Description: "An exploration of the life of Henri Bendel and his fabled women's fashion emporium. It traces his ascent from Vermilionville, Louisiana (now Lafayette) as the son of Jewish European immigrants to his role in New York City as America's premier importer of French couture and an arbiter of style whose lavish homes and rare antiques rivaled those of his wealthy clients. The book also follows the many incarnations of the Henri Bendel store and its satellites and assesses its considerable influence on American fashion and retailing, right up to its closing in 2019 following a remarkable one hundred and twenty-three-year run"--
Brief description:
Tim Allis was a senior editor at InStyle for twelve years. Prior to that he was a staff writer at D magazine (Dallas) and People. He has contributed articles to Out, Men's Health, Time Out New York, Saveur, CNN.com, and Playbill.com, among others. A dedicated theater-goer, he periodically dabbles in playwriting. As Henri Bendel did, he calls both Lafayette, Louisiana, and New York City home.
Review Quotes:
"A splendid biography of this son of Lafayette, Louisiana. Beautifully written, gorgeously illustrated, an absolute delight!"
--John Magill