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Hollywood Fashion: 100 Years of Hollywood Icons
This engaging pictorial book explores the legacy of the cinematic costume designer, starting with the birth of the modern motion picture industry on a prime piece of California real estate known as Hollywood.Readers will discover how film clothing evolved from actors and actresses selecting items from their home wardrobes... to customized outfits - everything from suits of armor to ball gowns to office attire to lingerie - created by a studio designer and a dedicated staff of costumers.They will also encounter the actress from each decade who displayed a distinct fashion sense, on and off the screen, women who made a costumer’s job less demanding by embodying the character and evoking the time, place, and circumstances the designer wished to portray.
- GenresNonfictionFashion
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
About the author
Nancy J. Hajeski
26 books6 followersNancy J. Hajeski is the real name of author Nancy Butler.
Nancy Butler had been—more or less—living in the 19th century since the publication of her first Signet Regency romance in 1998. Twelve novels and three novellas later, she found herself rudely back in the 21st century when the Regency romance genre faded (yet not, oddly, Austen-mania). Fortunately, in 2009 Marvel offered her a chance to adapt Pride and Prejudice for their illustrated classics line, putting her firmly back in the era she adored. The hardcover compilation became a New York Times bestseller in the graphic novel category, and when it reached No. 2 on the list there was great rejoicing.
Butler also writes nonfiction for middle-schoolers under her real name, Nancy J. Hajeski, and is the author of The Hammond Book of Presidents and of three Hammond Undercover titles: Rocks & Minerals, Princesses, and Sharks.
She has won two RITAs from the Romance Writers of America, two Reviewers’ Choice Awards from Romantic Times magazine, and was retired to their Hall of Fame by the New Jersey Romance Writers. Butler lives in the Catskills with two mellow cats and a temperamental Jackabee.
Nancy Butler had been—more or less—living in the 19th century since the publication of her first Signet Regency romance in 1998. Twelve novels and three novellas later, she found herself rudely back in the 21st century when the Regency romance genre faded (yet not, oddly, Austen-mania). Fortunately, in 2009 Marvel offered her a chance to adapt Pride and Prejudice for their illustrated classics line, putting her firmly back in the era she adored. The hardcover compilation became a New York Times bestseller in the graphic novel category, and when it reached No. 2 on the list there was great rejoicing.
Butler also writes nonfiction for middle-schoolers under her real name, Nancy J. Hajeski, and is the author of The Hammond Book of Presidents and of three Hammond Undercover titles: Rocks & Minerals, Princesses, and Sharks.
She has won two RITAs from the Romance Writers of America, two Reviewers’ Choice Awards from Romantic Times magazine, and was retired to their Hall of Fame by the New Jersey Romance Writers. Butler lives in the Catskills with two mellow cats and a temperamental Jackabee.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 21, 2022
Look, when I get a nonfiction book from the $5 section of Barnes & Noble, I'm not expecting to read the best nonfiction book ever. And if this were simply a fun, light, look at Hollywood Fashion and 100 of Hollywood's icons, I wouldn't be made. But this book is so poorly researched and put together that I find it to be insulting.
First, the title is misleading. It is supposed to be Hollywood fashion of 100 Hollywood icons, but 90% of the pictures featured are of actresses in costumes from films. That actually doesn't tell us anything about their own personal style. Exceptions can be made for actresses like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, who infused their films with their own sensibilities, but costumes in films reflect a costume designer's vision. I would have loved to see more pictures of these stars in their real life style, which for many of these actresses do exist out in the world.
Additionally, for a book about fashion, the pictures are small and hard to see. This feels like it misses the point of this book. And instead of entries that discuss the star's fashion at length, it offers a short, biography of each star, which again misses the point. And then there are random section about blondes in Hollywood or bikers in Hollywood that never feel like they're in the right section. And the captions don't always match the photos! One caption talks about James Dean making a leather jacket iconic in a picture from Rebel without a Cause, which would be fine except they didn't feature a picture of James Dean wearing a leather jacket. In the picture they use, he's wearing the iconic red jacket, which is not leather. If this was one mistake in the book, I could let it go, but Hollywood Fashion is rife with these errors, and it annoyed me every single time.
