Creativity at Work

It's hard to be excited about the publication of my book Creativity at Work today when some people don't have homes or electricity right now. But I just saw a photo of my publisher powerHouse Books.  Their combined book store and offices in Dumbo, Brooklyn sustained extensive flood damage.  Maybe the best way to help them them and others affected is to resume our daily activities and get back to business.

I also want to thank Preston from Keep it Chic for her interview with me.  I worry that she had to flee her home that was in the path of tidal flooding.  My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. 

Thank you as well to Patricia Sheridan who profiled me this week for my hometown newspaper, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

Many of you also received an invitation to a private book party at Flair Home on Thursday, November 1st.  I haven't been in contact with them yet but the lack of electricity and public transportation leads me to believe that the event will probably have to be rescheduled.  I will keep you posted. 

Thank you again to everyone who checked in with me and remember that you can help residents affected by  the hurricane by donating to the Red Cross.  

Gone to Print

Speaking of books, my book, Creativity at Work, went to print yesterday!  Hooray! It's been more than a year in the works and I can't believe it's finally out of my hands.  It will be published on November 6, 2012 and I will definitely keep you posted on book signings and other events. 

It was actually March 2011 when I first met with powerHouse Books and the process of making a book has been a long one.  I wouldn't say that it was the hardest thing I've ever done but there was definitely a learning curve.  The blog is very immediate so it took a while to get used to a project that seemed to take forever.  Above is a look at the cover linen samples, foil stamping options, and color proofs, just part of what goes into finishing a book. 

I know a lot of you are interested in how to get published so if you have any questions, please leave them in a comment or email me.  I'll be interviewing my editor Wes Del Val about what publishers are looking for and how to navigate the publishing process. Not every blog can be translated into a book and original content is just one of the keys I learned along the way. 

Now that the book is off my plate, I look forward to getting caught up on emails and blog posts and starting some fun new projects.  But first, I'm taking a little time off to relax.   If anyone has an island they want me to visit, I'm completely amenable to that idea.  

Thanks! 

HC

The Editor in Chic

My editor at powerHouse Books, Wes Del Val, is profiled by Garance Doré on her blog today.  He'll be insufferable now.  Just kidding. It's a great interview about what it's like to publish books in the digital age.

One of the first questions people ask me is "who is publishing your book."  Some people get it right away when I say powerHouse and others have never heard of them.  The bottom line is that it doesn't matter who publishes you if you put out a great book.  But the reason I chose powerHouse over other publishers was their roster of amazing art and photography books.  The blog is also very organic and small like powerHouse.  Even though Brooklyn, where they are based, is outside my comfort zone I thought it was good to mix things up. There was something about going to the 40th floor of an office tower and having a committee meet to decide whether they would take me on that seemed against everything I was doing.

I had a two hour meeting with Wes who got every reference and knew every person I was talking about.  He actually reads more magazines each month than I do which I didn't think was possible.  We've had our disagreements here and there and I'm sure he didn't think I was going to get everything in on time but it all came together in the end.  I'm really proud of the finished product Creativity at Work and can't wait until you can see it in person.  Heck, I can't wait to see it in person! I don't think it will be real until I have the actual bound copy in my hands.

In the end, the book is definitely a present for all my blog readers because none of this would be possible with out you.

XOXO,

HC


Photo by Garance Doré

My Book: Creativity at Work

I am beyond excited to announce that my book Habitually Chic: Creativity at Work is available for pre-order on Amazon.com.  The book will peek into the work spaces of creative people in fashion, design, art, and other industries.  It will be a chic mix of uptown, downtown, young, old, established, and up and coming.  The publication date is November 6, 2012 by powerHouse Books and it will be a full color coffee table book full of all new photos that I took myself.  

Those featured include Jenna Lyons and Frank Muytjens of J.Crew;  fashion designers Peter Som, Chris Benz, and Michael Bastian; jewelry designer James de Givenchy of TAFFIN; landscape designer Miranda Brooks; artist Jeremiah Goodman; John Truex and Richard Lambertson of Tiffany & Co.; antiques dealer Gerald Bland; interior designer Bunny Williams; potter and designer extraordinaire Jonathan Adler, and many more. I can't give away the entire list but there will be over 30 people featured and a few exciting surprises. 

The cover above is the working cover and the image will probably change.  I do know that it will be a pretty orange linen cover with an inset photo instead of a book with dust jacket. We have also laid out out all the photos but are just now adding the text.  Once we have some final layouts, I will definitely be posting some sneak peeks and out takes.  It's been a long labor of love but I've kept my readers in mind through out the entire process and I really think you are going to enjoy Habitually Chic: Creativity at Work. 

XOXO, 

HC

N.B. A few people have asked about book signings and availability.  I will definitely let you all know about signings closer to the release date in November.  I plan to hit as many cities in the US as possible and also Toronto.  Random House Books is the distributor so it should be available in most countries and online.  Thanks! 

Enduring Style

If Gary Cooper were alive today, he'd probably be photographed by all the street style bloggers outside the men's shows during fashion week.  He might even have his own menswear blog.  I jest on that last statement of course but it is true that he did really have "enduring style" as the title of the book about him suggests.  Gary Cooper was a true movie star and he didn't wear what Gucci or Prada sent to him for free like celebrities today.  He traveled to Savile Row and other expert tailors around the world for his wardrobe. Gary Cooper: Enduring Style by his daughter Maria Cooper Janis is full of gorgeous family photos that attest to his sartorial savvy.  In addition to his travel and athletic adventures, all while looking like a perfect gentleman. 

In the interest of full disclosure, Gary Cooper: Enduring Style is published by my publisher powerHouse Books.  My book is the reason that my posts have been light the last two days but hopefully I'll be back on track tomorrow.  Once Amazon.com is updated, I can't wait to post a link so you can pre-order it.  In the meantime, I think you'll enjoy Gary Cooper: Enduring Style.  Just be careful, it might make you want to buy some white trousers and take up yachting.  

"Dressed up like a million-dollar trooper, 

Tryin' hard to look like Gary Cooper, 

Super duper!"

- Irving Berlin and Taco

All photos from Gary Cooper: Enduring Style 

Take Ivy

I came across the book Take Ivy online but when I realized it wouldn't be released until August, I made a mental note to order it later. Imagine my surprise and delight when the publisher emailed me a few days later and asked if I would like to receive an advance copy. Would I like a book filled with cute preppy boys from the 1960's??? Um, yes please and can you FedEx it overnight?! I didn't really say that but I thought about it!

Take Ivy was shot on the campuses of eight Ivy League universities and was originally published in Japan in 1965. The book has quite a cult following among the preppy bloggers and fashion designers. The Trad was even nice enough to scan his vintage copy and share it with his readers. But now, Powerhouse Books has translated the original Japanese text and is reissuing this aesthetic overload of prep style. The photos also illustrate how classic well made clothing never goes out of style. Take Ivy is definitely the BMOC of books!