Carrie Marcus Neiman. Photo courtesy of the Marcus family.
Jerrie Marcus Smith, the great-niece of Carrie Marcus Neiman, is writing a book about her great-aunt’s role in the making of Neiman Marcus.
Carrie, who lived on Swiss Avenue, co-founded the Dallas-based retailer with her husband, Al Neiman, and brother Herbert Marcus. She died in 1953, when Smith was just a teenager, and since then, Smith — a daughter of Stanley Marcus — has been dedicated to finding out more about her.
Her findings are recorded in a book, A Girl Named Carrie: The Visionary Who Created Neiman Marcus and Set the Standard for Fashion, which comes out this month.
The book describes Carrie as “the quiet genius behind the success of the internationally famous emporium known as Neiman Marcus,” according to Paper City.
She didn’t come from a wealthy family. They were German Jewish immigrants. But Carrie grew up with an appreciation for classical music, read books in multiple languages and European fashion magazines. By the time she was 24, she was married, and the first Neiman Marcus was opening.
As the buyer for the new store, Carrie brought European ready-to-wear and haute couture to Texans.
