Irene : A Designer from the Golden Age of Hollywood - Book Review

Edith Head and Adrian have always been the super-stars among costume designers, and their names are recognizable even to non-classic film fans, but there were so many talented designers in Hollywood during the 1930s-1960s that are not nearly as famous. Frank Billecci and Lauranne B. Fisher teamed up to write a fabulous book, Irene - A Designer from the Golden Age of Hollywood, that pays tribute to Irene, one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's busiest, and most creative, designers. This beautiful 144-page book from Schiffer Publishing is fully illustrated with photographs of Irene at work and costume sketches of her most dazzling creations. The book also mixes a biography of Irene with remembrances of her personal artist, Virginia Fisher. 

The Jeer : It's hard to find fault with a Schiffer book and this one is an especially great read. The book briefly covers Irene's early years and then proceeds to focus on her days at MGM. For a more thorough look into Irene's personal life, Billecci also wrote an ebook : Irene - From a Big Sky Girl to a Hollywood Designer. 

The Cheer : Irene is beautifully laid out in an easy-to-navigate format and, since it is profusely illustrated, it also makes a delightful coffee table book to browse through. Included is a handy filmography covering all of Irene's projects as well as the sketch artists she worked with on each film. 

The Skinny : If you enjoy looking at fashions and want to learn more about the life of MGM's golden gal, Irene, then this is the best book you can buy on the market.