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Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem: A Memoir Hardcover – July 9, 2019

4.8 out of 5 stars 1,839 ratings

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Dapper Dan is a legend, an icon, a beacon of inspiration to many in the Black community. His story isn’t just about fashion. It’s about tenacity, curiosity, artistry, hustle, love, and a singular determination to live our dreams out loud.”—Ava DuVernay, director of Selma13th, and A Wrinkle in Time

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY VANITY FAIR • DAPPER DAN NAMED ONE OF TIME’S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

With his now-legendary store on 125th Street in Harlem, Dapper Dan pioneered high-end streetwear in the 1980s, remixing classic luxury-brand logos into his own innovative, glamorous designs. But before he reinvented haute couture, he was a hungry boy with holes in his shoes, a teen who daringly gambled drug dealers out of their money, and a young man in a prison cell who found nourishment in books. In this remarkable memoir, he tells his full story for the first time.

Decade after decade, Dapper Dan discovered creative ways to flourish in a country designed to privilege certain Americans over others. He witnessed, profited from, and despised the rise of two drug epidemics. He invented stunningly bold credit card frauds that took him around the world. He paid neighborhood kids to jog with him in an effort to keep them out of the drug game. And when he turned his attention to fashion, he did so with the energy and curiosity with which he approaches all things: learning how to treat fur himself when no one would sell finished fur coats to a Black man; finding the best dressed hustler in the neighborhood and converting him into  a customer; staying open twenty-four hours a day for nine years straight to meet demand; and, finally, emerging as a world-famous designer whose looks went on to define an era, dressing cultural icons including Eric B. and Rakim, Salt-N-Pepa, Big Daddy Kane, Mike Tyson, Alpo Martinez, LL Cool J, Jam Master Jay, Diddy, Naomi Campbell, and Jay-Z.

By turns playful, poignant, thrilling, and inspiring,
Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem is a high-stakes coming-of-age story spanning more than seventy years and set against the backdrop of an America where, as in the life of its narrator, the only constant is change.

Praise for Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem

“Dapper Dan is a true one of a kind, self-made, self-liberated, and the sharpest man you will 
ever see. He is couture himself.”—Marcus Samuelsson, New York Times bestselling author of Yes, Chef

“What James Baldwin is to American literature, Dapper Dan is to American fashion. He is the ultimate success saga, an iconic fashion hero to multiple generations, fusing street with high sartorial elegance. He is pure American style.”
—André Leon Talley, Vogue contributing editor and author

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“It’s easy now to take for granted the trail [Dapper Dan] blazed. . . . Detailed descriptions of his family’s tragic journey through poverty, the changing nature of his beloved and cursed neighborhood, and his adventures as a hustler are riveting.”The New York Times

“A dream maker from Harlem.”
—Nas

“Truly a gift.”
—Taraji P. Henson, Emmy- and Oscar-nominated actress 

“A fantastic and cinematic writer.”
—Phoebe Robinson

“Dapper Dan makes manifest through garments what Black flyness, Black intelligence, Black struggle, Black courage, Black hustle, Black progress, Black resistance and Black royalty looks like. Never did he rattle a beggar’s cup outside of a fashion industry designed to exclude him and all who looked like him. He took what he wanted from the establishment and built his own damn house. His life story is a wonderful tale of brilliance, hard work, perseverance, and hustle—America at its best.”
—Michaela Angela Davis, writer and image activist

“Dapper Dan is not just the epitome of style and grace, but an international treasure. He is a cultural icon who has pioneered his own path through the fashion industry, one that will influence generations to come.”
—La La Anthony

“A grand raconteur.”
—Margo Jefferson, author of Negroland

“A purveyor of the American Dream.”
—Elaine Welteroth

“Dapper Dan is a living legend, a creative icon, and a godfather to the Black community. His inspirational story isn’t just about fashion. It’s about adventure, struggle, curiosity, hustle, love, and a singular determination to change one’s life.”
—Bethann Hardison, model and activist

“Dapper Dan is the original influencer, disruptor, and creative—a true visionary who inspired inclusion for those who weren’t always invited to partake in fashion. His legacy will forever impact the intersection of style and culture, reminding us all to remain authentic and live unapologetically.”
—Ashley Graham, model and author of A New Model

“[The story of a] remarkable and unlikely evolution . . . an intriguing and twisty tale about the hustle and the hustler, and it is eloquently and engagingly told . . . There is a profound vulnerability in Day’s story and a striking self-awareness as he recounts both his successes and failures as a man, father, son, brother, husband, and entrepreneur. In the end, [this book] is, like him, an inspiration.”The Root

“It is part fashion story; part personal memoir; but also part business book extolling the virtues of creativity and hard work; part metaphysical and spiritual exploration; part history of Harlem, its Black community and diverse cultural mix, and fashion and hip-hop’s intersection; part meditation on identity and more. If that sounds like too much, it’s not. . . . Dapper Dan contains multitudes, and so does his book. Pick it up to spend some time in the mind of a truly creative and clever innovator.”
Fashionista

