Shocking Life: The Autobiography of Elsa Schiaparelli

A lively, idiosyncratic, and fascinating account of the life and career of Elsa Schiaparelli―in her own inimitable voice.

“I merely know Schiap by hearsay. I have only seen her in a mirror. She is, for me, a kind of fifth dimension.” ―Elsa Schiaparelli

Elsa Schiaparelli is one of the most celebrated fashion designers of the 20th century. Recognized for her unique creative vision, which combined a love of art and mysticism with ingenious design talent and wit, her collaborations with surrealist artists, affluent and famous clientele, and innovative―yet wearable―designs set “Schiap” apart from her contemporaries.

With a cast of characters that includes Coco Chanel, Salvador Dalí, Daisy Fellowes, and Eva Perón, Shocking Life is a lively, idiosyncratic, and fascinating account of the life and career of Schiaparelli in her own inimitable voice.

This deluxe edition, illustrated with a selection of some of her most iconic designs, takes us from her somewhat conventional childhood in Rome, where she was surrounded by academics and aristocrats, through the establishment of her couture house during the turbulence of the 1920s, on to her dominance of 1930s fashion, and the fate of her house during World War Two.

• Constructed with true Swiss binding, leaving the spine free and allowing the text block to open perfectly flat for optimal usability

Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973) was one of the leading fashion designers of the mid-20th century. Known for her wit and flair for the unusual, she fused fashion with Surrealism to create iconic designs that remain striking today. Sonnet Stanfill is senior curator of Textiles and Fashion at the V&A.