This is the first of many books I will be posting in this section. I think this is an interesting take on the famous designer Bill Blass’s life. The book was written by Cathy Horne, and I believe it is an authorized biography. After all, she knew him personally and stayed at his house sometimes. I’d imagine a lot since she wrote this book…but I digress, this book is a must read, and I’ll tell you why. First off, the book begins with earliest memory. It speaks of how he came to love fashion and his early influences. A lot of people in the fashion industry back in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and even early 90’s were all connected. Seriously, I’ve red Diane von Furstenberg and Calvin Klein’s autobiographies and they all mentioned each other at some point in their careers. Bill Blass’s autobiography talked about how he worked his way up the social ladder and met key people in fashion by merely networking. He talked about how all the designers helped one another and even said that they were genuine friends. I thought it was funny when in the book he explained how one of his socialite friends tried to trick him into marrying her! Yeah, that’s kray, but true. It’s amazing how he just would buy a bottle of wine and make some nibbles just to interact with people. It wasn’t just about business, but because he genuinely enjoyed the company of his friends. He even knew famous photographers like Annie Leibovitz. Like I said before, it’s just an interesting book. This book can even help clue you in on tips for surviving and *gasp* succeeding in the fashion industry. What I learned from this book is that you have to reach out to people and grow your network. Don’t focus on how much money you have in your pocket, but more on meeting new people and getting your name and designs out there. You’re passion and drive will draw people towards you…The right people. ;) Till Next Time