Absolutely loved this book. Not only is Dapper Dan an icon but this book also serves as an unofficial history of New York City. It is told with humor and pizazz and a must read for anyone who love fashion, history and New York.

This is such a fantastic read! I loved learning about how this incredible man fought his way from nothing to success and stardom. It's also a story about Harlem and one that is as colorful as Dapper Dan himself.

Dapper Dan is not just an icon in the Harlem community, but his life, as a metaphor for the community, reflects its hutzpah and resilience, his memories uncoiling to reveal a heyday long gone and hailing a new, replacement dawn in its wake.  Daniel R. Day shares his recollections in a new book entitled Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem and reading this memoir is like running a finger along an African American timeline marking the second half of the twentieth century and beyond. Day introduces his family, migrants from the south, his mother from the South Carolina Geechees, both parents hopeful young people when they arrived in New York like the hordes of blacks who were part of the Great Migration during that time, armed with big dreams and not much else, some hanging on on to dreams, long after they were deferred, and even when they became nightmares. The author describes those experience as they were told to him, and even shares his own poetry that reflects his understanding of his parents' attitudes towards the dream they passed on to their children.
Dapper Dan: Made In Harlem is a gritty rehashing of Day's youth, a lifetime that included selling and using drugs, gambling, credit card fraud, embezzling funds from his corporate job to invest in the drug trade and the cycles of crime and punishment that he and his peers got involved in. Yet there are some hopeful themes that emerge even in the darkness of his recollections - his strong bond with a father who showed his children another, more honest way of life, and didn't abandon them when it took several tries for the lessons to stick, Dap's own spiritual beliefs and a code of ethics that honored how he treated even his hustler friends. The descriptions of unconditional love ripple through the memoir, and make this a truly exceptional read.
The book is written in a very conversational tone, and "Dap" gives the lowdown and skinny on not just his dark past but also shares little-known or vaguely remembered highlights from Black celebrity news of the 1980s through the early 2000s. To add to all that, he describes the birth and development of his groundbreaking fashion business and overlays that with a tapestry of cultural exposé that is as entertaining as it is revealing.
I loved every aspect of this book. Having lived in Harlem for several years and learning just enough about its indigenous culture during that time to whet my appetite for more, I enjoyed Dapper Dan's stories about his own family as well as the rise and fall and rise again of the predominantly Black New York urban community. Dap maintains a strong connection with the story and its intent throughout the book, never sinking too far into criminality or glorifying the dysfunction but also not whitewashing his past. This book will make an excellent resource for anyone interested in Black culture and art, specifically with fashion as a medium of expression, but this will be equally enjoyable for anyone looking for the true story of one man living out the dreams of his forefathers the only way he knew how.

If anything can be gleaned from reading Dapper Dan's memoir, it's that you're probably not hustling hard enough. REAL TALK. I won't speak for everyone, but that is the message that kept screaming at me all throughout this book. I have heard the name Dapper Dan for years and in the back of my mind existed this fascination with the man, the myth, and the legend. Naturally, when I discovered this book, I knew I had to read it immediately (and that I did in about a two day span). From the days of hustling as a kid/teen to bringing high fashion into the hip hop industry, Dapper Dan is a testament to the fact that hard work, creativity, and ingenuity will take you farther than you could ever imagine. The time and effort that he put in perfecting his craft, whether it was dice games or designing clothing, is absolutely EVERYTHING and served as some of my favorite parts of this book. A critical thinker, constant observer, and lifelong learner, Dapper Dan's story is a reminder to never count out the underdog.

An amazing autobiography by an underground fashion maven who never got the credit he deserved. It was destined and interesting and I enjoyed the way it expanded across decades of time and decades of fashion trends.

Dapper Dan is a BOSS! I'd definitely heard of him before and got even more excited to read this book when I saw him pop up on Project Runway for a challenge. He has led such an interesting life. I appreciate the hustle the put in and respect him even more now that I know his story. Such a legend.

