Always Pack a Party Dress: And Other Lessons Learned From a (Half) Life in Fashion

by Amanda Brooks

I have two pairs—black and tortoiseshell. They are both the same style—a version of a Wayfarer that is slightly bigger and with slightly harder edges. A modern classic.

  Manolo Blahnik BB Pumps

  I have had two pairs of these in black and brown suede since the late nineties. They sat untouched in my closet for many years while I was more attracted to chunkier shoes and platforms, and then in 2010 they came back out again. These days, whenever I consider shoes to wear with a dress, it’s rare that anything looks chicer or more timeless than these.

  Proenza Schouler Colorblocked PS1 Bag

  When Proenza Schouler launched a handbag collection, they hit the ball right out of the park with the PS1 bag. I love its lack of bells and whistles, and its utilitarian shape. In the evening, I carry the clutch style in navy suede, but it’s my colorblocked day bag in natural linen, brown leather, and black suede that gets carried more than any other bag in my closet.

  Chanel Maxi 2.55 Bag

  This bag was a very generous gift from Chanel when I did my first book tour with them. It’s the largest version of the classic quilted 2.55 bag with a metal chain—prefect for fitting in your iPad and a magazine on top of your daily stuff—and it’s in a very dark teal lambskin, which feels more unique to me than all the black ones I see around. It’s my most coveted accessory.

  Repetto Flats

  Leave it to Kate Moss to have led me to my favorite everyday shoe—when I first noticed her wearing the perfect ballet flat, with the perfect roundness in the toe, the perfect amount of coverage on the foot, and the perfect relaxed shape, I had to search high and low in Paris to find the store that sold them. But I was hooked. Now, years later, you can get Repetto flats on most corners of both Paris and New York, but I still love them. They are perfect right when you buy them, and they get even better with age. They come in a million colors and materials, and the fit is always the same. My daughter likes to tell me that she is “so over” ballet flats, but I don’t think I will ever be.

  THANK YOU

  To Sarah Hochman, for understanding me so completely. The first time I met you, I knew I wanted you to edit my next book.

  To Simon Doonan for the introduction to Sarah. You were spot-on.

  To Richard Pandiscio, for taking on round two.

  To Bill Loccisano, for your focused and dedicated hard work, the beautiful results, and for knowing me well enough to laugh at me.

  To everyone at Blue Rider Press and Penguin Random House who had a hand in bringing this book to life: David Rosenthal, Phoebe Pickering, Joanna Kamouh, Aileen Boyle, Brian Ulicky, Eliza Rosenberry, and Claire Vaccaro.

  To David Kuhn, Jessie Borkan, William LoTurco, and Nicole Tourtelot for dreaming big on my behalf.

  To DVF, for being such a devoted champion. I am forever grateful for your love, wisdom, and support.

  To all of my former bosses—Patrick Demarchelier, Larry Gagosian, Frédéric Fekkai, Diego Della Valle, Emanuele Della Valle, Josh Patner, Bryan Bradley, Mark Dowley, Jay Fielden, Daniella Vitale, and Mark Lee—for choosing me and for sharing your success and knowledge with me.

  To Anna Wintour, for including me in your incredible world.

  To Laura Stoloff, Chelsea Fairless, and Phoebe Cutter, for being the determined young women I had in mind while writing this book.

  To Kimberly Cutter, for setting the bar high and for sharing the benefit of your writing and editing genius with me.

  To Regena Thomashauer, for encouraging my every move. And for dragging my ass to SoulCycle in my darkest moments.

  To my early readers—Eve MacSweeney, Kimberly Cutter, Amy Astley, Taylor Tomasi Hill, Laura Stoloff, Sarah Geary, and Laura Bailey—for your suggestions and encouragement.

  To Jackie Skye Kim, for your invaluable help in research and permissions.

