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Diana Vreeland Hardcover – October 22, 2002

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 47 ratings

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“Vreeland . . . spotted, attracted, and showcasedthe most talented designers, photographers, illustrators, models, and fashionicons and gave their genius a glamorous theater. This book is a beautifultribute to her.” —Diane Von Furstenberg

“Eleanor Dwight's great achievement is. . .  anuanced portrait of a twentieth-century woman, socially liberated andintellectually unfettered, a modern careerist who never shed her Edwardianproprieties, a woman in full.” —Harold Koda, directorof the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art


Eleanor Dwightdelivers the definitive biography of Diana Vreeland, the twentieth century’smost influential fashion editor. Lavishly illustrated with exclusivephotographs and personal materials from the legendary style maker's privatecollection, and featuring a new preface from Vogue’sAndré LeonTalley, Diana Vreeland is an indispensible look at a grand dame of greatcouture.
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"I was always fascinated by the absurdities and the luxuries and the snobbism that the world of the fashion magazines showed.... But I lived in that world... because I was always of that world at least in my imagination," legendary editor Vreeland (1906-1989) once said, and for this sweeping, visual biography, Dwight spoke with Vreeland's family, friends and colleagues to offer a glimpse into the world of la mode. After breezing through Vreeland's New York childhood, Dwight (Edith Wharton: An Extraordinary Life) plunges into her ambitious adult life. She married businessman Reed Vreeland, and with their two young children, they moved to London, where they spent six years that would "transform [Vreeland] from a postdebutante into a soign e woman of the world." Vreeland started a lingerie business; made frequent visits to her "spiritual home," Paris; and befriended such designers as Patou, Schiaparelli and Chanel. Upon returning stateside in 1935, Vreeland wrote an inventive column for Harper's Bazaar, "Why Don't You?" and later became a top editor there. Not classically beautiful, yet always fashionable and immensely creative Vreeland photographed models in Frank Lloyd Wright homes instead of in staged studios, as had been the norm she lived an artistic, innovative life. She became Vogue's editor-in-chief in 1963, and her penchant for flamboyant, expensive stories that reflected aristocratic, international glamour led to her abrupt firing in 1971. She rebounded, however, serving as a consultant to the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute before her death. Laden with enthralling portraits of chic personalities from Greta Garbo and Jackie Kennedy to Lauren Hutton and Yves St. Laurent, this celebration of her life will please fashionistas young and old. Color & b&w photos. Agent, John Hawkins. (Nov. 1) Forecast: Vreeland's autobiography, D.V., is still in print after 18 years, and her illustrated book, Allure, was reissued by Bulfinch last month. Expect to see mentions of Dwight's book in fashion magazines; it's a good companion to another fashionable career woman's memoir, Mary Wells Lawrence's A Big Life in Advertising (Forecasts, Apr. 8).
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

It is sheer irony that an ungainly, unconventional girl should become one of the leading fashion mavens of the 20th century. Diana Vreeland (1906-89) was fashion editor at Harper's Bazaar, editor in chief at Vogue, and finally special consultant to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. An unerring force in the fashion world from the Forties through the Seventies, Vreeland dictated style and fashion trends. She was eccentric and demanding, but in fashion she was always right. Dwight (Edith Wharton) here traces Vreeland's life and accomplishments. She handles the topic masterfully, with plenty of great period photos placed liberally throughout the text. Her exploration of Vreeland's youth, marriage, and family life give great insight into the development of her personality and motivations. While there are a few other biographies on Vreeland and her own autobiography (D.V.), Dwight's biography is comprehensive and memorable. Recommended for larger collections everywhere. Karen Ellis, Nicholson Memorial Lib. Syst., Garland, TX
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper; 1st edition (October 22, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 308 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0688167381
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0688167387
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.12 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 0.25 x 10 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 47 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
47 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book appealing with its attractive and charming heroine. They describe the story as engaging and delightful. The biography is described as inspiring and well-written, highlighting her professional achievements. Readers appreciate the great pictures and illustrations accompanying the text. The author is described as frank and truthful, providing good detail on Vreeland's childhood and family.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

9 customers mention "Appeal"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book appealing. They appreciate the attractive and charming pictures, as well as the intimate look at a public lady who defined style for generations. The book is described as an insightful tribute to a fashion visionary and illuminating.

"...Vreeland's taste was impeccable, classic, timeless, and iconoclastic. She knew what suited her, and she knew what she suited...." Read more

"...to render the world around her more beautiful in her personal, exquisite way. Apart from that, she led a very interesting life...." Read more

"This certainly is an intimate look at a public lady...." Read more

"...The book is fascinating and illuminating - a perfect reflection of its subject matter." Read more

9 customers mention "Entrancing story"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the story engaging and entertaining. They appreciate the well-written narrative and images that enhance the reading experience. The book is described as a delightful enigma with a dramatic homelife. Readers find the story first-rate and inspiring, bringing fantasy and beauty into their lives.

