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Rating: 
Summary: Would have been a great article
Review: Chierichetti has produced what would have been a fascinating article for Vanity Fair or Vogue, but falls short as a full length biography. His subject spent many celebrated decades as a Hollywood costume designer but we learn little about Edith Head's actual creative process, her interactions with the stars she dressed or even how she felt about her job (other than she seemed monumentally insecure about her success). The book is also missing photographic documentation that would help the reader understand how great her impact really was. In the end, we don't learn much more about Edith Head or her life, but rather we learn the same stuff over and over: she was a champion dissembler, she had a complex emotional life, she was conflicted over her parentage and upbringing. Check, check, check. Anything else?
Rating:
Summary: Would have been a great article
Review: Chierichetti has produced what would have been a fascinating article for Vanity Fair or Vogue, but falls short as a full length biography. His subject spent many celebrated decades as a Hollywood costume designer but we learn little about Edith Head's actual creative process, her interactions with the stars she dressed or even how she felt about her job (other than she seemed monumentally insecure about her success). The book is also missing photographic documentation that would help the reader understand how great her impact really was. In the end, we don't learn much more about Edith Head or her life, but rather we learn the same stuff over and over: she was a champion dissembler, she had a complex emotional life, she was conflicted over her parentage and upbringing. Check, check, check. Anything else?
Rating: 
Summary: FINALLY, THE REAL EDITH HEAD IS GOING TO MY HEAD
Review: Edith Head has got to one of the most celebrated fashion designers that ever came out of Hollywood. She also is one of the most ambiguous. Her general secrecy as well has her revisionist personal autobiography has had a lot of people wondering who this lady actually was.
The author has managed to get a fairly clear picture of his subject. He also has managed to uncover a lot of truths and facts regarding her own personal history and has come up with a very interesting story here. It doesn't hurt that David Chierichetti happened to know Edith Head fairly well at the end of her life.
If you are into celebrity biographies, you will find this book not only interesting for its own merits but well-written and crafted by the author who proves to be a very good researcher and writer.
I have long enjoyed David Chierichetti's articles in the periodicals Classic Images and Films of the Golden Age. I am glad to see that his talents have translated well when tackling a book format.
Bravo, David! Keep up the good work. I am waiting for the next book! This is definitely one of the best books published in 2003.
Rating: 
Summary: a failure
Review: Edith Head was a fascinating woman who worked in a lost world. How could you go wrong with a book about her? This book does just that. Edith Head was a costume designer so you would expect to see page after page of glorious photos of her work, right? This book skimps on photos. You might expect to read some saucy tales of old Hollywood, but this book fails to provide them. It's too stiff, too careful--it reads like a libel attorney was the final editor--and it bored me. Hunt down the Dress Doctor instead.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating portrait
Review: Edith Head's rise as one of Hollywood's most famous costume designers was a result of her hard work as well as some controversial career decisions. The author, who became a close friend and confidante of Head in her later years, manages to penetrate her secretive core and paint a fascinating yet objective biography of her. Edith Head rose through the ranks at Paramount before becoming head of the costume department in the late 30s and held the position for over 30 years. But she was basically an insecure woman who craved publicity and acceptance and managed to achieve it by hard work, tenacity and sometimes deceptive manipulation. It is true that she sometimes took credit for other designer's work (most notably Givenchey for the 1954 film "Sabrina") and she was often ridiculed by her colleages. But, she was adept and hard-working in her craft, and she had a knack for communicating and pleasing the actresses and directors that she worked with. The book combines just the right amount of biographical detail with juicy Hollywood gossip (especially about Claudette Colbert!) to keep you turning the pages. The book also depicts a touching portrait of Head's longtime marriage to Bill Ihnen and debunks the longtime rumor that Head was a lesbian. The book's one major fault is the lack of photos - only a small color section and a few b&w are scattered throughout - not enough to illustrate her work at all. But aside from this one quibble, I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: IS THERE A DRESS DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
Review: Edith Head's young confidante tells all! Would that he had. In light of the author's access, this is a real disappointment for Head fans; much of the, uh, material (groan!) here has appeared elsewhere long ago. Sloppily researched (many of the dates in Head's filmography are incorrect, the name of Nancy Olson's "Sunset Boulevard" character is wrong, etc.) and even the lay-out is slapdash: Of all the legendary costumes Head created, the entire back cover is adorned by a sketch of a dull stewardess uniform she "probably" designed for one the "Airport" sequels. If you've never read anything about the designer, this is Edith Head 101. My advice to anyone else? Bolt!
Rating: 
Summary: Why is this book so terrible???
Review: This is, most probably, the worst book I have ever read. I have been struggling to come up with concise reasons as to just what makes it so terrible. This book is so bad, that I am at a loss as to where to start.
First, the choice of photos is dismal. There are few photos of any costumes that won awards. The majority of the photos are head & shoulder shots, that reveal nothing of the lines or designs. The few sketches are done by others. The inclusion of them adds nothing to understanding Head's work.
Second, the writing is abysmal. The author starts in on an event, topic, subject & disposes of it in one or two sentences. Not one subject is dealt with in any depth. Things are thrown in for no apparent purpose except to take up space. As an example, we are told Head thought, after viewing Star Wars, Princess Leia's costume should have a side zipper. That's it - why is this important at all? This is not a film she had any connection with. The author tosses off a remark that someone doesn't want to hire Head because she has told too many lies. (When, to whom, what, WHAT???) One is just left with this statement, it has not been explained previously & it is never explained.
The book is merely cover-to-cover filler. The publisher & the editor should be ashamed.
If you are interested in Head's fashions, save your money & rent the movies - they will give you more information than this book.
Rating:
Summary: Why is this book so terrible???
Review: This is, most probably, the worst book I have ever read. I have been struggling to come up with concise reasons as to just what makes it so terrible. This book is so bad, that I am at a loss as to where to start.
First, the choice of photos is dismal. There are few photos of any costumes that won awards. The majority of the photos are head & shoulder shots, that reveal nothing of the lines or designs. The few sketches are done by others. The inclusion of them adds nothing to understanding Head's work.
Second, the writing is abysmal. The author starts in on an event, topic, subject & disposes of it in one or two sentences. Not one subject is dealt with in any depth. Things are thrown in for no apparent purpose except to take up space. As an example, we are told Head thought, after viewing Star Wars, Princess Leia's costume should have a side zipper. That's it - why is this important at all? This is not a film she had any connection with. The author tosses off a remark that someone doesn't want to hire Head because she has told too many lies. (When, to whom, what, WHAT???) One is just left with this statement, it has not been explained previously & it is never explained.
The book is merely cover-to-cover filler. The publisher & the editor should be ashamed.
If you are interested in Head's fashions, save your money & rent the movies - they will give you more information than this book.
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