This was a fun escape into a more gentile and elegant time. I did not realize that the hats we associate with early 20th century were really coverings for women's poor hair care. Kenneth changed all that with his emphasis on caring for the hair and not just arranging it. A graceful step into a fashionable past.

In the biography “Kenneth: Shear Elegance,” Giuseppe Longo introduces us to “Mr. Kenneth”—the most famous hairstylist in twentieth century New York. “He was: formal and intimate, serious yet playful, elegant but genuine” … “an endless study in perfect contradictions.”

He was a top-tier stylist to the likes of Jackie O., Marilyn Monroe, Gloria Vanderbilt, Judy Garland, Lucille Ball, Lauren Bacall, Joan Rivers and more. And he influenced an entire generation of celebrities and socialites—well before influencers were called influencers.

This book is not only a coffee-table style book with beautiful photography, it gives readers an insider’s glimpse into the New York beauty and fashion scene. It captures a glamourous time period, a beautiful aesthetic and classy, editorial artistry.

I didn't manage to read this before it was archived! Therefore I simply can't write a review! I apologize...
I hope our future collaboration will be more fruitful!

This was a wonderful look into the life and word of "Mr. Kenneth," the hair stylist to icons like Marilyn Monroe and Jacqueline Kennedy. I wasn't really familiar with him before this book and it really made me feel as if I knew him and could see why so many people loved him. It is filled with historic photos of his clients, his work and his wonderful NYC salon that burned down, plus much more. I loved reading about his deep friendship with Joan Rivers and the pranks she pulled on him, which is all especially fun to learn about in light of how very dignified and proper he always was. You can tell that the author really knew him and got him, and the book really makes you like and admire him and his iconic hairstyles. Very well done.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

A classy and wonderful man with a great history. It is amazing the amount of fabulous women he styled and impacted, and they all respected him. You can tell. by the quotes and language throughout that he was a humble and respectful man & there was certainly a level of friendship amongst him and his clients. Of course, in my opinion he's most famous for styling Jackie O & Marilyn Monroe. The man and his hairstyles are truly iconic.

Of course what I love most of all about this book is all the absolutely stunning portraits of his muses and hairstyles. Those were such elegant and classy times. All the photographs are gorgeous and certainly something I want on my coffee table.

Kenneth Battelle (more famously known as “Mr. Kenneth”) was an influential hairdresser to the stars and high society. This is an attractive and nicely designed book that illustrates his career with many accolades and comments by his former clients. However, if you have read the 2003 Vanity Fair article (available online), you have read everything in the book (with the exception of Melissa River’s introduction and some of his product descriptions). There is minimal information about his personal life and the endless tributes are a bit repetitive. That said, the photos are wonderful (many are by Richard Avedon).

"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
This book was sheer elegance. The nostalgia and beauty of eras gone by was beautifully captured. I loved all the pictures and the literary content was equally engaging.

Growing up in New York I always heard about Kenneth his salon all the high society women whose hair he cared for .His salon sounded like a fairy tale place.This book and the wonderful photographs bri gs him to life loved seeing pictures of JFK & Jackie.I loved this book reading about him and the high profile people he handled.His friendship with Joan Rivers made me smile.#netgalley#smithpublicity

This is an incredible coffee table book on the history of hair and incredible hair stylist Kenneth. I’m actually an off of the pictures in the information compiled in this book. I would happily display it on my coffee table for guests.