THE BEAUTIFUL FALL - the story behind an ambitious climb -by Alicia Drake

Most people know the name Karl Lagerfeld.   KL has become world famous as the face behind the iconic House of CHANEL.    Karl seems to float through life on an effortless cloud...  aloof yet opinionated, visionary yet classic, never nostalgic, and an out of this world personality.    Yves Saint Laurent on the other hand had almost the exact opposite experience on Earth.   The legendary designer was reclusive and tormented by his own demons his whole life.   What most people don't know is the relationship between these two style icons.    They had the type of friendship that the youth of America would today call "frenemies".   Karl and Yves started their career the very same year in a national competition for the Wool Sydicate of France.  They were both winners in 1954 in different categories.    While Karl became more famous as a personality - Yves has the prestige from the start.

Alicia Drake weaves a wonderful tale that will have anyone with interest in fashion and celebrity turning page after page.   The name dropping of who's who of the 60's and 70's are amazing.    This was Paris and NY nightlife at its best - or should I say worst - depending how you look at it.   Think Drugs, Sex, & Glamour.    Maybe not in the order, but certainly a cocktail of the three!

The real story behind this 50 year animosity has more plot twists than a season of Desperate Housewives!

A must read for the fashion flock!   I think the book could almost be used as a textbook for the design industry due to the extent of fashion facts throw in along the way   Name a designer collection - its in there!!   click here to get a copy for yourself!  Amazon

I don't need to mention that Karl is the ringleader of our "six degrees of Fashionination".   Click here to see Karl's  personal transformation.

Everybody Was So Young....

It was a different time, but so many points in this fascinating read are relevant today.   This biography of Sara and Gerald Murphy is so entertaining that it reads more like a fictional novel than a very true to form life story.  The Murphy's were both children of Privileged upbringings.   Both came from industrious families - hers from the oil industry - his from commerce.   The magical thing about the Murphy's was the passion they had for life.    Time after time they put the happiness of their family before the constrains of society or the moralistic codes of the times.   The story is set in NYC and the expatriate rich France - from Paris to Antibes during the 1920's. 

The details of their lives don't seem possible!  There is too much for one life!   The Murphy's were benefactors to just about every artist of the era.   They were supporters of F.Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda who were as notorious as they were talented.   The murphys often bailed out this financially strapped writer.   Fitzgerald would base Dick Diver from Tender is the Night on Gerald Murphy!   Hemingway was also a big part of their life.   In fact Ernest was so entranced by Sara - it is said that most of the female love interests in Hemingway's stories were based on the married Mrs. Murphy.

 Pablo Picasso painted Ms. Murphy on the beach in Antibes, France - as she was known to wear pearls to the beach strung down her back.   Oh, I forgot to mention - they invented sunbathing on the riviera.   Yes, you read that right.   The Murphy's actually convinced the Hotel du 'Cap in Antibes to stay open during the summer so they could be at the beach.   At the time no one spent time in the sun during the summer because it was too hot.   The Murphy's actually raked the beach and invited their friends- Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Dorothy Parker, Cole Porter and screen legend Rudolph Valentino.

 As I said, it is page after page of detail rich story.   It is also a must read for any fan of fashion due to the descriptions of shopping trips to London and Paris.  Karl Lagerfeld used the Murphy's as his inspiration for the Chanel Spring 08 runway collection.   Coco Chanel herself makes a brief cameo as well.   What more can you ask for??!!   The book cover is the actual picture that ran as the COVER of Harpers Bazaar magazine as an announcement for Sara's wedding.  Can you stand it!!

First time novelist Amanda Vaill  (published by Broadway Books) really produced a fine piece of work here - it was a New York Times Bestseller when released.   If you are heading on a trip anytime soon - this is a wonderful read to take away as it takes you away to another time.