Sweater
For her first collection in 1927, Elsa Schiaparelli designed several sporty sweaters that featured geometric motifs and trompe l'oeil bows, collars and cuffs. Each sweater was hand-knit using bold colors or black and white yarns that produced a mottled effect, foreshadowing her career-long interest in using visually interesting fabrics. The success of one particular sweater with a trompe l'oeil bowknot officially established her reputation in the fashion world as an artistic purveyor of chic who designed unconventional, unique clothing.
This rustic sweater, worn by Millicent Rogers, is an example of Schiaparelli's penchant for using off-beat closures, construction details and intriguing fabrications to impart an artistic flair to her often simple silhouettes. Schiaparelli frequently used clever shapes and innovative materials for her closures and the rolled leather log buttons seen on this sweater are a clever example of that idiosyncrasy. The unique construction, particularly the application of the shoulder yoke after the sweater was knit as a whole, and the use of contrasting knit patterns on the yoke, collar, button tabs, hem, button placket and sleeve ends, add visual interest and texture.
This rustic sweater, worn by Millicent Rogers, is an example of Schiaparelli's penchant for using off-beat closures, construction details and intriguing fabrications to impart an artistic flair to her often simple silhouettes. Schiaparelli frequently used clever shapes and innovative materials for her closures and the rolled leather log buttons seen on this sweater are a clever example of that idiosyncrasy. The unique construction, particularly the application of the shoulder yoke after the sweater was knit as a whole, and the use of contrasting knit patterns on the yoke, collar, button tabs, hem, button placket and sleeve ends, add visual interest and texture.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sweater
- Designer: Elsa Schiaparelli (Italian, 1890–1973)
- Date: ca. 1935
- Culture: French
- Medium: wool, leather
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, 1955
- Object Number: 2009.300.2417
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Elsa Schiaparelli
1950s
Elsa Schiaparelli
1950s
Elsa Schiaparelli
Henri Bendel
1938
Elsa Schiaparelli
1950s
Elsa Schiaparelli
R. H. Macy & Co.
1950s
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.