Of course, this lack of effort and research shouldn't be surprising since no one associated with this book is a fashion historian. Nancy J. Hajeski is the real name of Nancy Butler, who writes Regency romance novels and some children and nonfiction books. I assume she took this for a paycheck and just didn't care, and neither did the publisher. It's a shame because this could have been good. I did deeply enjoy the sections on different costume and fashion designers. They were a bright spot in an otherwise failed effort.
Absolutely not recommended!
First, the title is misleading. It is supposed to be Hollywood fashion of 100 Hollywood icons, but 90% of the pictures featured are of actresses in costumes from films. That actually doesn't tell us anything about their own personal style. Exceptions can be made for actresses like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, who infused their films with their own sensibilities, but costumes in films reflect a costume designer's vision. I would have loved to see more pictures of these stars in their real life style, which for many of these actresses do exist out in the world.
Additionally, for a book about fashion, the pictures are small and hard to see. This feels like it misses the point of this book. And instead of entries that discuss the star's fashion at length, it offers a short, biography of each star, which again misses the point. And then there are random section about blondes in Hollywood or bikers in Hollywood that never feel like they're in the right section. And the captions don't always match the photos! One caption talks about James Dean making a leather jacket iconic in a picture from Rebel without a Cause, which would be fine except they didn't feature a picture of James Dean wearing a leather jacket. In the picture they use, he's wearing the iconic red jacket, which is not leather. If this was one mistake in the book, I could let it go, but Hollywood Fashion is rife with these errors, and it annoyed me every single time.
Of course, this lack of effort and research shouldn't be surprising since no one associated with this book is a fashion historian. Nancy J. Hajeski is the real name of Nancy Butler, who writes Regency romance novels and some children and nonfiction books. I assume she took this for a paycheck and just didn't care, and neither did the publisher. It's a shame because this could have been good. I did deeply enjoy the sections on different costume and fashion designers. They were a bright spot in an otherwise failed effort.
Absolutely not recommended!
June 1, 2022
I love fashion and I love Hollywood so this was just a fun read!! Definitely recommend!!
Read
May 15, 2024Fashion truly makes the world go round, especially when it comes to those who are in the public eye. Specifically, we are talking about those stars who appear on the silver screen. Fashion on and off the screen is what piques the interest of the public. After Awards shows and other shows where Hollywood stars gravitate, most talk revolves around who wore what, and how it looked on them. HOLLYWOOD 100 YEARS OF FASHION ICONS, takes us into the world of noted celebrities who have helped foster fashion trends, whether they were conscious of this at all.
Starting back in the 1920’s, author Hajeski brings to life the stars who set fashion trends in so many ways. It begins with Canadian Mary Pickford, then profiles Lillian Gish. When it comes to all the celebrities in the book, the author mentions their “Most fashionable films, their style, and signature look". The vintage photographs of the stars, really brings the book to life, just as many of us remember these stars. The profiles of these icons continues through the decades, but as well we also get a look at the designers, those creative souls who made the stars what they were, because of their creations. It truly reads like a who’s who of Hollywood.
There are not a lot of famous film stars that have been omitted here during the past century. Just a brief listing of the stars include: Mae West, Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, Claudette Colbert, Katharine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, Loretta Young, Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Debbie Reynolds, Natalie Wood, Doris Day, Jane Fonda, Ann-Margaret, Diana Ross, Diane Keaton, and well, the list go on forever. You get the idea.
There are also some interesting quotes from the star,s about their look. Sophia Loren is quoted as saying, “A woman’s dress should be like a barbed-wire fence: serving its purpose without obstructing the view.” Loretta Young commented, “Glamour is something you can’t bear to be without once you get used to it.”
While the book concentrates on female fashion icons, there are sections dedicated to men who also were most fashionable. James Dean and Marlon Brando had the rebel look, as did Elvis Presley in his films. Other trends are given their due, including cowboy chic, the bikini, and workout clothes. The book is a trip down fashion memory lane, with those who led the way, and those who continue to be inspirations where fashion is headed in the future. This is the perfect reference guide for the stars who shine the brightest, style wise.
