 1938. The metallicized effect is accomplished by weaving one light-reflective thread with a matte thread. The frizzy texture of the yarns is also unusual and adds an additional textural element to the textile. The plastic zippers used are a classic Schiaparelli detail. Here she has boldly used two different colors, brown on one side, black on the other, to humorously add interest. The welt seaming on the bodice hints at her trompe l'oeil bow sweaters from her first collection in 1927. The seaming is also a predecessor of the seams on the Surrealism-inspired "skeleton" dress from her summer 1938 collection. In this example, they remind the viewer of a spindly, yet fashionable, web capturing the wearer.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Exhibition History

Title: Dress
Designer: Elsa Schiaparelli (Italian, 1890–1973)
Date: spring 1938
Culture: French
Medium: wool
Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Millicent Huttleston Rogers, 1951
Object Number: 2009.300.149
Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute

More Artwork

By Elsa Schiaparelli

In the same medium

From the same time and place

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Pullover sweater, Elsa Schiaparelli Italian, wool, silk, French — Pullover sweater
Elsa Schiaparelli
1950s

Evening ensemble, Elsa Schiaparelli Italian, silk, metal, French — Evening ensemble
Elsa Schiaparelli
Henri Bendel
1938

Pin, Elsa Schiaparelli Italian, glass, metal, French — Pin
Elsa Schiaparelli
1950s

Necktie, Elsa Schiaparelli Italian, silk, French — Necktie
Elsa Schiaparelli
R. H. Macy & Co.
1950s

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