MUSE

A distinguished Black clothing designer’s homage to his fashion muse, Cicely Tyson.

Michael first met Tyson in 2005, when she visited his atelier to discuss a dress design for Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball. That meeting with the then 80-year-old actor would change both their lives. For the next 16 years, the two became fixtures in each other’s lives as friends and style collaborators. Michael tells their story—and the story of his unique creations for her—through recollections of the many galas and awards ceremonies they attended together. For example, in remembering the 2010 NAACP Spingarn Medal gala (at which Tyson received top honors), he describes the white silk ball gown he made for her and the laser-cut technique that transformed the dress into a unique masterpiece much beloved by the actor. Their association became mutually transformative, notes the author, who observes that Tyson’s love of eclectic fashion statements led to many of the style decisions he created for her and turned him into a sought-after designer. At the same time, Michael’s love of classic lines that recalled Givenchy and sumptuous fabrics transformed the former model into a late-life haute couture fashion icon. Indeed, each of the gowns he made for Tyson, including the violet gown in which she was buried, embody the vision he outlined to her early in their friendship: “ ‘You’re Hollywood royalty, and I would like to dress you like a Queen.’ She liked that, of course.” As it celebrates the age-defying beauty of a screen icon and a love of fashion as art, Michael’s book also highlights the important cultural contributions African American artists have made to a country that has yet to fully appreciate the diversity and richness of its own cultural tapestry.

A warm, visually stunning recollection of a remarkable friendship forged through fashion.