“In difficult times fashion is always outrageous,” said the iconic surrealist designer Elsa Schiaparelli—and as someone who lived through World Wars I and II, she would know. A friend and confidante of Salvador Dali, Schiaparelli created unique and outrageous pieces that broke with convention and took the fashion world by storm. Surrealist style was arresting, unexpected, and fantastical, and redefined the visual language of the time.
Judging from the catwalks and the difficult political climate, it seems this outrageousness has come full circle. But what is surrealism exactly? An energetic and whimsical combination of colors, graphics, iconography, and daring shapes, the style is based on irregularity, fantastical imagery, and unexpected juxtaposition of styles, but don’t be intimidated. Worn properly, surrealist fashion can be impossibly chic—from the designer level down to the street.
