Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

Oct 03, 2011

Isabelle rated it:

I received this book as a gift and it took me some time to get to it, but once I started reading, I couldn't stop. It reads like a mix of biography and dishy tell all and takes you deep into the glorified and narcissistic worlds of Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent in the 1970s.

Beautifully written, extraordinarily researched ( with over 500 interviews), you are transported back to the lavish excesses of the 70s at every turn of the page. Although the book concentrates on fashion a More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 01, 2007

Dan rated it:

alicia drake has written the non-fiction version of the amazing adventures of kavalier and clay. this book, a bildingsroman in the truest sense, does a wonderful job of painting the human side of yves saint laurent, karl lagerfeld and their respective coderies, which serves to highlight their dizzing rise to superstardom. by turns hilarious and tragic, drake offers an impressive litany of sources to flesh out this poignant tale. we see saint laurent at the glittery heights of his creativity, a p More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Apr 08, 2009

Lisa rated it:

I was recommended The Beautiful Fall by a couple who both had been completely smitten by it. The man, and a French man he is, said it was better than Proust. Could a book about Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld be better than Remembrance of Things Past? I guess I wouldn't know since I have had Swann's Way on my "Currently Reading" shelf for six months now. I don't need this to be an epic like Proust's just something on fashion that is more interesting and substantial than Judith Th More...

0 comments like

Dec 01, 2008

Denis rated it:

A mesmerizing read about the rise, fall, and triumphs of St Laurent and Lagerfeld, about the evolution of the Parisian fashion world from the fifties to nowadays, about the the drug-filled parties of the seventies and the eighties, about the dreams and heartbreaks that shaped the lives of those visionary designers. You don't have to be especially interested in fashion to read this book, which is really the portrait of two tortured and complex artists as well as the portrait of an era. For those More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Sep 09, 2009

Mark rated it:

Actually, The Beautiful Fall is quite beautifully written and engaging, with scads of behind-the-scenes details of the personalities who controlled Euro-fashion in the 1970s. Drake's writing especially shines when she's describing clothing (as you might expect from a seasoned fashion writer), and my three star rating is only so low because of the frivolousness of the world being documented. Drake never gives us the idea that the people involved in making fashion have anything beyond themselves More...

1 comment like

Jul 06, 2011

Amy rated it:

Tah-RIFFIC book. I don't know how much this would appeal to anyone who wasn't fashion-y, but if you are interested in la mode and its attendant industry, you'll love it. I learned a ton about both the designers. I like Karl a little more than I did and Yves a little less (as people, mind you, not as designers), but I have a much better sense of the big pictures of their respective work. Drake's research is impeccable and her writing is compelling. I wish she'd write some more on this topic, More...

0 comments like

Oct 19, 2008

CD rated it:

A modern tragedy full of sound and fury signifying 'little' or nothing(sorry, could not resist the allusion).

A great story about an important transition in business from a customized world of illusion to the modern garment and clothing industry.

The cultural figures mentioned in this book are all fascinating (or at least they think are/were) and Alicia Drake handles them adequately. It is a shame that a book of this detail was not able to draw directly upon interviews wit More...

0 comments like

Aug 20, 2008

Jean rated it:

A very dishy transcript of the highs and lows of the lifetimes of the Saint Laurent and Lagerfeld clans and the fierce rivalry between them as well as a very dishy storytelling of the inevitable rise of the fashion world. In the heady times of the 60s to 80s, big changes such as the whole shift from haute couture to ready-to-wear happened as well as some of the more smaller firsts (i.e., elevating the catwalk, women wearing menswear, celebrities receiving invites to shows, etc). With YSL taking More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 14, 2009

Paula rated it:

This is a fun soap opera disguised as a dual biography. Maybe with the subject matter, it couldn't be helped. But it is a fun and interesting read, as well as insight into the ever-fascinating creative process. Drake also addresses how these genius designers' backgrounds and upbringings influenced their creativity. I think with such visual subject matter--fashion design--more illustrations, perhaps some of the sketches referred to, would have made the book more effective.

0 comments like

Apr 12, 2009

Erica rated it:

I'd only known about Yves Saint Laurent from his famous label and Karl Lagerfeld from his signature look, but I really don't know anything about either one. This book follows the two men from their early days in the 60s in Paris to current day, and explores their fashion, history, psyches....it was a little long-winded for me, but interesting. I certainly learned a lot!

0 comments like

Jul 02, 2009

Sergio rated it:

Even their undeniable talent and creativity can't hide the fact that fashion designers are incredibly shallow people. Don't believe me? Read this book. The book itself is entertaining enough but it left me with the feeling that those who really want into the fashion business don't really have anything else to offer society than their good looks.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 03, 2011

Nikki rated it:

Maybe there's no poetry in me, but this unauthorized biography of Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld fell far short of meeting my expectations. While I appreciate the dramatic edge Drake attempted to apply to her "narrative," the overall story of the designers was often lost in a sea of quotes from friends and acquaintances. Using this technique to string together a story works well in abbreviated magazine articles, but I couldn't help but feel that her editor needed to have a heavi More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 23, 2009

Phillip rated it:

The fun and the tragedy of Paris in the 70's. The people who redefined fashion from a historical and political point of view, and all the bitchiness that ensued. I enjoyed reading this immensely and felt I needed to drink more champagne afterwards. Recommended for fashion lovers.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 05, 2009

Kit rated it:

Pretty juicy and gossipy, as was advertised. Paints the picture of a booze- and drug-addled child prodigy (St. Laurent) versus a mercurial hired-gun of less natural talent but a much greater comprehension of the art of self and business promotion (Lagerfeld.) It's kinda funny that KG filed a legal writ against the author over this book and, in the end, had to pay up for the court fees instead. Talk about démodé...

