Today, we are delighted to celebrate the release of Miles of Style: Eunice W. Johnson and the EBONY Fashion Fair, a chic biography about Eunice W. Johnson who brought elegant and contemporary fashion to Black America through the annual EBONY Fashion Fair!
Eunice W. Johnson believed in the power of fashion and beauty to inspire people. After she and her husband, John H. Johnson, founded EBONY magazine, it quickly became the premiere lifestyle publication for mid-century Black readers. Among the many hats she wore, Eunice delighted in writing a fashion column describing the latest styles.
In 1958, Eunice launched a project that would change fashion forever–the EBONY Fashion Fair. In towns and cities across the United States, Black models walked the runway in the freshest trends that season and Black attendees got to see people who looked like them in bright colors and haute couture.
To make the Fashion Fair happen every year, Eunice negotiated with snobby fashion houses in Europe and navigated racism back home in the US, to acquire the most show-stopping styles for her show. Decades later, her name remains a watchword for glamour and elegance in the Black community. Winner of Lee & Low’s New Voices award, Miles of Style celebrates a visionary who used her influence to showcase the strength and beauty of the Black community.
Praise for Miles of Style:
“Brathwaite’s wonderfully researched picture-book biography introduces elementary audiences to the impressive life and achievements of Eunice W. Johnson, a pioneer of Black fashion and cofounder of EBONY magazine. . .Gaines fills the pages from top to bottom with color, pattern, and texture—well suited to the topic at hand.” — Booklist
“Brathwaite’s account of Eunice Johnson’s impact on Black culture is charming and straightforward, and her determination to help her community is palpable throughout. Gaines’ digital illustrations are bright and colorful enhancements for the text . . . A compelling tale of an intriguing subject who left an indelible mark on fashion and culture.” — Kirkus Reviews
“[A] fashion-forward chronicle of the life of entrepreneur Eunice W. Johnson . . . From fashion sketches to runway views, Gaines supplies digital illustrations with an elaborate fashion-plate feel.” — Publishers Weekly
“Eye-catching illustrations on each page featuring Black women of various skin tones and body types showcase the many inspiring outfits that made the Fashion Fair tour famous . . . This informative biography will be an excellent addition to Black history collections, the fashion shelves, or any celebration of innovators of the 20th century.” — School Library Journal
Order your copy today:
Lee & Low Books
Indiebound/Bookshop
Barnes & Noble
Amazon
. . . or from your favorite Black-owned bookshop!
Lisa D. Brathwaite is a purveyor of creative self-expression. She loves playing dress-up (still!), her family, finding herself in art spaces, and writing whatever suits her in a given moment. Miles of Style: Eunice W. Johnson and the EBONY Fashion Fair is her debut children’s book. Lisa studied family and community development at the University of Maryland at College Park, graduating with a degree in Community Studies and a concentration in public policy and the Black community. She is a New Jersey native and has been designing her adult life in Atlanta, GA. Find out more at lisadbrathwaite.com.
Lynn Gaines loves creating characters, storytelling, and picture making. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, she spent her childhood drawing and making doll clothes–following in her mother’s footsteps, as she was an artist and seamstress herself. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, Gaines has been illustrating for more than thirty years. When she’s not working, she is looking for a beach, baking, sewing, or roller skating! She lives in Cleveland with her husband, Mel, and her two fur kids, Harry and Charlie.