Coat

Elsa Schiaparelli

summer 1940 · wool · Costume Institute

Many of Schiaparelli's clients were women, who like Schiaparelli herself, were not beautiful in the conventional sense, but rather possessed a striking and unique quality. Schiaparelli's designs perpetuated that different type of artistic chic. In this particular coat, worn by devoted client Millicent Rogers, the dramatic asymmetric neckline and curved seaming add visual interest and lend a slightly off-center quality to the design. The beautifully crafted, high quality lion head buttons are animated, almost like a jewelry adornment. Rogers would have especially appreciated this detail, as she collected jewelry and made her own pieces as well.

Artist

Elsa Schiaparelli

Date

summer 1940

Medium

wool

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 Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, 1954