“A streetwise adventure in 
Super Fly style.”—New York Daily News

About the Author

Daniel “Dapper Dan” Day’s work has been displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, The Museum at FIT, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of the City of New York, and London’s Design Museum. His eponymous boutique was open from 1982 to 1992, and reopened in 2017 in a major partnership with Gucci. In 2020, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House (July 9, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0525510516
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0525510512
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.13 x 9.54 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 1,839 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
1,839 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this memoir engaging and quick to read, with a compelling human success story that provides valuable life lessons. The writing is well-crafted, and customers appreciate the vivid storytelling and the author's exceptional talent. They praise the author's remarkable tenacity and perseverance throughout his journey.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

96 customers mention "Readability"96 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fantastic and quick read, with one customer noting it feels like a conversation.

"This book is great! I learned so much about the life of Dapper Dan that I had no clue about...." Read more

"...Love the Memoir and your journey!!!" Read more

"Such a wonderful read. If you need inspiration Dapper Dan will give you it and so much more. Step out side of your field and learn from others...." Read more

"I thought this was a great read , quite the story of adversity and success" Read more

81 customers mention "Story quality"81 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story compelling and fascinating, describing it as a beautiful and educational tale of Harlem success.

"...Your energy and how you expressed your life story was captivating and sucked me in. Love the Memoir and your journey!!!" Read more

"Dapper Dan is a hiphop legend. To read his story, his childhood amd inspirations was an honor...." Read more

"...A amazing story of person conviction, perseverance and Ultimately peace of one’s greater mind...." Read more

"...As a clothier, it's great to learn the history of the industry I'm a part of." Read more

31 customers mention "Inspirational content"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring, with one customer noting how it provides a detailed glimpse of humanity and another highlighting its raw truth about success.

"...read this book because I am a graphic designer and its given me motivation to keep on pushing! Thank you for your Memoir Dapper Dan!" Read more

"...energy and how you expressed your life story was captivating and sucked me in. Love the Memoir and your journey!!!" Read more

"...A amazing story of person conviction, perseverance and Ultimately peace of one’s greater mind...." Read more

"I thought this was a great read , quite the story of adversity and success" Read more

11 customers mention "Writing quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the memoir, finding it well-crafted and easy to read, with one customer highlighting the clarity of Dapper Dan's expression.

"...Very little to do with fashion until the very end but it all makes sense and ties in together. Hustlers , Rappers, Con Men, Stylists, Drug Dealers...." Read more

"...A good read and well written." Read more

"...Dan's life is so Very inspiring, & full of lessons that are çlearly spelled out. Great Inspiration, I'm blessed to have read it." Read more

"A very well written book. Well articulated and I didn't feel like Dapper Dan just dictated to someone to write his biography...." Read more

10 customers mention "Style"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's style, noting it goes beyond fashion, with one customer describing it as a must-have for style enthusiasts.

"...recommend this book to hip hop lovers and historians, but also lovers of fashion, and those working inside the industry...." Read more

"...would stay up all night on my sewing machine to create an awesome outfit to wear that day and you better believe that I was super fly...." Read more

"...played music from outdoor speakers, being fresh pressed and dressed with immutable style, rocking fashion all your own and being 'cleaner than the..." Read more

"...One of the best books of fashion & NYC IMO." Read more

10 customers mention "Talent"10 positive0 negative

Customers praise Dapper Dan's exceptional talent, with one customer noting how he surpasses his competition tenfold.

"...Dapper Dan is an interesting self-made man. His family story needs to be a movie!" Read more

"...His sense of fashion is superlative and far surpasses his competition ten fold...." Read more

"...I enjoyed his humble beginnings, the love of his siblings as well as their struggles to overcome the many environmental obstacles one must contend..." Read more

"...Thank you for keeping it real... and Mister Daniel Day is a very humble man... a true American. Do not hide truth... truth matters!" Read more

8 customers mention "Vividness"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the vividness of the memoir, with one noting that it isn't all bright and shiny.

"...I really like that his memoir isn’t all bright and shiny. He cops to everything he did, without excuses...." Read more

"the truth is the best buy for me. I love this book, and it is so real. I lived in this era." Read more

"interesting story, so vivid and colorful" Read more

"...A charming and richly woven tale of one man’s passion and determination...highly recommended!" Read more

7 customers mention "Tenacity"7 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author's remarkable tenacity and perseverance.

