Customer Reviews

A Thousand Days of Magic: Dressing Jacqueline Kennedy for the White House

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This lovely volume combines Cassini's memoirs of working closely with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis during her brief White House years, his fashion philosophies and ideas, and the iconography of the early 1960s style and vigor of the Kennedy years. Each piece plays the right part in the book as a whole, illustrating what must have been an enchanted time for Cassini. If one is interested in fashion and its technical aspects, the book's sketches and interesting details (letters from Jackie about to whom Cassini should send swatches for hat and glove construction for each dress), his memories of Jackie along with excerpts of her letters (photographic and in text, reproduced verbatim) along with the requisite, but lovely photographs of Jackie is his creations. It brings couture to the United States in a grand way and makes this French sensibilitiy part of our own Americana.

With all of the Jackie Kennedy products on the market, it was lovely to read such a heartfelt memoir from the man who helped to position her in our nation's consciousness as a precious and dear woman.

As far as I am concerned this is THE top book about Jackie's Fashions and I have either read, bought, or extensively reviewed all of them. This big coffee table book written by Oleg Cassini contains more information, better pictures and sketches than any other book about Jackie's fashions. In fact,I would say in some ways it is almost a biography of Jackie albeit a heavily illustrated one. Do not let the new influx of books about Jackie's fashions deter you from buying this book. The new books that came out around the time of the exhibit of her fashions at the Met are all ok . And Hamish Bowles book about the exhibit was the best of the three released during this timeframe. However none of these books match the lushness of Cassini's book!

I bought this book in 1995 when it first came out, it has held up beautifully, and is one of my all time favorite books about Jackie.

A large, coffee table book that is filled with exquisite photos from Jackie's wedding day to President Kennedy through her time as First Lady, and her later years.

Jackie has always been one of my favorite role models, and Oleg Cassini did one fantastic job in showing the sketches of clothing illustrations, as well as when and where Jackie wore them. He gives wonderful and detailed paragraphs of information that are respectful of Jackie. The book also has clear copies of the many letters of gratitude Jackie has written, as well as the many activities she was involved in.

It is a true and dignified portrait of Jackie's greatest 1,000 days, and is a timeless treasure, showing the class, dignity, heart, and soul of a woman who will forever remain eternal.
HIGHLY Recommended for the beautiful and dignified manner with which it is presented.

One of my all time favorites. The photo quality and choice is great (so many Jackie books skimp on this point), the layout is fabulous, Cassini's explanation of how decisions were made and his correspondence with Jackie is fascinating. The only thing I felt this book lacked was good photos of the dresses themselves, on dummies so that one could admire the details; buy the equally excellent Met Museum catalog and you've got the perfect guide to Jackie's chic.

With her cultured and educated eye for style, Jackie accomplished from the start what took Princess Diana ten years to figure out: How to create a distinct look and always stand out in a crowd. Jackie had the height, the figure, and a love of the finest quality and simplicity in all things. She hired Oleg Cassini, who agreed to "dress" her only if he were her one and only designer. Cassini had a perfect vision for the demands of Jackie's position, and an eye for the look she could pull off. Being her only designer meant gave Jackie a look, a continuity of style that only she could carry off. The demands on Cassini were great--he had to produce her entire wardrobe, and she wanted to be wearing originals. Occasionally she'd ask for someting from his ready-to-wear line, like when she went to India and realized the heat might force her to change her clothes three or four times a day, but otherwise Cassini did true couture for her--he designed and made (with the help of his atelier, of course) every single garment Jackie wore just for her and her figure and her schedule. The result was magic! As the beautiful photographs show, Jackie always stood out in a crowd. Wearing sleek, simple clothes in sumptuous fabrics, everyone else inevitably looked fussy and overdressed in comparison--even when they were trying to copy her style. This book is as maginificent tribute to Jackie, couture, Cassini, and personal style. I loved reading the details about the dresses which I heretofore had only caught glimpses of in photographs. Princess Diana could have taken a page or two out of Jackie's book; indeed, toward the end of her life she did. Many of Diana's best clothes could have come straight from Cassini. Catherine Walker and Lagerfield for Chanel did a great job of reinterpreting Cassini/Jackie style for Diana. For anyone interested in fashion and history and the magic of the Kennedys, this books is amazing.

I bought this book before all the Jackie style books came out. This is a good book, and what Oleg says of Jackie is insightful--but the pictures were secondary to the words! (And the cost!) There would be a drawing taking up the whole page, with this little picture of Jackie. Plus, it doesn't have all the clothes she wore--and--- They are not all his clothes!...This book, however, is a nice companion book to the Jay Mulveney book, or even the Hamish Bowles if you chose to buy that....If you want to know about Jackie's style, buy this or the IN THE KENNEDY STYLE by Latetia Baldridge, or especially the Jay Mulveney book.

This is the BEST by far on Jackie Kennedy's simple but elegant fashion style. Oleg Cassini was personally selected by Jackie to design many of her outfits during her time as first lady. This book includes not only Cassini's finished articles of clothing, but also the original sketches he used in designing the clothes. On many pages he includes personal notes of thank you from Mrs. Kennedy, as well as requests for specific gowns or other items for special occasions. Not only was Jackie a fashion statement, she set the stage for years to come in the fashion industry! Oleg Cassini is a magnificent and world-renowned fashion designer, and will no doubt be long remembered for his fashion creations for Jackie Kennedy! The photos are stunning, and beautiful as ever...portraying Mrs. Kennedy all over the world wearing his designs. If you are a Jackie Kennedy admirer, Oleg Cassini follower, or a Fashion History buff; this is a remarkable book to add to your collection...more than worth the price!

A must have for anyone fascinated about Jackie Kennedy or fashion. Congradulations to Oleg Cassini for a most unique book. The perfect book to leave on your coffee table to have friends and family enjoying it also. A Winner!!!!!!!! FOR QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT JACKIE ONASSIS, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT MellissaLD@aol.com. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love reading and learning about Jackie Kennedy and feel she is the personification of elegance, class and grace. She was the EPITOME OF STYLE. For anyone that is an admirer of hers you won't be disappointed with this picture book (except I wish more photos had been in color so we could see her clothes in their natural hue). But it is evident Mr. Cassini is a very talented designer and Jackie was the ultimate subject. It is very easy to see why the world was obsessed with what she was wearing and how her style has influenced fashion for years on end. Great coffee table book.

I have always admired Jackie Kennedy for her style, grace and elegance. Therefore, Oleg Cassini's informative and illustrative book about the dresses he had designed exclusively for Jackie whilst being First Lady of America truly delighted me.

Her reign (sadly) of a thousand days of "magic" was all too short for our mere mortals. A great coffee book table, I will always treausre it.