Elsa Schiaparelli Quotes

Powerful Elsa Schiaparelli for Daily Growth

About Elsa Schiaparelli

Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973), an Italian fashion designer renowned for her avant-garde designs, was born on September 10, 1890, in Rome, Italy. Known as the 'Shocking' Schiaparelli, she revolutionized women's fashion during the first half of the 20th century with her innovative and whimsical style. Inspired by Surrealism, Dadaism, and Futurism, Schiaparelli's designs often featured unexpected juxtapositions, bold colors, and surrealist motifs. She collaborated closely with artists such as Salvador Dalí, Man Ray, and Jean Cocteau, incorporating their artwork into her fashion creations. In 1927, Schiaparelli opened her first couture house in Paris, becoming one of the few Italian designers to achieve success in the French capital's competitive fashion industry. Some of her most iconic designs include the 'Tears hat,' a hat that appeared to have tears running down it, and the 'Shocking' perfume, launched in 1937 with its signature bottle designed by Salvador Dalí. Schiaparelli dressed many prominent figures, including Wallis Simpson, Marlene Dietrich, and Greta Garbo. Her designs were not just about aesthetics but also challenged societal norms and expectations of women's fashion. Despite her success, Schiaparelli's business was nationalized during World War II. After the war, she struggled to regain her status in the fashion world. However, her legacy lives on, with modern designers continuing to draw inspiration from her groundbreaking designs and spirit of innovation. Elsa Schiaparelli's quotes reflect her forward-thinking attitude and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom: "I like best, to be myself," and "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." These words continue to resonate in the fashion industry today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"In dressmaking, as in life, one must be oneself, for oneself."

This quote by Elsa Schiaparelli emphasizes the importance of personal expression and individuality in fashion and in life. It encourages people to prioritize their authentic selves and unique perspectives, rather than conforming to societal expectations or trends. In other words, it's a call to embrace self-expression as a way to live more authentically and fulfillingly.


"I want to be a Surrealist and a Woman."

Elsa Schiaparelli's quote "I want to be a Surrealist and a Woman" indicates her desire to break the normative boundaries of both fashion design and gender roles during her time. As a surrealist, she sought to integrate the irrational and dreamlike elements of the surrealist movement into her clothing designs, which were often characterized by their whimsical, imaginative, and thought-provoking nature. By stating "and a woman," Schiaparelli emphasized that she aimed to challenge traditional notions of femininity within the fashion industry, where women were often expected to conform to restrictive beauty standards or adhere to conventional design aesthetics. In essence, Schiaparelli's quote encapsulates her ambition to embrace and push the boundaries of surrealism while redefining what it means to be a woman in the realm of fashion.


"I think that luxury must be a simple idea, born in the mind of an artist, and not just a question of price."

Elsa Schiaparelli's quote suggests that true luxury is about creativity and artistic expression rather than just high cost or expensive materials. For her, luxury isn't merely a matter of price but originates from an idea conceived by an artist, reflecting the intrinsic value placed on artistry and originality in the realm of fashion and design.


"Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months."

This quote by Elsa Schiaparelli suggests that fashion, as a constantly evolving industry, often leans towards forms of aesthetic that are initially unappealing or even unpleasant to the eye. To cope with this, trends must be frequently updated or replaced every six months to maintain interest and appeal, thereby making fashion an ever-changing landscape. This perspective implies both a critique of the fast-paced nature of the fashion world and an understanding of its necessity for staying relevant and fresh.


"I like surprises. I like things that are unusual."

Elsa Schiaparelli's quote emphasizes her preference for the unconventional and unexpected, advocating for the value of novelty and originality in life. It suggests that she found joy and intrigue in experiences or objects that deviated from the ordinary, encouraging a mindset that appreciates uniqueness and encourages creativity.