Starting back in the 1920’s, author Hajeski brings to life the stars who set fashion trends in so many ways. It begins with Canadian Mary Pickford, then profiles Lillian Gish. When it comes to all the celebrities in the book, the author mentions their “Most fashionable films, their style, and signature look". The vintage photographs of the stars, really brings the book to life, just as many of us remember these stars. The profiles of these icons continues through the decades, but as well we also get a look at the designers, those creative souls who made the stars what they were, because of their creations. It truly reads like a who’s who of Hollywood.
There are not a lot of famous film stars that have been omitted here during the past century. Just a brief listing of the stars include: Mae West, Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, Claudette Colbert, Katharine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, Loretta Young, Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Debbie Reynolds, Natalie Wood, Doris Day, Jane Fonda, Ann-Margaret, Diana Ross, Diane Keaton, and well, the list go on forever. You get the idea.
There are also some interesting quotes from the star,s about their look. Sophia Loren is quoted as saying, “A woman’s dress should be like a barbed-wire fence: serving its purpose without obstructing the view.” Loretta Young commented, “Glamour is something you can’t bear to be without once you get used to it.”
While the book concentrates on female fashion icons, there are sections dedicated to men who also were most fashionable. James Dean and Marlon Brando had the rebel look, as did Elvis Presley in his films. Other trends are given their due, including cowboy chic, the bikini, and workout clothes. The book is a trip down fashion memory lane, with those who led the way, and those who continue to be inspirations where fashion is headed in the future. This is the perfect reference guide for the stars who shine the brightest, style wise.
June 12, 2024
240 pages and 100 years of Hollywood's most iconic women captured in one place:
From Myrna Loy to Merle Streep, Diana Ross to Lupita Nyongo, explore Hollywood's dazzling divas (and men), their fantastic designers including Adrian, Edith Head, and more. Check out 106 women who through social, film, and current events to their time, set trends, turned heads, made legacies that have lasted a lifetime (check out Diane Keaton's look, it surprised me), and how the power of cinema has shaped fashion and style to what its views are today and beyond.
The book is filled with thousands of photographs, each as entrancing as the last, no matter the role or occassion. A brief bio, top films that best showed off the stars' signature look, their personal style, and what has become their lasting legacy. I didn't know a lot of the "legacy" facts about some of the older stars, but it definitely was well worth it.
One of the downsides of this book is that there are no plus size actresses, and a very limited selection regarding diversity. The other downside of the book is despite its 2024 publication, the newest films featured in an actors' repertoire of roles (iconic, award winning or trend-setting) are all at the beginning of the later stars (70s and onward) careers. For instance, one of the newest films for Anne Hathaway is Les Miserables, which she did win an Oscar for. While most of these actresses are bombshells, there were a few "unlikely" surprises as well, which I give the author props for.
I really loved that they did give credit to each films' designers and the major players in Costume Design throughout.
A fun insight into Hollywood history. Just one question, who is your favorite lady featured?
From Myrna Loy to Merle Streep, Diana Ross to Lupita Nyongo, explore Hollywood's dazzling divas (and men), their fantastic designers including Adrian, Edith Head, and more. Check out 106 women who through social, film, and current events to their time, set trends, turned heads, made legacies that have lasted a lifetime (check out Diane Keaton's look, it surprised me), and how the power of cinema has shaped fashion and style to what its views are today and beyond.
The book is filled with thousands of photographs, each as entrancing as the last, no matter the role or occassion. A brief bio, top films that best showed off the stars' signature look, their personal style, and what has become their lasting legacy. I didn't know a lot of the "legacy" facts about some of the older stars, but it definitely was well worth it.
One of the downsides of this book is that there are no plus size actresses, and a very limited selection regarding diversity. The other downside of the book is despite its 2024 publication, the newest films featured in an actors' repertoire of roles (iconic, award winning or trend-setting) are all at the beginning of the later stars (70s and onward) careers. For instance, one of the newest films for Anne Hathaway is Les Miserables, which she did win an Oscar for. While most of these actresses are bombshells, there were a few "unlikely" surprises as well, which I give the author props for.
I really loved that they did give credit to each films' designers and the major players in Costume Design throughout.
A fun insight into Hollywood history. Just one question, who is your favorite lady featured?
