Behind the Seams

By Esme Young

Behind the Seams is Esme Young’s autobiography. Esme has been a fashion force for over 50 years.

Her first foray into fashion, see-thru raincoats, landed with a splash. She sketched the models naked under the transparent rainwear so clothing would not distract from the clear coat lines. The photographer loved the idea, and photographed her coats exactly the same way – worn by naked models. After a fuss, the photos were published, landing her and her company, Swanky Modes, firmly in the limelight.

Flash forward to the next century and in the 2010s, and at 70 years old, an age when most people retire, Esme embarked on a new career as a TV personality and judge on The Great British Sewing Bee.

I am a HUGE GBSB fan!! I fell in love with the show when it was still available in the US on Youtube. Now, I scour deep, dark, scary places on the internet just to watch this show!

When May Martin, a fantastic sewing instructor, left the show, Esme came on in her place. I had heard of Swanky Modes. I was a young teen when the Naked Raincoat Ladies appeared in print. My mother and the other “ladies” in her cult-like church were horrified, even though they never actually saw the photos. Just hearing about naked ladies in clear raincoats was enough to convince them the End Days were upon us!

Esme’s autobiography begins with her parents, sharing the interesting story of father and his military service. I could relate to the part of her story where she spent her first few months of life with an auntie, because I myself spent the first few years of my life with my Grandmother.

I was shocked to learn she was sent off to boarding school at the age of just five years old. Apparently it was common, ordinary, and normal for parents in their socio-economic class to do this. It was at boarding school where they learned she had a hearing impairment.

Esme describes her mother a free spirit with a great sense of humor. But, also cold, not uncaring, but distant. She shares stories of the times she spent with her family, including her brothers and sisters.

At this point in the book the story line is broken with a chapter about her first thrift transformations, along with hints and tips for your own Thrift Transformations.

Now, back to adventures. And did she have them! Travel adventures, party adventures, artistic adventures. She shared the history of Swanky Modes, start to finish. An insert (like the Thrift Transformations) provides a clear timeline.

Next she shares her film/tv credits and stories. She talks about her time at Central Saint Martins, followed by another insert on the Art of Pattern Cutting. Finally, we reach her time on Great British Sewing Bee.

Two sections of photographs from her life round out the book.

The book is loosely organized in chronological order, but the stories sometimes wander over time, to the future or the past. It happens in a very natural way as the adventures unfold into each other.

Behind the Seams is an upbeat, fascinating story of a creative person and her free spirited adventures.