Paris during WWII, my book dream come true. I love WWII and am always looking for unique stories told from new points of views. This story is told by women who are professionals just before and during WWII in Paris. Both women are successful fashion designers who are in competition with each other as to who dresses the most influential woman. I love how they both approach the start of WWII different. One is a sympathizer who takes up with a Nazi and the other does not support the Nazi’s and doesn’t hesitate to keep her thoughts a secret.

The Last Collection is a fashion designer story. It is the story of designs being stolen, the rich being coveted, and secrets being kept just to get ahead of the other. I am not very into fashion but I found it incredibly interesting how Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli made their livings dressing important people, being seen at the right place with the right people, and working their own shops and yet they were opposite each other in their designs. They had a mutual respect for each other but it didn’t mean that they liked each other.

Lilly Sutter was a unique addition to the story. She is a widow from America who comes to Paris to visit her brother and ends up finding a life that helps her move past her sadness at losing her husband. She works for Schiaparelli but becomes friends with Chanel also. As she works with Schiaparelli, she learns that she has a self worth beyond what she thought she had and she learns new skills that help her become successful.

The Last Collection is a wonderful glimpse into the fashion world in Paris during a time when war is looming.

This book was a fascinating look at two of fashions greatest icons at a time when the world was facing the upheaval of World War Two and the Nazis. The story of the feud between Chanel and Schiaparelli isn’t one that I had of, though admittedly I don’t pay too much attention to fashion. That being said I really enjoyed the story. It was beautifully written and flowed nicely. I thought the character development was well done and the story held my interest. The only thing I didn’t really like was Lily as a character. Her main point in the novel was to be the bridge to tell the story of the two fashion greats, so her story got overshadowed and I wasn’t as interested in it as I might have been.

Historical fiction revolving around the two great fashion designers, Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, who each had very successful fashion houses in Paris and were intense rivals.

The story begins in 1938 and is told from the point of view of Lily, a young, grieving widow and aspiring artist who comes to Paris at the urging of her younger brother Charlie. There she meets both fashion designers through Charlie's wealthy and beautiful lover, Ania, and forms a friendship with both women.

Coco and Elsa are as different as night and day and fiercely competitive. "Because Schiap was an artist, there was a philosophy to her collections, and a theme that demonstrated the philosophy." Her designs were colorful and playful while Coco's were more chic and classic in style, favoring a neutral palette. Think little black dress.

They also differed in their political views: Elsa was very anti-fascist, leaning more towards communism; Coco was what was later called 'a horizontal collaborator' with her liaison with German diplomat, Baron Hans Günther von Dincklage.

While their rivalry is going on, Lily slowly but surely comes to herself again, not forgetting her grief for her husband exactly but realizing life does go on. Prewar Paris is full of gaiety and colors and she feels the urge to paint again. And perhaps maybe she could even love again?

I enjoy when a work of historical fiction gives a different slant on familiar events--in this case, the world of fashion and how the war affected the lives of two very fascinating, talented and independent women.

If I had one criticism of the story it would be that I found some parts repetitive. One scene especially, where Coco sets Elsa's costume on fire at a party--that is brought up too many times, even by Coco! How many times must one pay for one's mistakes?

I received an arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

A Young Woman Caught in the Rivalry Between Chanel and Schiaparelli During WWII

Lilly Sutter, a young artist, visits Paris and becomes entangled in the feud between Chanel and Schiaparelli. Lilly has lost her husband in a tragic accident. When her brother, Charles, invites her to Paris, she can't resist.

When she arrives in Paris before WWII, she meets Charles and his lover, Anna. Charles wants t buy her a couture gown from Cocoa Channel. Lilly prefers Schiaparelli. Anna, too, who is very rich begins to prefer Schiaparelli. Thus Lilly is caught up in the rivalry between the two great fashion houses.

