Elsa Schiaparelli Paris 1950's Black Straw Hat
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Style:Classic (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Sharon, CT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3238221232832
Elsa Schiaparelli
From her signature color Shocking Pink to her collaborations with Surrealist artists, the boldly original Elsa Schiaparelli transformed fashion with her haute couture house from the late 1920s to the early ’50s. Experimenting with elements like trompe l’oeil images and colorful visible zippers, the Italian designer instilled a provocative avant-garde artistry in her clothing and accessories, including those created with Salvador Dalí, such as the lobster dress and a hat shaped like a shoe.
Born in Rome, Schiaparelli was a rebellious child who grew up among the city’s intellectual elite. She had a voracious appetite for reading and became interested in ancient cultures, astronomy and world religions. Schiaparelli studied philosophy at the University of Rome, and after publishing a collection of poems on love and sensuality that so mortified her conservative parents that they tried, unsuccessfully, to confine her to a Swiss convent, she left for London.
A quick marriage to Count Wilhelm de Wendt de Kerlor brought her to New York, but it would be in Paris following her divorce that Schiaparelli embraced her artistic passions. She moved to the French capital city in 1922 with her young daughter and happened to meet master couturier Paul Poiret, who loaned the stylish Schiaparelli his clothes, sparking her own fashion interests.
Schiaparelli opened her modest atelier in Paris and debuted her first collection of knitwear in 1927, and later that year, she designed a black-and-white pullover hand-knit wool sweater featuring a trompe l’oeil bowknot that captured the attention of the fashion world. Vogue called it “an artistic masterpiece.” The success led to her moving her house to 21 Place Vendôme in 1935 where thousands of garments were produced each year.
Schiaparelli’s knitwear collections were later accompanied by revolutionary swimsuits and other clothing and accessories. Her inventive designs would include culottes — a radical statement in the 1930s when women still could cause a scandal by wearing pants — as well as printed fabric, such as the 1938 Tears dress with a print designed by Dalí making it appear as if the evening gown had been savagely ripped.
Schiaparelli was among the first designers to use materials like rayon and Lurex as well as explore wrap dresses and transparent raincoats. She also introduced unisex fragrances and brought her artistic partnerships into jewelry, such as bronze brooches made with Alberto Giacometti and fur-lined bracelets with Méret Oppenheim. As she wrote in her 1954 autobiography Shocking Life, women should “dare to be different.”
Despite her acclaim, her shop closed in 1954 after a tumultuous time during World War II. By then, fashion had moved on with Christian Dior's New Look, and the closure of Schiaparelli's business coincided with a comeback mounted by Coco Chanel, her archrival in the early days.
In 2006, Italian businessman Diego Della Valle acquired the brand and its archives, and the Maison Schiaparelli was reopened in 2012, back at 21 Place Vendôme where Schiaparelli's fearless and enduring work began.
Find vintage Elsa Schiaparelli hats, evening dresses and other clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Sharon, CT
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Elsa Schiaparelli 1950's Silk Flowers HatBy Elsa SchiaparelliLocated in Sharon, CTElsa Schiaparelli Spring Hat with wreath of pastel silk flowers around the edge. Wrapped straw, silken floss flowers, hand sewn attached to netting frame. T...Category
1950s French Hats
- Philip Treacy Cranberry Rushed Velvet HatBy Philip TreacyLocated in Sharon, CTRushed Cranberry Velvet, and Satin lining, makes a small brimmed flat top,(but soft) hat. Measures 12 x 8" x 4"Category
Early 2000s English Hats
- Original Gerard Albouy Woven Brass Hat 1940'sLocated in Sharon, CTOffering an original Gerard d'Albouy (1912-1985) woven brass hat with a Velvet Ribbon attached. The Paris Milliner, during the German Occupation (active 1938-1964) was noted for his...Category
1940s French Hats
- Chinese !9th Century Silk Embroidered Wedding ShawlLocated in Sharon, CTCream silk. Hand embroidered with a floral motif. Hand knotted silk fringe. Hanging braided tassels on back. Tassels add 5" to length and width.Category
Late 19th Century Chinese Shawls
- Courreges Paris Long Black SkirtBy André CourrègesLocated in Sharon, CTLong black wool fully lined skirt. Retailed at Bonwit Teller.Category
1970s French Skirts
- Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Pin Strip Pants Suit 1980'sBy Yves Saint Laurent Rive GaucheLocated in Sharon, CTRive Gauche retailed at Bergdorf Goodman. Pants 29"waist 39"length. Jacket length26". This classic suit has been homaged, with Yves' name written in the...Category
1980s French Trouser Pant Suits
- Beautiful 1970s Navy Felt Vintage HatLocated in COLLINGWOOD, AUBeautiful 1970s Navy Felt Vintage Beautiful 1970s Vintage Hat. Blue felt with feature white vinyl ribbon and bow. Interior finished with petersham ribbon. In great vintage conditi...Category
1970s Australian Hats
- Yves Saint Laurent Gem Encrusted Floppy Hat circa 1970sBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Scottsdale, AZDo not miss out on this stunning vintage Yves Saint Laurent hat! The silver gems and cut out detailing throughout make this such a state...Category
1970s Hats
- Navy & White Andre Walker Mohair Wide Brim Hat Size US XSLocated in New York, NYNavy and white mohair wide brim hat by Andre Walker. Scalloped pattern throughout. 9" height, 12.5" width, 13.5" length.Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Hats
- Chanel Black Quilted Coco Neige Trapper Hat MBy ChanelLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Chanel offers a fashionable addition to your style repertoire with this coco neige trapper hat. It is covered in the diamond quilt and finished with a signature patch on the front.Category
2010s Italian Hats
- Burberry Beige Cotton & Mesh Trucker Bucket Hat SBy BurberryLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2The Burberry hat combines classic elegance with contemporary flair. Crafted from premium beige cotton, it features a mesh panel for breathability. This ha...Category
2010s Italian Hats
- Dior Navy Blue/Red Oblique Wool Reversible Dior Chic Hat Size 57By Christian DiorLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2The Dior hat is a luxurious accessory blending style and versatility. Crafted with precision, it features the iconic Dior Oblique pattern on one side, offering a seamless transition ...Category
2010s Italian Hats
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
You Saw It at the Met Ball. Here’s What Camp Fashion Is Really About
This year's Costume Institute exhibition is all about embracing the eccentric.
The Met’s Latest Blockbuster Tells a Powerful Story through 230 Jewels
A captivating show at the Manhattan museum explores how jewelry has ornamented the body through the millennia — and redefines it as high art.