The thirties were marked by the domination of surrealism. This aesthetic current has been captured by many famous personalities: Salvador Dali, Jean Cocteau, André Breton. The ideas of this direction consisted in the desire to erase the lines between reality and dreams, aspiration for everything unconventional, going against public opinion, irrational. Surrealism found its reflection in literature, cinema, painting. Not the least role was played by surrealism in the fashion of the thirties.
Italian aristocrat Elsa Schiaparelli became the founder of surrealism in the fashion of the thirties of last century. It's a pity, but her name is undeservedly forgotten. The mention of this bright and original personality is made only in connection with the name of Coco Chanel. Although modern researchers also argue that the contribution to the development of fashion from the side of Schiaparelli is much more significant than the influence of Chanel. And in the thirties there was no more unusual and noticeable fashion designer at all.
For the first time Elsa announced herself in the late twenties. All the work of the girl was unusual, non-standard, and many aroused public shock. In her early models, the girl used the African motifs, the ideas of the Cubist artists, and the drawings of the sailors' tattoos. On the sweaters of the designer there were lobsters, anchors, snakes, unusual ornaments. It was Elsa who showed the world a "fish ridge". Schiaparelli immediately embodied the feelings, hobbies that captured her in real life. For example, after she was carried away by aviation, the light saw a collection that became the basis for the style of "pilot". Elsa did not create boring things, and this was different from other fashion designers of the time. It was she who came up with a divided swimsuit, a divided skirt, which became the prototype of modern shorts. Instead of jewelry, Elsa suggested using jewelry. Although the creations of Schiaparelli and caused a shock, but they enjoyed unprecedented demand.
Thanks to the success of the collection of evening dresses, the Italian was able to open her own boutique in the heart of Paris. Dresses from Schiaparelli are in vogue. Particularly in demand was a dress-case made of black crepe, supplemented with a scarf, thrown over his shoulder on his back and snow-white jacket.
Many stars of theater and cinema of the thirties preferred clothes from Elsa Schiaparelli. Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo ordered her outfits, moreover, not only stage outfits, but also dresses for everyday wear. With Elsa, a multi-year contract was signed for sewing costumes for Hollywood movies. And with the eternal rival of Schiaparelli - Coco Chanel such a contract was concluded only for one year. The best client of the Italian fashion designer was Mae West. This actress was a sex symbol of the thirties. Her bold independent character, outspoken manners and public life made suitable advertising to Elsa's talent. Extravagant Mae West dressed exclusively at Schiaparelli. And in order not to spend all the time on the fitting, she provided for these purposes a plaster cast of her figure in the pose of Venus de Milo. It was this silhouette that used Elsa for the bottle when creating her legendary Shoking spirits.
Surrealism in the fashion of the thirties reached its peak. At this time, Schiaparelli was already addicted to his ideas and fantasized, fantasized and fantasized ... applied surrealistic motifs in the development of clothing. And Elsa closely communicated and collaborated with famous surrealists Salvador Dali, Jean Cocteau, André Breton, Pablo Picasso.
The designer's creations were not just fashion, clothes, but real extravagant masterpieces. An example is a costume that looked like it was put backwards, clothes with drawings - X-rays, a dress with an imitation of torn torn, telescopic hats, scarves with newspaper articles about Elsa herself. And what are the accessories invented for her: a scarf in the form of packing tablets, gloves with long claws ... The designer offered an unusual combination of colors, because she was so fond of bright colors. There are often models that combine purple, olive and scarlet colors. She offered to wear a black dress with red stockings. A jacket of turquoise color edged with burgundy braid. And green patterns painted on pink.
Speaking of surrealism in the fashion of the thirties, we mean Elsa Schiaparelli.