This is a wonderful historical novel about the great fashion houses in Paris before WWII. The author has done well researched the period. Both houses stayed open during the occupation of Paris by the Nazis, but the owners, Elsa Schiaparelli and Cocoa Channel had very different political leanings. Cocoa lived with at least one German officer and may have been a spy. Elsa, while remaining open was not a Nazi sympathizer. She was able to travel, but she was carefully watched by the Germans.

I loved this book. The historical details are accurate. The two designers came from very different backgrounds and this perhaps influenced their designs. Channel had a deprived childhood and her designs were utilitarian giving a working woman a sense of fashion. Schiaparelli’s design were more imaginative and daring. I thought the author did and excellent job describing the differences and how their views affected their political opinions.

If you enjoy a well researched WWII historical novel, I highly recommend this one. It’s particularly delightful if you’re interested in fashion.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Lily has recently lost her husband and she is just barely making it through life. She meets her brother, Charlie, in Paris. He is determined to cheer her up by buying her a couture gown. Lilly wants a Schiaparelli. This purchase changes her life. Lilly is hired as an artist by Schiaparelli. This throws her right in the middle of the feud between Schiaparelli and Chanel.

I have read a little about Chanel but nothing about Schiaparelli. So I learned a great bit. I enjoy books that have me researching. This one definitely had me looking up both designers. This story is not just about the designers though. It is also about the strength of family and friends. Lilly would have fallen down into the well of depression if it had not been for her small clan surrounding her. Then, there is the political aspects. You are damned if you are friends with the Germans and you are damned if you are not. A very precarious position for all involved.

Now, I will not say this is a perfect read. It sort of slowed down for me in the middle. But, I still LOVED this book, especially the end. The ending gave me all the feels.

Don’t miss this one. This is twisty and emotional.

Thank you to @berkleypub for gifting me The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel
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I have decided that I'd like to read all future novels about World War II ensconced in a story about fashion. In high school I did a term project on Fashion and How It Reflects The Times which established a life long love of fashion history and how our fashion tells more about our society and world than one might initially guess.
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The Last Collection is a novel that explores the rivalry between Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel. These two fashion designers are competing for notoriety and success in Paris in the late 1930s. They are both well known and well loved but they couldn't be more different. Their styles, their fabrics, even their politics differ, and they are in constant competition.
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This novel also tells the story of healing and rediscovering oneself following heartache. A young American widow comes to Paris to visit her brother and inadvertently finds herself in the heart of the battle between Schiaparelli and Chanel. The American woman, Lily Sutter, has lost her ability to paint following the death of her husband. Paris, the creative inspiration of the fashion industry, and new friendships allow her to once again see the world in color and release her artistic talent.
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The pages of this book transported me to the glamorous streets and social events of Paris and later to the war wracked fields outside the city as the Germans advanced their attack. Exploring history through a well crafted work of fiction is one of my favorite ways to learn. Author Jeanne Mackin inspired me to research the events and people in this book further -- looking up iconic fashion designs, characters from the story, and the time line of World War II. @jeannemackinauthor crafted a beautiful retelling of a tumultuous period of world history and the people who lived it.
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Readers who enjoy of fashion history, historical fiction, or want to be transported back to Paris on the brink of WWII, will most certainly appreciate this book! 👗👠👜

“Ninety percent [of women] are afraid of being conspicuous and of what people will say. So they buy a gray suit. They should dare to be different.” - Elsa Schiaparelli

The skim: this book was super interesting and is perfect for lovers of art, fashion, and/or historical fiction. Between the Paris setting, Chanel lighting “Schiap” on fire at a costume ball, the love story, and the strong female characters, you are sure to be hooked!

The details: I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this one. While I appreciate style, I wouldn’t say I’m “into” fashion, unless you count watching Project Runway (and that stopped many years ago!). Everyone has heard of Coco Chanel, but Elsa Schiaparelli was a new name for me. The account of the rivalry between these two powerful designers was nothing short of fascinating and I enjoyed reading all about it. As someone who is a big fan of historical fiction, I’ve read many books within the genre. While The Last Collection is set against a WW2 backdrop, the focus is not on the usual aspects of war. Instead we find out how politics become part of the fashion design and how connections are as powerful as ever. The story is told from the perspective of Lily Sutter who manages to find herself caught up in the feud between Chanel and Schiaparelli and the result is the very entertaining The Last Collection.

