Liberace Extravaganza!

by Connie Furr Soloman, Jan Jewett

Overview

Known for his spectacular performances, the magnificent Wladziu Valentino Liberace was a world-renowned star in the entertainment industry for more than four decades, and his dazzling, often outrageous costumes are what made him most memorable. In Liberace Extravaganza! the entertainer's sequined, bejeweled, and rhinestone-studded outfits, as well as his extravagant collection of furs, feather capes, sparkling bow ties, and custom-made shoes are exhibited in book form for the very first time.

These mesmerizing costumes grew from Liberace's humble beginnings when, as a young man, he would perform in his brother's hand-me-downs. From there, his suits, worth as much as twenty-four thousand dollars, featured layers of silk and satin ruffles, Swarovski crystal rhinestones, and fourteen-karat white-gold, diamond-encrusted buttons, culminating in his "electric" costumes with four thousand light bulbs weighing more than twenty-five pounds.

Michael Travis, Liberace's principal designer, has written the foreword for this breathtaking volume. Jim Lapidus, another of Liberace's designers, furrier Anna Nateece, and Ray Arnett, his producer, have contributed original sketches used to design Liberace's costumes. The result is a book that is one of a kind: a celebration of the legendary performer and a visual feast of the most extraordinary costumes ever created.

With more than 260 full-color photographs

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062202567
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	01/17/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	27 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Connie Furr Soloman has worked extensively as a costume designer in regional theater and opera. Her designs represented the United States at the 2003 and 2007 Prague Quadrennial, as well as the 2005 World Stage Design Conference, and her puppet designs are featured in Salsa, the Emmy award-winning children's television series. She is a member of the United Scenic Artists Union and is an associate professor at Arizona State University.

Jan Jewett has worked in the costume design industry for more than thirty-one years, manufacturing costumes for such clients as Bette Midler, Cher, and Donny and Marie Osmond, as well as for Disney parades. Jan has also overseen the creation of costumes for Broadway musicals, Carnegie Hall concerts, award-winning national commercials, and some of the most lavish corporate events, galas, television shows, and films produced over the last decade.