First published 2019
Daniel Day builds his fashion empire from nothing, starting as a hungry child with worn-out shoes in Harlem. He hustles his way through dangerous streets, gambling with drug dealers and surviving prison before discovering his true calling. Day opens his legendary boutique on 125th Street in the early 1980s, where he creates bold streetwear by reimagining luxury brand logos into flamboyant new designs. His creations catch fire in the music world, dressing Salt-N-Pepa, Eric B. & Rakim, and eventually superstars like Beyoncé and Jay-Z. The memoir traces Day's journey from the projects to Hollywood red carpets, showing how he broke fashion barriers while navigating an America that constantly evolved around him. His story spans seven decades of hustle, creativity, and survival in a world where style becomes power.
Genres: business, american, african-american, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, fashion
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: rags-to-riches, self-made
Setting: Harlem, Hollywood
Period: 1980s, 7 Decades
304 pages · Hardcover · Random House
Content warnings: drug-use