A Multistage Analysis for Deriving the Aesthetic Characteristics of Maison Schiaparelli Collections

This study examines the design characteristics of Maison Schiaparelli collections over the most recent 5-year period, from Spring/Summer 2022 to Spring/Summer 2026, to identify how the brand’s aesthetic identity is currently expressed and how it relates to its historical foundations. Both ready-to-wear and haute couture collections were included, and a case-based qualitative approach was applied. In the first of three analysis stages, design elements were examined in terms of silhouette, color, material, and item category to identify recurring visual patterns. Next, the combination of these elements was analyzed to derive key expressive features across the collections. In this process, particular attention was paid to whether design principles from Elsa Schiaparelli’s early work were maintained or transformed in contemporary contexts. Finally, aesthetic characteristics were interpreted based on these expressive features’ relationships. The results suggest that the collections consistently present a set of distinct aesthetic tendencies, including refined boldness, an expanded representation of femininity, blurred inter-category boundaries, and a heightened sense of romantic expression. These characteristics do not arise from individual elements alone but emerge through the interaction between inherited design concepts and their reinterpretation in present-day fashion. This study contributes to fashion research by proposing a structured analytical framework connecting observable design elements to broader aesthetic meanings. It also offers insight into how fashion brand heritage is both preserved and redefined within contemporary design practice.