Schiaparelli & Prada Impossible Conversations, 1st Edition Book 2012 From the Metropolitan Museum of Art

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From inside the front pages, the Director's Foreword:
Art plays an important role in the life and designs of of … Read more From inside the front pages, the Director's Foreword:
Art plays an important role in the life and designs of of both Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada. Schiaparelli's collaborations with the Surrealists Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau, and Prada's interest in and support of contemporary artists, as reflected in the collections and galleries of the Fondazione Prada, have brought art and fashion into close proximity, in a direct, synergistic, and culturally redefining relationship. It seems especially fitting, therefore, that their inventive creations be the subject of an exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations considers the striking affinities between these two iconic Italian designers from different eras: Schiaparelli, who worked in Paris from the 1920's until her house closed in 1954, and Prada, who took over her family's Milan-based business in 1978. Inspired by Miguel Covarrubias's "Impossible Interviews" for Vanity Fair in the 1930s, Harold Koda and Andrew Bolton, respectively Curator in Charge and Curator of The Costume Institute, conceived of this exhibition and accompanying publication as a series of imaginary conversations between these women to suggest new readings of their most innovative work.
Drawn primarily from The Costume Institute's collection and the Prada Archive, as well as other institutions and private collections, signature objects by Schiaparelli and Prada are compared and contrasted to reveal the designers' extraordinary impact on contemporary notions of fashion. In this book's preface, Bolton and Koda explore the ways in which both women have employed unconventional materials, unexpected colors, fanciful details, and novel prints to challenge conventional ideas of beauty, glamour, and taste.
A number of talented people have contributed enormously to this project. Judith Thurman's insightful essay traces the parallels between the lives and careers of these two provocative individualists. Katie Grand was invaluable as the creative director for the photography of the Prada clothing, which was beautifully captured by David Sims and Toby McFarlan Pond. We are delighted that the director, screenwriter, and producer Baz Luhrmann served as the exhibition's creative consultant, working with film production designer Nathan Crowley.
This exhibition and publication are made possible by Amazon, whose founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, deserves our utmost gratitude. We also extend our appreciation to Condé Nast for its generous support of the project. Finally, we would like to thank Metropolitan Museum Trustee Anna Wintour for her extraordinary commitment to the work of The Costume Institute. Her vision and support have made an exceptional contribution to our work in this field.
Thomas P. Campbell, Director
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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This 2012 first edition book remains in good condition and is a true delight to read and look through.

Measurements
10 1/2" tall
7 3/4" wide
1 1/4" deep
book weighs 2.8 lbs See less