"...His combination of creativity, street smarts and sheer determination allow him to break new ground and then resurrect his career after events beyond..." Read more

"...Daniel Day’s vision, entrepreneurial spirit and stead-fast grit are truly inspiring...." Read more

"...very inspirtational and compelling life story. your tenacity and perseverance is truly remarkable, because most people including myself would have..." Read more

"I loved this book. I really admire Dapper Dan's tenacity. He kept pursuing his dream no matter what transpired in his life." Read more

Ideas(Art, Science, Knowledge etc..) Are Worth Sharing
5 out of 5 stars
Ideas(Art, Science, Knowledge etc..) Are Worth Sharing
I liked the memories of NYC that Dap talked about and how it brought me back to some of my suppressed memories of where I came from. I left NYC several months after the Mike Tyson and Mitch Green fight which the news spread to Jamaica Queens several hours before it hit the press. I recall riding the subway to the Mandala Center as a kid in the early 80’s to pay my bill and “Somehow Find Myself!” And looking at the art in the abandoned stations along the way, some of the gangs in the subway still wore Lee Jeans Jackets wither their Logos on the back. I’m very lucky they picked other people to rob(I have suppressed those memories) the days I saw them. The strung out people I saw after exiting the Triborough Bridge(driving with a permit then) and how much potential they had in their eyes but also with their same look how much pain they showed. Too much to even list, before I finished Dap’s book I said to myself: “How did I make it this far and why me???” Thank you Dap for also reminding me that one must never relax!!! “We are being Hustled Every Day” and just when we think 2016 is going to be a good year reflect on the years gone by...
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2019
    This book is great! I learned so much about the life of Dapper Dan that I had no clue about. I do not want to spoil any parts of this book but it definatey fills in the generational gap in the Black community. I knew about some of the events going on in the past but my uncles and family members concealed alot of information from us in hopes we didnt fall down that same path. This book fills in a huge block of information for me and details the pitfuls so I can avoid making the same mistake! We need more inspirational figures to step forward in our community to do the same to help inspire the youth so Random House yall need to do memoirs on everyone lol! Im so blessed to read this book because I am a graphic designer and its given me motivation to keep on pushing! Thank you for your Memoir Dapper Dan!
    29 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2019
    Man... What can i say. This is hands down my favorite Memoir i have ever put my eyes on. I bought it on audible which is 1 credit. I listened to the entire memoir 8 times. I then bought the book just to have the physical copy. Man listening to this i learned soo much. I learned about how areas like harlem came about, it never occured to me that people from harlem were actually made up of people from the south. Crazy how after the war I never thought that people from the south would spread out to the north, that should've been obvious. Your energy and how you expressed your life story was captivating and sucked me in. Love the Memoir and your journey!!!
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
    Such a wonderful read. If you need inspiration Dapper Dan will give you it and so much more. Step out side of your field and learn from others. A hustle mentality and wisdom will take you places you couldn't fathom
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2019
    Dapper Dan is a hiphop legend. To read his story, his childhood amd inspirations was an honor. I would recommend this book to hip hop lovers and historians, but also lovers of fashion, and those working inside the industry.

    To hear how such an iconic move thinks and plans or doesnt plan his next move, to sit with Mr Dapper, was like listening to a successful elder give gems of not only life, culture, and fashion, but of life amd survival.

    Also interesting was the mention of Justice Sotomayor whom in her books speaks of her early law career in the fashion/trademark world. To read the artiste perspective was interesting.

    Whether one agrees or not with Mr Dappers perspective on what his styling amd designs were, be it trademark infringement or custom design, to walk with him through the times, era, and culture of the 40s through modern business and culture, is a widening of understanding and reasoning in humanity and business. He did what he did because resources were few. He is who he is because he made resources where there otherwise were none. Nothing but respect.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2022
    This story of Dapper Dan has changed my own outlook on growing old. I honestly have never been exposed to a senior black man that I wanted to be like if I were to make it past 30 until I read this book. A amazing story of person conviction, perseverance and Ultimately peace of one’s greater mind. Thanks to this book, I’m now looking forward to growing to be old and great. Good job and thank you Dapper Dan.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2019
    I give this book an 8.5/10 Ive always admired and respected Dapper-Dan and his influence not only in Hip-Hop but in power houses fashion brands that came to him not the other way around. With that being said I wish Dapper-Dan would of included how he re-opened his boutique store in collaboration with Gucci and how that came about. Im aware they called his store and his son and he told Gucci to come to Harlem if they was serious. But that was left-out.. I believe that this is an important piece left out in the book and one that I was actually looking forward to read on...
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2024
    I thought this was a great read , quite the story of adversity and success
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
    I loved this book! It gave me insight to the mind of a clothing mastermind. As a clothier, it's great to learn the history of the industry I'm a part of.
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    5.0 out of 5 stars
    History of urban clothing

    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
    I loved this book! It gave me insight to the mind of a clothing mastermind. As a clothier, it's great to learn the history of the industry I'm a part of.
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    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Alex Artamonov
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mint condition.
    Reviewed in Canada on September 29, 2024
    Literally, the book is in mint condition.
  • Sara Z
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un must read per chi vuole conoscere la storia dell'Hip Hop
    Reviewed in Italy on January 25, 2025
    La storia del costume Hip Hop e la storia di un uomo dalle mille vite.
    Report
  • Ulrikegh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mode
    Reviewed in Germany on September 1, 2019
    Tolles Buch
  • internationalreview.co.uk
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wise words from a style icon
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2021
    This books is essential. Gripping, insightful, and incredibly written. And original voice and a true storyteller.
  • elodie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Merci
    Reviewed in France on August 23, 2019
    Il a été livré en parfait état #excellent