Before learning about Dapper Dan on this past season of Project Runway, I had no idea who he was, but I knew of his fashion. This is a memoir that explores his life from early childhood into the present. It is one of the best autobiographical books I've ever read. Not only does he tell his own story of struggle, but he shares the story of Harlem and the people there. He is such an interesting man and after reading about his life, it's no wonder how he became the icon that he is today. Fantastic book. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

"Thinking seriously about my place in this world as a black person and what freedom truly meant to me on a cosmic level."

As a current Harlemite, this book reaffirmed everything I love about living in Harlem. Reading Dapper Dan's story, and walking by places that he talks about in their "previous life" - before renovation/gentrification.

If you live in Harlem, actually scratch that - if you live in New York, you have heard of Dapper Dan. He even references it in his memoir, that people didn't know he was a real person, but they heard of him. He mentioned so many books that made an impact on his life, that I highlighted all of them. I can't wait to read some of these.

His life is literally a movie, and he deserves HEA! I thought the book would include how he has come full circle with Gucci, but I'm glad that it just hints of it at the end. I read this quickly, and recommended it to so many others.

"Unlike the people in my generation, my children would not grow up using "black" as an insult. Black was loud. Black was proud. Black was beautiful."

<blockquote>Were you fly? Flyness wasn't about how handsome you were, although that helped, or about how expensive your clothes were, although that helped, or what brand they were. ... Power was fly, and fly was power.</blockquote>

I only learned who Dapper Dan was recently, in the context of hearing about his partnership with Gucci after years of being raided and copied by major European luxury brands.

The short version of who he is and why he's known: Dan was a hustler who had made a name for himself making "knocked up" (not "off") fashion. He applied the logos of famous brands to clothes that were closer to the aesthetic of the street. He wasn't copying a Gucci bag, he was making sweatshirts and jackets and branding the leather with the Gucci logo. His styles were enormously popular, first with the local Harlem hustlers and dealers, then with rappers. As rap grew, so did Dapper Dan.

That's the Cliff Notes, though. Dap spends most of the book describing how the streets of Harlem led him to fashion. The journey winds around, hitting some expected corners as well as some unexpected ones.



<blockquote>The long-term benefits of getting an education seemed abstract at best and a lie at worst.</blockquote>



A lot of Dap's years are spent on the wrong side of the law, though I suspect that he would take a more philosophical view. A lifelong student of metaphysics--there's a whiff of hotep-ism in there--I imagine that Dap views laws in about the same way he views religion: there's a kernel of truth there, but the manifestations of it are more artifice than real. He's very matter-of-fact about his life of crime, and doesn't spend a lot of time regretting the petty thievery that kept him from hunger or the scams that paid for his children to attend private school.

The book is written in informal African American Vernacular English, but it sounds very natural. I could hear any of my uncles in the voice and that was somewhat soothing. I would read this in conjunction with <a href="https://cannonballread.com/2019/02/the-world-according-to-fannie-davis-my-mothers-life-in-the-detroit-numbers-j/">The World According to Fannie Davis</a>. Where Fannie's life as a hustler ends, Dap's story begins.

If all you know about Dapper Dan is his clothes, and you've almost certainly seen his clothes if you saw any rap video in the late 80s, this book will introduce you to the warm, intelligent, creative man behind them. (You'll also find a couple of giggle-worthy swipes at LL Cool J.)



<blockquote>And to Teddy Riley, LL Cool J, and the Boogie Down Productions crew: technically y'all still owe me money.</blockquote>

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in order to facilitate this review.

A great peek into a style icon! I've known about him for years now and it was great to get a really in-depth look into his life and legacy. I know he can be a bit controversial, but his style is unparalleled. A vivid look into a very particular culture and time but one we can all learn from.

Daniel R. Day became known as Dapper Dan. This incredible man became an overwhelming success after decades of fighting on the streets of Harlem. Dapper Dan suffered great poverty and survived as a hustler. He wanted to design clothes. The ideas were many, even if the opportunities were few. Always finding his way into success, while dealing with drugs, credit card fraud and other nefarious activities, he kept his eye on the prize. Despite the many setbacks and constant rejection, Day was a fighter. He made sure to find a way and to rise above his competitors.

