Fairytales for Fashionistas & Vintage Vixens

This post began as a book review but evolved into something else once the research began. If interested in vintage fashion history or design education, this post is a must-read. About a month ago I stumbled upon a gorgeous not-for-profit used bookstore. Inside sitting on as shelf as if it knew I was coming, was this book, Dreaming of Chanel. How I didn't know about author Charlotte Smith, her two books or the fascinating story surrounding The Darnell Collection, is a mystery. But now that I know, I must share! 

BookVu: Dreaming of Chanel

Author Charlotte Smith

Illustrator Grant Cowan

Publisher HarperCollins, 292 pages

This gorgeous little book reminds me of a Hemingway novel with its breezy, vintage 
feel and dreamy stories about international diplomats, 
designers & socialites—and their clothes. 

Photo: HarperCollins

To give this book perspective requires a bit of background. 
Author Charlotte Smith inherited a vast collection of 
more than 5000 vintage pieces from her godmother Doris Darnell. 
The Darnell Collection as it’s known includes Dior, Chanel, Givenchy and 
countless other originals dating from 1790-1995. 
The Collection toured for many years with its original owner as a live “fashion talk.” 
The video below tells the story, but ends abruptly.

Author Charlotte Smith

Upon inheriting the collection, Smith found a catalogue of its history and presented this unique fashion perspective in her first book, Dreaming of Dior. 


Her second book, Dreaming of Chanel, is a follow-up that reveals additional snapshots of fashion stories that read like fairytales for fashionistas. 


Each page is a complete story, in 200 words or fewer, based on a person or an event with the clothing taking center stage. 

Grant Cowan Illustration from
Dreaming of Dior

The illustrations by Grant Cowan are undeniably amazing, and contribute greatly to this being not only a book on fashion, design and history, but also an art book.


If you are left like myself wanting to see actual photos of the collection though, pay a visit to the Darnell Collection blog for a peek. It would take years of work, but I would love to see the entire collection photographed with as much detail and information given as is available regarding designers, materials, value—online like a living gallery and design resource. So the world can see and appreciate it. 


I firmly believe a book should stand on its own and this one left me a bit confused at first, but always entertained. It was only after some research that I realized the gem I'd discovered in that little bookstore. 


This would be a lovely book club selection—seeing who selected which story as their favourite?! I can also see exquisitely fun dinner party based on its theme!


This is an absolutely enjoyable and delightful read with fascinating historical fashion value. Have a look at the blogs and video above and see if you agree.

Photo: The Darnell Collection

Photo: The Darnell Collection

1960's Pucci Shift Dress. Photo: Bertie Smith, The Darnell Collection

Vintage Chanel Suit. Photo: The Darnell Collection

Sleeve embellishment of a 1930's dress. Photo: Bertie Smith

_______________________________ Why not look your best every day?

BookVu: Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

A Memoir of Going Home
Author Rhoda Janzen
Publisher, Atlantic Books London, 241 pages

I  thought it might be fun to review something a little different this time 
instead of another fashion how-to book. 

The title on this one sucked me in good and proper. 


A New York Times bestseller, Mennonite in a Little Black Dress is a witty memoir 
about non-practicing Mennonite author Rhoda Janzen going home
 after her husband dumps her for a guy he meets on Gay.com. 

Janzen provides an honest account of her unusual religious childhood, but her 
unfailing ability to find the humour in it all is what is most endearing. 

Oftentimes her life leaves you cringing with embarrassment as she reveals how her upbringing follows her into adulthood—influencing all of her decisions—from 
falling in love with an emotionally unavailable bipolar (gay) husband 
to her unreasonable fear of authority.  

Author Rhoda Janzen

Occasionally the non-sequitur ramblings are a bit long. And she’s breezed over serious topics such as her near-death car accident and subsequent recovery, losing her house & her abusive marriage. But the hilarious nuggets of "wisdom" from her somewhat batty mother and her genuine relationship with her sister touch the heart.


