By Her Own Design

By Her Own Design
by Piper Huguley
William Morrow, 2022. 384 pages. Historical Fiction

1953, New York City. Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe's dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them.

1918, Tampa. Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann's talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida's society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.

This intriguing story based on the life of a real person was an interesting look at history from a new perspective. Never properly acknowledged by Jacqueline Kennedy for making her iconic wedding dress, Ann Lowe also made dresses for other famous people of the social register, including the dress Olivia de Havilland wore when she won her Oscar. Although her work went largely unrecognized and uncredited, Ann's determination to live her dream and make beautiful clothes carried her through hard times. This was also an interesting look at how the world evolved and changed through the mid-1900s. This book will appeal to anyone who loves fashion, history, fiction based on true stories, and rooting for underdogs who never stop dreaming.

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