"...Even years after her death, she continues to fascinate. The story itself is first rate, and the stuff of dreams and motion pictures...." Read more

"...we get to know better this inspiring woman whose positive outlook on life and strong personality make her a role model of style to women from all..." Read more

"...It was great to read about her lower profile, but still dramatic homelife...." Read more

"...until recently, I can honestly say that this is a book of quality and interest...." Read more

8 customers mention "Biography"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the biography insightful and well-researched. They appreciate the thorough coverage of Diana's life, including her professional achievements and personal life. The book is illustrated with photos. Readers describe themselves as admirers of Diana Vreeland.

"...and profusely illustrated biography we get to know better this inspiring woman whose positive outlook on life and strong personality make her a role..." Read more

"...Id' say that pretty much sums it up. It was great to read about her lower profile, but still dramatic homelife...." Read more

"...'s life among the international glamor set and showcases her astounding professional achievements...." Read more

"...The book is set up chronologically, as a normal biography, with candid and professional snapshots accompanying the text." Read more

5 customers mention "Visual quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the visual quality of the book. They find the pictures great and well-illustrated, with candid and professional snapshots accompanying the text. The biography provides good detail on Vreeland's childhood and family.

"...The presentation is wonderful. When you open the box, you see a bright red book that almost looks like a lacquered box...." Read more

"This biography provided good detail on Vreeland's childhood and family, which shaped her adult life...." Read more

"...as a normal biography, with candid and professional snapshots accompanying the text." Read more

"lovely book! Great pictures. And all about Diana Vreeland! She was editor of Vogue from adolescent to late high school years in my life...." Read more

3 customers mention "Author"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's candid and honest writing style. They find her frank about her strengths and weaknesses, while being gracious and truthful.

"...I applaud her for making the effort, and being gracious and truthful at the same time. That's a difficult feat at best...." Read more

"...The author was frank in discussing her strengths and weaknesses in her career. The photos were an added enjoyment." Read more

"...The book is set up chronologically, as a normal biography, with candid and professional snapshots accompanying the text." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2004
    Immediately after finishing D.V., I ordered this book. I will warn you that reading both of these books will make you absolutely besotted with the divine Mrs. Vreeland. On the face of it, it doesn't seem possible that a book mainly about someone's professional life could hold so much interest. You are happily wrong if you thought that. There is just something about Diana V that gets under your skin and works it's way into your psyche, until you are absolutely mad about the woman. She is absolutely fascinating, entrancing, and possibly one of the most aggravating women of all times. But that is all part of her considerable charm. Even years after her death, she continues to fascinate. The story itself is first rate, and the stuff of dreams and motion pictures. Homely girl marries handsome man, lives beyond her means, and becomes one of the most influential people in the worlds of fashion and culture. I read the book in two days, but the day I recieved it, I spent a good hour devouring photographs. The one quibble I had with Vreeland's autobiography was that there weren't enough pictures. There are almost enough in this wonderful book to satisfy even the most diehard Vreeland fanatic. And oddly enough, the writing and pictures are more personal and informative than in Vreeland's book. She influended nearly all the fashion people of her time and beyond. I am only sorry that I finished the book so quickly. I would have been happier had the book been longer and not found it the least bit tedious. Despite the fact that many of the pictures are from definite time periods, you can see people today that dress the same way. Vreeland's taste was impeccable, classic, timeless, and iconoclastic. She knew what suited her, and she knew what she suited. What a fabulous character. Vreeland is like a fine wine in that she grows better with time. The presentation is wonderful. When you open the box, you see a bright red book that almost looks like a lacquered box. Then after you sigh with pleasure over visual impact, you open the covers, and are lost in her fascinating world. This book is worth any price you have to pay for it. I suppose some people might consider this a coffee table book, but I wouldn't. I would never put this out where people would see it, because then they would want to borrow it, and that is never going to happen! Engaging, well written, and perfectly executed. I am going to see what other Vreeland books are available. Too much is never enough of this delightful woman. Her friends and acquaintances would fill a who's who of American culture in the 20th century. While certainly not classically beautiful, she was attractive, and her face had great charm, intelligence, and nobility. She was vain, theatrical, and always the little girl who revered beauty and created her own instintice and personal beauty. It will last forever. Her mother told her that she was a very ugly little girl, and when I read that, I wanted to shake her nasty conceited mother until her teeth fell out. Definitely that incident shaped Diana for life, and probably went a long distance towards making her what she was. But all the same, her mother was a monster, and I can not think of her with less than contempt. Vreeland herself noted that it took her many years to come to terms with her mother. I applaud her for making the effort, and being gracious and truthful at the same time. That's a difficult feat at best. What a wonderful, delightful woman. While living a very public life, she was an intensely private person. A delightful enigma. Nobody will ever know the real Diana Vreeland, but this book will help get you as far as you can go.
    19 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2005
    Diana Vreeland was born homely into a family where beauty was rife. So what did she do? She invented herself! This is the most important lesson on style that she has bequeathed us: we are not born with style, we can acquire it. Diana Vreeland is an example of self-improvement, of how to do the most of your poor features and blow yourself up into a lady through the sheer force of your uniqueness. She taught herself poise and class and strived hard to render the world around her more beautiful in her personal, exquisite way. Apart from that, she led a very interesting life. From long sojourns in Europe as a child, where she had the chance to attend performances of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes to our times, where she hobnobbed with the rich and famous and was privy to the backtages of the fashion world as editor of Vogue magazine, in this all-out, thoroughly researched and profusely illustrated biography we get to know better this inspiring woman whose positive outlook on life and strong personality make her a role model of style to women from all walks of life. Very entertaining reading and very thought-provoking.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2012
    This biography provided good detail on Vreeland's childhood and family, which shaped her adult life. The author was frank in discussing her strengths and weaknesses in her career. The photos were an added enjoyment.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2003
    I too, waited on pins and needles as Ms. Dwight's book was delayed and delayed. I had preordered it and it was a considerable wait. It was worth the wait. I bought it and read it in a couple of sittings, loved it so much I bought copies and sent to dear friends. One sent me a thank you card which read "WHY DON'T YOU hire a jet plane and fly to see me so I can thank you for this wonderful (struck out) NO, DELICIOUS book. Id' say that pretty much sums it up.
    It was great to read about her lower profile, but still dramatic homelife. Her husband was equally style conscious and quite the fashion plate himself. Their children grew up remarkably well adjusted. I wish we had more Diana Vreelands in this world. She spurned a half loaf. She did it her way!
    You will love this book!
    21 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2005
    This book could easily have become another banal coffee table "picture book for grown-ups"; big on visual display and short on commentary. It did not. The author has expended a great deal of effort into capturing the essence of a woman who single-handedly revolutionized the concept of fashion magazines.