Thank you to Berkley Pub (#partner) for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the fascinating story of the rivalry between Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel, set a against the backdrop of a Paris in 1938 on the brink of war. American Lily Sutter, a recent widow and aspiring artist, comes to Paris to visit her brother Charlie and soon finds herself being introduced to the famous Schiaparelli with her bold, experimental designs and to Chanel whose designs are more classic and elegant. Lily decides to stay in Paris and finds herself drawn into a world of the hyper and carefree Parisians, trying get their minds of the coming threat of war with Germany.

This is a vibrant and well-researched novel intertwining the politics and fashion of the time. The famous rivalry between these two famous icons of Paris couture is depicted with wit and style; while the Paris of 1938 comes alive on the pages. A thoroughly engrossing read for historical fiction fans as well as fans of the world of fashion.

I love historical fiction especially around World War II. This one is a bit different from what I usually read but no less interesting. The book focus on two iconic fashion designers, both with very unique styles and very different backgrounds. Before the war they both make friends with Lily, an American widow who ends up stuck in their rivalry. She works for Schiap but also has a connection to Chanel's fashion through her brother and his married girlfriend. We see how Lily develops a friendship with both of them and how it continues through WWII and beyond. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Collection is a terrific story about the intense rivalry between legendary designers Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli in pre-war Paris.

In 1938, Lilly Sutter, a young American widow, travels to France at the insistence of her brother, Charlie. Charlie is a medical student involved with Ania, a wealthy, married woman. He wants to buy Lilly a couture gown she can wear to a party that night. Because Ania is married, Charlie needs Lilly to accompany them on their dates to cast suspicion away from them.They visit both Chanel and Schiaparelli's design houses. Lilly is drawn to the colorful designs that Schiap creates and through a series of events, she begins working with Schiap. She also becomes friends with Chanel and this puts her in the middle of their rivalry. The two designers couldn't be more different. Chanel grew up poor and clawed her way to the top of the couture fashion world. Schiap was born into a wealthy family. Their design styles are also different with Coco Chanel favoring clean, elegant lines, while Schiap likes bold colors and whimsical, sometimes outrageous designs.

Although war hasn't started yet, Nazis officers are in Paris and everyone is nervous. People are unsure whether to befriend the Nazis in the hope of securing their own safety when war breaks out, or avoiding them. Chanel chooses to befriend them while Schiap does not. It is a dangerous time but there are still parties and the cafes are full of people socializing but war is coming.

Against this backdrop is the story of Lilly, an artist, who is grieving for her lost family and unable to paint anymore. Her world is colorless and somber. As she becomes embroiled in the intense rivalry between these two legendary fashion icons, she begins a journey of self- discovery that allows her to find herself as she begins to deal with her grief.

Although I have never owned a couture gown, I loved reading about these two legendary designers.The detailed descriptions of their designs and the behind the scenes look at their infamous, sometimes dangerous rivalry was fascinating. This atmospheric novel, told from Lilly's point of view, is more than just a story about two famous fashion designers of their time. It is also about about survivors, war, friendship and the power of women.

The Last Collection will be published on June 25th, 2019

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced reading copy for review.

This was an interesting story about two women that I was not familiar with at all. Elsa Schiaparelli ad Coco Chanel. Mackin has a wonderful way of writing in color. Her descriptions of colors is fascinating and brings so much richness to the story.

I will read anything when it comes to the fashion greats. The world of couture is largely out of my reach, unless I happen to find something at a consignment shop, but I regularly read the magazines and follow collections and designers online. In that way, fashion is more accessible now, even if not always conducive to my budget.

