Recently finished
a biography of Elsa Schiaparelli, who wrote the following suggestions for a woman's life:
The 12 Commandments for Women by Elsa Schiaparelli
- Since most women do not know themselves, they should try to do so.
- A woman who buys an expensive dress and changes it, often with disastrous results, is extravagant and foolish.
- Most women (and men) are colour-blind. They should ask for suggestions.
- Remember, twenty percent of women have inferiority complexes. Seventy percent have illusions.
- Ninety percent are afraid of being conspicuous, and of what people will say. So they buy a gray suit. They should dare to be different.
- Women should listen and ask for competent criticism and advice.
- They should choose their clothes alone or in the company of a man.
- They should never shop with another woman, who sometimes consciously, and often unconsciously, is apt to be jealous.
- She should buy little and only of the best or the cheapest.
- Never fit a dress to the body, but train the body to fit the dress.
- A woman should buy mostly in one place where she is known and respected, and not rush around trying every new fad.
- And she should pay her bills.