G. Bruce Boyer

Pretty thin. You get the impression our Bruce needed to put his retirement fund on a firmer footing, or some similar motivation, because a lot of this is paint by numbers, checking off bullet points on a list of chapters such as weather gear, suits and Ivy Style. There are a few flashes of genuine inspiration where Bruce awoke from his torpor and found himself genuinely engaged with his subject, such as the sections on the variations in Italian tailoring and how the soft shouldered Southern show more Italian jacket came to be, and here he shows himself to be more the infinitely knowledgeable and erudite guide that we might have expected throughout the whole book, given his lofty reputation in menswear circles. show less

Beautifully designed book showcasing Cooper's style. Photos are from almost all stages of Cooper's life (except very early and late), with friends, family, and alone. There is a forward by Ralph Lauren, as well as afterwards by Maria Cooper Janis and G. Bruce Boyer. A great photo book but some of the photos could have been larger. Expensive looking packaging.

Helpful information mixed with unsupported pontification and non sequiturs. A mixed bag, but perhaps useful for those interested enough to ignore its faults. Something tells me it will be extraordinarily difficult to find a text on this topic which is both insightful and humble. Experts in self-display seem unlikely to manage both....

Boyer can write. Even if you're not interested in the history of fashion--but come on, who isn't?--he tells an interesting tale and tells it well.