Book review: Butterfly on a Pin – A Memoir of Love, Despair and Reinvention
Words by Leah White
An Australian fashion icon.
I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Alannah Hill’s memoir A Butterfly on a Pin. I can say however, I was pleasantly surprised and immediately drawn in from the first chapter.
What unfolds with each turn of the page is a witty and intelligent account of the designer’s upbringing in a Tasmanian milk bar, through to international fashion acclaim. It wasn’t an easy journey, but rather one fraught with emotional and physical abuse.
Even at the height of her success, Hill grappled with the turmoil that stemmed from her difficult relationship with her mother, whose constant disappointment had a profound effect on all aspects of her life.
From teenage runaway to fashion icon, there’s a lot more to Alannah Hill’s story than you might think.
An engaging and entertaining read that tackles serious issues, yet carries a hopeful message of reinvention and renewal.
This article was originally published in Fashion Journal 179. You can read it here.
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