Audrey Smaltz, a pioneering figure in fashion and cultural commentary, chronicles her extensive and varied career in her memoir, *Every Inch a Lady: My Amazing Journey From Dear Harlem to Haute Couture & Beyond*. At 98 years old, Smaltz’s life story spans several decades of breakthroughs and experiences in modeling, fashion retail, editorial work, and backstage production.
Standing six feet tall, Smaltz began her public career as a teen beauty queen before transitioning to modeling. In 1962, she broke barriers as a Black woman working on Wall Street selling mutual funds, a milestone that earned her a cover feature on Jet magazine. Her fashion credentials deepened through positions at Bloomingdale’s and Lane Bryant, eventually leading to work behind the scenes at Ebony Fashion Fair, a renowned traveling runway show that highlighted Black designers and models. She later held editorial roles at Ebony and Vogue.
In 1977, she founded GroundCrew, a backstage management company that became an enduring part of the fashion industry’s infrastructure. Throughout her life, Smaltz traveled widely, mingled with influential figures, and actively participated in historic events, including the 1963 March on Washington. Beyond professional accomplishments, her personal life featured diverse relationships and a flair for style.
The memoir, co-written with Alina Mitchell and prefaced by designer Michael Kors, emphasizes Smaltz’s skill in storytelling, which has been a key aspect of her career — from delivering witty runway commentary to navigating the business side of fashion. Despite her renowned charisma and vivacity captured in interviews and public appearances, the book’s prose has been critiqued for lacking depth and polish. Descriptions of key moments and places often remain surface-level, offering little detailed insight into pivotal experiences, such as her travels across Europe or her personal relationships.
Examples cited include brief, generalized depictions of visits to European cities and a vague recounting of a significant first date with her future wife. Some passages, like the account of a makeover segment on “The Montel Williams Show” featuring GroundCrew employees, employ overly formal language that diminishes the narrative impact. Nonetheless, moments of Smaltz’s distinctive voice emerge, punctuating the memoir with humor and warmth, reflecting her Harlem upbringing and her longstanding presence in the fashion world.
While the writing style may not fully capture the energy that has defined Smaltz’s public persona, the memoir offers a valuable record of her perseverance and achievements in a field where Black women have historically faced significant obstacles. Her determination and vitality shine through accounts of professional challenges and personal adventures, including managing business acquisitions and navigating complex relationships.
*Every Inch a Lady* provides an important window into the life of a trailblazer whose influence spans modeling, fashion production, and cultural commentary, preserving her legacy for future generations despite the book’s uneven execution.