Evening belt

Elsa Schiaparelli

summer 1940 · silk, metal · Costume Institute

Schiaparelli's summer 1940 collection steered away from war references, heavy in her spring 1940 collection, and presented more feminine styles. However, she did include several accessories inspired by the November 1939 invasion of Finland by the Soviet Union. In support of the Finnish nation, many couturiers offered Finnish-inspired designs. Schiaparelli's contributions included penguin print dresses, hand-knitted stockings and this belt loosely adapted from Finnish belts worn during celebrations. Finnish folk dress includes a belt with long streamers which fall across the wearer's skirt at front, such as the tasseled streamer on Schiaparelli's interpretation. Executed in vibrant colors against a stark white ground, the heart and flower motifs, commonly seen in folk dress surround the date of the collection. Another example featuring swans, a national symbol of Finland is also in the museum's collection (see 2009.300.3535).

Artist

Elsa Schiaparelli

Date

summer 1940

Medium

silk, metal

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Rodman A. Heeren, 1960