Frocking Life

At an early age, BillyBoy* chose two mentors: Bugs Bunny and Elsa Schiaparelli. From Bugs Bunny, he learned the basics of how to behave in society and how to manage life’s wicked turns; to be coy, smart, witty, and to always dress appropriately with the assurance of Beau Brummell. But most of all, his cartoon mentor taught him a lighthearted approach to life, and an entertaining charm that is to personality what humor is to good conversation. From Schiaparelli, who he discovered at age fourteen through a very strange hat in a Paris flea market, he learned the meanings of love and art. His human mentor opened doors that he “never even dreamed existed,” as the title character says to her nephew in Auntie Mame. As Schiap turned into a genuine passion, she became a golden thread that led to all sorts of discoveries, encounters, and inspirations over the next forty years. A wealthy orphan with a glamorous but complicated background, BillyBoy* adopted the legendary designer as a guardian angel of sorts, and has spent a lifetime searching for her, through her clothes. Inspired by Shocking Life, Schiaparelli's own memoir, FROCKING LIFE will resonate with anyone who loves fashion and flamboyant storytelling. Built around some of the most iconic pieces ever created by the designer, this book is about endless discoveries, and the meaning that can be transmitted, across decades, by a simple piece of clothing. Peopled by dazzling characters from Schiaparelli's own inner circle and the worlds of art and fashion— Saint Laurent, Vreeland, Warhol to name a few—this is a scintillating yet profound homage to a woman who saw life as art, and inspired a young boy to do the same. BillyBoy* has always been a strange fruit and it must be said, not everyone could have a bite of it. The press adored him since he was, as author Edmund White wrote, “good copy.” In fact, his thrilling journey through fashion, culture, and art are deeply tied to what he wore for each occasion. One day, it is a skintight silver lamé studded outfit by Nudie Cohen (the designer of Elvis Presley’s elaborate ensembles), which was originally made for David Cassidy. For a tea with the Begum Aga Khan at the Ritz, he played the part of the dandy in a conservative suit with impeccable tie, topped by a Vivienne Westwood/Malcolm McClaren Buffalo hat adorned with a silk lettuce leaf. For an interview at home with German Vogue, he transformed into a sex kitten in hot pants and an Yves Saint Laurent sheer blouse. This book is both BillyBoy*'s personal story of his intense spiritual and metaphysical journey through life, and also his authoritative insight into the life and work of Elsa Schiaparelli who became such an influence on him. As an historian and collector, his close examination of the milieu of European and American, Scandinavian and Asian high fashion and his detailed research into Schiaparelli's haute couture seasonal collections (and her vast number of licensed fashion and accessories) will appeal not only to fashionistas and haute couture devotees and collectors. It explores their relationship to her era, through the many friendships and relationships with the iconic people in fashion he forged over four decades. Anecdotes of varied stars in all aspects of culture will interest those who study 20th-century art and history.

The owner of the largest collection of Elsa Schiaparelli garments in the world writes about his lifelong love affair with the work--and the entire persona--of the iconic designer. At age fourteen, designer and artist BillyBoy* had a transformative experience, brought on by the discovery of an Elsa Schiaparelli hat in a Parisian flea market. So began a love affair with Schiaparelli clothes that has lasted more than forty years. For BillyBoy*, Schiap's designs are talismans: they not only show how the chic designer revolutionized fashion, but also speak to him powerfully about how she lived her life. An artist working in Switzerland with a glamorous and fascinating past, BillyBoy* adopted Schiap as a guardian angel of sorts and has spent a lifetime searching for her through her clothes. Inspired by Shocking Life, Schiap's own memoir, this book will resonate with anyone who loves historic haute couture. Built around some of the most iconic pieces ever created by the designer, it is a book about endless discoveries and the meaning that can be transmitted across decades by a simple piece of clothing. Peopled by dazzling characters from Schiap's inner circle and the worlds of art and fashion in 1970s and 1980s New York, London, and Paris, this is a scintillating yet profound homage to a woman who saw life as art, and who inspired a young boy to do the same.

Born to a prosperous mercantile family in west Germany, Friedrich Engels enjoyed the middle-class life of a Victorian gentleman. Yet he was also the co-founder of international communism. This book looks at how one of the great bon viveurs of Victorian Britain reconciled his raucous personal life with this uncompromising political philosophy.

Frock Off: Living Undisguised "With parents tormented by secrets, guilt, and shame, Jo Dibblee quickly learned to protect herself. Faced with her parents' alcoholism, drug abuse, and depression, along with the sexual assault and stalking of an "upstanding" foster parent, Jo began, early in life, to use a coping strategy she now calls frocking. With humor and hope, Jo shares the harrowing rollercoaster of her life story and gives the low-down on frocking-how she learned it and used it to survive, how she found it holding her back and what she had to do to, once and for all, Frock Off. Despite harsh truths, brushes with death and agonizing betrayals, Jo's heart shines through these pages, offering promise, wisdom and inspiration to any reader who has learned to hide and longs to be free.

With parents tormented by secrets, guilt, and shame, Jo Dibblee quickly learned to protect herself. Faced with her parents' alcoholism, drug abuse, and depression, along with the sexual assault and stalking of an "upstanding" foster parent, Jo began, early in life, to use a coping strategy she now calls frocking. With humor and hope, Jo shares the harrowing rollercoaster of her life story and gives the low-down on frocking-how she learned it and used it to survive, how she found it holding her back and what she had to do to, once and for all, Frock Off. Despite harsh truths, brushes with death and agonizing betrayals, Jo's heart shines through these pages, offering promise, wisdom and inspiration to any reader who has learned to hide and longs to be free.

A memoir of fear, heartache, triumph, and living life by shedding your disguises and being who you are.¿With parents tormented by secrets, guilt, and shame, Jo Dibblee quickly learned to protect herself. Faced with her parents' alcoholism, drug abuse, and depression, along with the sexual assault and stalking of an "upstanding" foster parent, Jo began, early in life, to use a coping strategy she now calls frocking. With humor and hope, Jo shares the harrowing rollercoaster of her life story and gives the low-down on frocking-how she learned it and used it to survive, how she found it holding her back and what she had to do to, once and for all, Frock Off. Despite harsh truths, brushes with death and agonizing betrayals, Jo's heart shines through these pages, offering promise, wisdom and inspiration to any reader who has learned to hide and longs to be free.

Frock In Hell Have you ever been on a train and wondered what would happen if you didn't get off - just carried on to the end of the line? In the throes of a spectacular mid-life crisis, Katie Frock takes an unplanned journey from the North of England to a new life in Fancy London. She misses her husband and irresponsible daughter, but she needs something for herself. While her family bumble about back at home and her emotionally repressed husband reorganises his CD collection for the fiftieth time, Katie makes new friends, becomes the Banksy of the culinary world and accidentally gets caught up in some very shady business. However, when her world comes crashing down, what she actually needs is her family. "Made me laugh...couldn't help imagining my husband" Laugh out loud moments...farting dogs and spreadsheets...Loved it"