I’ve read a few books about Coco Chanel, both fiction and nonfiction, but I cannot recall reading anything about Elsa Schiaparelli before, nor could I easily recall anything about their rivalry. Coco and Schiap, as she preferred to be called, were forces of nature, competitive, each a striking figure. They were strong women who tried to best each other, instead of support one another. Of course, I wanted to know why and after reading this, I have a better sense of the factors shaping them and how their actions set things in motion.

If you decide to read this, it should be to gain insight into these intriguing women. Mackin does not shy away from depicting their negative qualities and I was relieved that she delved into Chanel’s involvement with the Nazis, as not all accounts do, preferring to bury that tainted history. All the chapters focused on Chanel and Schiap were fascinating through and through and I wondered what they might have accomplished had they banded together instead of trying to come out on top.

By setting the book just prior to Nazi occupation in France and then following up 10 years after the war, Mackin shows how little was clear at the time, at least for those who were white and non-Jews. Loyalties blurred and there was a strong denial of what Hitler and Nazis were capable of, in part because those outside of Germany couldn’t know the full horror but also because no one wanted to take a stand. While I’m very tired of books about the second World War, I am interested in accounts set before and after because it’s relevant to us today. It’s important to ask ourselves the hard questions about what we’re paying attention to in the news and what we’re doing to bring about change in our communities and where we need to speak up.

Where the novel was less successful for me was the inclusion of a character Lily, recently widowed and in Paris at her brother’s request. She ultimately becomes employed as a painter by Schiap and then befriends Chanel. Lily is a vehicle to show the two fashion icons and I didn’t find her to be compelling in her own right. Because of her grief, she is floating through life, which can be understandable. But I didn’t have a sense of her own personality or maybe she just paled in comparison to the many other vivid women around her.

In any case, I didn’t mind Lily much until it became clear she was going to have a romance with a Nazi officer. (This is pre-Nazi occupation in France but Germany occupies Czechoslovakia shortly after Lily’s arrival in Paris.) This is not only a lazy plot decision that’s been done to death, it’s a dangerous one that romanticizes Nazis by presenting the idea of the “Good Nazi.” There’s no such thing as a good Nazi, not then or now. Otto, of course, makes statements about how he doesn’t agree with Hitler but he’s not going to speak up or he’ll be sent to a camp or killed. And yes, I know, those are scary prospects. But Otto essentially prioritizes his life over the lives of millions of people.

What might have happened had all of these “Nazis who disagree with Hitler” actually done something about it? Evil occurs when people stay silent and Otto was complicit in what Hitler did. And yet there’s no real reckoning with any of this. Lily gets annoyed with anyone who disapproves of her involvement with Otto and keeps insisting he’s a good man because he’s a musician and he’s only an officer because all Germans were called up. But that’s a BS argument. He manages to send her a message so she can leave France right before the occupation but he doesn't do that for anyone else, such as the Jews in Paris who were at much greater risk. So then I was hoping maybe he was secretly part of the resistance and while it appears at the very end, after he’s been captured, he disavowed Hitler and the Nazis, it’s too little, too late. We never get to hear the reason why or what this means. And frankly, it's pretty easy to disavow someone at the end of a war or once you've been captured. I could not root for him and Lily to be together. Were people involved with Nazis romantically and sexually? Yes, and had Lily been a real person in this account, I would have rolled with it. But for her first relationship after the death of her husband to be with a Nazi officer, it just did not sit well with me, no matter how many times Lily insisted he was a good man. I did not see the evidence to contrast his war crimes.

Mackin could have had her fictional character fall in love with anyone. Or she could have let Lily focus on her painting career and not included a love story at all. (My vote.) But she chose to have her get involved with someone who was part of an evil regime and that plummeted my enjoyment of this book and made it a lesser story. For the history about Chanel and Schiap, it was a 4 star read for me. But romanticizing a Nazi character in the third plotline made it a 1 star read. I am glad I read it for the fashion history, which was truly fascinating, so I’m rating this at 3 stars with reservations.

