Grace: A Memoir

I just finished this book. I am a little outraged with myself at almost believing the discouraging review here on Amazon that Coddington was not a great writer. Like thats been her job in life! And thats why I gave it the benefit of the doubt and bought it. I actually bought the book because I figured it would be a beautiful, although heavy book, but thats because the paper is thick and sensous. The cover is bright orange to match her amazing hair.There are so many amazing things about this book. No, great writer she isnt but she was smart enough to find a great editor. She herself knows, if nothing else, when something is good and when it is mediocre so I am sure there were many exacting drafts. It was totally entertaining and if you love fashion and creativity and the life it generates then this is the book for you. I was transfixed and even found myself smiling if not laughing outloud. She is very charming.All of this is great but what struck me the very most was none of these things. The most important part of the book was to see the world she came from in the sixties and seventies and the eighties. Without being nostalgic I have to say that I was reminded of an art, a creative world, a cultural aesthetic world and the people who created it and how wholly devoted they were to it. Money was scarce, people were having a blast and what was considered the best was what people got. The best was driven by aesthetic value, not celebrity, social status or money, it was the work of someone who really cared about creative integrity. I roll my eyes as I speak this phrase but there was a time where it did matter and it wasnt ironic and it was respected as the best work. Everyone working in any cultural field today especially under the age of 38 should read this book. Not a story of a better time, just a story of how art looks when it isnt being run by lots of money. When the art is at the top of the list of priority in how something is made.

Grace: A Memoir was a relaxing, fun read. No tension, no struggles just a wonderful narrative of her life first as a model during the hip 1960's London and Carnaby Street. Then her story evolves into her life as a fashion editor for high fashion magazines. She started in London and then finally ends up at the American Vogue as the second in command to Anna Wintour. Along the way she describes events and photo shoots with lots of famous models, photographers and gives the reader a very intimate personal entry into the world of high fashion, such as the distant photo shots on mountain tops and secluded private beaches around the world. She herself is a very interesting woman and she has a very strong and positive working relationship with Anna Wintour at American Vogue, which you may know is not known for her warm fuzzy personality. But, Grace can handle her without lots of drama and she does. Anyone who is fascinated by fashion and the way it is communicated to the world will find this an absolute wonderful read. It is well over 400 pages but I zipped through it in two settings because of it's ease with the reader. Worth every penny I paid for it. I would love to meet Grace sometime, I know I would like her, actually I do already. She lives with a interesting man in NYC who was a former hairdresser, someone whose path crossed with hers as they did shoots all over the world.

I don't say this often about famous people, but Grace seems to have the type of personality that I could be in synch with. In the fashion world of drama queens and snooty people, Grace seems to keep her feet planted firmly on the ground. Though she is head creative director to one of the most important fashion publications in the world, she still attends the Met Ball in flats and little, if any, makeup. Coddington's writing style is quite approachable and easy reading. It would help to be familiar with the fashion world (designers, supermodels, and photographers). She shares many ancedotes about many of these people which could be done in a tasteless manner, but Coddington stays true and respectful. One of my favorite stories is when Anna Wintour (Editor in Chief at American VOGUE) had a cake made with a rendering of Grace on it. Anna, not pleased with the likeness of the rendering, stuck her signature famous sunglasses into cake to make the portrait of Grace more appealing. Soooo Anna. Another part of the book I love is Coddington's whimsical sketches scattered throughout the book which gave the book a personal touch that is rare to find in memoirs today. Grace also talks a bit about her creative processes, not in the depth that I usually like to pick an artists brain usually by, but its there: from her early days as a Vidal Sasson model, to her days making errors working for Calvin Klein, to her current post at American VOGUE. It's nice to get to know the faces behind the magic that touches millions of lives every day. Kudos Grace!

I love photography.GQ, Vogue, and Vanity Fair are the magazines that I look through for inspiration and ideas. I noticed that; when it came to the Vogue editorials, the fashion editor of my absolute favorite editorials were Grace Coddington. I have never picked up a auto-biographical book that school had not forced me to read. This one is great because it has given me an insight to one piece of the editorial process. I am not a speed reader, but I have had this book for about a week and am more than half way through it. I am really glad that I bought this book.I believe that for anyone that saw The September Issue movie, will appreciate this book greatly. Ms Coddington was the standout in the movie and reading this book feels as if she is telling you her story as oppose to you reading about it.I hope this little review helps you out.

