With his now-legendary store on 125th Street in Harlem, Dapper Dan pioneered high-end streetwear in the 1980s, remixing classic luxury-brand logos into his own innovative, glamorous designs. But before he reinvented haute couture, he was a hungry boy with holes in his shoes, a teen who daringly gambled drug dealers out of their money, and a. Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem by Daniel R. Day and How to Turn Your Side Hustle Into a Business Subscribe with Apple Subscribe with Spotify A streetwise hustler grows up during America's fight against drugs, poverty, and civility.
- Dapper Dan Made In Harlem A Memoir
- Dapper Dan Made In Harlem Epub
- Dapper Dan Made In Harlem Book Quotes Of The Day
- Dapper Dan Clothing
I am endlessly fascinated by tales from 20th Century New York City – stories about jazz, punk, hip hop, comics, TV, stand-up, the mob, fashion – all of it and more. Especially about the people who made it happen.
I bought this book on a whim. I really didn't know much about about Dapper Dan. His name regularly appeared in rap lyrics – especially in the 90s. I was vaguely aware of his role in outfitting a whole generation of New York rappers but that was about it.
It turns out he has lived a fascinating life of which his time dressing hip hop legends is probably the least interesting aspect.
Born in 1940s Harlem he lived through some of the most turbulent decades in New York's history – with Harlem (where he has lived all his life) at the centre of much of the change. He has been a street hustler most of his life – reading about it is like a roller coaster ride through the dark side of the American Dream. Gambling, drug dealing (and addiction), credit card fraud, prison spells, dabbling with the Nation of Islam (while Malcolm X was still about), flirting with a journalism career, trips to Africa (and missing the Rumble in the Jungle), dropping the names of notorious gangsters like they were sports stars and then being right in the middle of things when hip hop invaded mainstream culture (including popping up on Yo! MTV Raps) not to mention his shop being the location for one of Mike Tyson's early controversies.
Dapper Dan Made In Harlem A Memoir
There is a lot to cover and it is a breezy read – it never goes too deep into things and as with most autobiographies he is pretty forgiving to himself. I suspect there are a lot of other perspectives to his tales – especially from the various women raising his children. Also his dabbling with spirituality – which he is at pains to highlight – feels like someone determined to retroactively frame themselves as a philosopher caught up in the ‘game' – something he himself contradicts time after time.
It is a never anything less than interesting from beginning to end though and I powered though the book in about a day (something I didn't manage throughout 2020!).
Having lived in Harlem for four years, Dapper Dan was always a person I'd hoped I would run into. He's not only a Harlem icon but a true pioneer for high-end streetwear. I knew I'd fan-girl over him if I was ever given the chance as I did my weekly Whole Foods run on 125th and Malcolm X.
From the 1970's until now, Dapper Dan has revolutionized fashion. Microsoft onenote chromebook. He began his famous haberdasher in Harlem in 1982 by repurposing streetwear with high-end logos -- and from there, there was no looking back at what he could accomplish. He has Evernote stickers. dressed all the hip-hop greats from Jay-z to Salt N Peppa and even collaborated with Gucci, creating a studio in Harlem that opens only for exclusive appointments.
Dapper Dan, Made in Harlem is one of the most scandalous things I've read in awhile. He begins his autobiography -- which is part cultural studies, part fashion autobiography -- about growing up as a poor African American kid in Harlem. This book is an homage to his childhood dreams about dressing like the Harlem street hustlers in the 1960's -- and being the fashion icon he is today. Everything about him is extremely lovable, to his obsession with his afro, to his passion for dressing up (even for school as a kid).
Dapper Dan Made In Harlem Epub
I bought this book on a whim. I really didn't know much about about Dapper Dan. His name regularly appeared in rap lyrics – especially in the 90s. I was vaguely aware of his role in outfitting a whole generation of New York rappers but that was about it.
It turns out he has lived a fascinating life of which his time dressing hip hop legends is probably the least interesting aspect.
Born in 1940s Harlem he lived through some of the most turbulent decades in New York's history – with Harlem (where he has lived all his life) at the centre of much of the change. He has been a street hustler most of his life – reading about it is like a roller coaster ride through the dark side of the American Dream. Gambling, drug dealing (and addiction), credit card fraud, prison spells, dabbling with the Nation of Islam (while Malcolm X was still about), flirting with a journalism career, trips to Africa (and missing the Rumble in the Jungle), dropping the names of notorious gangsters like they were sports stars and then being right in the middle of things when hip hop invaded mainstream culture (including popping up on Yo! MTV Raps) not to mention his shop being the location for one of Mike Tyson's early controversies.
Dapper Dan Made In Harlem A Memoir
There is a lot to cover and it is a breezy read – it never goes too deep into things and as with most autobiographies he is pretty forgiving to himself. I suspect there are a lot of other perspectives to his tales – especially from the various women raising his children. Also his dabbling with spirituality – which he is at pains to highlight – feels like someone determined to retroactively frame themselves as a philosopher caught up in the ‘game' – something he himself contradicts time after time.
It is a never anything less than interesting from beginning to end though and I powered though the book in about a day (something I didn't manage throughout 2020!).
Having lived in Harlem for four years, Dapper Dan was always a person I'd hoped I would run into. He's not only a Harlem icon but a true pioneer for high-end streetwear. I knew I'd fan-girl over him if I was ever given the chance as I did my weekly Whole Foods run on 125th and Malcolm X.
From the 1970's until now, Dapper Dan has revolutionized fashion. Microsoft onenote chromebook. He began his famous haberdasher in Harlem in 1982 by repurposing streetwear with high-end logos -- and from there, there was no looking back at what he could accomplish. He has Evernote stickers. dressed all the hip-hop greats from Jay-z to Salt N Peppa and even collaborated with Gucci, creating a studio in Harlem that opens only for exclusive appointments.
Dapper Dan, Made in Harlem is one of the most scandalous things I've read in awhile. He begins his autobiography -- which is part cultural studies, part fashion autobiography -- about growing up as a poor African American kid in Harlem. This book is an homage to his childhood dreams about dressing like the Harlem street hustlers in the 1960's -- and being the fashion icon he is today. Everything about him is extremely lovable, to his obsession with his afro, to his passion for dressing up (even for school as a kid).
Dapper Dan Made In Harlem Epub
Of course a man -- who is now 77 -- has a thing or two to say about growing up and dressing men who make serious paper. For anyone who needs to turn off Netflix and dive into a good book to get inspired by someone completely self made, this one is it.
Born Daniel Day in 1945, Dapper Dan has gone through many obstacles -- one being closing his store in 1992 and re-opening it with materials from Gucci in 2017. As an appreciation for our hip-hop fashion icon, we thought you'd might enjoy some of the best Dapper Dan looks ..because he is a VIBE if we ever saw one:
1986: Dapper Dan with LL Cool J in a custom made Gucci/Dapper Dan bomber jacket.
Part of the lookbook for the Gucci/Dapper Dan collab in 2017.
SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST. Salt N Peppa in Dapper Dan circa the 90's.
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Dapper Dan Made In Harlem Book Quotes Of The Day
Right now, it's to beneficial to support your local, or any for that matter, book store. So, if you can, GO BUY THIS BOOK ASAP. And while we are almost certain a show will be made out of this one, the read is always better.
Dapper Dan Clothing
Find it on Amazon or your local bookstore HERE.
