Celebrating Black History Month

BOOKS…BOOKS…BOOKS: TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH MEET AUTHOR, JEFFREY BANKS, PART 4 OF MY POSTS ON BLACK FASHION INFLUENCERS

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Jeffrey Banks at our first meeting at a Service Club of Chicago VIP reception…two of his books on display. We discussed his breathtakingly gorgeous book on Norman Norell, the only monograph on this American design legend, at the second nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club in 2018. The exquisite photos and Michael Vollbracht illustrations enhance Jeffrey’s brilliant words

Here are Jeffrey’s incredible take on fashion visually and with brilliantly researched text…each a treasure to be added to your expanding fashion book library. I’ve listed them chronically…

2009
2011
2013
2015
2015
To celebrate the beginning of year 5 of nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club in June 2022, I’m excited that I’ll in conversation with Jeffrey with one of his favorite subjects, TARTAN. This book is a glorious exploration of all things tartan!
2018
Am I allowed to have a favorite…if so it has to be NORELL Master of American Fashion. Lucky me that the book brought Jeffrey into my life (I always find it fascinating how one becomes immediate friends with a total stranger) and he has been a HUGE support of both nenasnotes The Fashion Book and Film Clubs, a great conversationalist on all things fashion, he knows everyone, you must follow him on Instagram! It brought Michael Vollbracht back to life with Michael’s dramatic illustrations (another friend…I worked with him on several occasions), and, of course, Mr. Norell, THE master creator of American Fashion. I still can’t believe I produced several of his fashion shows while I was at Saks Fifth Avenue, Chicago. An unassuming brilliant fashion icon. Lucky three times over being exposed to the greats of the dynamics of fashion!

With this post I complete my celebration and exploration of Black History Month through the many books about Black designers, influencers and authors. A varied group of entrepreneurs ALL making their mark not only in the history of fashion but history period! They must be saluted, remembered and studied. I hope all fashion study programs in all levels of education take note and include them in their curriculum and all libraries and book sellers have them in their stacks. As I said in my first post on this subject, we must learn our history not toss it away and let’s honor Black history all the time not just one month a year!

2019 at The Service Club of Chicago brunch at our favorite watering hole, RL Seated in front of the perfect book cover of Suzy Parker in an all over sequin gown, whoever said redheads can’t wear red…breathtakingly beautiful.

BOOKS…BOOKS…BOOKS: MORE TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH…BLACK AUTHORS ON FASHION…

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With my friend and author of two extraordinarily books…SUPREME MODELS and SUPREME ACTRESSES, Marcellas Reynolds. We are pictured at the launch of SUPREME MODELS for nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club. We launched SUPREME ACTRESSES virtually last fall. We go way back to his modeling days…I’m so very proud of his successes. What’s next, Marcellas??!!

Two superb books on the inner workings of the fashion industry by TERI AGINS, another author I had the pleasure to host for nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club with her book, HIJACKING THE RUNWAY.

No list would be complete without including the books by ANDRÉ LEON TALLEY….and I’ll bet there will be more on him by biographers…stay alert for those!

Lots more….here are the covers of a sampling of interesting fashion subjects, not in any particular order…

An amazing ground breaking woman to know….she was the first Black female millionaire and set the stage for others.
Josephine Baker, a major force in so many ways…an American who went to France where she became a huge star, was in the French Resistance, adopted 12 children…and for our fashion theme was the entertainer in the French segment of The Battle of Versailles fashion show…wore and loved Haute Couture! Her story is definitely worth knowing.

I’m doing one more post to celebrate Black History Month…it will feature a true Renaissance Man, JEFFREY BANKS, the talented award winning designer who has become a noted author of some of the most beautiful, informational monographs on fashion…that is what I will present to you. I did a nenasnotes post on Jeffrey in 2018. I am honored to call him a dear friend and look forward to sharing his oeuvre with you!

