An inspiring life that has not been easy.

I enjoyed this book I found it really interesting what he has been through

Absolutely fascinating and important memoir that will no doubt be impactful to many. Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance copy!

A beautiful and important memoir.

As a person not massively interested (or knowledgeable) about fashion, I went in to A Visible Man not knowing of Enninful but I was interested in the premise and hearing his perspective on the fashion industry in the last few decades. Enninful's writing is engaging and honest, he does not shy away from fashion's past and is wonderfully forth coming with the changes he has pushed and worked for.

If you think you do not know enough about fashion or the industry to be able to engage with this book then let me tell you that is not the case, A Visible Man is as much about race and sexuality as it is about clothes and magazines and it is a book I would recommend it to everyone.

Very much a game of two halves. Family life and growing up absolutely fascinating. London and fashion less so. You don’t read a fashion memoir for humility but this is pretty grating in terms of Enniful’s constant wonder at how incredible he and his world our.

This was a very interesting book giving the fascinating history and work of one of the World's fashion and style leaders. As someone who I knew little about I found this very interesting to read. However, I was surprised by the flow of ht ebook. It felt a little more like a diary entry or a glorified CV rather than a book with depth, cohesion and engaging prose. I feel as though this book could be so much more by enhancing the story telling and the personal aspects that I'm sure have filled Edward's life. It feels slightly like a missed opportunity to share what have I'm sure been so many incredible experiences and stories.

"Confinement was further proof that no matter where we are or what we endure, fashion is always there with us"

A spectacular and inspiring memoir by a truly talented man. Enninful details the many challenges he faced as a black, gay man to get to his position now and to change the fashion industry in the way he has done.

Through simple but engaging writing, the book gave an insight on the fashion industry and gave me a much bigger appreciation of all aspects of fashion in general (and makeup, as a Pat McGrath fan). Like most memoirs of this nature, at times there was an almost bragging tone, but his achievements are definitely something to boast about. He was however also able to criticise some of his personality, such as his almost non-existent work-life balance.

I hope in the future he releases a more creative edition featuring a lot of his work and more pictures as this would be a very useful and appealing visual aid to the writing.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC.

This is no rags to riches story but is, instead, the memoir of a man who had a vision, talent and energy and rose become one of the influential people in the fashion industry. He is editor in chief at Vogue. Fashion is not known for its diversity although there are always a few outsiders who manage to make it through.
Edward Enninful grew up in Ghana in an aspirational, middle-class family. His father, who was in the military, wanted him to become a lawyer but Edward had other ideas. He watched his mother making clothes and he still uses his mother’s 9 square technique of ‘dividing a sheet of paper into 9 squares and drawing a different look inside each.’ He also coveted the glossy magazines he saw in his aunt’s hairdressing salon. There was a whole other world out there. Fashion was in his blood. But their affluence was counterbalanced by visiting relatives in a village where, as darkness fell, there were no lights in their house and he was ‘poked and prodded by unseen hands.’
The Enninful family: the parents and their 5 siblings, had to leave Ghana due to a changing political landscape and they arrived in Ladbroke Grove, West London. It was the early 1980’s and it was scruffy and rundown. As he said ‘OMG, it’s all white people!’ A real culture shock especially when they realised how cold it was.
The 1980’s was one of the most creative decades there has ever been. No one had any money, so they made their own clothes, created their own magazines, set up their own club nights and partied. Edward’s ‘80’s began when he was talent spotted on a train aged 16 by a man called Simon Foxton who was involved with the new fashion bible, ID. Edwards did some modelling, assisted on photo shoots and at 18 became the youngest ever fashion director for an international publication. He was there for 20 years and I particularly enjoyed reading about his working methods on ‘telling the story’ and the narrative on fashion shoots for clients such as Dolce & Gabbana and Calvin Klein. He has also been credited with helping to create the 1990’s Grunge movement.
He doesn’t dwell on his health problems. I had no idea of how badly sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia can affect sufferers and it emphasises his drive and determination. He is also honest about his drinking and how he decided to give it up and he has remained sober.
I wanted to read this biography as I’m interested by outsiders who end up on the inside and how they often change the status quo. They take risks. Edward has used his influence to create more diversity in the fashion industry and that was a fascinating part of the book. There is namedropping which gave parts of the book a buzzy, gossipy atmosphere. Edward’s friends and clients obviously have respect and admiration for him. But it was his talent and work ethic that enabled him to rise to the top.
Fashion can be a fleeting influence but he has been able, and determined, to use it to create opportunities for others. However, he still encounters racism even while at Vogue which really shocked me. I really enjoyed reding this book as it gave a real insight into the fashion industry and how it can be changed as well as a snapshot of the ‘80’s.
It was a powerful and inspirational book to read.

