A Thousand Days of Magic: Dressing Jacqueline Kennedy for the White House

By Oleg Cassini

Book Overview

A gorgeously revised edition of this fashion favorite book, which combines Cassini's memoirs of working closely with Jacqueline Kennedy during her brief White House years, his fashion philosophies and ideas, and the iconography of the early 1960s style and energy of the Kennedy years. Jacqueline Kennedy's selection of Oleg Cassini to design her personal wardrobe as First Lady was not only fashion history, but political history as well. As the creator of the "Jackie look," Cassini made the First Lady one of the best-dressed women in the world and a glamorous icon of the Kennedy era. During the 1000 days of the Kennedy administration, Cassini designed over 300 outfits for Jackie Kennedy-coats, dresses, evening gowns, suits, and day wear-and coordinated every aspect of her wardrobe, from shoes and hats to gloves and handbags. In this book, Cassini offers a fascinating and comprehensive view of his role as Jackie's personal couturier, a position that allowed him unprecedented access to both Jackie and John Kennedy as a designer and a trusted friend. From the details of his first meetings with the First Lady to his thoughts on Jackie's clothes and their legacy, Cassini's recollections are far-ranging and informative. Also included are Cassini's original sketches accompanied by 200 color and black-and-white photographs of the First Lady as she tours India, France, England, and Italy, shows off the White House, and hosts state dinners and family gatherings. Public moments as well as private ones capture the great elegance and charm of one of the most admired and emulated women in the world.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0847819000
• ISBN13: 9780847819003
• Release Date: September 1995
• Publisher: Rizzoli
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 2.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.3" x 1.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

FASHION ICON

This is the BEST by far on Jackie Kennedy's simple but elegant fashion style. Oleg Cassini was personally selected by Jackie to design many of her outfits during her time as first lady. This book includes not only Cassini's finished articles of clothing, but also the original sketches he used in designing the clothes. On many pages he includes personal notes of thank you from Mrs. Kennedy, as well as requests for specific gowns or other items for special occasions. Not only was Jackie a fashion statement, she set the stage for years to come in the fashion industry! Oleg Cassini is a magnificent and world-renowned fashion designer, and will no doubt be long remembered for his fashion creations for Jackie Kennedy! The photos are stunning, and beautiful as ever...portraying Mrs. Kennedy all over the world wearing his designs. If you are a Jackie Kennedy admirer, Oleg Cassini follower, or a Fashion History buff; this is a remarkable book to add to your collection...more than worth the price!

An Exquisite Book Capturing an Exquisite Woman

I bought this book in 1995 when it first came out, it has held up beautifully, and is one of my all time favorite books about Jackie. A large, coffee table book that is filled with exquisite photos from Jackie's wedding day to President Kennedy through her time as First Lady, and her later years. Jackie has always been one of my favorite role models, and Oleg Cassini did one fantastic job in showing the sketches of clothing illustrations, as well as when and where Jackie wore them. He gives wonderful and detailed paragraphs of information that are respectful of Jackie. The book also has clear copies of the many letters of gratitude Jackie has written, as well as the many activities she was involved in. It is a true and dignified portrait of Jackie's greatest 1,000 days, and is a timeless treasure, showing the class, dignity, heart, and soul of a woman who will forever remain eternal. HIGHLY Recommended for the beautiful and dignified manner with which it is presented.

A Combination that Works

This lovely volume combines Cassini's memoirs of working closely with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis during her brief White House years, his fashion philosophies and ideas, and the iconography of the early 1960s style and vigor of the Kennedy years. Each piece plays the right part in the book as a whole, illustrating what must have been an enchanted time for Cassini. If one is interested in fashion and its technical aspects, the book's sketches and interesting details (letters from Jackie about to whom Cassini should send swatches for hat and glove construction for each dress), his memories of Jackie along with excerpts of her letters (photographic and in text, reproduced verbatim) along with the requisite, but lovely photographs of Jackie is his creations. It brings couture to the United States in a grand way and makes this French sensibilitiy part of our own Americana.With all of the Jackie Kennedy products on the market, it was lovely to read such a heartfelt memoir from the man who helped to position her in our nation's consciousness as a precious and dear woman.

Secrets to Jackie's White House Style--Divine!

With her cultured and educated eye for style, Jackie accomplished from the start what took Princess Diana ten years to figure out: How to create a distinct look and always stand out in a crowd. Jackie had the height, the figure, and a love of the finest quality and simplicity in all things. She hired Oleg Cassini, who agreed to "dress" her only if he were her one and only designer. Cassini had a perfect vision for the demands of Jackie's position, and an eye for the look she could pull off. Being her only designer meant gave Jackie a look, a continuity of style that only she could carry off. The demands on Cassini were great--he had to produce her entire wardrobe, and she wanted to be wearing originals. Occasionally she'd ask for someting from his ready-to-wear line, like when she went to India and realized the heat might force her to change her clothes three or four times a day, but otherwise Cassini did true couture for her--he designed and made (with the help of his atelier, of course) every single garment Jackie wore just for her and her figure and her schedule. The result was magic! As the beautiful photographs show, Jackie always stood out in a crowd. Wearing sleek, simple clothes in sumptuous fabrics, everyone else inevitably looked fussy and overdressed in comparison--even when they were trying to copy her style. This book is as maginificent tribute to Jackie, couture, Cassini, and personal style. I loved reading the details about the dresses which I heretofore had only caught glimpses of in photographs. Princess Diana could have taken a page or two out of Jackie's book; indeed, toward the end of her life she did. Many of Diana's best clothes could have come straight from Cassini. Catherine Walker and Lagerfield for Chanel did a great job of reinterpreting Cassini/Jackie style for Diana. For anyone interested in fashion and history and the magic of the Kennedys, this books is amazing.