Heavenly Evening Jacket by Elsa Schiaparelli

Evening jacket (1937), by Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973). Evening jacket (1937), by Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973). Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Anthony V. Lynch, 1971, acc. no. 2009.300.1354.

Illustrated is a blue, silk evening jacket decorated with signs of the zodiac and other 'heavenly' symbols. The jacket was created by the Italian fashion designer, Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973) and embroidered by the French couture embroidery atelier, Maison Lesage. The jacket dates from 1937.

The jacket is made from blue silk velvet and embellished with strips of metal thread, as well as applied beads and rhinestones. It is about 51 cm in length. 

The heavenly pattern on the jacket includes the signs of the zodiac, stars, planets, moons, star dust and shooting stars. It is no coincidence that Schiaparelli used such astrological symbols, as her uncle was Giovanni Schiaparelli (1835-1910), a famous Italian astronomer. There are craters on the moon and Mars named after him. Elsa Schiaparelli used the Plough constellation (USA: Big dipper; ursa maior) as her personal logo.

Metropolitan Museum of Art online catalogue (retrieved 17th June 2016).

GVE

Last modified on Sunday, 21 May 2017 07:47
Published in Daily and general garments and textiles
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