CW: infidelity (side characters), anti-Semitism, use of racial slur for Roma, violence, war, death of a loved one (multiple losses), grief, death by car accident, survivor’s guilt, Nazis

Set in Paris at the beginning of the war years, under Hitler's rule, I wondered if this book could tell me anything I had not already read about this time period? The answer is unequivocally 'Yes' as author Jeanne Mackin is the master of research and character development. Following the couture designers Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel, Mackin divulges the inner workings, secret, and machinations of the fashion world of yesterday as well as the ties this industry had to the Vichy government and the Resistance. To be honest, I rarely think about high fashion and its place in society as it always seems rather shallow. However, in this tale one can see the cultural influences these fashion mavens had on history, as well as their own personalities, spirit, and beliefs. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of the competition and lives of these two bigger-than-life women. Thanks to Net Galley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've always been a lover of fashion, was obsessed with fashion designers and design at one point in my life thanks to my artist mother who scattered our home with fashion magazines because she, just like Elsa Schiaparelli, always said couture and high fashion is every much an art form as paintings or drawings. Reading this book was just sublime as I loved reading more about icons Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, two women who couldn't be more different if they tried, and their well-known rivalry.

Jeanne Mackin has written an exquisite novel set amidst the backdrop of the beginning of WWII in Paris, 1938, where fashion houses were dominated by two women: Chanel and Schiaparelli.  Coco was known for her very tailored looks, lean proportions, black and white colors, tweeds, feminized men's looks―class, elegance, and simplicity. Schiap, on the other hand, was all about artistic freedom, creativity, and innovation―bold colors, designs, and materials. Dressing the echelon of society and being recognized as the best drove their rivalry.

Becoming entwined with both women and their rivalry is the story's main protagonist, Lily Sutter, the widowed American teacher/artist living in France whose first person POV immediately draws you into the story, the events-fictional and non-fictional, the characters, and setting. Lily's lost all ability to paint after her husband's death and her world is dull and gray. Yet once she is caught up in the world of Paris, befriends Ania, becomes close to Schiap and Coco (as close as anyone can), she begins a journey of self-discovery that allows her to see the world in color again and also begin to paint.

I felt the writing was magical as Mackin blends fact with fiction to create this fascinating and tense novel. Schiap and Coco are major parts of the narrative, including facts like the much talked about incident when Coco accidentally-on purpose caused Schiap’s costume to catch fire while they were dancing, Coco's affair with Nazi officer Von Dincklage, Schiap's socialism, and more. But there's more to this story with fictional characters like Lily, Ania, Lily's brother Charlie, and Otto. As their stories overlap the iconic women, Mackin writes an absorbing and emotional novel that seems so realistic that I almost Googled Lily!

A fascinating, highly detailed novel that gives great insight into the fashion houses of the 1930s, the wonderful creativity of Chanel and Schiaparelli, descriptions of their clothing and accessories designs and of course, the impact of WWII. Highly recommended for fashion lovers and history lovers.

**Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Books for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.**

The fashion world in the 1930’s was largely ruled by two women: Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel. The two were different in style, politics, private lives, and temperament. So naturally the two hated one another and fought both verbally and physically. However, Schiaparelli and Chanel were two stylish, grandiose, larger-than-life figures who dominated everyone they came near. When they were together, it was a guarantee that sparks would fly. Jeanne Mackin explores the rivalry between the two fashion mavens in her novel The Last Collection, which is a fun novel that is drenched in juicy gossip, catty bitchiness, and elegant style.

In some ways, The Last Collection reminds me of Feud: Bette and Joan, the miniseries which explored the rivalry between Joan Crawford (Jessica Lange) and Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon) and how the two divas argued on the set of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane and off the set. In both, the rivalry between two colorful figures are explored as we learn they are more alike than they realize. What was true for Crawford and Davis is also true of Schiaparelli and Chanel at least through Mackin's writing.

