Every Inch a Lady: My Amazing Journey from Dear Harlem to Haute Couture and Beyond

by Audrey Smaltz, Michael Kors (Foreword)

Reminiscent of style icon Iris Apfel's New York Times bestseller Accidental Icon and echoes of Andre Leon Talley’s The Chiffon Trenches comes the entertaining and thoughtful long-awaited memoir from the irrepressible groundbreaking fashion powerhouse Audrey Smaltz.

There has never been, nor will there ever be anyone like Audrey Smaltz. Towering six-feet-tall (her superpower) since she was a teenager in Harlem, she has always stood out from the crowd.

Smaltz’s details her colorful journey as a groundbreaking model, Wall Street broker, department store dynamo, fashion coordinator, commentator, editor, and entrepreneur. With her creative vision and business acumen earning her the support of legendary designers and brands such as Giorgio Armani, Jason Wu, Donna Karan, Victoria’s Secret, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Michael Kors, Stephen Burrows, and Vera Wang.

Reflecting on significant people and moments in her life Smaltz’s reveals how she managed to balance life, racism, and the obstacles in her marriage to former WNBA and Olympic silver medalist Gail Marquis.

Forthright and contemplative, Every Inch a Lady is a long-overdue life reckoning from a cultural powerhouse and one of the most important style figures in modern times.

256 pages, Hardcover

Published July 14, 2026

Reviews

[Yvette Sapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about Ms. Smaltz and how she became involved in the fashion industry. Her experiences were varied, and she quietly created opportunities for herself, making connections that would help her at different stops in her career.

My favorite part of her memoir was reading about the Ebony Fashion Fair. Having attended Fashion Fair shows growing up, I always enjoyed seeing the fashion world being brought right into my community, if you will. Her experience in show production and working with important figures helped her have success during her years with the Johnsons of Johnson Publishing Company, as well as when she struck out on her own and starting a business that focused on preparing for fashion shows, talk shows, and other live events. Her words of wisdom at the end of chapters tied in well with what she talked about within those chapters. I knew about Mollie Moon's story, but I learned more about Lionel Hampton, which was interesting.

I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in the behind the scenes work that takes place at fashion shows, or if you're interested in the production of talk show segments.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy memoirs as they give insights into people’s inner world while writing about their outer world. Plus you get to experience different times, people you never knew about, places and cultures expanding and I think enriching one’s own life.

When I requested this ARC (my thanks to NetGalley and Amistad for granting me access to this ARC), I was intrigued by the author and her journey - and wow! To open the book to an introduction by Michael Kors says it all.

Audrey Smalz unbeknownst to me (but then again what isn’t) is a fashion powerhouse. She’s always stood out in the crowd being six feet tall. Starting out as a model, working as a stock broker, working in fashion as a commentator, editor, and entrepreneur, Audrey has practically done it all. She’s also managed to defy racism, learning how to balance work-life and being married to a former WNBA and Olympic Silver Medalist, Gail Marquis.

Audrey’s company, The Ground Crew, is a major fashion show production company. Her adventure to creating this is done is short chronological chapters with an “inch” of wisdom at the end (these are really thought provoking like #6: Always be an asset, even in the face of adversity. Or #13: Persistence in the face of setbacks is resilience.).

What Smalz has shown in her memoir is that she tried to live as authentically as possible. She preserved in spite of challenges and she took on love that many would not understand but gave her fulfillment.

I enjoyed reading this memoir. It opened up insights into the fashion world and black contributions in it for me. Like all history, we must not erase these contributions. For this reason alone, I highly recommend this book.

[Haerlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I wasn’t familiar with Audrey Smaltz when I picked up this book, but something about the cover caught my eye—and I’m so glad it did! I grew up reading *Ebony* and *Jet* magazines, attending the Ebony Fashion Show, and wearing Fashion Fair cosmetics. Later, while studying Black philanthropy, I learned about Mollie Moon, and I’ve always been familiar with jazz greats. Discovering that all of these figures are connected through Smaltz was such a thrill. I’m grateful she chose to write this memoir herself, ensuring her story is told accurately and remembered. I also loved the wisdom she shared at the end, tied beautifully to the book’s title—“be every inch a lady”—a reminder that feels rare in today’s world. I’d recommend this book to etiquette coaches, fashion historians, Black philanthropy scholars, Hollywood enthusiasts, and more.

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smaltz tells a tale of her entry into the fashion world and its many roles. She recounts her life in a segregated United States, her adjustments to the changing times and the many characters and personalities she encountered throughout her 8 decades of life. Smaltz gives an inside peek to aspects of the fashion industry that some may not think of, like the preparation of runway shows, the crafting of talk show segments in the 90s and taking on the financial, emotional and social challenges of launching your own business.

Her story is easy to read and gives a new voice to a world that doesn't often include people of color.

[TBos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting life story in the world of fashion and modeling (which I care nothing about). Lots of timeline jumping, making this 15 chapters of stories and life lessons in no particular order. Nice collection of photos at the end (also in no particular order).