MixedThe New York Journal of BooksIncontrovertibly Philip Gefter did his homework when it came to writing about the lives, both professional and personal, of Richard Avedon. Gefter goes into overdrive to the point of minutiae overload ... Upon reading What Becomes a Legend Most, this reader was most conflicted by whether or not he was really reading a biography of a great lensman or a psychological study and assessment of what made Avedon tick and what his mental conflicts were ... The absolute glut of details might be more harmful than beneficial when it comes to enjoying this book. Gefter’s accounting of Avedon can certainly not be discounted as authoritative, but it might be possible to think to what end it was necessary to expose Avedon in such a way? Did it diminish his talents or possibly enhance them as an artist?
André Leon Talley
MixedNew York Journal of BooksThe prospective reader has a hell of a job ahead of them when it comes to deciphering where and if what is written is all true, half true, and simply some Cinderella story about a large man of color who has an extraordinarily high opinion of himself and a fount of fashion knowledge. [Talley] is well known for his bloviating, long-winded, pretentious diatribes, so a great deal of focus and knowledge are required to separate what actually was as opposed to what was creatively constructed to enhance one’s position and persona ... Some readers will throw the book at the wall in disgust and others will find the book fascinating with its tsunami of name dropping and tales of his \'friendships\' with so many of fashion’s great luminaries.
Betsey Johnson and Mark Vitulano
RaveThe New York Journal of Books... an extremely personal story ... told in the first person that makes the reading a much more intimate experience. As one delves deeper into the book you realize that this book is not solely devoted to Betsey Johnson the brand but about Betsey Johnson, the woman ... This dedicated fashionphile and fashion reader found out so much more than ever imagined about the trajectory of this designer who was unquestionably a one of a kind dynamo in the industry ... should be read by fledgling designers as well as the most seasoned of fashion readers as Ms. Johnson generously shares the highs, lows, and certainly the pitfalls of being swept up into the fashion universe at a time when it was soaring to unimaginable heights ... a very engaging read that will entertain and educate the reader depending on their frame of reference. Do not think that this is a book that is strictly for the fashion reader as the story has a very human side that can be appreciated by those who may never have dipped their toe into the waters of this genre.
Francesca Cartier Brickell
PositiveThe New York Journal of Books... an incredible monograph ... a very detailed and somewhat intimate story of the Cartiers from both a familial and business point of view ... This is absolutely not one of those glorious coffee table books displaying just the brilliance of Cartier jewelry. This is a book that must be read and in fact, the volume almost reads like a family diary/journal for the four generations of the Cartier family ... Brickell successfully intertwines the family aspect with both the business and creative aspects ... The takeaway is simply the prospective reader has to have more than just an interest in the jewels of Cartier; they must be will willing to relive just how it all began from its founding father to present.
Lance Richardson
RaveThe New York Journal of BooksRichardson skillfully and quite deftly proffers a seemingly endless supply of information about the players, the times, the mindset and so much more that the reader may find his or herself totally engrossed in the story rather than just the genre of fashion. Tommy Nutter was a major player in the sartorial history of menswear and not some blip on the radar screen of fashion. It is to Richardson’s credit that he unearthed the saga of this man who, had he lived in this century, might have engendered the white light kind of hype that he never truly received during his times.
