Dali and Schiaparelli

As part of the major revitalization of the Paris fashion house Schiaparelli, a couture salon is reopening at 21 Place Vendome, the exact spot where the original salon was created in 1935. Restored and redecorated by Vincent Darre, there are gilded mirrors formerly owned by Yves Saint Laurent, sculpture by Salvador Dali, glasses by Man Ray, chairs by Gio Ponti, and a fabulous fuchsia padded sofa.

The Hall of Mirrors in the Schiaparelli Salon. Look at that glorious chandelier.

DaIi was a close personal friend of Elsa Schiaparelli and his influence could be seen throughout her fashion designs (remember the famous ‘lobster’ dress worn by the Duchess of Windsor). Schiaparelli’s lifetime rival, Coco Chanel, disparagingly called her “that Italian artist who makes clothes”—an interesting example of design crossing artistic and fashion boundaries.