Take the World by Storm

This was such a “Wow!” book for me. I did not know the fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, though I am somewhat familiar with the style of her time. A style that she helped create. Again, in this day of looking for books to inspire girls to go out and try (especially when they are told they should not because of their economic status, it is “unlady like” or they are not “fill in the blank”) this is another to add to the list. However, some might think it not “girl power” enough as she is in a more (now) traditionally female occupation, though at the time the world of fashion and art were mostly male dominated fields.

However, what I came away with is no matter what stands in your way (the fact you are rich, poor, female, not traditionally beautiful, want to create art with clothes) you can do it, if you try and are determined enough to have a few not-so-great “wins” in your corner.

While the text of Kyo Maclear is fantastic with its telling of the story of a daring girl from Rome, Italy who not only took the world of fashion by storm, but the world of art by storm too (lobster on your evening gown anyone?) it is the art of Julie Morstad that ties it all together for me. The pages pop with colors of all kinds, but especially pink, which was Schiaparelli’s favorite color.

Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli is an amazing book that is artful and factual.