Men have to be freed from the tortures of heavy clothing that covers everything but the face and hands.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Men, Face, Hands, Clothing

Russian women are now interested in clothes. But they will never attach supreme importance to fashions as do Europeans and American women, because they are too vitally interested in all the various projects going on in their country.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Country, Projects, Vitally, Women Are

A good cook is like a sorceress who dispenses happiness.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Happiness, Cook, Like, Dispense

I get more disgusted with men all the time - particularly traveling Americans. They start out on a trip to Europe and never bother to pack a dinner jacket. This is not only stupid - it's bad manners.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Stupid, Bad, Out, Disgusted

There are times to be casual and times to be correct. It's all right to wear a sweater and slacks on a picnic, but they don't belong in the theater or the drawing room.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Belong, Wear, Correct, Sweater

Before me, everything was black or navy blue or gray or brown or beige, things like that, for daytime. I began using shocking pink and ice blue and all kinds of bright colors. And I dyed furs.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Pink, Before, Using, Shocking

Women can learn from men and improve their 'chic.' A man wouldn't think of wearing a tight shoe or one that didn't harmonize with his suit.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Learn, Think, Wearing, Shoe

Man was created to frame the woman.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Man, Woman, Created, Frame

Never fit a dress to the body but train the body to fit the dress.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Dress, Never, Fit, Train

White stockings I do not like. Why does anyone except a schoolgirl want to wear them? Nothing is more flattering to the legs than flesh color.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Color, More, Like, Flesh

There are two classes of women in Soviet Russia. There is the professional class, which has taken the place of the nobility and includes government officials, artists, doctors, composers and writers as well as former members of the old nobility whose sympathy is with the Soviets, and also the peasant class.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Peasant, Nobility, Composers, Soviets

In difficult times fashion is always outrageous.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Difficult, Always, Times, Outrageous

What Hollywood designs today, you will be wearing tomorrow.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Today, Will, Hollywood, Designs

Women dress alike all over the world: they dress to be annoying to other women.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Dress, Over, Alike, Annoying

It's not polite to refuse to dress for a parly. It's an insult to your hostess. After all, correct dress is a part of good manners.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Dress, Polite, Hostess, Manners

Eating is not merely a material pleasure. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship. It is of great importance to the morale.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Food, Pleasure, Goodwill, Spectacular

The woman over 50 must be very frank with herself.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Over, Frank, Very, Herself

Give a man a chance, and he'll be so casual that he won't bathe, shave, or comb his hair. He'll just depend on his animal magnetism to get him by.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Chance, Give, Bathe, Magnetism

Fortunately, or unforunately for me, I am always at my best when I am unhampered: when I can let myself go and have a little fun.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Myself, Go, Always, Fortunately

I think it is childish for men to joke about women's clothes, to make fun of our hats, to complain over the cost of a good fur coat.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Think, Over, Fur, Joke

In the building of a basic wardrobe, we cannot go wrong if we strive for simplicity and perfect fitting.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Perfect, Strive, We Cannot, Basic

Pearls, including cheap ones, are always in good taste.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Always, Good Taste, Pearls

You cannot choose beforehand what you want to use for a suit. You may want to change your mind a dozen times before you are through.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Mind, Through, May, Dozen

Cheap jewelery should never be worn unless it happens to be something that you positively know suits you.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Never, Positively, Worn, Suits

I stay out of the sun; it's terrible for the skin of any woman over 35. If you must have a suntan, at least keep moving while you're in the sun.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Woman, Skin, Over, Sun

I myself used to do absurd things. Yes, I mean that. I had to have a laugh, and some of the things were absurd. But they could always be worn by an elegant woman; they did not negate her elegance.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Some, Always, Worn, Absurd

Many men admire strong women, but they don't love them.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Love, Strong, Men, Strong Women

Some women succeed at being strong and also tender, but most of those who have intended to walk alone, making their own way, have lost their happiness.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Strong, Some, Tender, Walk

A successful designer must be a gambler.

- Elsa Schiaparelli

Successful, Must, Gambler, Designer

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