Judith Leiber celebrated the release of her new book, No More Bagatelles at Bergdorf Goodman (754 5th Ave. NYC 10019 (212) 753-7300). The biography explores Leiber’s early life and the start of her company, as well as her relationship with her husband, Gerson.
Judith Leiber’s rise to prominence in the fashion industry began in Budapest, Hungary, where she was born in 1921. She later became the first woman to join the handbag-makers guild but, because she was Jewish in Eastern Europe during the rise of the Third Reich, she had to flee her country and find refuge in Switzerland. She immigrated to the United States in 1947.
Judith Leiber, Gerson Leiber
When Leiber arrived in America she continued on her path to success and. in 1963, she launched her own company. Since then, almost every first lady has carried a Leiber handbag to the inauguration ceremony. Her bejeweled designs and exotic skins have made her bags, as well as her self, a true American icon.
Jeffrey Sussman, Jody Rose, Stephen Rose
Guest in attendance were Beth Rudin DeWoody, Ann Caruso, Lucy Sykes Rellie, Mary Gleason, Amis Garrigue, Samira Harati, Jessica Tan Gudnason, Anna Gudnason, Anisha Lakhani, Susan Shin, Amanda Ross, Elena Pleat, Randy Polumbo, Ginny Hershey-Lambert, Stephen Rose, Jody Rose and Jeffrey Sussman.