Elsa Schiaparelli, along with her biggest rival, Coco Chanel, made costume jewelry all the rage in the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 1930s. Schiaparelli, best known for her sportswear and knitted clothes, was closely involved with the design of costume jewelry to complement her high fashion collections. An elementary form of branding, these jewels (called “Junk Jewelry” because they were fake) were able to reach more of a mass market, while also promoting Schiaparelli’s designs and aesthetics. She was eccentric, flamboyant and fabulous at featuring costume jewelry in artful and imaginative ways.
A Little Bit Deco Part Two – Elsa Schiaparelli
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