Publication
Algonquin Books (2005), Edition: Reprint, 144 pages
Collections
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Description
"Illuminates the experience of an entire generation of women . . . This small gem of a book is worthy of a Tiffany box." --The New York Times Book Review "A memoir every reader will wish to copy in her own size." --Glamour "Ilene Beckerman's sleek little memoir . . . strikes a startling chord. . . . Unsettling and oddly powerful." --People "Surprisingly poetic." --Entertainment Weekly "[A] poignant biography. . . . This little book will charm anyone with an interest in style." --USA Today The book behind the Off-Broadway sensation, adapted by Nora and Delia Ephron. Ilene Beckerman's runaway bestseller articulates something all women know: that our memories are often tied to our favorite clothes. From her Brownie uniform to her Pucci knockoff to her black strapless Rita Hayworth-style dress from the Neiman Marcus outlet store, Ilene Beckerman tells us the story of her life. … (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member muddy21
An easy start to 2010 with Love, loss and what I wore by Ilene Beckerman! The story of a life, fondly but honestly told, in a series of vignettes of particular clothes the author recalls from her past, each with its own brief narrative caption.
Nonfiction chick lit~ no great weight, but surprising
Nonfiction chick lit~ no great weight, but surprising
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depth given the format. Fun to read and easily worth an hour of one's time. Show Less
LibraryThing member rampaginglibrarian
Do you remember exactly what you were wearing for significant events or days in your life? I do, so does Ilene Beckerman and this is a charming little story of her life told in short little vignettes and simple drawings describing those outfits and events. It is poignant and relatable.
LibraryThing member SeriousGrace
This is on the list in honor of National Fashion Month. Someone told me it really does exists (this fashion month), so I've added a bunch of books to the April List. Go Figure.
Anyway, back to Love, Loss, and What I Wore. What a freakin' cute book. At first I was a cynic and thought, geeze, if this
Anyway, back to Love, Loss, and What I Wore. What a freakin' cute book. At first I was a cynic and thought, geeze, if this
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is writing then anyone can do it! Basically Beckerman's book is small, 139 page, 50% illustrated, all about what she wore throughout major moments of her life. We're only talking about 65 pages of text which only took me 25 minutes to read (twice). But, in all actuality I loved it. Show Less
LibraryThing member marysargent
I was captivated by this book when I read it in 1996 and immediately thought of people to give it to. I'm giving it 5 stars although it's a modest book, because for what it is, it's wonderful.
LibraryThing member smfoster
A life told with style. I remember a few outfits from my childhood--mainly because I only had a few--but Beckerman seems to have total recall of nearly every outfit she ever wore and the circumstances in which she wore them. This deceptively small book packs a big punch and brought tears to my eyes.
LibraryThing member picardyrose
Fascinating and poignant. I remember my mother dressing like this sometimes. Though she never wore a fur made of dead animals biting each other's tails -- that was my grandmother.
LibraryThing member Pamici
I'm not quite sure what I think of this little book. It was short, lovely, moving, made me smile several times and wonder several more. I would like to see the off-Broadway adaptation to fill in and flesh out more of the back story.
LibraryThing member JenneB
So charming. I wish I'd kept a record of all my favorite clothes.
Like the green lamé off-the-shoulder top I had in 5th grade. Or the pink plaid sheath dress I had in grad school, that I loved so much I had my mom save it when she evacuated from the fire.
Like the green lamé off-the-shoulder top I had in 5th grade. Or the pink plaid sheath dress I had in grad school, that I loved so much I had my mom save it when she evacuated from the fire.
LibraryThing member trishrope
Cute little book that summarizes the author's life in clothes. It's Very short with cute illustrations done by the author. It only took me about 45 minutes to read, and I didn't feel like I wasted my time!
LibraryThing member Judiex
Yesterday I heard a speech by Delia Ephron. She and her late sister Nora wrote the play “Love, Loss and What I Wore” based on the book by Ilene Beckerman. In the evening, I saw the play and bought the book, which I read before going to sleep.
The book is Beckerman’s story of the clothes she
Beckerman recalls the dresses her mother made her wear and the ones her mother made, partly because it was less expensive than buying ready-made clothing.. She remembers that soon after her mother died, her father took her shopping and bought her two expensive navy dresses because she couldn’t decide which she liked better. She recalls the dresses she borrowed from her two best friends and the ones she wore for special occasions, such as a weekend at a college. She talks about the way people reacted to some of her clothing choices.
