: Bert Geiger
: Always in Fashion
: Wisdom House Books
: 9780692739549
: 1
: CHF 2.80
:
: Biographien, Autobiographien
: English
: 398
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
Albert Geiger's autobiography tells of a lifetime in the fashion industry. From his humble start as a milliner to his illustrious work in couture clothing, Bert's many successes in design are owed to his indomitable motivation to have his own fashion label. His styles outlived the trends of the times, from the conservative cuts of the forties to the rebellious 'Disco Daze' and beyond. Classic lines and casual elegance distinguished Bert's designs, resulting in clothing that was 'Always In Fashion.' His story recounts global excursions in fashion, the love and professional support of his wife Lorraine, the production and marketing of clothing, and much more. Bert's autobiography will inspire young designers contemplating careers in fashion and will entertain fashionistas of all ages with a tour of style from the last half-century.
Chapter 2
Sanatorium Days
The sanatorium was a whole new world to me, and in a paradoxical way a bit similar to the experience of my schoolmates, friends and relatives who were being drafted into the armed forces. For me as well as for them, it was an unexpected induction into a mainly male world away from home and family and under a rigorous new routine—highly disciplined, and completely standardized. The analogy ends there. While they were preparing to fight for their country on a battlefield with weapons of war, I was taught to fight the TB germ while lying flat in bed in a ward. And though I was fortunate to escape the horrors of war, many years of horrors from this illness and its ramifications helped assuage any guilt I felt for not serving.
After a few weeks I wrote a long letter to my friend Billy Alfred, then a freshman at Brooklyn College, to share my new existence with him. Dated January 9, 1941 when I was 18 years old, here are some excerpts:
Here I am in a little room on the second floor of a low rambling building which is part of a whole set of buildings situated in a rolling lovely tree park. And all I can see of the lovely trees in our charming park is a pseudo-Georgian facade of the administration building. My room has a large window which yawns open all the time or at least supposedly; but on too-cold days we ignore our health for our comfort. A nice thing is that we have heat all the time but with the windows so open that they are out of socket, the North Shore wind howls and twirls around your cherubic body which is pleading for ear-muffs or fur hat…
After breakfast we can do what we want till nine o’clock [in the morning]. I usually wake up for a long time and then listen to the radio. I have program booklets to both WNYC and WQXR, and it is fun having them and quite convenient…Sometimes I write a letter and usually I do some light reading. At nine we have a rest period—we have to lay down and we have to turn the radio off. I don’t like to read flat on my back but it is better than nothing. Right now I have so much to read I can’t read it all…I get theNY Times every day and ditto toWomen’s Wear Daily, a subscription which my aunt kindly gave me. I also get all sorts of second-hand magazines from neighbors and friends. My Russian friend [at the Sanatorium] offered to let me read a book of his calledHoney and Health…I getThe New Yorker which does me more good than all the bed rest in the world andTime which is the easiest and least boring way to