Newest obsession: Pain, Parties, Work – a story about the poet and writer Sylvia Plath and her journey at Mademoiselle magazine during the summer of 1953.

We came across this gem at the Arizona Costume Institute’s fundraiser event “A New York Dream.” The author, Elizabeth Winder, came to the Phoenix Art Museum to tell the audience more about her book and give us special details about the summer Sylvia Plath spent in New York City. We love a good story about ladies who love fashion just as much as we do. And after Elizabeth told us a little bit about this fascinating young woman, we simply had to discover more. So, we bought the book and haven’t put it down since.

If you know anything about Plath, you know that she is a famous poet, novelist, and short story writer. She was published in several important publications before her untimely demise in 1963 when she committed suicide. But Winder’s novel isn’t about any of that. It’s about a 20 year old, spending her first summer in the city, having the time of her life.

“I wanted to emphasize how everyday she was; how she was like everyone else around her. Sylvia Plath was a woman of her time. A lot of women experienced what she did,” Winder explained to the audience.

A huge thank you to the Arizona Costume Institute for including us in this event. We learned a lot about fashion and journalism during that time period (and as people involved in present day fashion journalism, that was pretty cool).

This organization sponsors a ton of cool events and exhibits at the Phoenix Art Museum, including the current exhibit “The Cape.” ACI is one of the few organizations in Arizona that focus on the history of fashion, and making it relevant to young men and women today. We definitely encourage all our readers to find out more about the Arizona Costume Institute by visiting their website here.

Elizabeth Winder and Couture in the Suburbs

Meeting Elizabeth afterwards was such a treat, and we were thrilled when she signed our copies of Pain, Parties, Work. It turns out, she is equal parts fashionista and writer (girl after our own hearts!) “Like Sylvia, I love clothes. It’s a way of expressing yourself, not just to other people but to yourself. I can’t get any work done if I’m wearing something I don’t like.”

If you’re looking for a fascinating new read this fall, we strongly encourage you to pick up your own copy of the book (sorry, we don’t want to share ours). Here’s a link to the book on the Barnes and Noble website, or you can stop by the Phoenix Art Museum gift shop.

Enjoy book worms!

Story and Photos: Lindsay Viker