Art and Fashion - Surrealism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Art and Fashion - Surrealism - Essay Example The essay "Art and Fashion - Surrealism" concerns the surrealism in art and fashion. Schiaparelli together with Salvador Dali engaged in a symbiotic and collaborative partnership, in late 1930s. Schiaparelli’s Innovative surrealist dresses and accessories influenced by Dali’s paintings and sculptures. Schiaparelli experimented with the notion of clothing that dominates the human form, which compelled viewers to confront the primacy of fashion-as-art and the subordination of the female body. Indeed, Schiaparelli did not only transform the fashion industry but also smashed its foundations. Schiaparelli’s attraction to modernism in late 1920s and 1930s mirror in her predominant utilization of accessories, which played a critical function in her collection right from the beginning and she preferred to create a whole ensemble including jewelry, gloves, hats, and shoes. The innovations by Schiaparelli were a considerable liberation for women and attended by the introdu ction of vibrant and strong colors (exuberance and decoration), as well as themes in a collection. Schiaparelli effectively translated dominant Surrealism principles such as, an object never realizing the same function as its name or its image, into imaginative and provocative designs. In so doing, Schiaparelli generated â€Å"hard chic† fashions for unconventional-looking women. Surrealists were self-respecting artists in their own way and their works were at the center of challenging the patriarchal tradition of Surrealism. The female body was a vital tool for women Surrealists to generate a broad and varied expression of their sexuality, which cannot be limited to a single artistic medium. The Surrealists alluded to the notion of female sexuality laden with playfulness and humor.4 The contribution of Elsa Schiaparelli to the Surrealism movement is pertinent and rich as she was able to challenge conventional representations of femininity via playfulness.5 Elsa Schiaparelli was able to overcome the notion of women as objects of male consumption, and transformed the female body into a self-governing entity enriched by elegant sexual display. Elsa Schiaparelli’s designs based on key aspects such as sexuality, gender and fetish demonstrate that she generated garments, which were feminine and functional while at the same time preserving the Surrealist theme of the female anatomy as fetish.6 Discussion Schiaparelli combined the notion of classic design from the Romans and Greeks with the overriding need for freedom of movement. It was in the 1930s, which fashions designs started to be flamboyant as shoulders started to be a critical focus during the decade. During the 1930s, shoulders started to be a critical focus as heavily padded jackets for both men and women started to gain prominence. Schiaparelli can be regarded as a trendsetter in the 1930s and enjoyed a natural sensitivity towards fashion styling. Schiaparelli's legacy remains for her audaci ous improvisations that perfectly fitted with the surrealistic art dominating the period.7 Elsa Schiaparelli is well-known for her iconoclastic bravado and unlimited originality of her work. Schiaparelli contravened topical conventions within the