The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa
Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel. Jeanne
Mackin. Penguin Publishing Group. June
2019; hb, 352 pp.; ISBN #: 9781101990544.
“Clothes…are moods,
desires, the quality of our souls and our dreams made visible.” Of color – “If blue is the color of paradox,
and red the color of life and death and the passion between beginnings and
endings, then yellos is the color what is most precious…of sunshine, of gold,
of sins’ halos…the color of eternity…” and so much more.
Lily Sutter, overwhelmed
by grief for her dead husband, visits her brother Charlie in Paris, France in
1938. Charlie is in love with a married
woman who want Lily to accompany them on their nights out in Parisian
society. German officers are a constant
presence with war looming in the minds and hearts of everyone; however, they
party, dine, and spend money galore knowing that drastic changes lie in the
near future. Lily will meet someone
unexpected eventually but go through so many challenges and problems before
that chance at love occurs.
Lily is invited by Elsa
Schiaparelli to work for her as an artist who paints backgrounds for her
designer shows each season. Elsa and
Coco Chanel are constant and virulent opponents in the world of fashion
design.
The two dominant themes
running through every page of this delicious, sumptuous story are the beauty of
fashionable clothing and designs and the unique personalities vying for
superiority. Sometimes that competition
comes close to murderous disaster.
Anyone in love with color and clothes will fall in love with these
sensual, rich descriptions of styles created to present a theme such as those
of carnivals, seasons, astrology and so much more. Colors are blended with brilliant jewels and
scarves, handbags, hats, etc. to enchant the eye and shape of a wearer. The
reader wants to see more from these two astonishingly talented fashion
designers. So competitive are the designers’ introductory shows that scouts
watch for anyone taking notes or making drawings to put in the press ahead of
other writers. Lily’s artistic talents add brilliance to each collection.
Elsa is a rabid hater of
fascism and Coco uses the ever-present Germans for what she later knows may be
dire circumstances needing protection and survival. Heartbreak, however,
follows for so many. Elsa has an
independent daughter, Gogo, who initially seems a spoiled brat but when
necessary becomes Elsa’s greatest supporter and strength.
The
Last Collection… is glorious historical fiction superbly
presenting character and personalities that each reader will remember for a
very long time!
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