This season Schiaparelli’s Daniel Roseberry debuted a bold line of couture that has sparked controversy in the media. The unknown of what you’ll encounter in Schiaparelli’s work has been deeply ingrained into the brand’s image from the start. Drawing inspiration directly and indirectly from Dante’s Inferno, Roseberry crafted a collection that, much like Elsa, offered the audience surprise and shock. Through these looks Roseberry hoped to portray what he deemed as a “perfect metaphor,” drawn from the Inferno. This is the creative parallel in an artist’s struggle to create, scared of the unknown, and Dante’s emphasis on the unknown during his journey through hell.
In the spotlight are the three faux taxidermy pieces that were worn by Irina Shayk (as well as Kylie Jenner who attended the show), Naomi Campbell, and Shalom Harlow. The three looks that draped the models in a leopard, lion, and wolf head were drawn directly from the Inferno in which Dante’s narrator encounters a leopard, a lion, and a she-wolf. These three animals were meant to represent lust, pride, and avarice. Roseberry spoke on how this collection’s focus was to place emphasis on blurring the line of real and unreal and these three looks really portray that idea. With these three show-stopping looks came some controversy, with many disapproving of the portrayal of deceased animals in couture. However, Roseberry went on to tell Vogue that, “the animals are there as a photorealistic approaching of surrealism and trompe l’oeil in a different way”. Along with this, PETA even voiced their approval of the looks, saying that it might act as a statement against trophy hunting due to the use of faux taxidermy.
Other looks in the collection included bold lines and strong structuring. The attention to detail and hand craftsmanship can be seen in each and every piece as the models took to the runways. The collection was a mix of classic and shocking and used numerous fabrics and techniques that provided a seamless viewing experience.
What was your favorite look of this haute couture collection?
XO Chloe