Kennedy Jacqueline



Jackie Kennedy's "Secretary of Style" Oleg Cassini Signed Book About White House Fashions

A sumptuous hard cover copy of A Thousand Days of Magic: Dressing Jacqueline Kennedy for the White House (New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 1995) inscribed and signed by fashioner designer Oleg Cassini as "to Larry and / Shaun / best wishes / Oleg" on the half title page. The book, published the year after Jackie Kennedy's death, features Cassini's personal recollections of designing for the First Lady, as well as dozens of letters, sketches, and photos documenting his designs. Dust jacket with expected wear including a few wrinkled or scuffed edges, else near fine and a nice clean copy. 9.25" x 11.25" x 1". 4to. 223pp.

Oleg Cassini designed 300 outfits for First Lady Jackie Kennedy (1929-1994) between 1961-1963. Cassini was selected to become Jackie's exclusive fashion designer--or "Secretary of Style"--because he had a concrete vision of what Jackie's clothing would look like, and more importantly, what it would represent. Her evening gowns, day wear, suits, coats, hats, and accessories would create a distinctive "Jackie look" that would mark the reign of the new "American Queen."

Cassini noted in the book: "Jackie reminded me of an ancient Egyptian princess--very geometric, even hieroglyphic, with the sphinx-like quality of her eyes, her long neck, slim torso, broad shoulders, narrow hips, and regal carriage…I wanted to dress her cleanly, architecturally, in style. I would use the most sumptuous fabrics in the purest interpretations…I was proposing a new look, a new concept, my interpretation of how Jaqueline Bouvier Kennedy should appear in her role as First Lady…[I] told her that she needed a story, a scenario as First Lady. " (p. 15-18)

Cassini's vision of Jackie coincided with her own, and the two successfully collaborated to set major worldwide fashion trends. In Jackie's wardrobe, you could find all the classic elements of 1960s mod--A-line dresses in bright colors and bold patterns, strapless gowns with elbow-length gloves, tailored suits, fur-trimmed coats with oversized collars, buttons, and pockets, and of course, pillbox hats. Cassini's sketches, reproduced in A Thousand Days, shows that he often envisioned Jackie's outfits as an entire ensemble, complete with clothing, hat, purse, and accessories.

Oleg Cassini (1913-2006) was born in France of mixed Russian and Italian heritage. He became a fashion designer with Paramount Pictures after emigrating to the United States in 1936. During the heyday of his Hollywood career in the 1940s and 1950s, he dressed actresses Joan Crawford, Loretta Young, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, Janet Leigh, and Audrey Hepburn. Cassini, a friend of the Kennedy family and a frequent visitor to Palm Beach, first met Jackie in 1953. After his tenure as Jackie's fashion designer, Cassini continued designing for Broadway, television, and film, later establishing his own boutique and professional brand.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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