Every Inch a Lady: My Amazing Journey from Dear Harlem to Haute Couture and Beyond
Review Quotes: "To use the word "unicorn" with Audrey is an understatement. Her journey and story will educate and inspire generations to come." -- Michael Kors (from the Foreword) "Delicious! Audrey Smaltz is the intrepid...
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Review Quotes: "To use the word "unicorn" with Audrey is an understatement. Her journey and story will educate and inspire generations to come." -- Michael Kors (from the Foreword) "Delicious! Audrey Smaltz is the intrepid Harlem-bred fashionista, who navigated her way through the segregated 1950s into a glamorous career in high-fashion show production, with a trail of dashing lovers in tow. Every Inch a Lady is the dishy, page-turner that only Audrey could tell. " -- Teri Agins, fashion industry journalist and author of The End of Fashion and Hijacking the Runway, How Celebrities Are Stealing the Spotlight from Fashion Designers. "I am so very thrilled that at long last, legendary fashion icon Audrey Smaltz has finally put pen to paper and shared her rich and varied life in this book, Every Inch a Lady. Breaking all sorts of barriers, Audrey paved the way for the many young black professionals who followed in her wake. This terrific book is definitely a page turner, and a must read for any serious student of modern black history and professional entrepreneurship. Get this book and learn history from one who truly made history herself." -- Jeffrey Banks, acclaimed Fashion Designer, and author of Storyteller "Audrey Smaltz has always been larger than life for this little girl who grew up dressing up and going to the Ebony Fashion Fair every year religiously. Sure the models were gorgeous, the clothes stunning. But it was the sultry Ms. Smaltz who I went to see--her sharp-witted, confidence-building commentary became the primer for how I would then walk through the world everyday with pride and dignity. When I moved to New York to begin my fashion journalism career, Audrey Smaltz was the first person I boldly sought out. It took several chance meetings for her to finally recognize me and begin calling me "Greenwood" in her signature commanding voice. Reading Every Inch a Lady is a joy from witnessing her powerful pivot to boss business woman with The Ground Crew to cheering her on when she loved out loud and married her wife." ."--Monique Greenwood, former Editor-in-Chief, Essence, and founder Akwaaba Enterprises "Every Inch a Lady is what "everyone" wants to read! It allows us to enter the realm of this fashion icon and provocateur's exuberant passion for culture, fashion, beauty, and beyond. Bold and unabashedly authentic, she fearlessly shares her curated life with humor, sparing no detail in this deeply personal and inspirational memoir. Audrey's legendary world stunningly embraces the business of beauty, shows up when and where needed to invent and transform, all while keeping good company. An iconic life well lived, a style that breaks the rules, she shares her triumphs and trials, looking amazing. It's her own brand of wisdom reflecting on the evolution of the industry and arriving at her final destination of love. You will definitely laugh out loud and understand why it's crucial to live authentically with "flair". A must-read to find out why, without question, she is indeed the G.O.A.T." -- Faye Clerk Moseley, Founder, Chair & President, FLAIR (Ebony Fashion Fair Alumni) "A towering, glamorous figure in height and impact in the luxurious, cutthroat, behind-the-scenes world of fashion, Audrey Smaltz is one of the industry's most important hidden figures and I'm so excited that she's finally sharing her journey from Harlem to haute couture. In a life spanning eight decades, Audrey was a seminal figure in Ebony magazine, Jet, Fashion Fair cosmetics, New York's first successful Black modeling agency, and New York Fashion Week #NYFW. Every Inch a Lady, Audrey's enthralling story, will inspire you, tickle you, delight you and above all educate you about an important part of our history." -- Constance C.R. White, award winning journalist, editor and arbiter of culture and style "Every inch a Lady is pure perfection--I couldn't put it down. Audrey Smaltz takes us on her groundbreaking journey into her world of beauty, fashion, style, culture, and romance that's anchored in truth and determination. This book will leave you inspired, encouraged, and empowered" -- Nicole Avant, Best Selling Author of Think You'll Be Happy Publisher Marketing: Reminiscent of style icon Iris Apfel's New York Times bestseller Accidental Icon and echoes of Andre Leon Talley's The Chiffon Trenches comes the entertaining and thoughtful long-awaited memoir from the irrepressible groundbreaking fashion powerhouse Audrey Smaltz. There has never been, nor will there ever be anyone like Audrey Smaltz. Towering six-feet-tall (her superpower) since she was a teenager in Harlem, she has always stood out from the crowd. Smaltz's details her colorful journey as a groundbreaking model, Wall Street broker, department store dynamo, fashion coordinator, commentator, editor, and entrepreneur. With her creative vision and business acumen earning her the support of legendary designers and brands such as Giorgio Armani, Jason Wu, Donna Karan, Victoria's Secret, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Michael Kors, Stephen Burrows, and Vera Wang. Reflecting on significant people and moments in her life Smaltz's reveals how she managed to balance life, racism, and the obstacles in her marriage to former WNBA and Olympic silver medalist Gail Marquis. Forthright and contemplative, Every Inch a Lady is a long-overdue life reckoning from a cultural powerhouse and one of the most important style figures in modern times. Review Citations:
Contributor Bio:Smaltz, Audrey Audrey Lavinia Smaltz was born and raised in Harlem and began her career as a model and salesperson at Bloomingdale's before moving to Lane Bryant Clothing and Ebony Fashion Fair as a commentator and fashion editor. In 1977, Smaltz established Ground Crew, a backstage management group staffing fashion shows for Vera Wang, Giorgio Armani, Betsey Johnson, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, Alice Roi, Michael Kors, Luca Luca, Nanette Lepore, Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, and Ralph Rucci. Smaltz has also worked with corporations like Nike, Vogue, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, and J. Crew. She lives in Delaware. Contributor Bio:Mitchell, Alina Alina Mitchell is a literary agent, author, instructional designer, and adjunct professor. Her genuine love and passion for empowering young people through extraordinary opportunities has led her to serve in many positions including former Associate Director of Academic Innovation & Technology, K-12 Principal, and STEM/STEAM Program Director. She holds a BA in English/ Professional Writing and a Minor in Business Management and a MA in Secondary Education/English. Her debut book, The Color of Beauty: The Life and Work of New York Fashion Icon Ophelia DeVore is a tribute to her aunt, a pioneer for minorities in the fashion industry. Her upcoming book, a memoir co-authored with the legendary fashionista and business-woman Audrey Smaltz entitled Every Inch A Lady: My Amazing Journey from Dear Harlem to Haute Couture and Beyond, will be coming to bookstores near you in Summer 2026. Some of her hobbies include writing, playing tennis, scuba diving, virtual reality, and volunteering.
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