Although Harriett Lake couldn’t explain her devotion to clothes, something led the Orlando fashion icon and philanthropist to spend her life collecting the most unique and eye-catching outfits and accessories. A new book titled “Too Much is Not Enough: The History in Harriett’s Closet” by Kristina Tollefson, a costume designer and associate professor of theatre at UCF, and Jodi Ozimek captures the fascinating life of Lake, connecting her stunning collection with the events that defined her life and legacy.
When Tollefson joined the UCF faculty, she heard about a local woman who owned every piece of clothing she had ever purchased. Knowing that this would be a unique opportunity to research vintage clothing and could provide a useful teaching tool for her students, she set out to meet this legendary woman.
“It took me a while to get Harriett to agree to meet with me and even longer to get her to agree to let me see her closet,” says Tollefson. “But as soon as I saw her closet I knew I had to find a way to share it with a wider audience.”
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A book release party to celebrate the launch of “Too Much is Not Enough: The History in Harriett’s Closet” will take place on Sept. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Harriett’s Bar at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 E Rollins St, Orlando, FL 32803). The authors will read from the book and will be available to sign purchased copies of the book at the event.