In My Own Fashion: An Autobiography

Born in 1913 to titled parents uprooted by the Russian Revolution, Cassini grew up in Europe where he cultivated his talents for creating fashion and amorous scandals. He tells about his love life, but his memoir is more than a feast of gossip: it is a witty, often moving story of the Cassini family and intimates. Arriving in New York at age 23 in 1936, the author failed to establish himself firmly but did well in Hollywood as a designer for films. Details of his marriage in 1941 to actress Gene Tierney recall the sad fate of their daughter, retarded by her mother's exposure to German measles, and shed light on the couple's lasting friendship, although they divorced after 10 years. There are accounts of Cassini's failed courtship of Grace Kelly and associations with many glittering personalities, particularly the Kennedys. Readers will be particularly interested in letters from First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy who chose Cassini as her couturier. Photos not seen by PW. First serial to People and Ladies' Home Journal. (August 31)