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The incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design and create one of America’s most famous wedding dresses of all time for Jackie Kennedy.
1953, New York City
Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe’s dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it.
1918, Tampa
Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann’s talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida’s society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.
Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.
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4.6 out of 5 stars 1,855
4.3 out of 5 stars 292
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Publisher : William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication date : June 7, 2022
Language : English
Print length : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 0063059746
ISBN-13 : 978-0063059740
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.86 x 8 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #36,748 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #46 in Black & African American Historical Fiction (Books) #519 in Black & African American Women’s Fiction (Books) #2,815 in Literary Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,855 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Customers say
Customers find this book compelling and beautifully written, describing it as a remarkable story of triumph. Moreover, the book provides an awesome factual history lesson, with one customer noting it’s a must-read for history and fashion buffs. Additionally, customers praise the author’s portrayal of Ann Lowe as a remarkably gifted seamstress who worked hard in her art, while the book balances sadness with its emotional depth. Customers appreciate the book’s focus on resilience and its connection to American dress design, with one review highlighting how it creates an emotional attachment to the characters.