My 12-year-old niece wants to be a fashion designer. Can anyone recommend a novel or two related to that?
This is more modeling than fashion design, but you might want to check out Meg Cabot's
Being Nikki.
A tagmash of
fashion and young adult (for example) comes up with an interesting list of books.
So Yesterday was the first book I thought of when I saw the question, but I haven't read many of the others on that list.
Fashion design and young adult comes up with a much shorter but possibly more to the point list, but I haven't heard of much less read any of those books.
Like Blue,
So Yesterday was the first book I thought of when reading the description. (I also thought of
The Luxe, which is also on that list, but I haven't read it and it's likely to be about turn-of-the-19th-century high-society American fashion, rather than modern fashion.)
Beyond that... I'm afraid I haven't any ideas. (
The Devil Wears Prada springs to mind too, but I don't know if/doubt it can be classified as YA.)
Ripped at the Seams might be something to look at too, judging from the description on Amazon. It may be aimed at girls a little younger (I'm not sure), though.
There also seems to be a series called "Project Fashion" that's aimed at teen girls that you might want to look into. (One example is
Armani Angels).
There's also
A Girl Like Moi, which is part of another series. But I stress that I haven't read
any of the books mentioned except for
So Yesterday and am going entirely on the descriptions provided.
Thank you for all the suggestions - I think I'll start with Threads and see how she likes that.
I really, really liked Breakfast at Bloomingdales and I think it might be just what she's looking for! Young girl wants to be a fashion designer. Try it!
^ I've already ordered Threads, but I will look up Breakfast at Bloomingdale's as well. Thanks, yummyfishmeister.
Do either of these books back up what I've been telling my niece - i.e., fashion design is not just drawing pretty dresses, you actually have to know how to sew? I've told her this (I used to work for a clothing manufacturer so I do have a clue) but I don't think she really believes me.
I don't know, I haven't actually read it, I'd just seen the review in the paper.
I hope its good though, and teaches her about sewing:)
^ No problem. It got a good review, the synopsis looked promising, I'll "audition" it before I pass it on to her. As for
Breakfast at Bloomingdale's, I found it on Amazon, but I think I'll pass. The heroine sews, but apparently she also gets where she wants to go without formal training or education, and that's not a message my sister would appreciate. We are trying ever so gently to steer the kid away from Twilight (and similar rubbish), not least because that heroine doesn't even make it through high school because a boyfriend is SO much more important.
Message edited by its author, Sep 8, 2009, 10:43pm.
aguntherc,
Is she able to watch the show Project Runway? (I think it's on Bravo.) She would get an idea of the design process and the variety of personalities in the fashion industry. There may be a dearth of books about design since it is such a visual activity. Like reading about Michealangelo painting the Sistine Chapel, one picture is worth...
The same conversation has been going on on the YALSA mailing list. Unfortunately, I haven't been saving them. Anyone?
e: And no one's compiled it on the wiki yet.
Message edited by its author, Oct 9, 2009, 1:04pm.
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