The dedication of this book truly lets you know that you'll be seeing beautiful women and dresses. It is: "For Molly. I keep looking for the dress that's as lovely as she is." For each dress, there is a story about its designer, creation and wearer. Hard to choose favorites? Absolutely. I'd like to have each on a TV frame so that I could start my mornings being inspired by a dress and its history. There are wedding dresses: Carrie Bradshaw's in the Sex in the City movie, those for Linda Christian and Grace Kelly and for royalty, Princess Diana and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Then there are American 'Royals' Michelle Obama (Jason Wu, Canadian designer!) and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. There are feather dresses for Cher and Ginger Rogers, a silk slip for Elizabeth Taylor (Butterfield 8) and similarly cleverly clinging creations for Marilyn Monroe (Happy Birthday Gown) and Cher (Dress for the Costume Institute at the Met). Loved the green and gold tent dress for Phyliss Diller, with matching gloves and boots.
My top 3:
The Book Jacket Photo of the top of Jacqueline Kennedy's Versailles Dinner Gown. Made of ivory silk, by Hubert de Givenchy, its hand embroidered bodice of lavender, yellow and green florals in silk ribbon and seed pearls, was to show the French that Americans were about more than hot dogs, rock n' roll and blue jeans.
The Dragon Lady Gown, for Wong Lin Tsong, (Anna May Wong) is a classic cheongsam made for the movie, Limehouse Blues and is a black satin of gold and silver sequined dragons, one up the front of the dress and one down the back. I chose this not only for its drama but also because Anna May Wong was the first female Asian-American movie actor.
Last but not least, is Audrey Hepburn's Evening Gown for the movie, Sabrina. It's made of white organdy with embroidered black flowers.
Beauty and talent, such inspirations! All 100 are well worth a second look and an indepth read.
1 comment:
Loved this book! Thanks for introducing it Colleen!
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