-33% $33.50$33.50
$3.99 delivery February 12 - 13
Ships from: Orangeworld LLC Sold by: Orangeworld LLC
$8.24$8.24
FREE delivery January 29 - February 3
Ships from: ThriftBooks-Chicago Sold by: ThriftBooks-Chicago
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Diana Vreeland Hardcover – October 22, 2002
Purchase options and add-ons
“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.
- Print length308 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper
- Publication dateOctober 22, 2002
- Dimensions8 x 0.25 x 10 inches
- ISBN-100688167381
- ISBN-13978-0688167387
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
“Diana Vreeland was the beacon of fashion for the twentieth century. She spotted, attracted, and showcased the most talented designers, photographers, illustrators, models, and fashion icons and gave their genius a glamorous theater. This book is a beautiful tribute to her.” — Diane Von Furstenberg
“D.V. dazzled and dazed you, laughed, sang, and prophesized in a single sentence. She was a self-made triumph of spirit, distilling all the world’s glories.... In this wonderful book, you get to sit at her knee and see how she made herself-this quintessential all-tribe American.” — Lauren Hutton
“Dwight gives new richness and poignancy to a personality appreciated primarily for her epigrammatic wit, dramatic flair, and compelling style.... a nuanced portrait of a twentieth-century woman, socially liberated and intellectually unfettered, a modern careerist who never shed her Edwardian proprieties, a woman in full.” — Harold Koda, Director, the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
From the Back Cover
In the early 1960s Jackie Kennedy wrote to Diana Vreeland: "you are and always will be my fashion mentor." Vreeland helped the young First Lady create her famous "Jackie look" which was imitated all over America. She had inspired readers of Harper Bazaar's with her brilliant tips from the mid 1930s to the early '60s and ran Vogue as editor-in-chief in its most innovative years (1963-1972). Then for thirteen years she organized the hugely successful annual costume history shows at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Known for her flamboyant personality, her striking looks, and impeccable taste, Diana Vreeland changed fashion forever. Now, we can begin to assess her immense contribution in Diana Vreeland.
This lavishly illustrated biography includes more than 300 full-color and black and white photographs many from Vreeland's own family scrapbooks and collection which have never been seen before, of family and friends and the talented people in the fashion world whom she inspired -- designers, models, and celebrities.
Diana Vreeland herself was not beautiful. Her appearance was so striking, however, that it revealed nothing of her beginnings as an awkward and difficult child who was born in 1903 into a socially prominent New York family. How she succeeded in transforming herself and developing a brilliant career is chronicled in this fascinating biography by Eleanor Dwight, the author of the highly praised Edith Wharton -- an Extraordinary Life.
We see the ambitious ingénue marrying the strikingly handsome Reed Vreeland in 1924, and embarking on a six-year sojourn in England where during frequent trips to Paris she learned how to change herself into a soignée and sophisticated young matron.
Vreeland began her fashion career at Harper's Bazaar in 1936, writing a playful column entitled "Why Don't You." At the magazine Vreeland thrived, asking questions like "Why don't you rinse your blond child's hair in dead champagne to keep its gold as they do in France? Or pat her face gently with cream before she goes to bed as they do in England?"
Vreeland exerted great power over the magazine's content working with editor-in-chief Carmel Snow and legendary art director Alexey Brodovitch. When Snow left Bazaar, Vreeland did not get her job. The fashion world waited in anticipation; surely, Vreeland would move on to something important. In 1963 she became the editor-in-chief of Vogue, a phenomenally powerful position.
She transformed Vogue from a ladylike, conventional publication to one incredibly daring and electric. Her sensitivity to the rebellious energy of the sixties and her understanding that fashion was theatre and that she should give readers large doses of fantasy -- "what they never knew they wanted" -- enlivened Vogue. She sparked reader's imagination by sending leggy, vibrant models to the far corners of the earth to be photographed on the edges of cliffs or in picturesque settings on tropical islands.
In Diana Vreeland, we see her in the midst of varied and elite social circles -- from the British aristocracy and literati of her London days, to her glamorous New York and Southampton set, to the talented fashion world of designers, editors and photographers, to her friends in France who lived in villas and chateaus and included the Windsors and Rothschilds, to Andy Warhol's set of young rebels in the seventies. She fostered the careers of many youthful figures whose talents she immediately spotted including Lauren Bacall, Mary McFadden, Issey Miyake, and Richard Avedon.
We see her attending Truman Capote's famous Black and White Ball to celebrate his book In Cold Blood, where she discovered a beautiful teenager named Penelope Tree whom she made into a famous model. We see her partying with Jack Nicolson, lunching at Warhol's Factory, and entertaining Garbo for tea. Her social calendar read like a Who's Who of the New York intelligentsia, and included lunch dates with powerful women like Katherine Graham and Suni Agnelli.
We see her enthroned in her famous red apartment, the "Garden in Hell" and strutting through Vogue's offices terrifying adoring protégés. We see her frustrating the staff of the Metropolitan Museum as she piped music and perfume through the ventilation system to create the exotic atmosphere for her costume shows. Along the way we meet and see the work of photographers like Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Cecil Beaton, and David Bailey, spot her encouraging designers like Oscar de la Renta, Christian Dior, and Elsa Schiaparelli and mothering models like Carmen, Lauren Hutton and Marisa Berenson.
Vreeland's profound influence left its imprint on culture and society. Ultimately, the flamboyance that made Vreeland a success would bring about her sudden downfall at Vogue. But, always able to reinvent herself, she took a position at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. While there, she masterminded costume extravaganzas -- drawing on all her knowledge, enthusiasms and using her fabulous eye.
Elegant, insightful, strikingly beautiful, and filled with amusing anecdotes, Diana Vreeland reveals the complex, intelligent, and caring woman behind the famous persona. When Diana Vreeland became blind before her death in 1989, she said it was because she had seen so many beautiful things in her life. And when she died she became a legend.
About the Author
Eleanor Dwight is the author of several biographies on women including Edith Wharton: An Extraordinary Life and The Gilded Age: Edith Wharton and Her Contemporaries. Her most recent book is Tie Breaker: Jimmy Van Alen and Tennis in the 20th Century. She lives in New York City.
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
- Best Sellers Rank: #467,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #600 in Journalist Biographies
- #4,414 in Sociology Reference
- #5,054 in Women's Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
Customer reviews
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star5 star78%22%0%0%0%78%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star4 star78%22%0%0%0%22%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star3 star78%22%0%0%0%0%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star2 star78%22%0%0%0%0%
- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star1 star78%22%0%0%0%0%
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers 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
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
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
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
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
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
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2004Immediately 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2005Diana 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.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2012This 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, 2003I 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!
- Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2005This 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!
- Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2013This 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.
Top reviews from other countries
- MariaReviewed in Canada on March 10, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars but I love anything DV-related
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 AmazonReviewed in Italy on October 21, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Bellissimo
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 AngeliReviewed in France on May 16, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars this book is superb
this book is really great, the pictures are good, as well as the text, and the design of the book is well done
-
AFRICA GARCIAReviewed in Spain on September 4, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesante resumen de una vida glamourosa
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 AugelloReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 2, 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars Pink is the blue navy of India!
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.