Schiaparelli and Chanel are explored as a study in contrasts in the novel. Schiaparelli, called Schiap by her friends, is a warm, charming, eccentric figure. Chanel is more regal, polished, and standoffish. Schiaparelli favors a more whimsical fashion style using bold colors, embellishments such as animal and musical notes on her clothing, and hats shaped like shoes. Chanel’s look is more formal and sedate with dark colored early-era power suits and elegant gowns. Schiaparelli had one bad marriage and dotes on her sometimes exasperated daughter, Gogo. Chanel has no husband or child but plenty of lovers. Schiaparelli is a liberal socialist who loses clients because she refuses to serve people with Nazi ties. Chanel is more conservative and doesn't mind cozying up to German officials sometimes horizontally.

Despite their apparent differences, the two designers are also similar in many respects. They are both flashy characters who walk into a room as though they own everything and everybody inside. They are both strong-willed women of immense creative talent and business sense. They also share the aesthetic ideal that fashion is more than just pretty clothes and accessories. They see fashion as being indicative of someone's personal style that tells the world who that person is. They are also hot-tempered cutthroats who will do just about anything to get the better of each other.


With their extreme egos, overbearing flashiness, and penchant for drama, the two fashion designers go through extreme lengths in their rivalry. Schiaparelli takes great delight in stealing a high priced client from Chanel. Chanel retaliates by greeting Schiaparelli at a formal event with an embrace. Oh yeah and Schiaparelli is in front of some candles and Chanel can't resist leaning her rival ever so slightly closer to them. Well you can guess what happens next. (Reportedly, this incident was true to life.)

They also take verbal swipes at each other particularly after Chanel starts seeing a man with Nazi ties and Schiaparelli accuses her of being a collaborator. When the Designer Duo are together, one has the urge to call a lion tamer or a boxing match referee to force the two back into their corners until the next round.


Chanel and Schiaparelli are two bombastic larger-than-life personalities that dominate the novel so much that they overpower the other characters. To Mackin's credit, she wrote some interesting characters that contrast with them. Lily Sutter, the narrator, is a mousy recent widow visiting her wayward brother, Charlie, in Paris and gets swept up into the duo's fashion world by working for Schiaparelli as a window display designer, companion for Gogo, and a spy between the two fashion houses. In the process, Lily befriends both designers finding tenderness and vulnerabilities behind their facades.


Lily and her friends are well-rounded characters. Charlie is particularly charming as is his mistress, the elegant and married Ania. Lily also has some sweet moments with Otto, a German musician-turned-driver who is the farthest thing from a Nazi. In working closely with Schiaparelli and Chanel and becoming involved with Charlie's love life as well as her own, Lily learns to let go of her grief towards her husband's death and move on. In another novel, these characters would stand out and be the most memorable aspects. However, Chanel and Schiaparelli leave such a bold presence that everything else without them seems like filler. Heck, Willy Wonka would have a hard time standing out among these two.

The Last Collection is a fun stylish tour de force inside the world of fashion in pre-WWII France. Like an elegant gown, it stands out and just asks to be admired.

A unique perspective on WW II as we view it through the lens of fashion and color. Lily Sutter is a widow and her beloved brother invites her to visit him in Paris in 1938. She looks at the designs of Schiaparelli and Chanel with the eyes of an artist. The rivalry between the two fashion houses grows hotter as war draws near. The book is divided into three primary color sections inspired by the Mona Lisa: blue, red and yellow. It was well researched and will be a welcome addition to the world of historical fiction.

A big thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Essentially a story told by Lily Sutter, recently widowed American Artist, now teaching in a school for girls and the tangled connections she finds when meeting her younger brother in Paris just as Hitler is starting his rise to prominence. But overarching the story of the designers and their blood feud (yes, it got that bad) is the story of Lily and her witnessing the events, failings, struggles and dangers that will face them all as Hitler rises to power. Her brother Charlie, handsome, medical student, charming, and the last family Lily has left has fallen in love with a married woman in Paris – a woman who holds secrets and several intriguing connections for the time. But, her biggest input at the start is the introduction to the ateliers she can provide, particularly to that of Elsa Schiaparelli.

