A Thousand Days of Magic: Dressing Jackie Kennedy for the White House

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.


Book Description
There are moments in history where events converge to create something rare and special. Jacqueline Kennedy's selection of Oleg Cassini to design her personal wardrobe as First Lady was one of those moments, not only in fashion history, but political history as well. As creator of the "Jackie look," Cassini made the First Lady one of the best-dressed women in the world and a glamourous icon of the Kennedy era.

During the thousand days of the Kennedy administration, Cassini designed over 300 outfits for Jackie Kennedy--coats, dresses, evening gowns, suits, and day wear. He coordinated every aspect of her wardrobe, from shoes and hats to gloves and handbags.

For the first time, Oleg Cassini offers a fascinating and comprehensive view of his role as Jackie's personal couturier. His international background allowed him to fit comfortably into the Kennedy poltical dynasty, and offered him unprecedented access to both Jackie and John Kennedy as a designer and a trusted friend. From the details of his long-standing friendship with the Kennedy family to 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.

Cassini's original sketches are 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 the Author
One of the world's foremost fashion designers, Oleg Cassini continues to run his international business from New York City. Born a count in Czarist Russia, Cassini was raised in Italy and later came to America, where he worked as a costume designer in Hollywood. He lived a glamorous, jet-set life as part of the extravagant Hollywood elite while maintaining his position as a member of European society. Once married to actress Gene Tierney, he was later engaged to marry Grace Kelly.

In the 1950's Cassini began his own successful fashion business, but his greatest achievement was being selected as Jacqueline Kennedy's personal and exclusive designer in 1960. As the couturier to the First Lady, Cassini had a worldwide impact on fashion.



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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"


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