Quite a lifetime in fashion! What an interesting and creative person! Highly recommend this as a look into the world of fashion!

Coddington's recent "fame" was the impetus for her putting pen to paper and writing an almost-autobiography about her life in the fashion business. The most interest chapters deal with her life as a model in London in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when there were only "models," not "super models" or pseudo-celebrities whose only claim to fame was their ability to wear size 0 clothing. Her charming drawings are what elevates this book from two stars to three. Her narratives skips over people and facts as if they were outlet rejects, which leave some gaping holes in her story (e.g., is her mother dead or alive?) Coddington doesn't spare us the sad times of her life, but she relates them in a rather cool, detached manner that can be off-putting. My chief complaint about the book is that it's too darn heavy! It was published on very thick paper stock, similar to what is used for "coffee table" books - I had to read it propped up on a pillow for fear that if it fell forward it would break my nose!

This was such a fun, nostalgic read. The author’s writing style is intimate and fun, like chatting with an old friend. If you lived through the 80s and 90s and were tuned into fashion, this book is a delightful walk down memory lane with an insider’s perspective.

It is a substantial history and bibliography of fashion photography as well as an inspiring example of someone who is passionate about their work and creativity. Half way through, I started Google imaging all the names that were mentioned to reference the photographer, designer, editor or hairstylist to see and understand their work and contribution which added greatly to the experience, then immediately started re-reading it from the beginning to continue looking at the rest of the references. Then there are all the charming drawings, selected works, photos and an edited insider's view of the business - making for several days of creative entertainment, humor and wonder.

Perfetto!

Habe das Buch in einem Tag verschlungen. Über verschiedene Blogs bin ich auf dieses Buch gestoßen und alle anderen Bloggerinnen waren auch schon sehr begeistert. Bin zwar keine Fashion Queen, aber es hat mich einfach trotzdem gefesselt und nicht mehr aus seinem Bann gelassen. Grace erzählt uns ihr Leben von Anfang an und gewährt auch Blicke hinter die Kulissen der Vogue. Auch eine Empfehlung für nicht so modebewusste Menschen. Die Person Grace Coddington ist einfach faszinierend. Jetzt fehlt mir nur noch der Film dazu. Deshalb habe ich mir "The September Issue" auch schon bestellt. Schade, dass ich es schon ausgelesen habe. Es könnte von mir aus die doppelte Seitenanzahl haben.

「ファッションが教えてくれること(The September Issue)」で初めてGrace Coddingtonさんを知りました。映画の中で彼女がプロデュースする写真は本当にロマンティックで言葉にできないくらい素敵で、いったいどんな方なんだろうと思いこの本を購入しました。本書は彼女の生い立ちからキャリアや私生活等の他に様々な写真やイラストも載っていて、それだけでもとて素敵な一冊だと思います(正直もう少し写真あったらいいかなーとも思いましたが)。また、巻末?のselected workの部分に載っている写真がもう本当に素敵で、もう本当に迷ってるなら是非買って読んで見て欲しい１冊です。　最初は3000円ちょっと高くないか....?と思っていましたが、実際に買って読むと本当に値段以上の価値があると思います。サイズが意外と大きくて、届いたときに少し驚きましたが飾っても素敵なサイズだと思います。持ち運びは若干難しいかなと思いますが。。。　とにかく！本当に素敵な1冊です!!

I found Grace's writing style easy and interesting. It leapt between topics in a very conversational way. I would have loved more photographs as reference.

Grace ou Madame Coddington, THE rédactrice de mode.Elle raconte et se dévoile avec grâce. Non, il ne s'agit pas d'un simple livre d'images. Un texte riche accompagne certaines photos, alors que d'autres textes se suffisent à eux-mêmes. Enfin.Oui, la mode, la vraie. Merci Grace.J'ai bien reçu ce livre en excellent état, livré avant la date annoncée. Une adresse à recommander chaudement.