    The book simultaneously chronicles the events in Ms. Vreeland's life among the international glamor set and showcases her astounding professional achievements. Dwight's prose is so evocative that we feel that we are in the Vogue office or at a fashion shoot, while Ms Vreeland makes her trademark dramatic pronouncements with theatrical gestures. As madcap as her ideas seemed, they captured the imagination of the fashionistas and people in the industry, sky-rocketing sales of the avant garde Vogue (previously a staid, niche publication).

    Ms.Vreeland comes across as someone who approached everything she did with wholehearted passion. Shown in the book are photographs of Ms.Vreeland with her suavely attired husband and sons, with friends, models and designers. In every photograph we see her totally in the moment, a larger-than-life but also very human diva. She was a genuine original, a woman of extraordinary talent and vision. It would be hard-put to do justice to her life and spirit, but Dwight has stepped up to this demanding task. Bravo!
    18 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2013
    This certainly is an intimate look at a public lady. While I hadnt begun reading about DV until recently, I can honestly say that this is a book of quality and interest. The book is set up chronologically, as a normal biography, with candid and professional snapshots accompanying the text.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Maria
    5.0 out of 5 stars but I love anything DV-related
    Reviewed in Canada on March 10, 2018
    I was hoping for more visual content....but I love anything DV-related, so the high volume of written content was a nice surprise.
  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bellissimo
    Reviewed in Italy on October 21, 2017
    Ho deciso di acquistare il libro dopo aver visto il film su Diana Vreeland. Il libro è scorrevole e racconta in modo accurato, con l'aiuto di numerose fotografie, la vita eccezionale di questa splendida signora, sempre in anticipo sui tempi. Lo consiglio a tutte le persone appassionate di moda e costume.
  • Marco Angeli
    5.0 out of 5 stars this book is superb
    Reviewed in France on May 16, 2014
    this book is really great, the pictures are good, as well as the text, and the design of the book is well done
  • AFRICA GARCIA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesante resumen de una vida glamourosa
    Reviewed in Spain on September 4, 2013
    retrato en imágenes de una vida marcada por el estilo y la libertad, entretenido leer un biografía de una mujer absolutamente original y positiva
  • Matteo Augello
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pink is the blue navy of India!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 2, 2012
    Great book. Diana Vreeland is an extremely interesting and funny subject and Dwight has managed to portrait all her life cleared of the 'lies' Vreeland used to tell to increase the Allure of her persona. I highly recommend this book, although Vreeland's own biography, D.V., should be read first to understand better all the points the author here is trying to make.