I was really intrigued about this book, as it’s blatantly obvious how much British Vogue has improved under Edward Enninful’s editorship. However, I found the book didn’t really meet my expectations.

It’s a relatively short read, with a basic writing style, and I felt a lot of the key moments of his life (issues relating to prejudice and also his harrowing problems with his eyesight) didn’t really get enough space. Although it’s true that this isn’t a gossipy or scandalous memoir, names are dropped frequently and for little reason. I understand it must be hard when you’ve grown up around people like Kate Moss, etc and you don’t want to betray confidences, but in my own mind, I was expecting more of an insight into the industry and how it works. Or at least more of a glimpse behind the curtain. I felt like things just happened without any explanation as to why - case in point being his appointment as fashion director of i-D at just 18 years old. This clearly isn’t ‘the norm’, and is particularly impressive when he belongs to several marginalised communities, but I felt the detail was missing.

I actually think it’s quite refreshing for someone to write a book without compromising their values, but unfortunately the story felt like it suffered for it.

Edward Enninful's 'A visible man' is a gripping inspirational read. His book stands out in a crowded market because he talks about success and what got him to where he is now. He is not shy of sharing his many struggles from the place of his birth in Ghana to where he lives now. His triumphs are clear as are his sorrows and losses. Yet he is generous in his praise and gratitude for all the kindness. love and support he has received from his icons, his friends, his colleagues, his mentors, coaches and the fashion community. His desire to change the world from his own unique vantage point and in his immutable style flows through his life story. He is a key influencer and will remain so, as long as he keeps in touch with his values, his mission and his vision. Yes, he became the first Black editor -in-chief of British Vogue, but he is much more than that. He campions inclusion, the importance of belonging, the wealth of diversity and is an ace change-maker. His memoirs are a gift to a world that needs to receive it.

I listened to an interview between Edward Enninful and Elizabeth Day and really wanted to read his memoir to find out more about his life and work. I really enjoyed this quiet and reflective memoir which isn't full of flashy anecdotes and gossipy tales about all the celebrities the author must know. I found it shocking to read about the institutional racism Edward Enninful has come up against in both his private and work life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

What a gorgeous powerful and insightful read. Much more commentary to follow just wanted to share my immediate thoughts. So happy I heard of this book from a launch party with Gugu Mbatha Raw. As somone who works in the fashion industry as well as the book industry this hit home so much, a truly beautiful book.


Edward Enninful has lived an extraordinary life.

Here, for the first time, he shares the remarkable, inspiring story of his journey from a childhood bedroom in Ghana overlooking firing squads, to 1990s London - becoming the youngest-ever fashion director of i-D magazine at just eighteen years old. Now the first Black editor-in-chief of British Vogue, he has created game-changing images of everyone from Beyoncé to Meghan Markle, Kate Moss to Oprah Winfrey, Adele to Rihanna, and many more stars he now counts as friends.

A Visible Man is the story of a husband, son, brother, friend - and icon. Taking us from the neon thrills of Soho clubs to nights spent on friends' sofas, this is the story of Edward's phenomenal grit and determination: of failures, loss, coming out, joy, hedonism, fame, love, heartbreak, sacrifice, ill health and era-defining achievements. It's the story of one man's revolutionary mission to change how we see the world, showing how unwavering passion and perseverance can allow anyone to make their mark - just like he did.