September 26, 2024
This actually irritated me, it was such a waste of time. The book itself has low-quality photos on low-quality paper (many in black and white that should be in color) This is just me, but far too large a percentage of this was focused on current actresses...I mean if you consider Drew Barrymore to be a fashion icon, well fine, but even if you do, don't expect more than a page of text and a couple of crummy pictures. They did throw in a page or two here and there about iconic Hollywood designers like Edith Head, but there are so many better books on this subject, I would skip this one.
Read
March 8, 2025This was a great introduction to Hollywood fashion throughout the years and I am intrigued to learn more about specific designers, eras and actresses. Very beautiful and interesting to see how things have changed. Also, I need to watch older movies.
I will say there were many errors and it wasn't really a book about "Hollywood Fashion" more about the actresses and their bios. I do agree with the other reviews and their feedback but I still think it was a good beginner book on this topic. Also it was only $10 so that's a plus.
I will say there were many errors and it wasn't really a book about "Hollywood Fashion" more about the actresses and their bios. I do agree with the other reviews and their feedback but I still think it was a good beginner book on this topic. Also it was only $10 so that's a plus.
December 12, 2022
no se si cuenta como lectura del año, pero yo creo q si
January 14, 2024
Iconic women through the centuries. Reminder of how Hollywood fashion has changed and developed.
April 4, 2026
Solid entry on the topic.
July 4, 2022
an interesting enough read, but i would say not well edited
they spelled jodie foster "jody" and "jodi" and olivia colman "coleman" and the header for sarah jessica parker says "sara"
one of the pictures of audrey hepburn was described as being the black breakfast at tiffany's dress, but it wasn't that
bette midler was not in other people's money, she was in ruthless people, which also stars danny devito
definitely maybe is about the mystery of a girl's parentage, not a boy's
maybe i'm being nitpicky because obviously there are so many names and titles in this but still
WILD to find out that literally nobody's name is their real name. and so many times, the stage name is bland compared to the name they were born with?? like damn that sucks
also i felt like a lot of the descriptions of the actresses were somewhat misogynistic, not just like, describing how things were for them in those times, but specifically how the author was talking about them.
though of course there was just talking about the misogyny from society, like a couple of the women were apparently deemed box office poison, like did men ever get called that?? or like obviously i have no idea if they knew each other or ever said anything about each other, but it was like trying to make a rivalry like "oh julie andrews won over audrey hepburn after audrey took her role so julie sure showed her" or whatever like what?? different people play the same role all the time it does not have to be a big deal
and OH MY GOD if i had to read the word ethnic one more time, which of course only was a descriptor for actresses of color's style, like. that's kind of a broad term don't you think!
and there were things i thought should've been mentioned:
a few people had their kids referenced, but not debbie reynolds with her daughter carrie fisher?? after they passed away so close together?? also kind of think carrie fisher could've had a section in the eighties, like there were mentions of leia and star wars but i think for a role that iconic she could've had her own part in the book, maybe she didn't play a bunch of super fashionable roles but like a lot of the movies mentioned for other people are not necessarily films with iconic fashion, that's why there was a separate list for everyone with their most fashionable roles.
okay i know they might not have wanted to get into these things but woody allen and roman polanski are fucking creeps and that should be noted! if you're gonna get into their works, i think you should mention it
and natalie wood's death??? just being like "oh she was on a boat with her friends and she was found in the water and she'd had a fear of drowning" like you're not gonna mention the suspicious nature of the entire thing? that she might've been murdered? really?
