Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada: On Fashion - The Exhibition

Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada: On Fashion

The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Costume Institute, New York

The Met have recently confirmed that designers Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada will be the focus of an exhibition in Spring 2012. After the museum's phenomenal success of Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, this is exciting news indeed. What makes it even more exciting, apart from the fact that they are two of my favourite designers of all time, is the combination of both of their work together. Fashion exhibitions usually focus on the sole work of a designer, or usually themed on a decade, trend or other similarity. It is very refreshing to have an exhibition whereby the designers have similarities such as their use of Surrealism in the work and their Italian heritage, but differ in terms of points in history as well. This juxtaposition of their work, will be very interesting especially for the audience to see how their work correlate with one another and if Prada was inspired by Schiaparelli's pieces and how they were interpreted. 

The exhibition will show fictitious conversations between the two women on a range of topics such as politics, art, women and fashion which will be intertwined with pieces from the two designers. There will be approximately 80 designs by Schiaparelli from the late 1920s to the early 1950s and Prada from the late 1980s to present. It will also be great to see the different ways in which the designers are portrayed, as Miuccia is alive and still working, so it will be fascinating to see her input in this project and her representation in the exhibition. 

Elsa Schiaparelli was an inspiring and fascinating designer. She was closely linked and inspired by the Surrealist art movement, that was forming in the mid 20s. Surrealism focused on a fantasy and dreamlike world and contrasted this with bourgeois capitalism. Graphic and abstract detailing were featured and key artists in the movement included Salvador Dali and Joan Miro. Schiaparelli was not only influenced by these artists but also commissioned them, and she worked with Dali, Cocteau and Berard. Some of her most famous designs are the 'Lobster Dress', 'Tears Dress' and 'Shoe Hat.'

Miuccia Prada inherited her Grandfather's luggage company and transformed it by using innovative fabrics. She has successfully evolved her collection form black nylon backpacks to a range of leather goods and a RTW collection. Her designs are always timely and are always praised on being exactly what women want to wear at the right time. Her collections always set trends, and her use of prints and fabrics showcase her philosophy and passions. She continues to push boundaries in fashion by experimenting and provoking insightful viewpoints on Postmodernism. 

I can't wait to see this exhibition, I think it will draw in a large crowd and the Met Ball of course, will be just fabulous... as always <3.

The exhibition opens on the10th May 2012 and closes on the 19th August 2012. Anna Wintour, Carey Mulligan and Miuccia Prada will act as the co-chairs at the Met Ball on the 7th May. Baz Luhrmann will serve as the exhibition's creative consultant and Nathan Crowley as the Production Designer. A book by Harold Koda and Andrew Bolton will coincide with the exhibition.

For more information visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art Website.

Photos: The Prada Group, Life In Italy