Shocking - Schiaparelli AdsI started collecting Schiaparelli perfume and cosmetic advertisements when I moved to NYC years ago. I absolutely love the hand drawn watercolor-like quality of these images, each one featuring her iconic perfume bottle – Shocking de Schiaparelli.
Each one is done in pastels highlighting two of her well known style elements in some unique way - her “Shocking Pink” fuchsia and the perfume bottle. The look is very whimsical, girly, and “suggestive” as they put it– daring for the day and clearly ahead it’s time. The best part is there are no words on them which is not typical of most ads. Her Shocking line eventually expanded to include lipstick and powder and other perfumes -Zut, Salut, Success Fou, Snuff (for men), and Sleeping. I have some of these ads in my collection as well.
To create this beautiful campaign Schiaparelli collaborated with the famous painter and illustrator Marcel Vertes while both of them were in Paris. The series ran primarily in the 1940’s in women’s magazines like Vogue and Harpers Bazaar.
Vertes was known for his scenes of Paris street life, and especially portrayals of women and cabaret. His works appear in the MOMA, as well as museums in Paris and Luxembourg, and his mural at the Café Carlyle in the Carlyle Hotel remains today. He also worked on Moulin Rouge and received two academy awards for art direction and costume design – one talented and very busy guy! Once I was shopping in an antique store, and I saw a drawing that I absolutely loved. When I got closer I recognized his familiar signature at the bottom – clearly I am drawn to his style…
Here are a just a few of the ads in my collection. I remember being excited to see the cover of Southern Accents years ago featuring a collection of these same ads above it.
I really wish you could see them in person – they are absolutely fantastic! People often mistake them for original works of art rather than ads taken out of vintage magazines. I never tire of looking at them - creative, beautiful, and certainly beyond all – absolutely timeless…
5 comments:
I have a small collection of vintage magazines and love all of the retro illustrations - i'll be sure to look out for these ads!
You will love them and luckily here are many pretty ones out there. Great colors...
I love these. I've always loved vintage ads. The women then always appealed as so feminine, ladylike and put together. I love how the matting is in the first photo. The chairs fit so well with the pictures too.
I think I like them for that exact reason, the girly nature of them. I just bought a skirt that is full and really cute - reminds me of what they would have worn in the day. Love vintage anything...
I have a collection of Schiaparelli ads framed and in my hallway. They are brilliant for dcorating and I alove Vertes' work.
Post a Comment