Going into this book, I have to confess I had not heard of Edward Enninful.

However, as this book unravelled, I found myself truly touched by its author, the rawness, honesty and warmth of someone who, often not in the spotlight directly himself, allowed others to take centre stage.

We follow his younger years as he moves from Ghana to the UK, and then on to a ground-breaking career in fashion and media. Throughout the book, I found his observations fascinating- he is never self-pitying nor aggrandising, never overly effusive or curt.

Instead, we get a peek behind the curtains of topics as broad as the immigrant experience, his star-studded career, health and overworking, racism within the fashion and media industries, and the importance of helping those coming after you to climb the ladder.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This isn't gossipy, it isn't full of celebrity insider stories, it's not particularly sophisticated in writing style - but what makes this so worth reading is Enninful's version of the 'immigrant story' and the fact that his vision is always that of a Black gay man at the cliff-face of the fashion and magazine industries, both notoriously white until very lately with no more than lip service paid to the prominent exceptions: Naomi Campbell, Iman, Alek Wek.

There's a lovely down to earth quality about Enninful's story, with a real warmth as he recalls his Ghanian middle-class family forced to become refugees in London after a political regime change in Ghana saw his father's cousin and his wife gunned down by opponents and Enninful's own military father named a target. His love of street fashion and music, his effortless intelligence, his mother's tailoring business all feed into his falling into modelling, then jobs styling for fashion shoots before he eventually becomes Editor-in-chief at Vogue.

Enninful pulls no punches in terms of his politics: Thatcher and, more recently, Brexit, Trump, the Tory lurch to the right, BLM, all get covered as much through his trepidation as a Black gay man who's had his fair share of racial and sexual profiling as anything. And it's hopeful remembering his politicisation of Vogue such as the 'I am an immigrant' campaign they ran in defiance of Trump and resurgent right-wing nationalism. It's clear that Enninful sees his role as a responsibility as well as an opportunity, something that has driven traditional Vogue in a whole new radical direction.

Nevertheless, this is no easy sunny story. One of the well-timed closing anecdotes is of Enninful entering Vogue House and being accosted by a white security guard who bellows: 'LOADING BAY... DELIVERIES GO THROUGH THE LOADING BAY.' He may be Editor-in-chief but there's still work to be done.

This is a fascinating memoir which charts Edward (Asiamah) Enninful’s journey from his birth in Ghana to becoming Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue. This is a powerful story of using key positions to break down barriers and promote diversity and inclusivity. The cover perfectly matches the contents - this is one impressive man. I find the autobiography inspirational, what he achieves at an incredibly young age for example, becoming fashion director at i-D at 18! Yes, 18! His work ethic is truly phenomenal which inevitably leads him not only to becoming a rising star in the world of fashion but grants him the ability to make important statements. An example of this is his determination to represent black people in his fashion shoots and in magazines which you would think in this day and age would be representative of all but isn’t necessarily so. He encounters resistance but is proved right. He encounters racism on his way up, some of which takes my breath away in shock and makes me feel sad. However, he is an example along with figures such as Naomi Campbell that everyone can be at ‘the centre of the universe’ and do it on your own terms and in his case, by the efforts of yourself. I really enjoy too, the insights into the fashion world from the late ‘80’s, the things that influence him and how he finds his style.

Overall, this has been a interesting and insightful read. He writes with warmth, sensitivity and honesty and comes across as an immensely likeable man.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This was a really interesting memoir by Edward Enninful. I am not a massive fashion fan so I had not heard of him before but was intrigued by his story and wanted to pick this up. I’m really glad I did. This book gives a fascinating insight into the world of fashion throughout the 90s and 2000s and I loved getting glimpses of behind the scenes and the influential people involved. This book also speaks of racism and Edwards influential role championing for more diversity and equality in fashion. I really appreciate reading books that educate me and although aware of the obvious inequalities present in fashion I found it interesting and informative to read about Edward’s experiences and the progress he has contributed to and no doubt will continue to.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in return for an honest review.