A Perfect Fit: How Lena "Lane" Bryant Changed the Shape of Fashion

(Hardback)

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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 dreamand 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.

Reviews

"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

Author Bio

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 author-illustrator of Alma and How She Got Her Name. She lives in Connecticut. Visit her at www.juanamartinezneal.com.