When it comes to vintage beauty, Schiaparelli perfumes are by far some of the most intriguing and beautiful out there. Both for the packaging and the overall concept, you’d be hard pressed to find something as interesting today.
Schiaparelli (1890-1973), was an Italian fashion designer who brought many new ideas to the fashion world, from surrealist concepts to artist collaborations. And it just so happens that Schiaparelli perfume was a huge part of the business in the early to mid 1900s.
Even far beyond those incredible aesthetics, Schiaparelli perfumes was truly innovative. Take, for example, the fact that Schiaparelli was one of the first fashion houses to market their perfumes to all genders. S, launched in 1928 with a focus on iris notes was marketed to everyone. Eau de Santé, a body rub with cooling pine was famously directed to “a queen—or a king!” and Snuff, packaged in a Magritte-inspired crystal smoking pipe was also for all genders.
Even if you aren’t familiar with Schiaparelli perfumes, you may have heard of Shocking. A tribute to the designer’s shocking pink color utilized throughout her fashion collection, Shocking consisted of notes of magnolia, patchouli, vetiver, and musk, and came neatly packed in a bottle in the hourglass figure of Mae West. Light years ahead of Kim Kardashian and even Jean Paul Gaultier.
Schiaparelli often collaborated with the artist Salvador Dali many times in her fashion collections. But Dali, who also had his own perfume line, also worked with Schiaparelli perfumes on a special project. Le Roy Soleil was released in 1946, and Dali was responsible for the packaging design–oceanic waves and all–as well as the seashell case and gorgeously painted ads.
Schiaparelli now functions as a fashion house only in the year 2021, but how amazing would it be if the brand came back with a perfume and beauty collection today? Schiaparelli was often known to link beauty with fashion. Think: perfumed clips, hats, hairpins, and even buttons, according to Vogue, so we feel it would be incredible to bring it back.
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