Schiaparelli
Diego Della Valle · France
Schiaparelli is a Paris haute couture house founded by Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli, whose surrealist work made her one of the leading couturiers of the 1930s. Italian entrepreneur Diego Della Valle, chairman of Tod's, acquired the house and its trademarks in 2007 and revived it at Place Vendôme. Daniel Roseberry has been creative director since 2019.
| Founded | 1927, Paris |
|---|---|
| Founder | Elsa Schiaparelli |
| Owner | Diego Della Valle (since 2007) |
| Creative director | Daniel Roseberry (since 2019) |
| CEO | Delphine Bellini (since 2014) |
| Headquarters | 21 Place Vendôme, Paris |
| Website | schiaparelli.com |
What is Schiaparelli?
Schiaparelli is a French couture house known for surrealism, wit and trompe-l'oeil. It designs haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories and is based at 21 Place Vendôme in Paris. The house was acquired in 2007 by Diego Della Valle, the Italian entrepreneur who chairs Tod's.
History
Elsa Schiaparelli's trompe-l'oeil sweater of 1927 led to the creation of the house, which quickly became a fixture of Paris fashion. She collaborated with artists including Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau, Man Ray and Alberto Giacometti, and launched fragrances such as Shocking in 1937. The couture house closed in 1954.
After Della Valle bought the brand, the maison reopened at Place Vendôme in 2012 and held its first couture show since 1954 in 2014. Bertrand Guyon was creative director from 2015 to 2019, and the house was granted the official haute couture label in 2017. Daniel Roseberry, previously at Thom Browne, was named creative director in April 2019. Ready-to-wear was introduced in 2018 and began showing on the runway in 2023. Delphine Bellini has been chief executive since 2014.
Products and positioning
Schiaparelli is positioned at the very top of the luxury market, with haute couture as its creative engine. Its range includes:
- Haute couture, shown in Paris each season
- Ready-to-wear
- Accessories and jewellery, often featuring gilded anatomical motifs
- Bags and small leather goods
Business model and distribution
The house operates a small, selective network. In 2026 it had about ten points of sale, including boutiques in Paris, Dubai, Hong Kong and Monte Carlo and shop-in-shops at Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, Hankyu and Neiman Marcus. In 2026 the V&A in London staged an exhibition on Elsa Schiaparelli.
Why it matters
Schiaparelli is one of the clearest examples of a dormant heritage house successfully revived, largely through red carpet visibility and couture. Its controlled distribution contrasts with the scale-driven model of larger luxury groups.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Schiaparelli?
Schiaparelli was acquired in 2007 by Diego Della Valle, the Italian entrepreneur who chairs the Tod's group. He revived the house, which reopened at 21 Place Vendôme in Paris in 2012.
Who is the designer of Schiaparelli?
American designer Daniel Roseberry has been creative director of Schiaparelli since April 2019. He previously spent more than a decade at Thom Browne.