The French fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli (1896-1973) was celebrated first and foremost for the eccentricity of her designs. She was born in Rome, but later moved to France where she became a prominent member of the Haute Couture sphere in Paris. She began her career in 1926 by designing sweaters and opened her own fashion house in 1929. She is particularly remembered for her surrealist-inspired creations born of her friendships with Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau. A few noted changes that she brought to fashion were the use of zippers and synthetic fabrics, as well as the addition of jackets to evening dresses. As with many fashion designers, she ventured into the world of jewellery, both precious and costume. Her collaboration with Jean Schlumberger between 1937 and 1939 produced wonderfully creative results such as her Cupid pins which grew to be the height of chic.