The Costume Institute Gala Benefit - stylist Hannah Bhuiya’s picks
Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli - what a combination of verve, audacity and artistic inspiration! We all know the power of Mrs Prada, but Schiaparelli really was a true fashion pioneer - a muse to the entire Surrealist clique in Paris, she collaborated with Salvadore Dali - creating the famous Lobster Hat - and Jean Cocteau. Throughout the 1930s she was was Gabrielle Chanel’s biggest rival; her creations were much more wild than Chanel’s monotone chic. And her legacy lives on today; you can find many of her ideas being recycled by fashion’s image makers - such as the shoe hat and anything trompe l’oeil - one of her earliest hits was a top that made it look like you were wearing a scarf. SO, my first thought would be to wear a real vintage Schiaparelli. Decades LA has a few authentic pieces available, such as this stunning grey beaded gown and are also holding a special pop-up sale in New York the weekend of 27-28 April, dedicated to shopping for the Prada/Schiaparelli event. Atelier Mayer has a great selection of authentic Schiaparelli accessories, so even though her couture is almost impossible to find, you can accessorize with these and know you are wearing the real thing. Another avenue to go down is that Elsa’s favorite hue was a bright pink - so vivid it became christened ‘Shocking,’also the name of her signature fragrance. So anything in bright magenta would also fulfill the criteria - like this gown, also from Atelier-Mayer. And to perfectly finish it all, you must wear the craziest pair of Prada shoes you can find - how about these ones with a pair of smoking lips - Elsa would approve!”
