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Thursday, October 14, 2010

Elsa Schiaparelli


Elsa Schiaparelli - 1890-1973
Italian fashion designer

Thinking of Italy, where we'll be next month, I remembered the first gift of perfume I received in 1960 when a teenager; a very tiny vial of Shocking de Schiaparelli. I thought the scent a little flowery back then but, 50 years later, my taste, or rather, sense of smell, may have changed.

Elsa had a fabulous following and some of her loyal clients included such names as Marlene Dietrich, Wallis Simpson, Greta Garbo, Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Joan Crawford and Zsa Zsa Gabor.  I found much more about Elsa at Candida Martinelli's Italophiles site.  

I must look for Shocking at the duty-free shop before we fly!


The vintage bottle of
Shocking de Schiaparelli
in the shape of Mae West

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I wonder what was shocking about it; the fragrance or the shape of the bottle?!

alaine@éclectique said...

Derrick...good question. Probably both; I think she was just a 'shocker' all around!

Nancy said...

My first memory of a gift of fragrance was White Shoulders. I no longer wear fragrance, but I still like it.

alaine@éclectique said...

Nancy...I only wear it once a week, when I go shopping! :)

Wanda..... said...

The clothing Elsa Schiaparelli designed was beautiful, and the perfume must smell heavenly, but at a $1000 a bottle, I will have to pass.

alaine@éclectique said...

Wanda....I know! I'll just be trying the Tester!

karen said...

I wish I could smell this through my computer....maybe one day...
Beautiful bottle. My sister and I have been thinking of planning a trip to Tuscany soon....and we discovered this wonderful blog and thought you might enjoy.

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/planning/where_tuscany.htm

alaine@éclectique said...

MG...Karen, thanks for the link. It's our second visit to Tuscany in 3 years and this time we're visiting Milan, Bologna, Venice, Rimini and back to the Arezzo province; Anghiari, Citerna, Sansepolcro, etc. Plus 4 days in Norway! Last time it was Rome, Florence and Arezzo.

A site that is great for planning your trip is tripadvisor.com. Here is the link to the forum there; ask any question and people are so helpful! - http://www.tripadvisor.com/ListForums-g4-i11-Europe.html