What a journey! Day's experiences were a sharp contrast to his creative ideas and amazing intelligence. To learn about his years of great difficulty - which turned out to be the ultimate example of survival - was beyond amazing. Yes, Day is a survivor. There is absolutely no doubt about that. I loved reading this memoir. Maybe because of his outright honesty of his past, his fantastic story kept me glued to the pages.

This compelling read was an eye-opener for me. I even loved how Day got the name Dapper Dan. His references to successful black men and women, as well as how he survived despite overwhelming odds was nothing beyond breathtaking. This story was balanced between light moments and heartbreaking ones.

When doors began opening for Day I applauded. Even when the light didn't remain bright he never lost his focus. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Many thanks to Random House and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

The memoir opens with a prologue sent in Harlem, 1989. Even though it was midnight, the lights were on and the door unlocked to Dapper Dan's Boutique. It was open "all day every damn day for nine straight years." Many people chose to shop and get styled by thee Dapper Dan. This night was no different except for it being a premonition to what was to happen a week later.

Rewind in time to the young Daniel, one of seven children. He tells a captivating coming-of-age story and does not mince words. It is evident how raw the retelling of his life is. He does not paint a pretty picture either. Being poor, his mother's alcoholism, his own addiction to drugs, rolling dice and "gang" activity is laid bare for readers' judgment.

Harlem is a main character too. The capital of deferred dreams. Dapper Dan is about Daniel as much as it is about the city of Harlem in the midst of its Renaissance. Its gritty existence. Its swinging jazz and bebop music. Its glamour at night. Its addictions like drugs, alcohol and gambling. Its streets full of hustlers, go-getters and sharply dressed men such as Tenorman Dan—the original Dapper Dan.

The journey of Daniel Day to Dapper Dan is more than interesting. But I couldn't help but to side-eye how he "customized" brand clothing and balked at raids. So while I don't agree with the foundation on which he handled business, I recommend this memoir to anyone who enjoys a good ass coming-of-age story, likes fashion and has a hustler spirit.

Happy Early Pub Day, Daniel R. Day. Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem will be available Tuesday, July 9.

LiteraryMarie

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I had heard of Dapper Dan over the years since I had many friends who grew up in Harlem where he is a living legend and fashion icon. I know there may be many people who have no idea who Daniel R. Day aka "Dapper Dan" is but if you are a fan of hip hop and watched any videos or awards shows in the 80's and 90's then you have absolutely seen his work. He has dressed legends. Dapper Dan has been named in some many rap songs over the years because his custom clothes have become a symbol of success. He was a born hustler who was always concerned with looking his best regardless of his finances. He did not have an easy life by any means. He suffered from a drug addiction and even served time in jail. It's while he is in jail that he begins to read up on various religions and goes through his own sort of spiritual awakening and realizes he wants so much more from life than just to get by.

This memoir reads like having a sit down conversation with Dapper Dan himself and I am here for it any day. He gives the reader a true look into what life was like back in the day in Harlem. He has experienced so much pain in his life and yet he continues to push forward towards a better tomorrow.

Who is Dapper Dan? Daniel R. Day also so known as “Dapper Dan” is a Renowned Harlem fashion designer who rewrote fashions history with his flash and flare apparel of the 80’s and 90’. In his memoir Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem, Day tells us how he went from a rough childhood, drug addiction, hustling, serving prison time for credit card fraud, to creating one of a kind clothing for celebrities.

I devoured this book in a day. I never heard of Dapper Dan, but I do remember the flashy clothing in music videos. Day used the logos from Fendi, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci and created the most eye poppin’, must have fashion in Hip-Hop. Designing for legends like Salt-N-Peppa, Mary J. Blige, and LL Cool J, Dan gave fashion culture. Optioned for a movie by Sony this book is an absolute must read! Thank you, Random House Publishing, for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review. 5 out of 5 stars

I knew very little about Dapper Dan, but one thing I most definitely recognized was his genius behind the urban chic street wear back in the day. I often wondered who the hell came up with those fly ass clothes I saw in the videos and on celebrities, and who knew that years later I’d be reading the memoir of a man that was so near, yet so far away.

