Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Fancy Party Gowns: The Story of Fashion Designer Ann Cole Lowe
Fancy Party Gowns: The Story of Fashion Designer Ann Cole Lowe | Deborah Blumenthal
30 posts | 11 read | 13 to read
A beautiful picture book about Ann Cole Lowe, a little-known African-American fashion designer who battled personal and social adversity in order to pursue her passion of making beautiful gowns and went on to become one of societys top designers. Wisps of cloth would fall from their worktables like confetti, and Ann would scoop them up and turn them into flowers as bright as roses in the garden. Anns family came from Alabama. Her great grandma had been a slave, so her family knew about working hard just to get by. As soon as Ann Cole Lowe could walk, her momma and grandma taught her to sew. She worked near her momma in their Alabama family shop in the early 1900s, making glorious dresses for women who went to fancy parties. When Ann was 16, her momma died, and Ann continued sewing dresses. It wasnt easy, especially when she went to design school and had to learn alone, segregated from the rest of the class. But the work she did set her spirit soaring, as evidenced in the clothes she made, including Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress and Olivia de Havilland's dress at the Oscars when she won for Best Actress in To Each His Own. Rarely credited, Ann Cole Lowe became societys best kept secret. This beautiful picture book shines the spotlight on a little-known visionary who persevered in times of hardship, always doing what she was passionate about: making elegant gowns for the women who loved to wear them.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
quote
mack2799
post image

review
mack2799
Pickpick

This biography book is good because it is told through illustrations that help distinguish the theme and story. The facts and background are accurately depicted and although it seems like a fiction book, everything is completely real. I think the facts and events have been researched well and various subject points were discussed and shown throughout as well!

blurb
mack2799

This book would be great to have in any classroom. It is a fast moving narrative that would be relatable for all students. They will be able to learn and understand a different time in history and realize anything in life they want to achieve is possible with a little hard work!

quote
maddyhensley

“When she was old enough to thread a needle, Ann Cole Lowe‘s momma and grandma taught her how to sew.”

blurb
maddyhensley

The colors presented throughout this biography are beautiful!!

review
maddyhensley
post image
Pickpick

Fancy Party Gowns by Deborah Blumenthal published in 2017 is the story of Ann Cole Lowe, a fashion designer. Once she was of age to start sewing, that‘s immediately what she did with the help of her mother and grandma.

quote
carlypabin
post image

blurb
carlypabin

A great book about an african american designer facing prejudice! Reaching her goals even though it is hard and challenging. Demanding equality and recognition in a time when it was uncommon

review
carlypabin
post image
Pickpick

Fancy Party Gowns by Deborah Blumenthal (publishes 2017, biography) is about a african american fashion designer. From a young girl she loved to sew & was incredible at fashion. She had to face adversity and stand up to be treated equal to whites and get acknowledgement for her work. But, she did and it turned out great for her. She made JFKs wife‘s dress & demanded to go in the front door, not the back & be hidden. motivational

quote
elisaschwass
post image

blurb
elisaschwass

This book is great for kids because it shows if you work hard you can do anything.

review
elisaschwass
Pickpick

Fancy Party Gowns was written by Deborah Blumenthal in 2017. This book is about a fashion designer who loved to design since she was a young child. It talks about the hardships she faced and she tried to do what she loved. This book is really good and is great for any classroom.

quote
easch
post image

blurb
easch

This book would be a good one to read since it‘s about a women. It also teaches the kids to keep believing in themselves and never give up.

review
easch
Pickpick

Fancy Party Gowns by Deborah Blumenthal, 2017. This book was not written that long ago which means the information is more recent. I also like how an African American is featured in the front of the book. Ann Cole Lowe always new had to sew. When she was younger her mom and grandma taught her. The book touches on how it wasn‘t always easy for Ann because she was an African American. Nothing stopped Ann she continued to create beautiful dresses.

blurb
rachelshoemaker

I never knew that jackie kennedy‘s wedding dress was pink

quote
rachelshoemaker

Ann said that if she had to enter through the back door, the bride and bridesmaids wouldn‘t be wearing her dresses for the wedding.
She entered through the front door.

review
rachelshoemaker
Pickpick

I think that this story is a really important one because not many people know it, i didn‘t know it until i read this book. Ann didn‘t get any credit for the dresses that she made.

quote
Madimccrady22

“Because Ann Cole Lowe was African American. And life wasn‘t fair.”

blurb
Madimccrady22

This is an inspiring story for young girls who would learn to work pasted hard times to get to their goals.

review
Madimccrady22
Pickpick

Fancy pants gowns by Deborah Blumenthal is a biography that was published in 2017. This book is about a fashion designer named Ann Cole Lowe. She started off helping her mom sew. She was African American and she had a hard life which got in the way of success. She saved enough money for her own salon and ended up making The wedding dress for the First Lady.

blurb
emtobiasz
post image

One of the #kidlit trends that makes me happiest is the influx of picture book biographies. While many still focus on famous figures, others highlight nearly forgotten leaders in a wide variety of industries, like fashion, medicine, and photography. (Someone already checked out my book about the inventor of the Super Soaker!) #blackhistorymonth #litsyloveslibraries

stargazerblue49 OMG I neeeeeed that Tiny Stitches Book!!!!!!! 6y
51 likes2 comments
review
EvieBee
post image
Pickpick

“When Ann saw obstacles, she thought about what she could do, not what she couldn‘t change.”

Such a wonderful book about fashion designer Ann Cole Lowe, who famously designed Jackie Bouvier‘s wedding gown. It‘s so sad that she didn‘t get credit for her work for many years because she was a black woman. This is a must-read! 👗👗👗👗👗 #kidlit #picturebook

Chelsibeau Oooo I may need to buy this 7y
LindaGrace812 I love it too! I bought it at the Museum of African American History and Culture. ❤️ 7y
EvieBee @Chelsibeau @LindaGrace812 The illustrations are beautiful and of course the story! I need to buy this one for sure! 7y
See All 7 Comments
unabridgedchick Ooooh! Amazing. Buying for the toddler's birthday this November. 7y
EvieBee @unabridgedchick It‘s gorgeous! 7y
Jess_Read_This This is gorgeous! I'm definitely going to keep this one in mind for my nieces' Christmas presents! 7y
EvieBee @Jess_Read_This And maybe a copy for yourself. Cough. Lol! I love buying children‘s books. 7y
103 likes7 stack adds7 comments
review
MarriedtoMrT
post image
Pickpick

I found it enraging that her work was so sought after and she made Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress for crying out loud and yet she struggled financially practically her whole life. She is portrayed as having a positive spirit, looking only to prove that she could and she did. Another gorgeously illustrated picture book biography.

28 likes1 stack add
review
LindsayReads
post image
Pickpick

Fantastic picture book biography of Ann Cole Lowe, a woman who fought for her place as an African American fashion designer and created sumptuous gowns for Jackie Kennedy, Olivia de Havilland, and other elites. Its refrain, "She thought about what she could do, not what she couldn't change," is a particularly heartening sentiment today.

40 likes5 stack adds