By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register

Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, designed and created one of America's most famous wedding dresses for Jackie Kennedy in 1953. Despite personal struggles and racial prejudice, she and her seamstresses re-created the dresses after a pipe burst at her dress shop. Born in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and grandmother and was offered an opportunity to sew and design clothing for Florida's society elite by a wealthy Tampa socialite.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2022
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc

1953,New York City Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy,a pipe bursts at Ann Lowes dress shop and ruins eleven dresses,including the expensive wedding dress,a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way,Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task,but they will do it. 1918,Tampa Raised in Jim Crow Alabama,Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother,a former slave,who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic,her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Anns talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Floridas society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night,Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.

1953, New York City

Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe's dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it.

1918, Tampa

Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann's talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida's society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.
Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.

Weight: 287g
Dimension: 203 x 135 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780063059740