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Review
'In this fascinating read, Drake reveals the fashion industry's constant flux between in and out, right and wrong, and how Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld trod a rivalrous tightrope' Glamour 'This is an extremely readable and impressively researched book' Guardian 'If you have the slightest interest in late-twentieth-century culture, you should read this book' Gay Times 'Thoroughly entertaining ... Starting with the student riots of 1968 and ending with the shadow of Aids, this is an important social history' --Independent on Sunday
Review
'In this fascinating read, Drake reveals the fashion industry's constant flux between in and out, right and wrong, and how Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld trod a rivalrous tightrope' Glamour 'This is an extremely readable and impressively researched book' Guardian 'If you have the slightest interest in late-twentieth-century culture, you should read this book' Gay Times 'Thoroughly entertaining ... Starting with the student riots of 1968 and ending with the shadow of Aids, this is an important social history' Independent on Sunday
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a sensitively written, well-researched account of a pivotal point in the history of fashion. Drake takes as her starting point the co-incidence that a young Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld both took prizes in the International Wool Secretariat competition in 1954 and then charts their careers through the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Her main achievement in this book is her fairness. It would be easy to take sides with one of the designers over the other (who would be a matter of very personal choice, they are both equally likeable and dislikeable characters), but Drake does not do this and manages to convey a level of respect and, in the end, affection for them both which is coloured by extensive interviews that she carried out with friends and colleagues of the two designers. There is a section in the middle which seems almost endless about the drug-addled night-time exploits of the cast of hangers-on which could have been cut down as it doesn't add too much to the reader's understanding of the two men, but there's no doubt that it provides interesting detail of a period that, although still so close, is now long gone.
The only small criticism I had of this book is that fact that sometimes when you were reading a massive chunk about YSL you tended to forget that KL was even part of the book, and vice versa. Possibly Drake could have moved between them both a little more frequently, particularly at the beginning where YSL's early life and career tend to go on forever, however, I almost feel guilty writing that as these chunks in themselves were highly engrossing.
I would have liked to have seen more photographs too, especially of YSL's legendary 1970s haute couture collections.
And who did I end up by liking? It's got to be Kaiser Karl, you can't deny the man's staying power and his work ethic.
A highly recommended book.
Her main achievement in this book is her fairness. It would be easy to take sides with one of the designers over the other (who would be a matter of very personal choice, they are both equally likeable and dislikeable characters), but Drake does not do this and manages to convey a level of respect and, in the end, affection for them both which is coloured by extensive interviews that she carried out with friends and colleagues of the two designers. There is a section in the middle which seems almost endless about the drug-addled night-time exploits of the cast of hangers-on which could have been cut down as it doesn't add too much to the reader's understanding of the two men, but there's no doubt that it provides interesting detail of a period that, although still so close, is now long gone.
The only small criticism I had of this book is that fact that sometimes when you were reading a massive chunk about YSL you tended to forget that KL was even part of the book, and vice versa. Possibly Drake could have moved between them both a little more frequently, particularly at the beginning where YSL's early life and career tend to go on forever, however, I almost feel guilty writing that as these chunks in themselves were highly engrossing.
I would have liked to have seen more photographs too, especially of YSL's legendary 1970s haute couture collections.
And who did I end up by liking? It's got to be Kaiser Karl, you can't deny the man's staying power and his work ethic.
A highly recommended book.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
What a Fall It Was!
4 Jun 2008
Format:Paperback
To those fashionistas who remember the early 70s and to those who don't, this book is wonderfully interesting and perfectly detailed in its comparisons and reflections on the works of St. Laurent and Lagerfeld. Although in the early 70s the US was just starting to swing, it seems that Paris was sizzling. This book made me envious of everyone there. I would recommend this book to everyone interested in fashion, pop culture and Paris.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
A Golden Age of Fashion, Illustration and Fashion Magazines
3 Dec 2008
Format:Paperback
I am still reading this very engrossing book but remember well some of the era it portrays: largely the late 1970s through early eighties. As a teenager, I never missed my monthly Vogue and Bazaar, and I am happy that I saved the best of them.
This book provides a very detailed and intoxicating look back at two main characters: Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Largerfeld. Also detailed are their many vivid satellites, including the models and photographers that informed their world. Another standout was the great fashion illustrator, Antonio Lopez, but sadly not one of his pictures is included here.
Regardless, this is fantastic read for those who want to reminisce and for those wanting to look back on an era.
-Siouxie, Brooklyn
This book provides a very detailed and intoxicating look back at two main characters: Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Largerfeld. Also detailed are their many vivid satellites, including the models and photographers that informed their world. Another standout was the great fashion illustrator, Antonio Lopez, but sadly not one of his pictures is included here.
Regardless, this is fantastic read for those who want to reminisce and for those wanting to look back on an era.
-Siouxie, Brooklyn
A Fabulous Peek at the World of Paris Fasion in the 70's
10 Aug 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I adore this book -- have read it twice and undoubtedly will re-read some sections many more times. Drake has done amazing research and writes like a dream. St. Laurent and Lagerfeld have been the subjects of mountains of printed matter,but none I've found compare to this.
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