A Thousand Days of Magic: Dressing Jacqueline Kennedy for the White House - Hardcover

Cassini, Oleg

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0847819000 ISBN 13: 9780847819003

Publisher: Rizzoli, 1995

Synopsis

A gorgeously revised edition of this fashion favorite book, which combines Cassini’s memoirs of working closely with Jacqueline Kennedy during her brief White House years, his fashion philosophies and ideas, and the iconography of the early 1960s style and energy of the Kennedy years. Jacqueline Kennedy’s selection of Oleg Cassini to design her personal wardrobe as First Lady was not only fashion history, but political history as well. As the creator of the "Jackie look," Cassini made the First Lady one of the best-dressed women in the world and a glamorous icon of the Kennedy era. During the 1000 days of the Kennedy administration, Cassini designed over 300 outfits for Jackie Kennedy—coats, dresses, evening gowns, suits, and day wear—and coordinated every aspect of her wardrobe, from shoes and hats to gloves and handbags. In this book, Cassini offers a fascinating and comprehensive view of his role as Jackie’s personal couturier, a position that allowed him unprecedented access to both Jackie and John Kennedy as a designer and a trusted friend. From the details of his first meetings with the First Lady to his thoughts on Jackie’s clothes and their legacy, Cassini’s recollections are far-ranging and informative. Also included are Cassini's original sketches accompanied by 200 color and black-and-white photographs of the First Lady as she tours India, France, England, and Italy, shows off the White House, and hosts state dinners and family gatherings. Public moments as well as private ones capture the great elegance and charm of one of the most admired and emulated women in the world.

About this title

About the Author

Oleg Cassini has designed for such legendary twentieth-century icons as Rita Hayworth, Grace Kelly, and Marilyn Monroe. He is the author of In My Own Fashion

From Library Journal

No other First Lady has come close to Jacqueline Kennedy in epitomizing a fresh American style. The magic and excitement she stirred as the wife of the president stemmed not only from her youth and beauty but also from her elegantly simple clothes. In this lavishly illustrated memoir, Cassini, who designed over 300 outfits as the First Lady's personal couturier, recalls how he created the "Jackie look"-from her famous pill box hats (he doesn't mention that Halston also claimed credit) and widely imitated suits to her elegant and daring strapless evening gowns. Especially fascinating and revealing are Jackie's letters: "Just make sure no one has exactly the same dress I do ... I want all mine to be original and no fat little women hopping around in the same dress ...." This woman knew how to be a star. While Cassini's cream-puff prose is superficially pleasant (weak on the politics but strong on fashion), it's his original design sketches and the 200 color and black-and-white photographs that highlight Jackie's extraordinary charisma. Whether at a state function or a private party, she simply outshone every woman present. For popular fashion and Kennedy collections.
Wilda Williams, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Rizzoli
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0847819000
• ISBN 13: 9780847819003
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 304