Behind the Seams

Introduction


Clothes are like songs. Just as hearing certain music brings back particular memories, so it is with certain outfits. I m so fortunate that, from the beginning of my career, I ve had close friends and relatives who have taken good care of the clothing that is important to me. From personal items like the little bolero vest I wore while performing as a child and my simple wedding dress to such gorgeous costumes as the red dress that turned me into Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas to everything I ve ever worn onstage, each of these garments signifies something important a place in my life, a moment in my career, a time when I felt like me. I treasure them all.

Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones tells the stories behind some of my favorite outfits, both on and off the stage. It also paints a picture of the evolution of my own personal style that I first developed growing up in the backwoods of East Tennessee. I always loved makeup. I wanted to be pretty. Back then, any woman who wore makeup in the mountains was considered trashy. But I didn t care. When I started buying my own makeup, I also started dressing according to how I felt, which meant wearing tight, low-cut outfits that my mama made. I remember feeling powerful enough to go up against Daddy or Grandpa to say, Now, that s not that tight. It ain t cut that low. It ain t that much. And they d say, Yes, it is! But I d be willing to get my ass whupped for it. I would sacrifice for how I wanted to look.

The same thing happened when I moved to Nashville in 1964 to become a country star. Just like I had to persist to get my songs heard and ignite my recording career, I had to resist a lot of advice telling me to tone down my look or choose a different type of wardrobe. In these pages, you ll learn I never listened to any of that. From early on, I loved the big hair and makeup, the long nails, the high heels, the flashy clothes, and as soon as I could afford

Dolly Parton, with Holly George Warren and curated by Rebecca Seaver

[A] lavish, coffee-table winner. Parade

The book is an encyclopedia of iconic pop-culture moments; it s a visual feast for fashion enthusiasts and a treasured keepsake for Parton s loyal fans. But even more so than that, it serves as a reminder that Parton s superpower and perhaps even the reason for her record-breaking longevity in Hollywood is her authenticity. The Cut

Dolly Parton charts her formidable career through the prism of her unique wardrobe with full-colour photos and laugh-out-loud anecdotes. Camp and colourful but no less inspiring, this book is for fans old and young alike. The Standard

In this effervescent full-color volume, Parton recounts the vivid tales behind the clothes. . . . Throughout this graciously and generously illuminated book . . . [her] personal style shines brightly. . . . An unforgettable personal and professional history of a beloved country music performer . . . [and] a must-have treasury for diehard Dolly fans and armchair fashionistas. Kirkus Reviews

Enriched with insights . . . , this is both a lush visual feast and a testament to the originality and self-possession that made Parton a force to be reckoned with: an entertainer who refused to accede to trends, was firmly in control of her own sexuality, and expanded the stylistic possibilities available to female performers. Fashion lovers and country fans alike will be enchanted. Publishers Weekly