The Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, opening tomorrow, May 10th and running until August 19th, explores the parallels (and differences) between the fashions of the two Italian designers and the idea of Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada having that impossible conversation, an idea put into practice by a series of videos projected on the walls of the show. The videos were directed by Baz Luhrmann and feature Judy Davis channeling Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada herself.
If you haven’t already watched these I invite you to when you have half an hour to spare as I think they depict the interesting approaches on fashion of the two designers which have made their works so influential, covering the categories the gallery is divided in: Waist Up/Waist Down, The Classical Body, The Exotic Body, The Surreal Body, Naïf Chic, Hard Chic and Ugly Chic. I’ve only chosen three videos for my post, but you can and really should see the rest of them too here.
Waist up/ Waist down: in the times of café society when women needed to look good from the waist up Schiaparelli focused her attention above the waist: embellished jackets, “up with the shoulders, celebrate the bust”, and ‘crazy’ hats. As opposed to Prada, who, in different times, focuses on the waist down: on skirts, “I refuse the conventional conviction that you have to be beautiful from the waist up”, and shoes, where she feels she can have so much freedom, where she can really experiment and exaggerate and “it doesn’t feel to me stupid.”
Classical design:
Schiaparelli: “Miuccia, I don’t understand why you find designing evening wear so difficult.”
Prada: “Because the draping was done so well in history that what can you do with draping? You can’t do anything anymore.”
Schiaparelli: “Are you against it?”
Prada: “I don’t think I’m against it, but I was never able to do a single beautiful evening dress in my life.”
Learn more about the exhibition from Hamish Bowles’ article.
videos source: YouTube
I haven’t seen these videos – the idea seems fabulous – but I know of the exhibition and can only have hoped that I could attend to see it in person. I have to agree with the waist up/waist down theme, isn’t that why so much black is worn from the waist down – because really once you’re seated no one sees it or notices and the focus is definitely on the waist up! Wonderful Post – I’ll be looking at the videos when I have some spare time! Thanks Ada :)X
Ada I have bookmarked this, I’m going to watch this this evening!
Excited!
🙂
You keep on introducing me to the unknown, very interesting!
I need a special date with haute couture now 🙂
I still haven’t watched any of these but I definitely had plans to. Just need to unpack a few boxes and then this will be my reward. Doesn’t that sound good?
Have a wonderful day Ada!
Thank you for posting these, Ada. I’ve been meaning to watch them, so it’s very helpful to have everything in one place. Will definitely spend some of my evening me-time watching the videos. 🙂
xxx
I’m so looking forward to watching them Ada and will definitely make it to the exhibit. I’m quite excited to see it! xoxo
I’m so looking forward to sitting down this evening and devouring these videos with a nice glass of wine! I saw a feature on them on tv this morning and have been dying to watch them all day!
Wow, brilliant! I like both.
Xxx
That old style draping was amazing. Just saw High Society again and every dress was classical gorgeousness
I’ve been super interested in checking this out–wishing so much I were in NY now to go to the opening. I’m coming back to watch the videos when I have more time this evening. So glad you posted this Ada!
xo Mary Jo
Now that is ART!
I used to be a big time Prada girl many years back (think single, high-flying executive (: . Several pieces are so timless they will never go out of style. My 2 young girls will thank me one day!
Smiles to you.
Mon
Great post, Ada—I have bookmarked this and plan to watch a few for sure! xx
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