Recommended Reading: Eleanor Lambert: Still Here by John Tiffany
September 7th, 2011 § 6 Comments
Eleanor Lambert: Still Here © 2011 John A. Tiffany, Pointed Leaf Press Courtesy: Fashion Institute of Technology/SUNY, FIT Library Dept. of Special Collections and FIT Archives
Today is an exciting day. Eleanor Lambert: Still Here, written by fashion historian John Tiffany, is finally out and available for purchase. I met John through my good friend Heather Clawson, who so nicely introduced us about a year and a half ago. At that point, he was just beginning to write and pull together archival information and photographs for the book. John was clearly passionate about his subject matter; Ms. Lambert had been his boss, his mentor and his friend.
This past January, I interviewed John for Truth Plus about Ms. Lambert and about the Coty Awards, which she created, along with Fashion Week, the CFDA, the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the International Best Dressed List. Her publicity clients ranged from famed artists (Pollock, Noguchi, Dali) to the most well-known fashion designers of the 20th Century (Norman Norrell, Mainbocher, Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Halston and more). Her career spanned 70 years. John was fortunate to work with her towards the end of her career, and her know-how, style and wit have stayed with him ever since.
Ms. Lambert (note her fabulous necklace) and John Tiffany, photographed by Patrick McMullan at the Stanhope Hotel in New York, in the summer of 1997. Eleanor Lambert: Still Here © 2011 John A. Tiffany Pointed Leaf Press Courtesy: Fashion Institute of Technology/SUNY, FIT Library Dept. of Special Collections and FIT Archives
When John showed me the finished book recently, I couldn’t have been more impressed by its dazzling imagery and his finely-written prose. He had gone above and beyond paying homage to a fashion icon; he’d truly captured all that was fascinating about this powerful and influential woman.
In 1966, Miss Lambert is photographed disembarking from the First-Class Cabin on a TWA airplane at the Indianapolis airport, leading a bevy of beautiful models, on her way to stage a local fashion show. Eleanor Lambert: Still Here © 2011 John A. Tiffany Pointed Leaf Press Courtesy: Fashion Institute of Technology/SUNY, FIT Library Dept. of Special Collections and FIT Archives
John had this to say about the book when I saw him yesterday:
“Twice a year, the fashion capitals around the world meet for Fashion Week. When we line up for a runway show, there is a moment after the lights go down, and before they go up, when there is this great anticipation for what is new, what is next, what is coming. It’s that moment when I really think about Ms. Lambert; not because she started Fashion Week, which she did, but because the week has become a cultural moment. I love that 68 years ago, she was the originator of that idea, and we owe so much to her. Beyond that, I’m glad that the public will get to know more about who she really was and how she lived.”
John began his relationship with Ms. Lambert in high school, when his English teacher, Jeff Reck, encouraged him to write and present a project about the Battle of Versailles, the 1973 American v. French fashion design challenge which Ms. Lambert had so brilliantly masterminded. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Reck yesterday, who is in town to celebrate John’s book tonight. Mr. Reck said of John and his book:
“I’ve known John since 1983. He wrote some argumentative expository essays for me that were so-so and so I pushed him to get a little bit more depth for his next topic. The next essay was going to accompany a speech, so he was more motivated because he was going to be up in front of everybody. John went down to the UCSB Library and made a great connection with Eleanor Lambert at that time. He nailed his speech, and it was the catalyst that took him to the mountaintop.”
John and I also worked on some posts, which I’ll be sharing with you this Fashion Week (starting tomorrow!), about the various historic locations of the shows from 1943 on. Bravo to John on a beautifully accomplished book. I can’t wait to buy it.
To purchase Eleanor Lambert: Still Here, visit Pointed Leaf Press’ website.
So excited for this book! Loved this interview that Fashion Wrap Up Magazine did with John Tiffany.
http://www.fashionwrapup.com/daily/direct-wrap/best-dressed-hoosier
the book is amazing, isn’t it? thanks for the great post, jessica- hope you are well!
[...] John Tiffany, author of Eleanor Lambert: Still Here, explained how Fashion Week would traditionally conclude with Norman Norell’s show during this era: “People forget that Norman Norell was the king of fashion. He was the first one to win a Coty Award, he was the second President of the CFDA, he was the number one designer in America and his fashion shows would end fashion week. You’d have to go in black tie at night and they served champagne cocktails. [...]
[...] The new book on Eleanor Lambert by John Tiffany has been [...]
In the photo above of Ms Lambert and John Tiffany, you note “her fabulous necklace.” That was made by Barbara Natoli Witt, subject of a new book, Adornment, by Lois Sherr Dubin. Barbara sold Lambert numerous others as well. If you are interested in the book, please contact me.
Hi Peter: How fascinating! I would love to learn more. I will email you now. Best, Jessica