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A Perfect Fit: How Lena “Lane” Bryant Changed the Shape of Fashion (Hardcover)
Staff Reviews
It's easy to forget sometimes that there was a real person behind a name. Thankfully, there are picture books like this one to tell the stories of amazing people who struggled and persevered like Lena Bryant. An absolute beauty of a book that is a perfect fit for the subject matter, with such a great message for those of us who always feel like we're sewing without a pattern.
Stacey
Description
Discover how the Lane Bryant clothing brand changed the way we buy clothes forever by celebrating bodies of all shapes and sizes in this inclusive picture book biography of a Lithuanian immigrant with a brilliant eye for fashion and business. With stunning artwork from Sibert medalist Juana Martinez-Neal.
Lena came to America with nothing but a dream—and an exceptional ability to drape and snip and stitch. She never used a pattern or a tape measure, but every dress she sewed turned out to be a perfect fit.
Then, one day, a customer presented her with a new challenge. Could she design a stylish, comfortable gown for a body shape that did not meet the current standards of fashion?
Lena took the challenge. Under the company name Lane Bryant, she became famous for flattering and modish clothing designed for all different shapes and sizes. The world of fashion would never be the same.
About the Author
Mara Rockliff is the author of many popular children’s books, including Try It! How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat; Chik Chak Shabbat; and Gingerbread for Liberty! How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution, an NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People and winner of multiple state awards. She lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with her family. Visit her online at www.mararockliff.com.
Juana Martinez-Neal is the Peruvian born daughter and granddaughter of painters. Her debut as an author-illustrator Alma and How She Got Her Name, was awarded a Caldecott Honor and was also published in a Spanish edition as Alma y cómo obtuvo su nombre. Her second author-illustrator book, Zonia's Rain Forest, is available in a Spanish edition La selva de Zonia. Juana has also illustrated numerous picture books including La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya, for which she won the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award, and Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, which won The Robert F. Sibert Medal.
Website: juanamartinezneal.com
Instagram: @juanamartinezn
Twitter: @juanamartinez
Praise For…
"An elegant ode to a delightfully different kind of designer who wanted fine fashion accessible to all, not just a privileged few." — Booklist (starred review)
“What sets this classic immigrant story apart is how the advice of her rabbi grandfather—'help another person'—results in Bryant’s liberating fashion innovations. . . . Measured prose and sepia-textured pages—filled with velvety drawings of flowing fabric, Gibson Girl hairdos, and elaborate gowns—suit the historical moment, while making Bryant’s contributions to feminist fashion always evident.” — Publishers Weekly
"This biography deftly covers the highlights of Bryant’s life in an enjoyable and accessible manner, a one-of-a-kind origin story of a retail success whose foundations were based on helping others feel great." — School Library Journal