Book Synopsis:
The incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design and create one of America’s most famous wedding dresses of all time for Jackie Kennedy.
1953, New York City
Less than a week before the society wedding of the year where Jacqueline Bouvier will marry John F. Kennedy, a pipe bursts at Ann Lowe’s dress shop and ruins eleven dresses, including the expensive wedding dress, a dress that will be judged by thousands. A Black designer who has fought every step of the way, Ann knows this is only one struggle after a lifetime of them. She and her seamstresses will find the way to re-create the dresses. It may take all day and all night for the next week to accomplish the task, but they will do it.
1918, Tampa
Raised in Jim Crow Alabama, Ann learned the art of sewing from her mother and her grandmother, a former slave, who are the most talented seamstresses in the state. After Ann elopes at twelve with an older man who soon proves himself to be an abusive alcoholic, her dreams of becoming a celebrated designer seem to be put on hold. But then a wealthy Tampa socialite sees Ann’s talent and offers her an amazing opportunity—the chance to sew and design clothing for Florida’s society elite. Taking her young son in the middle of the night, Ann escapes her husband and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.
Based on the true story of one of the most famous designers of the twenties through the sixties who has since been unjustly forgotten, By Her Own Design is an unforgettable novel of determination despite countless obstacles and a triumph celebrated by the world.
My Review:
This was a captivating, powerful and emotional story that was very inspirational.
Firstly I hadn’t heard of Ann Lowe before reading this book, which is perhaps unsurprising as she wasn’t always credited for her work. The author does a great job bringing her to life. We get to know Ann from her childhood so I felt I really got to know her and understood what made her tick. I also enjoyed researching her while I was reading and looking up some of her amazing designs.
The story is beautifully told with a great balance between sad moments and the joyful ones. It was so inspiring to see her succeed despite the odds stacked against her. I found myself getting quite angry at times that she was denied the recognition she deserved just because she was black.
Overall I loved this book and will definitely be recommending it to fellow historical fiction lovers. This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m excited to read more from her in the future. Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Piper Huguley is the author of the Home to Milford College and the Migrations of the Heart series. She is a multiple-time Golden Heart finalist. Piper blogs about the history behind her novels on her website. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and son.
Over The Rainbow Blog 