Daily Quote #2

In difficult times fashion is always outrageous
-Elsa Schiaparelli 

Elsa Schiaparelli 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsa_Schiaparelli

Really, I don't think there could be a more fitting quote for Elsa Schiaparelli. Schiaparelli lived through the great depression of the 20's and both World Wars. I don't think that there could have been a much more difficult time to go through. These were back-to-back atrocities and as a result fashion changed drastically. World War I ended in 1918, and with it ended the reign of aristocracy and it's associated apparel. There has really never been a more radical up-heaval in women's fashion to match that of the early 20th Century. Women went from wearing corsets and gowns that went down to the toes...

Edwardian Era Wedding Gown

Parisian Models in the 20's

...to shapeless flappers that went all the way up to the knees. 




















Elsa Schiaparelli had grown up with these extremities and when she burst onto the fashion scene in 1928 she had her own agenda. Her fashion never conformed to the style of the day but instead maintained an "outrageous" personality

Never conforming to the dominant style this lobster
 dress was one of many outlandish gowns created by
Schiaparelli in the 1937
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/7285

Schiaparelli's fashion was definitely outrageous and the times were definitely difficult, but if they hadn't been difficult perhaps she wouldn't have been inspired to produce some of the fantastical pieces such as the one above.