Farm to Fifth Avenue sets the reader down in a whirlwind of glittering international celebrity during the Mad Men era in New York City. Elizabeth Arden's 5th Avenue salon, the Red Door, was the premier "salon de beaute" during this golden period of 1950-60's fashion, and as a top stylist, the author quite literally had a hand in making the famous, infamous and the discretely elegant ladies of high society shine. The book is confettied with delightful stories of the high points and pitfalls of being a stylist to the rich and famous. The author's story travels from homespun beginnings on a family farm during the Great Depression to spanning oceans and cultural divides. Several scenes describe a way of life on a Midwestern farm that no longer exist in today's world-then jumps to his experiences as a "green" serviceman in the South Pacific during WWII, and finally he finds his niche in a military community quite different than the world he was used to as a hair stylist. The story then follows the author's path to becoming a top stylist at the most famous salon in the world at the time- Elizabeth Arden's Red Door, on 5th Avenue in New York City. Miss Arden is hanging on to the top shelf of high society socialite and celebrity customers (Kennedy, Zsa Zsa, etc) at the beginning of the author's tenure there, but he becomes witness to the gradual decline of the brand as massive changes sweep across the cultural landscape with the advent of 1960's fashion. From movie stars to high society mavens, the author gives a peek behind the glittery curtain of celebrity to see the often unflattering reality of what it takes to maintain illusions in the charming and entertaining memoir.
About the Author: Lyonel Nelson was born in 1920 on a farm in central Illinois, and now resides less than 200 miles to the east in Chicago, though he has traveled and lived far beyond the boarders of his home state. Lyonel lived through most of the defining moments of the 20th Century-the Great Depression, World War II, the cultural revolutions, and the information age-and holds a healthy optimism about the future. Lyonel possesses a keen curiosity of the world and the people in it. He enjoys reading biographies, and describes himself as somewhat of a "political junkie," always staying informed about what is going on in the world. Lyonel enjoys an active life and still sees a couple of clients in their homes for hair appointments each week. He keeps in touch with his ever-growing family of cousins, nieces and nephews, and their children and grandchildren. Lyonel is deeply thankful that he has been fortunate enough to enjoy long-life, good health, a keen memory, and a particular knack for storytelling.