Schiaparelli Celebrates The Women Who Shocked Society During Haute Couture

Schiaparelli’s couture 2017 show brought a wisp of romance and cherished the creative women who helped shape the house’s future.

Elsa Schiaparelli was famed for the women she kept around her: clever, creative and brave, they served as muses to one of France’s most renowned fashion houses.

For couture 2017, creative director Bertrand Guyon took inspiration from these women, offering a collection in which the artistic influences were evident in shape and shade. The collection was romantic and directional, the femininity evident, yet re-imagined in more graphic prints and powerful contrasts of colour.

Hearts served as a recurring motif, but there were more playful symbols too – lobsters, medusa-esque suns and abstract faces.

As for materials, the designs were rendered in layers of silk gauze, lace and organza, paired with opulent gem-stone earrings and minimalist heels adorned with hearts. Colours were richly pigmented, varying from stormy moss-greens to egg-shell blues and whispers of red.

In a week where opulence and spectacle played a crucial role, Schiaparelli’s evocative and considered homage to the creative force of women made its own, idiosyncratic mark.

About the author

India Doyle

A contributor to titles including Vogue, the Guardian, KEIN, Rollacoaster, Wonderland and Twin magazine, India Doyle joined Culture Trip to help launch their fashion section for the EMEA region, where she focussed on giving emerging designers across the globe a platform to reach international audiences. Now based between London and Greece, she is one of Culture Trip's Greek contributors and covers cultural life in Athens.