BOOKS…BOOKS…BOOKS: BLACK FASHION DESIGNERS/INFLUENCERS PART 2

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THE ACCOMPANYING CATALOG FROM THE COSTUME COUNCIL OF THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM EXHIBITION….A MUST HAVE FOR YOUR FASHION LIBRARY. THE STORY OF A MAJOR FASHION INFLUENCER, A WOMAN WHO BROUGHT THE GLAMOUR OF FASHION THROUGH HER DYNAMIC FASHION SHOWS TO EVERYONE…EUNICE JOHNSON

I want to continue celebrating Black History Month highlighting books on Black fashion designers and influencers. I know I am only touching the surface and encourage you to seek out these remarkable stories, interest you to read these books, add them to your expanding fashion library and most importantly enrich your knowledge of many unsung talents and their fascinating stories. I’m also including notable Black authors whose books explore the intricate fashion business….there will will be a Part 3. Do share other books that I’m not including. First, let’s acknowledge more designers…

One of the great designers….and an original voice and beyond compare creators….truly a must have book! This book accompanies the exhibition that will be at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts from June 22nd through November 6th.
Another exhibition catalog on the “founder” of street culture…Willi Smith a major contributor to the American fashion canon! So much information about a designer we must not ignore.
You should definitely know his name…he was one of the five American designers in the fashion show that put American designers on the world scene…The Battle of Versailles! Stephen Burrows helped make this part of fashion history. And speaking of The Battle of Versailles be sure to put Robin Givhan’s book at the top of your list….not only did the show spotlight American designers but also a bevy of exquisite Black models who showed their garments in a modern, easy style also not seen before. Here the book (also a documentary!) I’ll do several books on Black models in Part 3.
A newcomer and a fashion force to be acknowledged, Rihanna….
Other trend setting designers you need to know, Daniel R.Day known as Dapper Dan…..and Oswald Boateng, who is in the process of making a comeback….also check out his story A Man’s Story documentary on YouTube.

And, of course, the iconic Virgil Abloh’s books…Figures of Speech exhibition, mounted by Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art is traveling to the Brooklyn Museum from July 1, 2022 through January 29, 2023….an exciting unique exhibition, not to be missed! Three Abloh books (and I’m sure more to come)! A talent whose legacy will live on with the designers he mentored.

I think I’ll stop here…so many more to delve into…stay tuned for Part 3!

BOOKS…BOOKS…BOOKS: BLACK FASHION DESIGNER BOOKS PART 1

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To celebrate Black History Month….in fact every month, I wanted to share some books by and about Black fashion designers and other Black fashion/beauty/lifestyle influencers. I’m very happy to say it is a long list and I’m sure I’m only scratching the surface. In today’s post I’m going to feature two of the fashion designers. This is a diverse group of creators and they span three centuries. At a time when we seem to be in a “cancel culture” mode I want to upset that notion….I am a FIRM believer that we must know history….the good, the bad, the ugly….to understand our world, how to not make the same mistakes, how to grow and improve…and how to maintain the positive! I can’t even comprehend the absurdity of banning books…talk about going backward, how can we learn without all opinions! Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox…my blog has and will continue to be a safe zone from the politics of the day.

Here we go….I’m going to begin with the first Black designer of note, Elizabeth Keckley, dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln and Washington DC socialites. Her story is beyond fascinating, born into slavery she bought her freedom through her dressmaking…extraordinary. There are several books about her, an autobiography, a biography and several novels, I would suggest all of them. Here is a story that needs to be absorbed and, in my opinion is as important as the beginning of Haute Couture and Charles Worth. What makes that a comparison is the period of time when they were creating. Everyone knows about The House of Worth…in my humble opinion, now is the time, long over due, to shine the spotlight on Elizabeth Keckley! An amazing grouping of books, I’m sure you agree…all worthy of additions to your fashion library.

Next, let’s explore the relatively unknown creator of Jacqueline Bouvier’s gown when she married Jack Kennedy, Ann Cole Lowe! Lowe not only produced an extraordinary bridal gown (under the patronage of Joseph Kennedy!) but the gowns for the entire wedding party. Already a known designer for New York and Washington movers and shakers….Ann Lowe was not credited for these gowns! I am featuring two books, the only two I could find, keep you eyes out for a novel to be published on June 22, 2022, the last image

I featured a book by Petra Slinkard in my monthly nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club….both these designers are highlighted in this extraordinary book…another to add to your library

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my Books…Books…Books: Black Fashion Designer Books posts next week. Lots more to explore.