Dapper Dan’s real name is Daniel R. Day who was born on August 8, 1944 in Harlem, New York and raised with his brothers and sisters. He came up with a strong family belief. His parents were poor and often times holding down three and four jobs at a time to feed Dan and six siblings. He was forced to wear his brothers’ hand-me-downs because his parents couldn’t afford decent clothing for him. There were plenty of times when his elder brothers would shoplift some of the stores in their neighborhood so they could make it. He painted such a vivid picture of the Harlem back in the 40s and 50s where he grew up respecting the hustlers and what most would consider the criminal underworld.

No matter how poor he and his family were, his father instilled in him a core belief that you always look out for your family, especially his sisters. Dan reflected on some of the ugly sides of the drug world he saw and was often reminded of what he never wanted to see for his sisters’ lives. Luckily for them, they never saw the curse of drugs the way Dan had up close and personal. Heroine was the drug of choice back in his day, and he and his brothers fell prey to the tantalizing drug. But, luckily for Dan, there always seemed to be a higher power working hard to keep him afloat.

The Day men may have been poor and had to resort to criminal activity from time to time, but one thing that definitely stands out about them is their intelligence. Some might say how can someone be so educated, and yet resort to the type of activities in which they did, and the answer would be they were a product of their surroundings. As with many people, you have to survive by any means necessary, and Dan was super intelligent to the point that he was the master of dice. Gambling was his first drug of habit, if you will. There wasn’t anyone who could outmatch his wit when it came to the dice. He’d made hundreds of thousands of dollars off of drug dealers cheating them out of their money because he was smart like that. Dan was a visionary and a self-motivator and go-getter. I can relate to his drive because I grew up seeing that same passion in watching how my grandfather handled his life. Dapper Dan was the type of dude that had a way of listening to the urban beat of the ghetto and answering to its calling. When you do that, it becomes a blessing in disguise, which happened for Dan.

He did his stints in prison in his early years, and he was also quite the ladies’ man bringing forth quite a few children. But in order for anyone to become truly who they are, you have to make mistakes along the way, and he wasn’t any different than you and me in that respect. He did what he had to do to take care of his family. He wanted to make sure his children didn’t need or want for anything like he had to do growing up, and he kept his promises to his children.

As you get into his life, he goes into great detail about how he came to start the Dapper Dan Boutique and all the celebrities, ballers, high rollers, drug dealers and anyone who was anyone, became his client. There were so many sections of the book where I fell out laughing because he talks with street slang and to read his words is like actually hearing them come from his mouth, although I’ve never heard the man speak. The stories of LL Cool J, Jay-Z and Mike Tyson, etc. were priceless. He did quite a bit of name dropping and telling it like it was when those rappers and fighters were becoming what we know of them today. He’s quite charming throughout the pages and keeps it one hundred percent with his readers. I didn’t feel as though his book was fluff, but it was damn sure street tough though. He has been through quite an ordeal in his almost seventy-five years of living. There’s not much he hasn’t seen. And what I love about him is that he’s still got it. Dapper Dan deserves all the street creds and more that he’s earned. Much, much respect!

I will say, one thing that kept popping in my mind was how could he produce these clothes using the trademarks and insignias of well-known brands without their expressed consent for copyright. Well, as in true fashion (pardon the pun), he explains this. It was just heartbreaking to read his pain when he lost his infamous boutique, hence, due in part, from the question I just posed.

I found this book so mesmerizing and quite entertaining as only a Leo knows how to do. They can tell a story like nobody's business and have you in tears from laughter, and Dan is one such cat! Man, I laughed so much with the way he puts things down. He does not hold back and I love that about him.

The Sexy Nerd gives Dapper Dan Made in Harlem, a Memoir five fashion models doing the catwalk. This book had a little bit of everything mixed in and is quite entertaining. What a delight to read such a high-class man. No wonder one of the drug dealers he used to know nicknamed him Dapper Dan. He’s quite dapper indeed! Dapper Dan goes on sale, Tues., July 9, 2019. If you enjoy memoirs, as much as I do, you most definitely want to add this one on your to-read shelf. Until next time, Sexy Nerds, keep it sexy, and get mind blown!

