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



by
Mara Rockliff
illustrated by
Juana Martinez-Neal

Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Imprint
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN
9780358125433
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
$21.06   $17.55
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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 dream—and 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.

Author’s note. Selected sources. Full-color illustrations.

POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None

Details

Format

Print

Page Count

32

Trim Size

11" x 8 1/2"

Dewey

B

AR

0: points 0

Genre

Nonfic

Scholastic Reading Counts

0

JLG Release

Jun 2022

Book Genres

Autobiography/Biography, Picture Book

Topics

Lena Himmelstein Bryant Malsin (1877–1951). Sewing. Women fashion designers. Plus-size women's clothing. Maternity clothing. Lithuanian Americans. Immigrants. New York City.

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Cover Art

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Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-Leaving the facts of Bryant's life-her birth in 1879, for example-to the back matter, Rockliff dwells instead on the theme of a "perfect fit" to underscore Lena Himmelstein Bryant Malsin's early life in Lithuania that was filled with love, but was not easy. At 16, Lane Bryant joined her sister in New York City to escape poverty and antisemitism in Europe. Sewing from dawn till dusk in the garment district allowed her to work with "Lace! Ribbons! Silk! [and] sewing machines!" She soon met and then lost her husband, David Bryant, becoming a widow with an infant and a pair of diamond earrings. Undaunted, she used the earrings to buy a sewing machine and got to work making clients fabulous gowns without benefit of patterns or tape measures. After successfully inventing an expandable maternity dress at a client's request, Bryant's business took off. While getting a bank loan to fund her expansion, she was so nervous during the signing process that she mixed up the letters in her first name, which is how her business came to be known as "Lane Bryant." She went on to transform the clothing industry by designing clothes for all body shapes and sizes. The accessible and engaging text is brought to life by the delightful illustrations. Using mostly sepia tones with pops of color, they convey an old-fashioned era, but with clever details, plump humans, and delightful textiles and patterns that leave readers wanting more. Back matter includes selected sources and an author's note that fills in the details of Bryant's life and business. VERDICT 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.-Catherine Callegari

Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-Leaving the facts of Bryant's life-her birth in 1879, for example-to the back matter, Rockliff dwells instead on the theme of a "perfect fit" to underscore Lena Himmelstein Bryant Malsin's early life in Lithuania that was filled with love, but was not easy. At 16, Lane Bryant joined her sister in New York City to escape poverty and antisemitism in Europe. Sewing from dawn till dusk in the garment district allowed her to work with "Lace! Ribbons! Silk! [and] sewing machines!" She soon met and then lost her husband, David Bryant, becoming a widow with an infant and a pair of diamond earrings. Undaunted, she used the earrings to buy a sewing machine and got to work making clients fabulous gowns without benefit of patterns or tape measures. After successfully inventing an expandable maternity dress at a client's request, Bryant's business took off. While getting a bank loan to fund her expansion, she was so nervous during the signing process that she mixed up the letters in her first name, which is how her business came to be known as "Lane Bryant." She went on to transform the clothing industry by designing clothes for all body shapes and sizes. The accessible and engaging text is brought to life by the delightful illustrations. Using mostly sepia tones with pops of color, they convey an old-fashioned era, but with clever details, plump humans, and delightful textiles and patterns that leave readers wanting more. Back matter includes selected sources and an author's note that fills in the details of Bryant's life and business. VERDICT 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.-Catherine Callegari

Grades 2-6
Biography Elementary Plus
For Grades 2-6

Fascinating biographies and autobiographies will allow your elementary readers to look into the lives, thoughts, and accomplishments of the individuals who have shaped our world. And with 12 books per year, they'll discover a remarkable person each month.

14 books per Year
$297.36 per Year
Interests
Biographies,Diversity,Nonfiction,Science/STEAM
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Grades 2-6
Biography Elementary Plus
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