"schiap" to the lou, my darlin'

i recently had to research the first avant garde designer, Elsa Schiaparelli.  mind you, this was the 1930's. ANCIENT, right??  i had no knowledge of her before, and little desire to research.  but i'm SO inspired from all the time i spent looking at her work.  here's a sampling of some of her more well-known pieces, juxtaposed with the inspiration for each:

Schiap's Lobster Dress vs. Salvador Dali's Lobster Telephone

Schiap's Famous "Bow" Sweater and her Portrait

Schiap's Skeleton Dress vs. Man Ray's Nude

Schiap's Embroidered Blazer vs. Jean Cocteau's Drawing

Schiap's Fingernail Gloves vs. Man Ray's Hand Photo

And naturally we have to compare for the latter half of the century, aka decades in which we were actually present:

So now you know a little bit more.  I could post the actual report, but who wants to read when you can just look!?  So fascinatingly original.  i don't particularly think i would buy or wear many of her things, but they are genuinely works of art, not just clothes.  (AND she's the reason HOT PINK exists. fabulous contribution, right?  i'm a pink HATER and i still lovelovelove hot pink.)