0 comments like

Jan 03, 2009

Yvonne rated it:

YSL & Uncle Karl. No more words needed.

Unfortunately, the paperback sits on my shelf rather than this much more aesthetically pleasing cover. If ever a book should look Beautiful on display it should be this one, non?

0 comments like

Apr 09, 2010

Julien rated it:

A good book for fashion lovers about the 70's era written with a sense of entertainment...the more I read other books the more I tend to think that the author has been influenced by a pro Saint Laurent's crowd.

0 comments like

Feb 15, 2010

nicholas rated it:

Though the prose is occasionally gag-worthy, this book is chock-full of amazing references… a great, quick read if you have any interest in fashion.

0 comments like

Apr 28, 2011

Cam rated it:

Love this fabulous and addictive book. At the very end, I found out that Yves Saint Laurent also has a black and white Frenchie named Moujik!!

0 comments like

Aug 12, 2007

Aueeie rated it:

Chapter One (1954-58)

Standing on stage were the three winners of the International Wool Secretariat fashion design competition of 1954. Two of them were young men dressed almost identically: dark suits, dark ties, white shirts, the very image of apprenticeship propriety. Yves Matthieu-Saint-Laurent, as he was called then, was aged eighteen, recently arrived from Oran, Algeria and winner of the first and third prizes in the dress category. He stepped forward to accept his prizes w More...

0 comments like

Oct 06, 2011

Bashak rated it:

Must read for all who are interested in Fashion and Paris cultural scene between 1960-1985...

0 comments like

Mar 13, 2008

Vivienne rated it:

I did quite a long review on my livejournal that can be read here.

In short, while fashion is not really my thing, I felt this was a well-written and researched account of the high fashion scene in Paris during the 1970-80s.

More than anything it confirmed that the whole industry is built on an 'Emperor's New Clothes' viewpoint where people gasp in amazement at the cut of a hemline.

Thankfully, Drake doesn't do much fawning and if anything her journalistic More...

0 comments like

Dec 17, 2009

nina rated it:

Unfortunately, I never managed to finish this book, though attentively sucking in the first two thirds left me with the conviction that now I have a solid understanding of French Fashion of the post war period, which I don't. At the time of reading I was rubbing my back against a coal oven, with two blankets on my lap, in an otherwise unheated apartment. I have fond memories of being totally preoccupied with chit chat about Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld and the likes that winter while th More...

0 comments like

Jul 26, 2007

Cathy rated it:

overly descriptive writing that begs to be taken to task by an S&M editor experienced in whittling overblown egos down to size.

there are some interesting details about karl lagerfeld (he's actually quite a looker underneath those enormous ever-present sunglasses!) and yves saint laurent (he played tennis in tight short shorts!) amidst the extraneous flowery adjectives that stubbornly infiltrate every sentence like roundup(tm)-resistant weeds. but it will take a lot of free time. and More...

0 comments like

Nov 02, 2009

Kaya rated it:

This is overdue at the library, but it's been pretty juicy and entertaining thus far. Oh to be rich and idle in 1970s Paris.

0 comments like

Mar 05, 2009

Alfredo rated it:

God, this was a bit painful. It felt like I was reading a 400 page high-school term paper. The only thing that kept my interest was the subject matter. I was able to gain more insight on Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, and a bit of fashion history. It was thorough, but so repetitive.

1 comment like

Apr 15, 2009

Kate rated it:

very interesting so far. Gives the whole backstory of the established couture houses of the 50's and 60's and Yves role in changing things up. Just saw the exhibit at the DeYoung. Beautiful. He was so prolific and almost every piece could be worn today they were so unique timeless and inventive. Really inspriring!

Just finished reading. Very interesting tale of Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfield. Gave me a lot more of an understanding of how fashion has evolved into what it is tod

2 comments like

Aug 02, 2011

Margaret rated it:

Definitely worth a read for business purposes or if you are really into fashion.

0 comments like

Jul 31, 2010

Brian rated it:

yves saint laurent & karl lagerfeld are two magnanimous undeniable talents with egos larger than their personal fortunes. this book takes you through all the great moments throughout their parallel lives & careers, with star-studded vignettes including jerry hall, andy warhol, grace jones and hundreds of other fascinating personalities from the luxurious excessive disco/fashion decade that this book captures with spirit, humor & bite. A+++

0 comments like

Nov 19, 2009

Leann rated it:

Lagerfeld, YSL, the 70's, and Paris...please sir i'd like some more.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 16, 2009

Cynthia rated it:

With Yves Saint Laurent's recent passing, this book piqued my interest. It's the story of his rise in the 60's and 70's, his circle of influence, and a fascinating history of life in 70's Paris. Karl Lagerfeld is profiled in tandem -
they were friends and became great rivals. It reads almost like a gossip column with a lot of famous people
having been interviewed for it. A fun summer read - especially fo ranyone who loves fashion history.

0 comments like

reviews