For me, however, was the way the stories reminded me of some of the clothes I had worn, especially when I was growing up, like the poodle skirt I wore for a month in early 1955 because all my other skirts were plaid with pleated skirts that were hand-me-downs and totally out-of-style. I remembered the fourteen bouffant half slips I received later that year as confirmation presents, especially the stiff, nylon one. I wore all of them at once under very full skirts. I remembered the Capezio’s my mother wouldn’t let me get because they were too expensive, even though everyone else was wearing them. I remembered a summer dress mother made for me in 1958 because I loved the way it looked in a picture. Based on the play, I remembered my first bra, a hand-me-down from a cousin, and how proud I was about wearing it. I remembered all the outfits my former mother-in-law sent me. She worked at Nelly Don, a woman’s fashion house and sent a lot of great items. It’s too bad polyester went out of style.
While the story begins in the 1940s, the situations in LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE are familiar to most women. It was an interesting trip down memory lane.
If you have a chance to see the play, do so. With the Ephron sisters writing it, you can be sure it is smart and funny and timely
The book is Beckerman’s story of the clothes she
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wore during her life. The premise sounds like it might be very boring. The illustrations of all the clothes would never be featured in an ad for clothing. But there are many reasons to read the book and see the play. Basically, it’s a memoir of her life based on what she was wearing at the time.Beckerman recalls the dresses her mother made her wear and the ones her mother made, partly because it was less expensive than buying ready-made clothing.. She remembers that soon after her mother died, her father took her shopping and bought her two expensive navy dresses because she couldn’t decide which she liked better. She recalls the dresses she borrowed from her two best friends and the ones she wore for special occasions, such as a weekend at a college. She talks about the way people reacted to some of her clothing choices.
For me, however, was the way the stories reminded me of some of the clothes I had worn, especially when I was growing up, like the poodle skirt I wore for a month in early 1955 because all my other skirts were plaid with pleated skirts that were hand-me-downs and totally out-of-style. I remembered the fourteen bouffant half slips I received later that year as confirmation presents, especially the stiff, nylon one. I wore all of them at once under very full skirts. I remembered the Capezio’s my mother wouldn’t let me get because they were too expensive, even though everyone else was wearing them. I remembered a summer dress mother made for me in 1958 because I loved the way it looked in a picture. Based on the play, I remembered my first bra, a hand-me-down from a cousin, and how proud I was about wearing it. I remembered all the outfits my former mother-in-law sent me. She worked at Nelly Don, a woman’s fashion house and sent a lot of great items. It’s too bad polyester went out of style.
While the story begins in the 1940s, the situations in LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE are familiar to most women. It was an interesting trip down memory lane.
If you have a chance to see the play, do so. With the Ephron sisters writing it, you can be sure it is smart and funny and timely
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LibraryThing member varielle
This inspired me to write down my own history of fashion and it turned out to be more interesting than I ever imagined, at least to me. Ilene Beckerman charted her own course of fashion over five decades and illustrated each pithy event with charming drawings. From rag curls to maternity wear, it
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will make you think about the events of your life and the influence of your own style. A quick read and much fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member tshrope
Cute little book that summarizes the author's life in clothes. It's Very short with cute illustrations done by the author. It only took me about 45 minutes to read, and I didn't feel like I wasted my time!
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
On its surface this is a memoir of the author’s life told through the clothes she wore from childhood through mature adulthood. There’s a deeper story between the lines, of the mother she lost at puberty, of the father she never saw again after she went to live with her mother’s parents, of a
If you’ve thought about writing an autobiography for your children and grandchildren but struggled to get started, I think this is a great idea for a writing prompt. Most people, especially women, wear special clothes for significant events, and we often have photographs of ourselves at these events. Why not try telling your own story through the clothes you wore?
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rift with her grandfather who didn’t approve of her first marriage, of the child she lost due to acute illness, of the rift the child’s death created in her marriage. Sadness is tempered by relationships with her best friends and her obviously cherished granddaughter.If you’ve thought about writing an autobiography for your children and grandchildren but struggled to get started, I think this is a great idea for a writing prompt. Most people, especially women, wear special clothes for significant events, and we often have photographs of ourselves at these events. Why not try telling your own story through the clothes you wore?
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
1565124758 / 9781565124752
UPC
019628724755
Physical description
144 p.; 5.56 inches
Pages
144