Our Lit List: Sophisticated Reads For a Well-Dressed Mind, Inspired by Historic Magazine Editor Carmel Snow

These coffee table staples are reads Carmel Snow would have deemed appropriate for “well-dressed women with well-dressed minds,” and we scoured them to research her for our September cover shoot

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. It’s true, especially when it comes to fashion. Words, however, possess an even stronger power. The words we use about ourselves, about others and about the world ultimately determine our own value and the limits (or lack thereof) of our potential impact. We all have the capability to rise above life’s inevitably challenging circumstances, which is a philosophy that Carmel Snow believed in throughout her life. Her resiliency despite a challenging childhood resonated with all of us as we researched her life and legacy for our main cover feature. We hope this “daring” reading list empowers you to break the barriers within your own world, and make a difference in everyone else’s.

Watch your thoughts, they become words;
watch your words, they become actions;
watch your actions, they become habits;
watch your habits, they become character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

–Lao Tzu

A Dash of Daring: Carmel Snow and Her Life in Fashion, Art, and Letters by Penelope Rowlands

A story as elegant as its subject of study, Rowlands illustrates the biographical background of Carmel Snow, the ambitious fashion mogul who changed the course of history through her tireless dedication in building Harper’s Bazaar magazine.

The World of Carmel Snow, by Carmel Snow with Mary Louise Aswell

An autobiography that unfortunately was completed posthumously, Snow shared the ins and outs of the powerhouse product she created, in an industry that her efforts impacted forever.

Harper’s Bazaar:150 Years – The Greatest Moments by Glenda Bailey

If you prefer to be immersed in photography-heavy content, fall down the rabbit hole with the classic images and historic covers that glorified the timeless drama of glossy print. A copy of this fabulously fashionable read will elevate any coffee table book collection.

See Also

2023: The Year I Nourish Creativity

Avedon: Something Personal by Norma Stevens & Steven M. L. Aronson

Learn all about the young photographer who Snow took under her wing and trained to be one of the greatest portrait photographers of our time. Richard Avedon achieved transcendence in visual storytelling; he gets up-close and personal and shares about his life behind the lens.

Dior: The New Look Revolution by Laurence Benaim

Carmel Snow?s support of Christian Dior’s designs changed fashion history. Her love of Dior’s revolutionary ‘Bar Suit’ brought worldwide exposure to the house of Dior, making it one of the most prominent industry names that would withstand the test of time.

Laura Lopez
Laura is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Administration with a concentrated focus on the social impact of nonprofit organizations. Her background in community health inspired her passion to pursue promoting better health, literacy, and audience engagement within local communities. After giving birth to her son in the West Indies, she recognized the need for accessible women’s health clinics in the underserved regions of the island. She aspires to build a not-for-profit clinic to serve that need, in honor of the women whose stories impacted her life. Lopez currently resides in San Antonio, Texas with her husband, two young sons and their black lab, Lucas. Connect with her on Instagram @lauralynn_lopez.