Author: Alessandra Gherardi
Elsa Schiaparelli returns to the international cultural scene with “Fashion Becomes Art”, the new exhibition hosted at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London from March 28 to November 8. Featuring over 400 pieces, the exhibition is not only a tribute to the renowned Italian designer, but an immersive journey into the dialogue between fashion and art that revolutionized the very concept of sartorial creation.
Born in Rome in 1890, Schiaparelli moved to Paris in the 1920s, where she met the artistic avant-garde of the time. Independent and unconventional, she quickly stood out for her ability to break the rules, introducing unexpected elements such as visible zippers, innovative materials, and the iconic “shocking pink.” As early as 1932, her atelier employed 400 people and produced over seven thousand haute couture pieces per year. She later relocated her atelier to 21 Place Vendôme, which she described as “the center of world elegance.”
The exhibition highlights her relationship with artists such as Salvador Dalí, which gave rise to iconic pieces like the Shoe Hat and the Skeleton Dress, both featured in the London show. Among the exhibits are legendary creations: garments with illusion prints, unexpected accessories, and details that transform the body into a true artistic canvas. This is not merely fashion, but a deep connection with art that becomes a language of expression and a tool for experimentation.
The exhibition also offers insight into the designer’s lasting impact, showing how her vision continues to influence the contemporary world. Her interdisciplinary approach anticipated a modern concept of creativity, where the boundaries between fashion, art, and design dissolve.
“Fashion Becomes Art” thus stands as a unique opportunity to understand Schiaparelli’s pioneering role and to reflect on how clothing can transcend its aesthetic function, becoming an art form capable of telling stories, evoking emotions, and redefining the codes of luxury.
