Elsa

Morante, Elsa, c.1912-85, Italian novelist and poet; wife of Alberto Moravia. Her prose style, which is indebted to surrealism and magic realism, is characterized by the clear presentation of unreal events and always stresses the power of the imagination. The themes of solitude and loneliness are central to House of Liars (1948, tr. 1951), Arthur's Island (1957, tr. 1959), and the poems in Il mondo salvato dai ragazzini (1968). Morante's most important work, History: A Novel (1974, tr. 1977), which recounts Italy's wartime history through the eyes of a poor Roman family living in the ghetto, shows history to have violent and pitiless effects on the lives of common people. Morante also published the dark novel Aracoeli (1982), a collection of essays, a book of short stories, and a children's book.

Schiaparelli, Elsa, 1890-1973, French fashion designer, b. Rome. She established a house of couture in Paris that existed from the late 1920s until 1954, and established a New York showroom in 1949. A daring, flamboyant fashion innovator, she popularized brilliant colors, especially shocking pink, her signature color. She was the first to use synthetic fabrics and zipper fastenings and the first to open a boutique offering ready-to-wear clothing. She is noted for her perfume (notably Shocking, her first and most famous); small hats; angular, wide-shouldered suits and dresses; turbans; walking coats; evening sweaters; halter necklines; cocktail dresses with matching jackets; and scarves. She created extravagant, daring, amusing designs (e.g., bouffant gloves ballooning to the shoulders, phosphorescent brooches, and handbags that played tunes when opened). She also collaborated with such artists as Cocteau and Dalí.

Triolet, Elsa (Elsa Blick), c.1896-1970, Russian-French author, b. Moscow. In 1928 she married the French writer Louis Aragon. Her novels often combine a sweeping Russian grandeur with acute observations of French life. They include Le cheval blanc (1943; tr. The White Charger, 1946), Personne ne m'aime [nobody loves me] (1946), Les Fantômes armées [the phantom armies] (1946), and L'Inspecteur des ruines (1948; tr. The Inspector of Ruins, 1953). Among her collections of stories is Le Premier Accroc du coûte deux cents francs (1945; tr. A Fine of 200 Francs, 1947).

(born Sept. 10, 1890, Rome, Italy—died Nov. 13, 1973, Paris, Fr.) Italian-born French fashion designer. After working in the U.S. as a film scriptwriter and translator, she settled in Paris and opened her first shop in the 1920s. By 1935 she was a leader in haute couture and was expanding into perfume, cosmetics, lingerie, jewelry, and swimsuits. Her designs combined eccentricity with simplicity and a trim neatness with flamboyant colour. She introduced the padded shoulder in 1932; designed fur bed jackets and rhinestone-trimmed lingerie in the 1940s; and in the 1950s popularized “shortie” coats in vivid reds, golds, and chartreuses. Her use of “shocking pink,” the sensation of the 1947 season, is still regularly revived. With Christian Dior, she was instrumental in the worldwide commercialization of Parisian fashion.

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(born Sept. 10, 1890, Rome, Italy—died Nov. 13, 1973, Paris, Fr.) Italian-born French fashion designer. After working in the U.S. as a film scriptwriter and translator, she settled in Paris and opened her first shop in the 1920s. By 1935 she was a leader in haute couture and was expanding into perfume, cosmetics, lingerie, jewelry, and swimsuits. Her designs combined eccentricity with simplicity and a trim neatness with flamboyant colour. She introduced the padded shoulder in 1932; designed fur bed jackets and rhinestone-trimmed lingerie in the 1940s; and in the 1950s popularized “shortie” coats in vivid reds, golds, and chartreuses. Her use of “shocking pink,” the sensation of the 1947 season, is still regularly revived. With Christian Dior, she was instrumental in the worldwide commercialization of Parisian fashion.

Learn more about Schiaparelli, Elsa with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Elsa is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,549 at the 2000 census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Elsa is located 11 miles North of Weslaco and 13 miles East of Edinburg on State Hwy 107 and State Hwy Ruben Hinjosa (fm 88) (26.297672, -97.992770).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.8 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,549 people, 1,575 households, and 1,324 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,756.8 people per square mile (1,447.6/km²). There were 1,754 housing units at an average density of 1,187.5/sq mi (457.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was .74% White, 0.34% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.05% Asian, .22% from other races, and 2.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 97.28% of the population.

There were 1,575 households out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.9% were non-families. 14.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.52 and the average family size was 3.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 34.7% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,232, and the median income for a family was $21,831. Males had a median income of $21,957 versus $17,107 for females. The per capita income for the city was $7,550. About 33.5% of families and 38.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.9% of those under age 18 and 32.2% of those age 65 or over.

Community

Elsa is served by the Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District. In addition, South Texas Independent School District operates magnet schools that serve the community.

References

External links