  To the friends and places that have enabled my writing: Rebekah Brooks (SHA), Rose Van Cutsem (the Village Pub), Bella Pollen & Co. (Westwell), and the staff at Daylesford Farm Shop café, Turl Street Kitchen, and the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

  To Robin Bellinger, for telling me to keep writing when I was having serious doubts.

  And finally to my parents—all three of you—for your love.

  IMAGE CREDITS

  Here: (To Coco) photo by Sean Thomas; (To Christopher) photo by Arthur Elgort

  Here: The Selby

  Here: Cyle Suesz

  Here: Garance Doré / Trunk Archive

  Here: The Urban Spotter—Blaublut Edition / Trunk Archive

  Here: (top left) Claireborne Swanson Frank; (center left) J.Crew; (top right) Jenna Lyons

  Here: Oberto Gili

  Here: © ImageCollect.com/Globe-Photos

  Here: Patrick Demarchelier

  Here: Jean Pigozzi

  Here: (top) © Seydou Keïta/SKPEAC Courtesy CAAC – The Pigozzi Collection, Geneva; (bottom) Michel Arnaud

  Here: Courtesy Christopher Brooks

  Here: Arthur Elgort

  Here: Courtesy J.Crew

  Here: Courtesy Christopher Brooks

  Here: Kevin Sturman

  Here: Hilary Walsh / Trunk Archive

  Here: Courtesy Christopher Brooks

  Here: Michel Arnaud

  Here: Robert Fairer / Vogue

  Here: © patrickmcmullan.com

  Here: Carter Smith / Art + Commerce

  Here: Joe Schildhorn / BFAnyc.com

  Here: Elliott Erwitt

  Here: Wayne Tippetts / REX

  Here: Miles Aldridge / Trunk Archive

  Here: Steven Meisel / Art + Commerce

  Here: Pamela Hanson / Trunk Archive

  Here: Francesco Scavullo

  Here: The Estate of David Hicks

  Here: Melissa Jones / Redux

  Here: Photographed by Noel J. Federizo for Vogue magazine

  Here: © patrickmcmullan.com

  Here: Photo by Hannah Thomson

  Here: © patrickmcmullan.com

  Here: © patrickmcmullan.com

  Here: Photo by Hannah Thomson

  Here: © patrickmcmullan.com

  Here: © patrickmcmullan.com

  Here: Billy Farrell / BFAnyc.com

  Here: Joe Schildhorn / BFAnyc.com

  Here: Billy Farrell / BFAnyc.com

  Here: Erdem Moralioglu

  Here: Photo by Uzoamaka Maduka

  Here: Courtesy Salon 94, New York

  Here: Debra Scherer for Italian Vogue

  Here: Melissa Hom

  Here: Melissa Hom

  Here: Garance Doré / Trunk Archive

  Here: Thos Robinson / Stringer / Getty Images

  Here: Mario Sorrenti / Art Partner

  Here: © patrickmcmullan.com

  Here: Patrick Demarchelier

  Here: Jessica Craig Martin

  Here: Garance Doré / Trunk Archive

  Here: The Styleograph / WENN.com

  Here: John Moore

  Here: Vanessa Jackman

  Here: Lianna Taratin

  Here: Marlene Sørensen

  Here: Melissa Hom

  Here: Billy Farrell / BFAnyc.com

  Here: (top left) David X Prutting/BFAnyc.com; (top right) Joe Schildhorn / BFAnyc.com; (center left) Billy Farrell / BFAnyc.com

  Here: Paul Wetherell / Trunk Archive

  Here: © patrickmcmullan.com; (bottom center) Evan Agostini / Getty

  Here: Casey Kelbaugh

  Here: Garance Doré / Trunk Archive

  Here: (top left) Photo by Hannah Thomson; (top right) Courtesy Christopher Brooks; (center left) Mai Duong; (bottom right) Bjorn Iooss / Trunk Archive; (bottom left) Into the Gloss

  Here: The Selby

  Here: Courtesy J.Crew

  Here: Patrick Demarchelier

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