Schiaparelli & Prada: Impossible Conversations

by Harold Koda, Andrew Bolton, Judith Thurman (Introduction)

Although separated by time, Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli—both Italian, both feminists—share striking affinities in terms of their design strategies and fashion manifestoes. Presented as an intimate "conversation," Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations aims to tease out formal and conceptual similarities between the two designers. Striking photographs and insightful texts illustrate the parallels between the two, including their preferences for interesting textiles and prints, eccentric color palettes, and a bold and playful approach to styling and accessories.Schiaparelli, in the 1920s through 50s, and Prada, from the late 1980s to today, exploited the narrative possibilities of prints, sought out unconventional textiles, played with ideas of good and bad taste, and manipulated scale for surrealistic outcomes. Contemporary art plays a major role in the work of these inventive women—Schiaparelli in her famous collaborations with Dali and Cocteau, and Prada via her Fondazione Prada. Blending the historic with the contemporary, the catalogue brings the masterworks of both designers together into a grand conversation between the most important women fashion designers to ever emerge from Italy.

Genres: Fashion, Art, Nonfiction, Design, Italy, History

324 pages, Hardcover

First published May 29, 2012

About the author

Harold Koda (3 January 3, 1950) is an American fashion scholar, curator, and the former curator-in-chief of the Anna Wintour Costume Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Reviews

[Fawn Krisenthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this while sipping on apple tea, door open, crisp fall breeze coming through an open door of a shot-gun house in Tremé. There were several books to choose from in this Airbnb. I picked this one up and couldn’t put it back down again.

A perfectly romantic setting for an equally seductive afternoon read. Prada spoke to the part of my being that still struggles with making flesh what I want to be true of me:

“women always try to tame themselves as they get older, but the ones that look best are often a bit wilder. Thinking about age all the time is the biggest prison women can make for themselves.”

“I never dress in front of a mirror. I don’t even have a good mirror at home. I prefer to dress to the idea of myself. Reality doesn’t interest me much.”

The designs are flawless and gorgeous, and the imagined conversations between two ships long from passing in the night is intriguing (more-so in theory than practice), and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the inspirations that made these two women blaze down the path they did.

[Helen Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an inventive way of highlighting philosophical similarities in two designers that don't normally leap to mind together ... at least, to a civilian's way of thinking. The photographs are superb as well.

[Susannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does not so much compare Schiaparelli and Prada, as it explores the underlying philosophies behind their respective design aesthetics, and expose their similarities. While Prada is very well known and well-regarded, Schiaparelli, a contemporary of Chanel, has been almost completely overlooked in her influence on fashion in favour of the later. It is great to see her design getting some respect at long last.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating! A great companion to the exhibit, which I initially found a bit contrived...this book made sense of the comparison of the two designers. Great pictures and over-all thought-provoking look at two great designers.

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stay for the Judith Thurman essay.

[Bert Huisman]

26

[Stephanie]

I really wish we could see the Schiaparelli photos in color. So much of what made her shocking and impactful is lost in black and white.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully and cleverly designed book that imagine a conversation between two of the most innovative fashion designers.

[T H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful dialogues, inspiring stories.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very fortunate to have been able to see Impossible Conversations when the exhibit was running. In fact I went three times!! It was incredible to see how similar some of their ideas of what fashion should be and yet how dissimilar they were at the same time. This catalogue is the perfect companion for this brilliant and creative exhibit.

[Kristenyque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visually stunning- this book lead me to think about the "structure" and social confines fashion can place on women. The gowns and women's suits are very beautiful, I was struck though at how confining some of them looked and how detailed they were, it made the women's beauty more of a statement rather than their lives. (They gowns were wearing them rather than them wearing the gowns!)

[Alida · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this conversation, Prada comes out as the lesser designer. Comparing her to Schiaparelli was obviously a compliment, however, that's not how it came across. Schiaparelli is definitely the superior designer and Prada comes off as derivative. The photos are excellent.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some of the comparisons were a stretch, an interesting look at the design history of both women. Wish the photographs of the Prada pieces were as beautiful as the ones from the book on the McQueen exhibit they did the following year.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique juxtaposition of two designers, each from different times and forms yet with crossing themes. Beautiful design to this book. A fine companion to the MET exhibition by the same name - I personally feel the book had more value than the exhibit, but that's just me.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, informative, and encouraging. I liked thumbing through the beautiful photos to get ideas, and hear about how the designers were inspired.