William Sofield’s tale is in some ways a classic one. Drawn in the broadest strokes, it begins with a childhood in an East Coast suburb, followed by an Ivy League education. Then, disillusioned with subsequent jobs, Sofield retreated into handiwork, only to emerge-after several more twists and turns of this privileged success story-with a spectacular design career that has helped redefine modern glamour. It seems entirely fitting that Sofield now lives part of the time in a Los Angeles house once owned by the 1920's film legend Douglas Fairbanks. Sofield”s ascent to stardom can be attributed to his unerring ability to reinterpret modernism. And he does so with an arresting combination of controlled virtuosity and a flair for the theatrical.