The Time-Traveling Fashionista [Hardcover]

Bianca Turetsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2011 | Series: The Time-Traveling Fashionista

What if a beautiful vintage dress could take you back in time?

Louise Lambert has always dreamed of movie starlets and exquisite gowns and longs for the day when she can fill the closet of her normal suburban home with stylish treasures. But when she receives a mysterious invitation to a vintage fashion sale in the mail, her once painfully average life is magically transformed into a time-travel adventure.

Suddenly onboard a luxurious cruise ship a hundred years ago, Louise relishes the glamorous life of this opulent era and slips into a life of secrets, drama, and decadence. . . .

Dreamy and imaginative, The Time-Traveling Fashionista features thirty full-color fashion illustrations to show gorgeous dresses and styles throughout history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Time Traveling Fashionista had me under its spell from the first page. It whisked me back in time to an era of impeccable manners, glamorous people, and of course, gorgeous clothes. Debut author Bianca Turetsky has begun an amazing new series." (Joanna Philbin, author of THE DAUGHTERS series )

"...The story begins when Louise, a stylish seventh-grader from Connecticut, tries on a dress at a vintage sale that used to belong to a film star. Then suddenly, she's transported, and becomes a passenger on [a] massively luxurious cruise ship in a sea of glamorous people with gorgeous clothes. The story takes tons of twists and turns as Louise figures out whether her alter-ego can change history and stop the ship from sinking. So, bottom line: totally recommend! Plus, the pencil sketches of gowns throughout the book give it a very reading-your-awesome-best-friend's-diary feel." (Seventeen.com )

About the Author

Bianca Turetsky is the author of the stylish Time-Traveling Fashionista series, which has been translated into nine languages. A graduate of Tufts University, Bianca has been running the studio of artist/filmmaker Julian Schnabel for the last ten years. She lives in a cozy studio apartment in Brooklyn, New York, that houses her very extensive and much-loved vintage collection.

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Poppy; 1 edition (April 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316105422
• ISBN-13: 978-0316105422
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #734,052 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bianca Turetsky graduated from Tufts University in 2001 with a BA in English literature. She moved to New York City to intern in the editorial departments of "Rolling Stone" and "PAPER" magazines. Bianca then went to work for the artist/filmmaker Julian Schnabel where she has been running his studio for the past ten years and was an assistant on the Academy Award nominated film, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", as well as a feature concert documentary, "Lou Reed's Berlin", and his recently release feature, "Miral." She lives in a cozy apartment in Brooklyn, New York, that houses her very extensive and much loved vintage collection. The Time-Traveling Fashionista at The Palace of Marie Antoinette will be released by Poppy September 2012. She is currently at work on the third book in the series.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Time Traveling Fashionista May 18, 2011

By Mundie Moms/Mundie Kids

Format:Hardcover

This wonderful debut ties together fashion, vintage clothing and traveling back in time fabulously. It makes me want to run out to my nearest vintage clothing store and look for each of the dresses that are so visually appealing with the books beautifully illustrated pictures. Although I've come to realize with in the first few sentences of the book that twelve year old Fashionista, Louise has way more fashion appeal than I do, and ever will.

I love that this spunky seventh grader is not a slave to the latest trend, but has an eye for fashion. I admire this empowering trait, as Louise is so secure with who she is and what she likes, that she embraces it. I think that in itself is a wonderful message for readers of all ages. I would love to go shopping with her. This lovable character shops vintage, scouring her local thrift shop in search of the perfect dress, and clothing. Something happens when she goes to try on a gorgeous pink vintage dress. Louise finds herself back in 1912, on an elegant cruise ship bound for NY, the Titanic. If that isn't fancy enough, she goes back in time as Miss Baxter, a beautiful silent movie start from England.

