“Tommy burst onto the fashion scene at the height of hip-hop and was instantly taken up by rappers and rockers alike. “Fashionistas and business gurus alike will glean important lessons from Hilfiger’s rags-to-riches rag-trade story.” - Booklist an honest, straightforward, mostly entertaining autobiography of the man who created a classic yet hip line of clothing.” - Kirkus Reviews This is the story of a true American original, told for the first time in his own words, with honesty, humor, and the insatiable appetite for life and style that proves that sometimes you have to dream big to make it big. Tommy takes us behind the scenes of every decision-and every mistake-he’s ever made, offering advice on leadership, business, team-building, and creativity. But this is more than just a fashion icon’s memoir-it’s a road map for building a brand, both professionally and personally.

To this day, his approach to commerce is rooted in his positive view of the world.Īmerican Dreamer brims with anecdotes that cover Tommy’s years as a club kid and scrappy entrepreneur in 1970s New York as well as unique insights into the exclusive A-list personalities with whom he’s collaborated and interacted, from Mick Jagger and David Bowie to Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. Through decades of triumph and turmoil, Tommy remained doggedly optimistic.

At eighteen he opened his own clothing store, parlaying his uncanny instinct for style into a budding career as a fashion designer. Nevertheless, this self-described dreamer had a vision and the relentless will to make it a reality. Growing up one of nine children in a working-class family in Elmira, New York, Tommy suffered from dyslexia, flunked sophomore year of high school, and found himself constantly at odds with his father. Since designing his first collection of “classics with a twist” three decades ago, Tommy Hilfiger has been synonymous with all-American style-but his destiny wasn’t always so clear. Fewer still have left such an indelible mark on global culture. įew designers have stayed on top of changing trends the way Tommy Hilfiger has. You can adjust the contrast, clarity, saturation, and temperature of your photos to create the perfect ethereal look.In this tale of grit and glamour, setbacks and comebacks, business and pop culture icon Tommy Hilfiger shares his extraordinary life story for the first time. Post-processing: After you've captured your photos, play around with post-processing to create a dreamy effect. These can create dreamy effects that can also help soften the edges of the image. Keeping the shutter open for longer than you ordinarily would can create a lovely ethereal blur.Įxperiment with placing translucent items in front of the camera lens. Have your subject twirl, dance, or walk to create a sense of movement in your photos.Įxperiment with shutter drag. Incorporate movement: Movement in your photos can add to the dreamy effect you're going for. These colors will add to the ethereal feel of your photos. This will help add to the dreamy feel of your photos.Ĭhoose soft and light colors: Choose light and soft color schemes for your clothing and props. If you can’t shoot when the sun is low, backlighting your subject will also help give that dreamy glow.Įxperiment with aperture: Use a wide aperture (a low f-number, 1.4, 1.8, 2.8) to create a shallow depth of field, which will blur the background and make your subject pop. If you live in a place with fog or overcast weather this can also create that diffused natural light we are looking for. Avoid harsh midday sunlight, which can create unflattering shadows. Shoot during golden hour, or on an overcast day: To achieve a soft, dreamy effect, it's important to shoot during the 'golden hours' of sunrise and sunset, when the light is warm and diffused. Are you looking to capture ethereal and dreamy photos for your fashion photography portfolio? Here are some tips to help you achieve that beautiful, otherworldly look in your photos using natural light.

Fashion dreamer