Haute Couture Spring 2015: Elsa Schiaparelli

A greater sense that Schiaparelli fits more comfortably into the modern day fashion vernacular comes courtesy of each new Couture collection that house puts out. Reviving the legendary name is certainly not looking like a miscalculation on Diego Della Valle (of Tod’s Group) part at all so far.

This season following ex-creative director Marco Zanini’s departure it was the turn of Schiaparelli’s in-house team to become the brands knight in shocking pink armour. Evidently even they were still not able to pluck up the courage to depart from the equally as shocking fuchsia catwalk but still presented a immensely charming collection. Though perhaps the catwalk is only a mild gesture and by overlooking it the real magic of his work is more obvious.

Each piece comes with its own unique personality, swishing, swaying and sashaying its way down the catwalk in a melody of bright and sinuous materials. 21 looks was all it took this time around for Schiaparelli to achieve the desired effect, that of a more considered eccentricity which was just as serious as it was light-hearted. The singular cerulean fez hat that opened the show, for instance, wasn’t seen again for the entirety, making it all the more chic. Elsewhere the couture hotshot instead decided to keep a train of textile thought running through certain pieces, adding galores of veils and love heart and star embellishments.

They didn’t risk overpowering anything though and everything but everything came off looking easy breezy and fit for a modern fashionista, just the way Elsa would of wanted. Schiaparelli’s new Couture for the modern maven is simply a cinch.

by Liam Feltham

Images courtesy of Style.com