Fashion History

BOOKS…BOOKS…BOOKS: MY FASHION LIBRARY AND UPCOMING nenasnotes THE FASHION BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS

nenasnotes5 Comments
A peek at a small sampling of my fashion books.

I have been collecting fashion books since high school so needless to say a very long time! I followed fashion magazines long before that…I come from a family of magazine lovers, as well as major bibliophiles! so no surprise. This is the first fashion book I got, I decided to go downtown after school, actually Michigan Avenue, to my favorite bookseller at the time, Main Street Book Store, mid-1950’s, to get the book. I talked Mom into joining me and we could then meet Daddy for supper at one of our favorite restaurants, A Bit Of Sweden….their smorgasbord was perfection….loved it.

Since that time, both establishments are long gone, my fashion library has grown to around 1000 tomes! I have most of them listed on the fabulous site, LibraryThing http://www.librarything.com they also have an app. I still have many more to add. It’s truly a full time job! As you know I have hosted a monthly nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club since 2018, you do the math as to how many I’ve added in 5 1/2 years! I do add those as I get them and have them all together. Just a note on how I house these books…I have them either by designer…think Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent…or by theme such as Hollywood Costumes, French Designers, American Designers, Monographs, Novels, Biographies, Autobiographies, Anthologies…you get the idea. I have many first editions, many signed and many personalized. One of my treasures is a Godey’s Lady’s Book given to me by a dear friend…I found it in a vintage bookstore in Stratford, Canada.

Everywhere I go I seek out bookstores or antique shops and have found lots of treasures. I have also found several at our own Randolph Street Market (it’s celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year at its season opening May 27th and 28th). https://www.randolphstreetmarket.com

I’m hoping to house the collection at the Chicago History Museum in their research center. I want to leave it as a collection…if I find they aren’t interested I’ll seek another institution. Perhaps a fashion school. Need to do more research on that.

Now let’s look at what’s ahead for nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club…as usual, for most months, I’ll be in conversation with the authors. All via zoom.

APRIL 2023

MAY 2023

JUNE 2023

JULY 2023 TWO BOOKS NOT WITH AUTHORS

Met Museum Exhibition Book

AUGUST 2023

All the nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club selections are available at my partner Independent Bookseller https://www.thebookstall.com I’m always open to book suggestions and be sure to stay tuned for upcoming reviews on these selections….happy fashionable reading!!!!!

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

nenasnotesLeave a comment
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!