Combine this with an insider's view of Mennonite customs makes it worth the read. For example, her  bizarre (post-divorce) dating history and  anecdotes like "The Top Five Shame-based Foods for Mennonite School Lunches" which include a stinky meatball concoction she takes to school in a diaper bag. 

Contrary the book's title, there is no fashion slant, other than a closet clean out with her sister and a vague reference to how wearing homespun skirts growing up gave her a penchant for designer duds. Instead you get an appendix at the back with funny Mennonite trivia and recipes for the aforementioned recipes.

It's an easy read, good for a day at the beach, home sick with the flu 

or taking the train into work.  It's a bit like having a conversation with an old friend 

you haven't seen in years and years and you're given snippets of her life over coffee, but left without the full picture. In other words, a great way to spend an afternoon.

____________________________ Why not look your best every day?

BookVu: I Love Your Style

I Love Your Style
How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style
by Amanda Brooks
Harper Collins, 2009

“Finding your personal style is really about discovering yourself.”

It’s quotes like this that make me appreciate this book. 

Author Amanda Brooks goes on to say 

there is “lots of room for experimentation along the way.” 

Oh how I love experimenting. There’s nothing like getting it right.

And if you can’t laugh at photos of yourself when you’ve gotten it terribly, terribly wrong—than what’s the point?

Currently Fashion Director for Barneys, Brooks has worked 

in the fashion industry in diverse roles for years. And as the book interestingly notes,

her unique family history played a large part in her choosing this path.

Amanda Brooks, Photo: Barneys

This book is well-written and chock-full of information to help 

readers better define personal style with simple, straightforward advice such as:

“Six Ways to Find Your Style"

1. Make Tear Sheets

2. Write Down Your Style history

3. Try a Lot of Looks

4. Constantly Ask Yourself Questions

5. Find Your Style Icons 

6. Make an Effort

Easy enough, right? And because it is written simply and cleverly—even if you are 

confident with your unique style—the advice will help to sharpen even the 

smartest fashionista's look.

Perhaps the most fascinating collection in the book is Brook's review of 

style icons through the decades from Diana Ross and Victoria Beckham to the 

more unlikely Amelia Earhart, Joan Baez and Frida Kahlo.

Victoria Beckham in Marc Jacobs 2009

Artist Frida Kahlo

Agyness Deyn, 2009

There is a fantastic examination of diverse styles including classic, bohemian, 

minimalist and “indefinable” styles including eclectic and street. 

The final section shows readers how to shop for basics, designer clothes and vintage.

This book is a hugely helpful and a unique read in a sea of fashion and styling guides.

It is fun to read, has amazing photos and is inspirational.

  I will keep this one in my library and happily recommend it to others 

especially those who are serious about style. It is a clever, no-pressure book that encourages individuality and a celebration of your unique self. 

It makes readers want to discover and present the next hot style icon...YOU!

______________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Book Review: The Towering World of Jimmy Choo

The Towering World of Jimmy Choo: A Glamourous Story of Power, Profits, and the Pursuit fo the Perfect Shoe
by Lauren Goldstein Crowe & Sagra Maceira de Rosen
Bloomsbury Publishing, 211 pages

I can’t say exactly what I was expecting when I bought this book. Perhaps that I would learn the inside scoop on building a design business from nothing. Or about the intricacies of shoemaking. Maybe, at least, I would learn about the man behind the now infamous shoe.  

Unfortunately, this book left me none the wiser on any of these topics. 

Tamara Mellon

In actuality, the building of the Jimmy Choo empire lies almost entirely with the Mellon family and their extensive social connections. Ironically, Mr Jimmy Choo, and the label that carries his name, had a falling out early-on leaving him absent in the overall Jimmy Choo story. Instead, at the helm is London society It girl and entrepreneur Tamara Mellon.

