Hot Pink

August 17, 2015
Wedge shoes, shoulder bags, themed fashion collections, and the color hot pink are only a few of the firsts credited to designer Elsa Shiaparelli. Rubin (Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People) catalogues Schiaparelli's childhood influences and her rise to fashion fame in this artfully constructed biography. Born into a well-to-do Italian family, Schiaparelliâwho preferred the nickname "Schiap"âreached the pinnacle of the Paris fashion scene in the 1930s: "Schiap compensated for what she believed to be her lack of naturally pretty features with her great style and helped other women do the same. She took pride in transforming women like herself." Rubin deftly describes the fashion and art scene of the time as she details Schiaparelli's innovative contributions in an easy-flowing narrative. Backdrops alternate among white, hot pink, and black, and the typeface color does the same. Full-color vignettes of Schiaparelli's bold designs (e.g., a lobster dress influenced by her friend Salvador Dalí) and b&w archival photos complete the eye-catching layout. An epilogue, author's note, bibliography, and index round out this aesthetic introduction to a groundbreaking artist. Ages 10â14. Agency: Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency.

July 15, 2015
The life story of the trailblazing designer. Having tackled Leonard Bernstein, Diego Rivera, and more, Rubin now turns to one of modernism's most colorful fashion designers, Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973), inventor of hot pink and a slew of fashion firsts. Known to intimates simply as "Schiap" (pronounced "skap" from "Skap-a-rell-ee," helpfully elucidated early on), the younger daughter of traditional Italian parents was born in Rome, drawing early inspiration from her librarian father's rare books. Rubin's account highlights formative moments in Schiap's rebellious youth but focuses mainly on the extraordinary accomplishments of her career. Schiap not only used fashion to compensate for internalized physical shortcomings, but extended her talents to help clothe women of all walks of life. Schiap believed that helping women "find their type" was "the secret of being well dressed." Though some of her more outlandish designs included zany hats, buttons in the shapes of vegetables, and accessories sporting insects, Schiap was also revered for path-breaking casual knitwear alongside wild couture collaborations with Man Ray and Salvador Dali. Unfortunately, while Rubin's well-researched and eye-catchingly illustrated portrayal hooks readers with the history behind "shocking" or "hot" pink and includes copious quotations from Schiaparelli herself, its overall effect is surprisingly dry. A studied account of the innovative and impulsive fashion legend that's likely to inspire budding designers of any age. (author's note, Schiaparelli facts, bibliography, notes, index) (Biography. 10-14)

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January 1, 2016

Gr 5-8-Art historian and biographer Rubin, who has written about art heavyweights such as Diego Rivera, Andy Warhol, Rene Magritte, and many others, turns to one of the first fashion designers to consider herself an artist (long before every fashionisto/fashionista made this same claim). Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973) defied tradition and set out to shock and amuse with her designs. The Paris-based designer collaborated with surrealist artists such as Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau, creating lobster-embellished gowns, hats that looked like upturned shoes, and suits with drawers like a wardrobe. The collaborations were a two-way street: she influenced the artists as much as they did her. The author reminds us that the groundbreaking designer invented many things we consider fashion staples now: the color "Shocking Pink," now called hot pink; fur booties; wedge heels; bolero jackets; shoulder bags. She was also the first designer to "brand herself," licensing her name to many adjunct products (her frenemy and contemporary Coco Chanel only attached her name to her company's perfumes). This is an attractive volume (shocking pink, of course), with large, high-quality photos. Though certain highlights of Schiap's personal life are mentioned, this book concentrates on her creative work. There's a bit of pinkwashing here: some accounts of Schiaparelli mothering skills are less benevolent than Rubin's, and a mention of how Schiap disliked even five minutes' tardiness from her employees speaks volumes. VERDICT This is a stirring account of a strong-willed, one-of-a-kind woman who made it big and did it her way. Her story will inspire young creative types and anybody who feels like an outsider.-Liz French, Library Journal

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2015
Grades 5-8 Influenced by the likes of Picasso, Dali, and Man Ray, Elsa Schiaparelli shocked the fashion world with her whimsical, inventive designs. The self-taught designer is the subject of Rubin's latest biography, which follows Schiap from her multifaceted education in Italy to her meteoric success in the Paris fashion scene. On broad pages appropriately accented with shocking pink and peppered with well-reproduced photos, Rubin details Schiap's tenacious independence ( The fact that I was obliged to learn things I did not care about and curb my imagination revolted me ), her playfulness in her design studio, her collaborations with avant-garde artists, and her commitment to the war effort during WWII. With accessible text, an inviting format, and a comprehensive list of multimedia resources in the back matter, this concise biography is well suited to classroom use, particularly for students who prefer to approach history through art. Though the text could have benefited from more images of her outlandish, groundbreaking fashions, kids who dare to be different will be enchanted by Schiap's indomitable spirit and fearless creativity.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)