A dash of daring by Penelope Rowlands

Fashion's good novels are not many. We mainly read big coffee table books. "A dash of daring" by Penelope Rowlands is a really good one and a long one, but it's definitely worth reading.

This book is not only the biography of one of the most important names in fashion history (remember who said " Oh this is such a new look Christian"?), but it is also the mirror to the life and battle of a modern working woman. Passion, hard work and perseverance bring success to Carmel Snow but sadly towards the end of the book you witness how someone so dedicated to work faces the reality of fading.If you read two books consequently you can have a valuable fashion history knowledge. First one is "A dash of daring" second one is "Empress of fashion" about Diana Vreeland, which is also reviewed in the blog. I'm sure you can see the connection, two of the most important ladies in fashion publishing, both having similar stories but in different epoques. Editors-in-chief are surrounded by all the big names of fashion and they are powerful, this is what makes their lives interesting for readers. Read the books consequently and you will discover 70 years of fashion (approximately from 1900 to 1970s).

Stories of the important editors are more or less the same…Carmel Snow was working with Edna Woolman Chase, the editor-in-chief of Vogue (1914-1952) who would not leave her position so Carmel moves to Harper's Bazaar, a move that causes a big drama to Mr Conde Nast. Just like when Vreeland left Bazaar to go to Vogue, for the very same reason. That position is like presidency, no one really wants to leave it. Same for Carmel Snow when she gets older.

It's not possible to sum up a book of 500 pages and my objective is not to sum up but suggest you to read it, so I would like to give you a list of reasons why you should read this book.

To find out how was the life of a working woman in the beginning of 20th century. It was more difficult than we can imagine now.
To learn about how todays editorial publishing took shape, since the best improvements were made in those years like passing from sketches to photography and modern page design
To discover some important and less known names in fashion,such as photographer Martin Munkacsi who was there before Avedon and Henri Cartier Bresson, graphic Alexey Brodovitchwho worked side by side with Snow in designing the new and successful Harper's Bazaar. Photographers George Hoyningen-Huene and Louise Dahl-Wolfe who was famous with her outdoor photography and art director Alexander Liberman.
The names that you know about and that you will be happy to cross while reading, like Truman Capote,the young Richard Avedon, beautiful Lauren Bacall (discovered by Snow), Man Ray, Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau
Carmel Snow's favorite designers as they arrive one by one in the scene, Cheruit, Vionnet, Mainbocher, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior and her beloved, master of all Cristobal Balenciaga.

"Elegance is good taste, plus a dash of daring" Carmel Snow said. I find this quote controversial and clever. In my opinion it underlines the importance of individuality in fashion. Good taste is not enough, copying from magazines is not enough, making a total look is not enough…elegance comes with some daring individuality and Carmel Snow herself was a good example of that.

Thanks to Penelope Rowlands for writing this amazing story based on an inspiring life story backed up with so much research.

Seven Sisters Style

“Fashion is an element mysterious as uranium and just as explosive, but light, lighter than air.”