I received an e-arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This one is difficult to review because it suffers from the lack of editing. The memoir feels like a tape cording transcribed into written form, in that it is worded for speaking, not reading and it bounces around quite a bit.

I think Dapper Dan's story is fascinating and I wish nothing but the best for him and his family.

This week I read Dapper Dan: Made In Harlem by Daniel Day . And this book wasn't for the faint of heart. I usually don't read memoirs, but I had to give this one a try because I've been a fan of Dapper Dan's fashion design for years. He is known for remixing classic European luxury brands with hip-hop and street culture. I think I went into this book looking for fashion gossip, but instead Day tells a compelling story of not only himself, but of Harlem. He begins by giving us a glimpse into Harlem at the tail end of the Black cultural renaissance. As a child he admired the hustlers who wore all the best clothes. His desire for a better life led him into the dice game, Hustling dice led to drugs, and drugs led jail. Not to oversimplify his story, but Day is almost like far smarter, far wiser Forrest Gump character who brushes past major historical figures and events as he makes his way through the world. He grew up in the shadow of poets in Harlem, and served time along side Norman 3X Butler who was convicted of assassinating Malcolm X, and visits Africa during Muhammad Ali's and George Foreman's Rumble in the Jungle fight, and he hung out in the streets along drug king pin Frank Lucas, and sold jewelry to Patti LaBelle, and make suits for Mike Tyson! I kept stopping this book to google the names of everyone he mentions, just to see the history, and to marvel at his design skill. Throughout the book I kept thinking about how no matter the circumstance Day keeps trying to find his place in the world. He studies religions, symbolism, history and anything that could lead to a new hustle. His story carries so much history with it, that I would be shocked if this book wasn't already optioned for film. Let me offer a few trigger warnings for drug use, sexual assault, violence, and just...real shit. Not to be crass, but the sections that deal with poverty and the degradation of the street life was difficult to read casually. Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is wonderful that Day's work and vision is being applauded and welcomed into the highest levels of fashion and culture.

Dapper Dan's memoir is heartbreaking at times and amusing at others. His story is about fashion, but It’s also about determination, concern, talent, hustle, love, and the strength of will to live his dreams to the fullest. It gives an account of Harlem as a center for the Black Power movement and serves as a warning of what can happen to a community torn apart by changing social pressures and changing populations. This memoir is well written and is a fascinating read that I absolutely loved and highly recommend. I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

This memoir of a street fashion innovator and icon was amazing. I had never heard of him prior to reading this book but between that cover photo and the description...he sounded like he had QUITE the story. And he does. I didn't know his name, but I absolutely knew of the fashions he created for stars of the golden age of hip-hop.

Dapper Dan's story is really the story of Harlem, the Great Migration, and all the social changes associated with both. This included the best explanation I have ever seen of how Harlem was devastated by racist housing restrictions, poverty, drugs, and neglect (which describes the trajectory of every marginalized and minoritized community in the US). Racist housing restrictions gave way to gentrification over many decades, of course. As James Baldwin said, "Urban renewal is Negro removal."

I read this on the edge of my seat, and had trouble stopping to eat or sleep. It was that good.

Recommended for: anyone who is into fashion, cultural scholars, sociologists, economic studies, and urban studies.

There's so much to be said for Dapper Dan as a book.
Because just as it is the autobiographical narrative of one man's life.
It is also The narrative of a people, Harlem, and a way of life.

Dan's honest and sometimes hard to read introspective on himself, his family, and his community. Gives readers a very clear understanding of the effects of gentrification, drugs, and economic opportunities, or the lack thereof. In the formation or degradation of a society's population and growth as a whole.
While never losing sight of fashions affect on all aspects of said population.

It is very hard to read this book, and not fall in love with its author, his experiences, and his life.
For his life in so many ways, echoes lives of so many others of color. Including myself. And all of this is even before the passion becomes an issue of note.

Dan's rise to fame in the fashion world. Seems almost a separate entity from the tapestry of his life as a whole. But it is a beautiful sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes triumphant, and always brilliant story.
Of how life changed a man. He changed fashion. And his fashion change the world.