Cindy De La Hoz

Lucille Ball Treasures by Cindy De La Hoz is an attractive large format book, ideal for display, as well as a nice overview of her life and, primarily, career.

If you've read any of her biographies, or her autobiography, there isn't much new here. But that isn't really the point of the book anyway. The biography is more like a skeleton around which the body of the book, the many photographs, is assembled. If you happen to only know Ball from one portion of her life this is an excellent introduction to the complete human being.

While the controversies and troubles are mentioned, there is no sensationalism, everything is in service to presenting the arc of her life along with a photographic record of that life. Even if you've read some of the biographies and have been a fan since the early 60s (like me) you will still be surprised when a picture or a description reminds you of something you might have forgotten.

A number of books, this one included, have begun including pouches with removable replicas of memorabilia, which makes a physical copy of the book that much more essential for big fans.

In addition to readers who are fans, this is also a fun book for anyone with an interest in the movie industry during the time of the studio system or those interested in the early years of television.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (mehr)

This is a tiny book with LOTS of photographs, like a coffee table book that got hit by a shrink ray. While long on photos, it’s short on text, but it says all it needs to. Audrey Hepburn, the irrepressible gamin, was the perfect muse for Hubert de Givenchy. Her face and figure were unlike those of the movie stars of her time; slim, with big eyes and an elegant bone structure, she was boyish yet totally feminine. She had a certain energy that made you unable to look away from her in films.

Givenchy’s fashions fit her style perfectly. In films, they emphasized the traits of the characters she played. He dressed Hepburn in many of her movies, and they were best friends in real life. His clothes inspired her to be the characters in the movies, while she inspired him to create elegant yet modern fashion- including his first perfume.

It’s a fun little book; if you’re into film or vintage fashion you’ll love it.… (mehr)