Betty Halbreich (1927–2024)

This book is unabashedly an autobiography of a 1%er who works with the 1%. If you're looking to read a story about someone who has overcome unimaginable hardship don't read this, read "Strength in What Remains," "Unbroken," or something by Ishmael Beah. However, if you'd like to get a glimpse into the life of someone who has truly found her calling -- and an admirable work ethic -- you may very well like this (especially if you enjoy fashion).

With a flair impeccable dressing, Betty ends up show more as Bergdorf Goodman's first personal shopper/stylist (her rise to this position is interesting after recently reading "The Confidence Code." Each step was way outside her comfort zone, she made mistakes, but she had the ability). Her only priority is what is right for the client -- and she won't let anybody buy something that doesn't look good on them or if they already own anything too similar: "I'm not in the business of stuffing closets with useless items -- indeed, my motto is this: I don't dress closets. I don't come to work to create fashion plates either. My role is to offer people permission: to be catered to individually, to treat themselves to something beautiful, to be important, to feel better."
At age 86 she still works 5 days a week.

This is a quick read which offers good insight about a level of service that is often missing in business today, and what a gift it is just to really listen to someone. show less

Enjoyed this book thoroughly. It was fascinating to read about the experiences of a woman brought up in the age where being lady-like had a very carefully crafted meaning and where the life choices of women were so limited. Betty Halbreich made some good choices and some bad ones but found the strength to cope and to grow. I was lso interested in her take on fashion. While different from mine, it helped me to understand how some people spend so much time on it and to differentiate between show more the ones who own fashion and those who let it own them. show less

I thoroughly enjoyed this and Jane Curtin as the perfect reader. She's a perfect example of a place in time even though she admits she is trying to adjust to the flow of the changes in life, at least to a small extent as long as it doesn't conflict with her basic values about manners, dress, etc. Delightful to listen and I grew very fond of her as the disks progressed. She really is a one-of-a-kind, all by herself.

Fascinating story of a woman inventing herself. Because her own talents, a job was created for her. An interesting glimpse into NYC and fashion in the 60s and beyond.