Surprisingly entertaining and informative - lovely passages about the transitions in the US, as reflected in fashion, in the 60s and 70s. I expected to be underwhelmed, but I think this autobiography will stick with me for a long time. ( )

A pretty good book. At first I thought that the authors style was lame, but after Diana went to work it picked uo
considerably and stayed exciting to the end. The sections on Harpers, Vogue and the Museum are all wonderful.
The author knows that Vreeland was a consummate liar about her childhood and goes far to disprove all her
ravubgs. ( )

As biographies go this one is very easy to read. It provides the facts of Diana Vreeland's personal and professional life. At times is insightful but never does it dissect the Vreeland's life. I read this book because I was curious about the life of the woman who had such an impact on the life and lifestyle of so many American's. I learned much about Vreeland from this book. It is not going to be the definitive work on this woman's life, but that is not the fault of the author. At this point in time there are too many people who knew Vreeland and have much invested in her retention of her reputation as well as theirs. Fifty years from now it will be a different story and make for a much more fascinating book about the life and work of Diana Vreeland. If you want to know more about the biographical facts of Vreeland's life and some of the personnel details as well this book will do the trick. If you want an in-depth study of her life this one isn't going to do that. It is, however, well worth the time it takes to read the book. ( )

Diana Vreeland was a larger than life personality, creative, outgoing, inspirational to many and frustrating and difficult and threatening to others and it was fascinating to read about the life and steps she took that brought her to the pinnacle of the fashion world.

I may have come across her name in past readings about the fashion world but before this book I never really knew anything about her or her impact in fashion and pop culture of her time, even on the culture of today’s world. The author does a very good job bringing her past to life and creating a sympathetic but not overly romanticized biography, letting us see her weaknesses as well as her strengths to light. The thing I really had trouble with was when the author described all the clothes from photos shoots or that Diana helped influenced but did not provide photographs of these items, it really made the story drag and hard to read in those sections. All of those lists of specific pieces of clothes and styles could have been skipped easily and it would have improved the story greatly.

Overall I enjoyed this book, the topic of Diana Vreeland was fascinating and the look at the changes in fashion and society as a whole through the lens of her life was very interesting and educational. I find history like this to be absorbed easier through such a lens as a single life time, it make it more direct and concrete feeling. ( )

Before the Devil wore Prada, she wore Balenciaga and was known as DV, the divine Diana Vreeland. With little formal education, but with plenty of style and pizazz, Ms. Vreeland moved from society wife to fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar to Editor-in-Chief of Vogue to curator of the Costume Institute at the4 Metropolitan Museum of Art. Along the way she advanced the careers of designers, photographers & fashion models and changed the way Americans and, perhaps the world, looked at fashion.

Even if you're not interested in the fashion world you can't help being fascinated by this extraordinary woman.

A breezy read from beginning to end. ( )