by Debbie Harry
First published 2015
Debbie Harry opens the doors to Stephen Sprouse's creative world through an archive of 1,500 pieces spanning his career from the mid-1970s through the late 1980s. The collection reveals 600 original drawings, color Xeroxes, fabric swatches, and inspiration materials that capture Sprouse's journey from the glamorous studios of Bill Blass and Halston to New York's gritty East Village scene. Harry traces how Sprouse developed his signature style using bold inked lines and Xerox machines to create color variations in the spirit of Andy Warhol. The designer found inspiration in cultural icons like Jackie Onassis, Patty Hearst, Patti Smith, and Harry herself, who wore his off-the-shoulder creation in a pivotal 1978 concert that launched his public career. Through intimate sketches and designs, readers witness how a 14-year-old prodigy evolved into a fashion visionary whose work embodied both disco glamour and punk rebellion, leaving a lasting mark on fashion history before his death at age 50.
Genres: biography, history, art, non-fiction, fashion-designers, fashion, fashion-design
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: East Village, New York
Period: 1970s, 1980s
208 pages · Hardcover · Damiani