Dry with mini-biographies, resumes and bios (nearly reporting what they ate for lunch) the book reads much like a who-you-know of the UK and international fashion industry. The fact that one of the authors is an investment banker explains much of the rambling.

The brand with all its glitz, polish and beauty leaves in its wake failed marriages, backstabbing boardroom tactics, families torn apart....and a man having sold the rights to his own name. It seems like an intriguing tale, how the authors managed to squeeze the life out of the drama escapes me. I wish the book lived up to its title. 

In all honesty, it was a struggle to read the entire book and I let out a WHOOP WHOOP when I turned the final page. 

I will admit, one thing I learned is that some brokerage firms deal exclusively in luxury goods investing and if I cared at all about the specifics involved in the ins-and-outs of buying, selling, merging and acquiring of businesses or the nitty-gritty of back room deals and handshakes on the golf course or polo field...then I could have recommended spending hard earned money on this tome. 

Rather, I say save your dollars and buy a great pair of shoes instead!

_______________________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Book Review: Harpers Bazaar Fabulous at Every Age

Harper’s Bazaar 
Fabulous at Every Age your Quick & Easy Guide to Fashion
Nandini D’Souza & Jenny Barnett
Hearst Books, 189 pages

I was tackled and hog-tied by insomnia last night. In no doubt due to the multiple giant MUG-o-ramas of coffee I poured down my gullet late in the day. At 213am I woke up not only bright-eyed, but relatively bushy-tailed.

My brain, however, was unable to cope with reading anything with a plot and no identifiable amount of caffeine, desperation, or cash will get me to watch JerseyTrash or Kendra and her ilk on the tube.

So, I chose from the ever-multiplying teetering stack of style and fashion books I’m working my way through. Harper’s Bazaar Fabulous at Every Age 
Your Quick & Easy Guide to Fashion.

My love for Harper’s Bazaar is long held. It was my first fashion magazine and remains one of 
my absolute favorites. 

I blasted through this book in a little over an hour. I examined every page but spent most of my time studying my "age category." Sadly, I didn’t learn much. I formed an idea or two for a couple outfits, but I get that from an average magazine. I wouldn't consider it a "Guide" 
or much of a How-to source.

It’s a beautiful book to look through, but unlike competing books in this genre, it is light on new information on age-appropriate style. Also disappointing is the lack of informational credits on designers or where to buy.  

Unless you are after an expensive hardback magazine, I have found more helpful books in the category of fashion and personal style. I expect more from HB.

__________________________________ Why not look your best every day?

BookVu: How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World

How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World: 
The Art of Living with Style, Class and Grace
by Jordan Christy
Published by Hatchette Book Group—196 pages

This isn't going to be so much a book review as a LoveFest.

I love this book. I love everything about it.

I will confess, I bought it online thinking it was a book on fashion and was disappointed when I didn't find any pretty pictures. If author Jordan Christy ever reads this...I will be forever humiliated.

I wish I had this book in my tween time. Even high school or college would've been helpful. I looked to  friends for style clues and sometimes I got it right, most times I didn’t. This book would have been invaluable. 

In fact, within the first 30 pages I called everyone I know with a daughter to tell them they must read this book (always appreciated from someone without kids).

Christy's witty commentary dissects the lack of role models and social grace courtesy of Lindsay, Paris, Britney and the rest of the ditz-of-the-decade crew. Christy has put to paper what most over-30s have thought or said aloud when bombarded with the latest horrific MTV-Ryan-Seacrest-Kardashianesque-Girls-of-the-Playboy-Brothel offering.

What happened to style, grace and character? Christy notes how far we've come as women and how far we've regressed. In fact, this book is a modern day guide to old-fashioned etiquette. She makes it cool to bring it back. With hip, relevant references and genuine, helpful solutions to awkward social situations...all in less than 200 pages.

Have I said it? I love this book. Run, scratch that, step elegantly with head held high to the nearest bookstore.—Sada Vee