It was amazing reading about Louise's adventures and seeing through her eyes what it was like being there. From mingling with some of society's most elite members, to the descriptions of her suite and the ship to the way society was then, all of the descriptions brought the story and the time period to life. Louise and her maid Anna became unlikely heroines when tragedy strikes the Titanic. The way Bianca ties together fashion & history and centers it around the adventures of a twelve year old girl was captivating. I loved the vintage feel of the story and how it was brought to life with it's gorgeous illustrations! It was like looking at drawings from the early 1900's. I love this quote from Louise's invitation to the elite group of women called Fashionista.

"It takes a special kind of person to realize that when you wear vintage you are carrying a bit of the past on your body, and the possibility that vintage can have an impact on your modern life. But there's also the responsibility that comes with this privilege of owning a piece of the past."

I think that sums up what Louise learned on her adventure on the Titanic. There are a lot of things I really enjoyed about this story. It's a wonderfully written, clean cut book that readers from middle grade on up will enjoy. I am really looking forward to reading Louise's next adventure. I highly recommend picking this book up.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous time-traveling adventure! March 24, 2011

By Book Lover

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

THE TIME-TRAVELING FASHIONISTA is a wonderful Young Adult (YA) book that will "speak" to YA readers, as well as adults, on many levels. This is Bianca Turetsky's first published book, which is illustrated by Sundra Suy. The illustrator enhances the story with wonderful sketches throughout Louise Lambert's adventures. The book ends with the readers hoping that there will be a sequel with Louise traveling to another destination and another time.

Louise Lambert is introduced to the readers as an "average" middle school student. While there seems to be nothing special about Louise, her time-traveling adventure quickly captivates the readers. Female YA readers can relate to Louise, with her hopes and dreams. The excitement of Louise traveling through time because of her love for vintage clothes, creates the sense of adventure that most people only dream about!

The book is a real "page-turner" and was difficult to put down until finished. I am looking forward to a sequel to THE TIME-TRAVELING FASHIONISTA with another time-traveling adventure.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The Time Traveling Fasionista November 19, 2011

By princess bookie

Format:Hardcover

My Thoughts: So this book involves the past (historical), fashion, and is middle grade which is clearly not my favorite kinds of books. But I wanted to give The Time Traveling Fashionista a chance anyway.

We are introduced to Louise who is 12 years old and in 7th grade. She is obsessed with fashion. She knows all about it, she loves it, and she enjoys vintage sales. So when she gets an invitation to attend a vintage sale, of course she is thrilled and just has to go! She ends up at the sale, faints, and is transported back to the Titantic.

What I Liked: I liked the idea of The Titantic. What girl hasn't seen the movie numerous times? I can honestly say I'm one of those girls who went to see the movie 2+ times in the theater and I own the DVD. I also liked the beautiful illustrations throughout the novel. I liked Louise as a character even though it seemed like she didn't know much about The Titantic. If you take the dust jacket off the book, it's also very beautiful. Even the cover itself is stunning. I also liked the chapter headings and the colors.

What I wasn't thrilled with: Well, this is more aimed at tweens than Teens. It is more of a middle grade novel than YA, which I don't usually read. It is also historical which I tend to stay away from. Though it did take place on The Titantic, I was drawn to read it anyway.

I liked the other characters throughout the novel for the most part, I also liked learning a bit about fashion and what Louise knew about it.

The Time Traveling Fashionista was interesting but didn't hold my interest as much as I wanted it too. The good thing is, it's under 300 pages and every other page seemed to be a picture so it flew by quick.

Overall: It was just okay. I think if your into middle grade or historical you'll enjoy this book much more than I did. Will I read the sequel? Yes, most likely I'll try it too. Even though it is not typically my type of book, it wasn't that bad and I did finish it.

Cover: Love it! The cover is very appealing and will attract Ya, middle grade, and adult readers all over I'm sure. Love the dress.

What I'd Give It: 3/5 Cupcakes
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Review Based On Hardcover Edition

Taken From Princess Bookie (blog)