Shocking LIfe: The Autobiography of Elsa Schiaparelli - Hardcover

Schiaparelli, Elsa

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1838510621 ISBN 13: 9781838510626

Publisher: V & A Publishing, 2026

Synopsis

'I merely know Schiap by hearsay. I have only seen her in a mirror. She is, for me a kind of fifth dimension.' - Elsa Schiaparelli

Elsa Schiaparelli is one of the most celebrated fashion designers of the twentieth century. Recognized for her unique creative vision, which combined a love of art and mysticism with ingenious design talent and wit, her collaborations with Surrealist artists, affluent and famous clientele, and innovative - yet wearable - designs set 'Schiap' apart from her contemporaries.

With a cast of characters that includes Coco Chanel, Salvador Dali, Daisy Fellowes and Eva Peron, Shocking Life is a lively, idiosyncratic and fascinating account of the life and career of Elsa Schiaparelli - in her own, inimitable voice. This deluxe edition, illustrated with a selection of some of her most iconic designs, takes us from her somewhat conventional childhood in Rome, where she was surrounded by academics and aristocrats, through the establishment of her couture house during the turbulence of the 1920s, on to her dominance of 1930s fashion, and the fate of her house during World War Two.

About this title

About the Author

Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973) was one of the leading fashion designers of the mid-20th century. Known for her wit and flair for the unusual, she fused fashion with Surrealism to create iconic designs that remain striking today. Sonnet Stanfill is Senior Curator of Textiles and Fashion at the V&A.

From the Back Cover

Shocking Life is a lively, idiosyncratic and fascinating account of the life and career of Elsa Schiaparelli – in her own, inimitable voice.

Edition details

• Publisher: V & A Publishing
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1838510621
• ISBN 13: 9781838510626
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304