Dress

Elsa Schiaparelli

1930 · wool, leather · Costume Institute

This early example by Schiaparelli displays both her bold creativity and humor. The buttons across the front waist allude to men's 19th-century fall front pants, a witty form of decoration for women's clothing. The leather trim and buttons show Schiaparelli's penchant for quirky design choices. The interesting highly textured fabric used is also indicative of Schiaparelli's work, as she enjoyed experimenting with unique fabrics and forms of decoration.

Artist

Elsa Schiaparelli

Date

1930

Medium

wool, leather

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 Charles Mergentime in memory of Marguerita Mergentime, 1942