by William J. Cunningham - undifferentiated
First published 2018
Bill Cunningham grows up in an Irish Catholic suburb of Boston, secretly wearing his sister's clothes and dreaming of a fashion career that horrifies his family. After leaving Harvard, he battles his parents to pursue his passion and escapes to New York City. There he discovers his calling through nights spent watching elegant women at opera openings and exclusive parties, studying how fabric moves and jewelry catches light. Two influential style mentors who later dress Jackie Kennedy take Bill under their guidance. He adopts the pseudonym William J. to protect his family from scandal and becomes a celebrated hat designer serving movie stars and socialites. His mission drives him to create beauty that transforms women into inspirations for themselves and others. During lean times, he survives by feeding his soul through Fifth Avenue shop windows when he cannot afford food. This memoir captures Bill's struggle to become his authentic self in a world that demands conformity, written in his distinctive voice but hidden away until after his death.
Genres: 20th-century, autobiography, biography-memoir, fashion-designers, 21st-century, lgbt, fashion, fashion-design
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, pursuit-of-passion
Setting: Boston, New York City
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
256 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Press