Elsa Schiaparelli's (1890-1973) exuberant, cutting edge designs set the fashion world alight
, and shocked critics during the 1930s. The Italianborn fashion designer was known for her outrageous and witty clothing that was inspired by modern and surrealist art and for her new use of materials such as cellophane and zippers. She saw jewlry as an essential element in creating a "look" and produced a wide range of quirky pieces that drew inspiration from exotic flora, circus imagery and astrological motifs. In 1936 Schiaperelli introduced a range of jewellery in hew signature "shocking pink" colour.