Who wouldn’t be compelled by a princess-turned-fashion designer?
I admitted a couple of weeks ago that I watched some of the Bravo show House of DVF– not the most embarrassing television confession of the post, but it has all of the features of a typical reality show (catty women yelling drunkenly, judges with harsh realities for said catty women, fashion challenges). This recommendation comes from my mother, also a big House of DVF fan.
The book read like fiction at some points, simply because DVF’s life has been quite the adventure. From trips through remote parts of the world to building a (few) business(es) from the ground up and back again, DVF has led the kind of life that inspires wanderlust. It’s hard to not want to put the book down and catch the first flight…anywhere. It’s the kind of story that for a less type-A person might be the catalyst for a major lifestyle change involving sourcing beauty ideas from some of the most gorgeous parts of the world.
Most compelling was her relationship with her mother, a Holocaust survivor who was told she wouldn’t have children. The theme throughout the book was, as the title states, figuring out the woman she wanted to be through the influence of those (women and men) around her and her own experiences and adventures. Her mother, though strict and harsh with her, clearly set the foundation for DVF’s tireless work ethic and appreciation for the opportunities she has earned. It was beautiful to see her mother continue to appear in the book- she lived a long life and influenced all aspects of DVF’s life.
The book was not without good business advice- for as much as DVF succeeded, there are failures and darknesses in her life and she treats them with the same candor as the positive parts of her life. It’s a lovely balance- these admissions come with a significant humanizing element that makes you just want to hug and congratulate her all at the same time.
Really gorgeous book and a nice look at a complex woman.
You’ll like this if: you’re looking for an honest look at the fashion world and a personal account of one woman’s amazing trip through it.
Happy reading!
carlyreads 