Instantly, Lily is drawn into the feud between Schiap and Chanel – while we all know the Chanel lines and symbols, Schiaparelli’s designs were filled with messages and humor, whimsical while still being relevant and beautiful: clothes that drew inspiration from the politics of the day and Schiap’s own particular history: raised in wealth in Italy, access to the best schooling and art, always feeling secure. This allowed her freedoms with color, a bit of a ‘thumb your nose’ at the traditional and more ‘staid’ color combinations of Chanel and other designers of the day. Through it all, Lily, trying to reignite her own artistic abilities and her own fascinations with color is drawn into friendships and schemes that involve the two.

Ultimately, the threat of Nazi Germany does prove to be too much for safety, with Charlie off to fight in the war after his assignation with Ania (married, wealthy, former mistress of a propaganda officer for the Nazis) and her task to keep Schiaparelli’s daughter Marie (also known as Gogo) safe from harm, she returns to the US, to start again. Different, changed yet ultimately more herself than she’d been since the loss of her husband.
This story winds through moments as if a mystery is there to be sorted, yet there is no doubt in the readers mind that with the omnipresent threat from the German occupation will cause great hardships, dangers and challenges, and not everyone will emerge unscathed or untouched. Insets of Paris, pre-and post-war, the fashion industry heyday in the late 1930’s when compared to post-war, the collaboration accusations and insinuations and the fates of all are present and while drawn from real life, the weight of these events, the power of constantly being on your guard and watching every move, word and action are brought home in very palpable ways in this book. I knew Schiaparelli from spending time in Paris and my Uncle’s discussion of the city and the glory pre-war, but these glimpses into two actual lives (Chanel and Schiaparelli) through the eyes of an outsider granted access was wonderfully gripping and enlightening.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-as6/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Wonderful book. I loved reading about the two famous fashion icons of the last century -- Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel. I confess that I didn't know about their feud and knew very little of the life of these ladies, other than Chanel's friendship with the Nazi occupiers. If you sense that my sympathies rested with Schiaparelli, you are correct.
I found the characters well-written and the protagonist, Lily, kept my interest. Supporting players were well represented.

Three primary colors....blue, red, yellow...are important part of this historical fiction about Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel. A story about fashion and politics and love--the three primaries, like the primary colors.
This is a story of Lily Cooper Sutton and her interaction with these 2 women pre-war Paris. I loved the author's use of descriptive color words plus the setting of pre-war Paris and the information regarding couture.

I'm so excited to share this title with you. I absolutely love Coco Chanel. I own at least a dozen books about her, and I WISH I could afford to buy a Chanel blouse or suit - thus, the books. Jeanne Mackin has written THE LAST COLLECTION (Berkley) and it centers on the rivalry between Coco and Elsa Schisparelli. You knew with all that success and brilliance, there had to be some drama and controversy.

Jeanne Mackin has written, THE LAST COLLECTION (Berkley), the very first in-depth look at the stranger-than-fiction rivalry between Coco Chanel and fellow designer Elsa Schiaparelli, and their battle for the soul of Parisian fashion.

Paris, 1938. Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli are fighting for recognition as the most successful and influential fashion designer in France, and their rivalry is already legendary. They oppose each other at every turn, in both their politics and their designs: Chanel’s are classic, elegant, and practical; Schiaparelli’s bold, experimental, and surreal.When Lily Sutter, a recently widowed young American teacher, visits her brother, Charlie, in Paris, he insists on buying her a couture dress—a Chanel. Lily, however, prefers a Schiaparelli. Charlie’s beautiful and socially prominent girlfriend soon begins wearing Schiaparelli’s designs as well, and much of Paris follows in her footsteps.
Schiaparelli offers budding artist Lily a job at her store, and Lily finds herself increasingly involved with Schiaparelli and Chanel’s personal war. Their fierce competition reaches new and dangerous heights as the Nazis and the looming threat of World War II bear down on Paris.

Among the most memorable true stories is a costume ball where Chanel lights Schiap on fire by dancing her into a flaming candelabrum. Mackin also exposes Chanel’s rumored affair with a Nazi and German collaboration.

Delicious!