Known fo his quick wit and flair for fashion and design, Simon Dooney, creative director of Barney's New York has just published his fabulous memoir, the charming and entertaining tale of escaping a bonkers family and following your dreams.

Simon Doonan's childhood was a curious mix of small town boredom and bright light city dreams. Growing up in a working class area of Reading with the mad-cap Doonan clan - Mother Betty, Father Terry, blind Aunt Phyllis, grandmother Narg and Grandfather D.C. - he yearned to get out and find the Beautiful People whom he imagined lived fabulous lives of glitz and glamour.

This is the funny story of how Simon eventually finds a way out and escapes to London with best friend Biddie. Along the way they stumble upon punks, drunks, ladies of the night, the long arm of the law and all sorts of camps, vamps and outrageous scamps.