The long-length SKELETON dress was part of the Collection “Le Cirque” (1938), a collaboration of two great artists, Elsa Schiapparelli and Salvadore Dali. This dress was made of black silk crèpe, with high neckline and plastic zippers (two on the shoulders, and two on the sides), embracing the body entirely, from the fingertips to the ankles. Moreover, the dress was three-dimentional, featuring a trappunto quilting technique to make evident the thorax with vertebrae, hips, and leg bones. It was avant-guarde, yet classic in terms of the silhouette, had a surrealistic aspect looking like a “second skin”. Elsa Schiapparelli (1890-1973) was the one who opened the doors of the fashion world, transforming an “exclusive” club meant for a few into a “show” opened to everybody. Elsa was the first designer to start collaborating with other artists, like painters and writers. She loved a simple silouette with strong shoulders, structured lines, and a long tight skirt. These elements would emphasize a woman’s figure, visually elongating legs, making the waistline look slimmer, and underlining feminine hips. Her atypical ideas were provocative, oftenly protested and criticized by the society of those times. She became a legend by creating a fashion style unique and recognizable, that was avant-guarde and outrageous. The Skeleton Dress by Elsa Schiaparelli is one of the most iconic pieces in the history of fashion, embodying the designer's flair for the avant-garde and her collaboration with Surrealist artists. This dress was created as part of her Circus Collection for the Spring/Summer 1938 season. Schiaparelli's design was a direct collaboration with the artist Salvador Dalí, who was known for his surrealistic paintings that challenged perceptions of reality. The dress itself is a striking black silk velvet gown, featuring quilted and padded ribs, spine, and leg bones, creating an eerie yet elegant silhouette that mimics the human skeleton. The padding technique used to create the three-dimensional effect of the bones was known as "trapunto," a method of quilting that involves stitching two pieces of fabric together with padding between them to create raised patterns. Garments similar to Elsa Schiaparelli's Skeleton Dress, which incorporate anatomical or surreal elements, have been explored by various designers throughout fashion history, both before and after Schiaparelli's time. These designers have continued the tradition of blending art with fashion, using clothing as a canvas to explore themes of the human body, mortality, and surrealism. Some notable mentions include: • Alexander McQueen: Renowned for his avant-garde and provocative designs, McQueen's work often incorporated themes of death, decay, and the human form. His Spring/Summer 2010 collection, titled "Plato's Atlantis”, is particularly famous for its use of digital prints and innovative designs, including dresses that resembled skeletal structures and sea creatures, showcasing his interest in both the natural world and the human anatomy. • Jean Paul Gaultier: Known for his eccentric and sometimes controversial designs, Gaultier has played with the concept of the human body in various collections. His Spring/Summer 2009 collection featured a dress with a skeletal motif, directly echoing the thematic elements seen in Schiaparelli's Skeleton Dress. • Thierry Mugler: Mugler's work often includes elements of fantasy, science fiction, and surrealism, with a particular interest in the human body's architecture. His designs have explored the anatomy through structured garments that emphasize the skeletal structure or musculature, blending futuristic visions with the natural form. • Iris van Herpen: A contemporary designer known for her innovative use of materials and technology, van Herpen's collections frequently blur the lines between fashion, art, and science. Her work includes designs that mimic cellular structures and skeletal forms, using 3D printing and other advanced techniques to create intricate, body-centric pieces. • Rick Owens: Owens' aesthetic often incorporates a monochromatic palette, asymmetry, and a play on proportions that evoke a sense of the skeletal and architectural. His designs, while not always directly referencing the skeleton, create a stark, sculptural effect that resonates with the themes of Schiaparelli's original creation. Embrace the power of freedom through fashion! Enjoy it every single day! )) Best wishes, Nadiya.