Elsa Schiaparelli was an Italian fashion designer who was a major couturier in the 1920s and 1930s. She was known for her unique and innovative designs, which often featured surrealist elements. She was a contemporary of Coco Chanel and is credited with introducing the concept of 'shocking pink' to the fashion world. Her work was highly influential and she is remembered as one of the most important figures in fashion history.