Schiaparelli and Prada // Impossible Conversations at the MET
A collaboration between the Costume Institute and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (MET), has resulted in their recently opened Spring exhibition, ‘Impossible Conversations’, a retrospective of Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada.
The title of the exhibition refers to a simulated encounter between the two iconic fashion designers as depicted in a video by Baz Luhmann, and shown together with vintage shots and quotes from the women, throughout the exhibition. The role of Schiaparelli (1890-1973) is played convincingly by Judy Davis with quotes from the designer’s autobiography. Prada is shown in this supposed meeting with her part of the conversation composed of random quotes.
A rich selection of pieces from various collections of both designers are displayed together in plexiglass cases, classified into several themes, which apply to both women. Visitors can observe the similarities between them, in spite of being from different eras and backgrounds. The pieces of Schiaparelli date from the late 20s to the early 50s and Prada from the late 80s to the present day.,
