Paris Haute Couture 2014: Wit and whimsy at Schiaparelli
The event: Designer Marco Zanini presented his second collection for the revived Maison Schiaparelli, the storied fashion house that was off the radar for 60 years -- since founder Elsa Schiaparelli retired in 1954 -- at the Hotel d’Evreux in Paris on Monday.
The fashions: Under the glow of a pink light as strong as Schiaparelli’s signature shocking pink hue, Zanini showed styles mindful of the founder’s classics, luxuriously crafted and often shot with a sense of humor. A cashmere, alpaca and silk leopard-print coat featured sable sleeves; gowns were covered in butterfly, squirrel and pigeon designs; and a multi-colored bolero came richly embroidered with ribbons and pompoms of paillettes.
Shoulders were huge, and there were other touches reminiscent of the 1940s, during the maison’s heyday.
To top everything off, there were whimsical hats. One number had been shot through with arrows; another looked like red bunny ears (except that there were three of them); and a conical design seemed decorative enough to ring in the New Year.
