No One Has Seen It All

Lessons for Living Well from Nearly a Century of Good Taste

By: Betty Halbreich, Rebecca Paley, Lena Dunham - introduction

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren, Helen Laser

From the New York City legend, bestselling author, and iconic stylist Betty Halbreich comes this wise and witty collection of guidance from her 96 years to help people of all ages look, feel, and live their best.

For half a century, Betty Halbreich curated wardrobes and bore witness to the vicissitudes of life as Bergdorf Goodman’s original personal shopper. Of course, visitors to the store were awed by a 96-year-old woman who still held down a nine-to-five, let alone one in the youth-obsessed industry of fashion.

But age is only half the story: Betty built that career by giving encouraging yet deeply honest advice. Much of it was about what to wear, but her insight was by no means relegated only to matters of the closet. She was known for her good taste on many levels, from her immaculate Park Avenue apartment of 70-plus years to the fashion stars she helped discover and the looks she styled for iconic series like Sex and the City and Gossip Girl.

In short, Betty was in the unique position to dispense useful prescriptions on how to look good and live well at any age. This collection of her writings from the last five years of her life contains her signature firm and frank guidance on relationships, careers, style, etiquette, and keeping house, as well as eloquent reflections on aging, solitude, and modern life. The result is a definitive dispatch from a powerful woman who always held her head up high, inspiring you to do the same.

Critic reviews

Praise for Betty Halbreich, her work, and her memoirs

“Considered by genuine and aspiring grandes dames to be fashion’s leading personal shopper, [Betty Halbreich] made the search for the right clothing a higher kind of quest—one for dignity, standards and self-knowledge.” —The New York Times

“Before there were Bergdorf Blondes, there was Betty Halbreich, the industry’s most famous personal shopper . . . who became something of a New York institution. Stylish and savvy.” —Vogue

“Tart, funny.” —Entertainment Weekly

“Charming . . . An inspirational feminist tale.” —People

“There’s a pragmatic principle behind the way Betty dresses people. It’s very inclusive. There’s room for everyone in her process. [Betty] is able to be in the fashion world, but also take it down a peg at the same time.” —Lena Dunham

“Betty was born to sail through people’s lives telling them what to wear (and even what to do).” —Isaac Mizrahi

“[Betty] sizes up her own life fearlessly, and in the process, not only helps you to diagnose your own flaws, but to embrace your own beauty.” —Judith Thurman, National Book Award- and Los Angeles Times Book Award-winning author

“She's the go-to celebrity. She's also the most fun.” —Patricia Field, costume designer for Sex & the City

What a remarkable woman!

Excellent listen! Thoroughly enjoyed hearing Betty’s life story. What a life she had and kept working until the end. Amazing!

Wisdom

Beautiful vignettes from Betty. Tastefully done. For any stage of life. What an amazing lady.

Disappointed

Was excepting words of wisdom from this extraordinary individual. However, nothing that you could not learn from a typical manners book. Also, this was extremely repetitive.