okay anyway i think it tried too hard to fit people into certain decades and sometimes i was like that's not even quite right (for example jane fonda was in the sixties, but like all the movies referenced were in the seventies) like i think some of the bonus content even could've been skipped because it wasn't really specific to the decade it was supposed to be about
i saw another review that was annoyed that it was about the fashion of their characters rather than the actresses themselves but i think the cover makes it clear that it's fictional characters, BUT my issue is more that i actually would've liked to know more about specific characters rather than a list of movies an actress has been in and glossing over both her personal style and maybe a few of the things her character wore in a movie (also can i just say that under lupita's fashionable films they put the movie us which is a fantastic movie but she plays two characters who each wear one outfit the entire time). like, i wanna know how a costume designer came up with their ideas for a specific character/film and all the trivia about that because i have seen (and have now noted the others) at least some of the movies mentioned in the book and i wanna hear about the designs for everything audrey wore in breakfast at tiffany's! everything grace kelly wore in rear window! the costume designers were basically just a sidenote in a book called hollywood fashion. maybe some of the older stuff wouldn't be as well documented as it is in the internet age, but idk, i would have preferred, given the title of the book, actually learning about fashion in movies than reading what was mostly just biographies of actresses
they spelled jodie foster "jody" and "jodi" and olivia colman "coleman" and the header for sarah jessica parker says "sara"
one of the pictures of audrey hepburn was described as being the black breakfast at tiffany's dress, but it wasn't that
bette midler was not in other people's money, she was in ruthless people, which also stars danny devito
definitely maybe is about the mystery of a girl's parentage, not a boy's
maybe i'm being nitpicky because obviously there are so many names and titles in this but still
WILD to find out that literally nobody's name is their real name. and so many times, the stage name is bland compared to the name they were born with?? like damn that sucks
also i felt like a lot of the descriptions of the actresses were somewhat misogynistic, not just like, describing how things were for them in those times, but specifically how the author was talking about them.
though of course there was just talking about the misogyny from society, like a couple of the women were apparently deemed box office poison, like did men ever get called that?? or like obviously i have no idea if they knew each other or ever said anything about each other, but it was like trying to make a rivalry like "oh julie andrews won over audrey hepburn after audrey took her role so julie sure showed her" or whatever like what?? different people play the same role all the time it does not have to be a big deal
and OH MY GOD if i had to read the word ethnic one more time, which of course only was a descriptor for actresses of color's style, like. that's kind of a broad term don't you think!
and there were things i thought should've been mentioned:
a few people had their kids referenced, but not debbie reynolds with her daughter carrie fisher?? after they passed away so close together?? also kind of think carrie fisher could've had a section in the eighties, like there were mentions of leia and star wars but i think for a role that iconic she could've had her own part in the book, maybe she didn't play a bunch of super fashionable roles but like a lot of the movies mentioned for other people are not necessarily films with iconic fashion, that's why there was a separate list for everyone with their most fashionable roles.
okay i know they might not have wanted to get into these things but woody allen and roman polanski are fucking creeps and that should be noted! if you're gonna get into their works, i think you should mention it
and natalie wood's death??? just being like "oh she was on a boat with her friends and she was found in the water and she'd had a fear of drowning" like you're not gonna mention the suspicious nature of the entire thing? that she might've been murdered? really?
okay anyway i think it tried too hard to fit people into certain decades and sometimes i was like that's not even quite right (for example jane fonda was in the sixties, but like all the movies referenced were in the seventies) like i think some of the bonus content even could've been skipped because it wasn't really specific to the decade it was supposed to be about
i saw another review that was annoyed that it was about the fashion of their characters rather than the actresses themselves but i think the cover makes it clear that it's fictional characters, BUT my issue is more that i actually would've liked to know more about specific characters rather than a list of movies an actress has been in and glossing over both her personal style and maybe a few of the things her character wore in a movie (also can i just say that under lupita's fashionable films they put the movie us which is a fantastic movie but she plays two characters who each wear one outfit the entire time). like, i wanna know how a costume designer came up with their ideas for a specific character/film and all the trivia about that because i have seen (and have now noted the others) at least some of the movies mentioned in the book and i wanna hear about the designs for everything audrey wore in breakfast at tiffany's! everything grace kelly wore in rear window! the costume designers were basically just a sidenote in a book called hollywood fashion. maybe some of the older stuff wouldn't be as well documented as it is in the internet age, but idk, i would have preferred, given the title of the book, actually learning about fashion in movies than reading what was mostly just biographies of actresses
December 5, 2023
Another person on here said the book is misleading as it features more outfits worn in films rather than the personal styles of movie stars, which is reflective of the creative choices made by costume designers in most instances, not the people wearing them. I have to agree as I also thought there would be a lot more on the individual actresses themselves and was disappointed when this didn't turn out to be the case.
However I will still be giving it 3 stars because it was fun despite that :)
However I will still be giving it 3 stars because it was fun despite that :)
April 20, 2021
A good book, but I would recommend you read it in bits, not like a book, as I read it. Good info about many icons, and it is perfect for someone who is into fashion. 6/10
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews