The vibe at Wednesday evening’s book signing featuring Nigel Barker at the Boo Cat Club was as much about the charming personality of the author – portrait photographer, reality show host (Oxygen’s The Face), and former model – as it was about his latest book. That said, many copies of Models of Influence: 50 Women Who Reset the Course of Fashion, which just made it onto the New York Times Best Seller List, were sold at the event.
The event was sponsored by the Boo Cat Club, Link Auction Galleries, which provided the red Eames chairs visible on the stage, and Left Bank Books, who brought the author to town. In LBB staffer Shane Mullen’s (on stage) welcoming remarks he mentioned Publishers Weekly’s nomination of LBB as one of 5 top bookstores in the country and then introduced Debra Bass, fashion editor of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, above left, and Nigel Barker, right. What followed was an informal conversation between the journalist and author, followed by questions from the audience.
When asked how he could pick just 50 top models out of a field of so many possibilities, Barker acknowledged it was a very tough process. He added that, fortuitously, it turns out there is broad geographic representation in the book, and that attendees at each stop on the tour have quizzed him about their hometown favorite. Sure enough, someone later asked about Webster Groves’ native and current super model Karlie Kloss, about whom Barker raved.
He described what these women have in common, and that is a certain “something” that sets them apart. They may not necessarily be the most beautiful, but exhibit a drive to succeed in a very tough business. Currently, social media plays a big role in who gets noticed. Barker said editors pay attention to which girls have the most followers. So, in essence, the public is choosing the next “top model.”
After the discussion, the affable author signed copies of his book and posed for photographs, above and below.
Of note: Two St. Louis designers (not pictured) with ties to the CWE were at the event: Emily Brady Koplar of Wai Ming Studio, and Amy Johnson of Kay Oss Designs.
Models of Influence: 50 Women Who Reset the Course of Fashion by Nigel Barker ($40) is available at Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid.