The Last Collection was a fascinating and enthralling read.

Like most people I have heard of Coco Chanel but when I started reading this book I’d never heard of Elsa Schiaparelli before. I was quickly pulled into this interesting world of fashion, rivalries and politics. The book takes a look at their lives during a very contentious time during World War II, just before Paris was invaded. Schiaparelli and Chanel were both successful business women and were opposites in every aspect of their lives - from design philosophies to political leanings. They each approach the oncoming war in different ways all the while the rivalry between the two continues to grow and escalate throughout the story.

Jeanne Mackin created an interesting character with Lily Sutter who is an artist dealing with the loss of her husband and finds herself thrown into the center of this rivalry but somehow befriending the two designers who cannot stand one another. Telling the story from Lily’s perspective was fantastic because not only was her story interesting in itself but Lily’s relationship with both designers helped to create a better understanding of their backgrounds and what was driving both of these women. As the story unfolds it addresses the heartache of war and shares the changes to the fashion industry after the war.

This book was beautifully written and I would recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction and is interested in learning more about the history of fashion.

Fascinating look at pre-war Paris through the lens of an out-of-luck artist, recently widowed. The facr that she becomes the artist who paints the backdrops for the Elsa Schiaparelli fashion studio takes the reader into the world of high couture and high society in a mesmerizing story that includes the Nazi rise to power and the threat to Paris that develops in the run-up to WWII. Mackin’s descriptive abilities allowed me to see the creations in my mind’s eye. Likely to be a book club favorite. I will place the title on our community’s reading list.

I did not finish. It did not hold my interest at all. I won't be leaving a detailed review of this book. It was a major disappointment.

The French fashion industry becomes its own battleground as two women strive to become the foremost powerhouse in the world of women’s high couture. This tale plays out in the midst of the horrors of World War II and the German occupation of Paris while one American woman gets caught up in the rivalry between Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli that spans political, social and fashionable venues.

Slightly dark, the feeling of tension plays throughout as Lily Sutter, a young widow becomes both a pawn and a friend to both women in completely different ways. THE LAST COLLECTION by Jeanne Mackin is intense, basing the fabric of a fictionalized tale from the threads of reality.

Powerful in its telling, these characters come to life through rich detail and attention to the emotional upheaval caused by the jagged edges of the glitz of glamor juxtaposed against the drama of war.

I certainly cannot call this an upbeat read, there was a feeling of “grayness” throughout that tempers the atmosphere and brings out the personal dramas of humanity in a time of world chaos nor does it bring out the best view of many of these characters as a war wages around them.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley!

Publisher: Berkley (June 25, 2019)
Publication Date: June 25, 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Print Length: 352 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

The Last Collection was an interesting read. With characters like the real Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, and the second World War as a backdrop I found myself often making notes to look up things that I didn't know to see if they were real events and people or fictional. Paris being the city on my bucket list was alive in color. Our main character and her brother were sometimes not as fleshed out as I would have liked but the book continued to get better and better. All in all a solid 4 out of 5 stars!

Coco Chanel and her rival Elsa Schiaparelli are at war as their beloved Paris steels itself for war and German occupation. They will do just about anything to capture the couture crown as well as survive in this deadly game. With the war on their doorstep, they, as well as their friends, clients, and employees, must choose sides and that choice may determine their survival. This is an intimate look at pre-war Paris and all the glitter and the reality for some. The clothes, the parties and of course in its center the glamorous Ritz. Jeanne Macklin expertly blends fact with the persona of the times - false gaiety and the tough bravado of these women who were seemingly in control of their lives yet in reality always one step away from disaster. This is the perfect companion to Melanie Benjamin's MISTRESS OF THE RITZ with the crossover characters. I guarantee that after reading this you will look up their designs - breathtaking. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

As a huge fan of historical fiction, especially this specific time period, the cover immediately caught my attention. I think the majority of people know who Coco Chanel is at least by name. Elsa Schiaparelli was someone I didn't know, so going into this I had no preconceived notions about the actual history of these rivals. I love that the author combined history, rivalry, and even politics in such a richly written book. Emotions are tugged at. Fans of historical fiction will want to put this on your to read shelf..

4.5 stars

The Last Collection chronicles the careers and rivalry between Coco Chanel and Else Schiaparelli beginning in Paris at the start of World War 2. Polar opposites in almost every way, the two women find themselves pitted against each other in their competition to rule the French fashion industry during the glamorous 1930s and 1940s. Chanel favored a more tailored and elegant look while Schiap (as she was known to many) chose to make statements with her designs and often experimented with avant-garde and daring looks.

Mackin creates a fictional character, American Lily Sutter, to tell the story of the two fashion designers which works effectively. Lily works for Schiap in Paris, but also has a connection to Chanel through her brother and his married girlfriend so she is able to provide fabulous tales and insights about both of the women and the fashion industry itself. In the background of the designers’ stories is the Nazi threat and Germany’s eventual occupation of Paris.

The Last Collection is an in-depth tale of a glamorous, dangerous, and fascinating time period in Paris, and Mackin’s attention to detail and lyrical prose bring Chanel and Schiap to life in a gorgeous and riveting manner.

The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel
By
Jeanne Mackin

Paris, 1938. Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli are fighting for recognition as the most successful and influential fashion designers in France.
Mackin captures the infamous rivalry between Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli in politics and couture. Chanel’s designs are classic, elegant, and practical; Schiaparelli is bold, experimental, and surreal. The story revolves around the main character Lily Sutter, a recently widowed young American teacher who visits her brother, Charlie in Paris and he takes her to Chanel to buy her a couture dress. Lily prefers Schiaparelli’s designs. Lily is introduced to Schiaparelli's designs by Charlie’s girlfriend. Schiaparelli offers budding artist Lily a job at her store, and Lily finds herself increasingly involved with Schiaparelli. This is a captivating novel and the author describes Paris from 1938 and during World War 2 and the intense rivalry between Chanel and Schiaparelli in vivid scenes.

This is definitely going to be an easy 'sell' for my patrons since it combines fashion, art and the months leading up to WWII. I'm very excited about this book because I love historical fiction like so many of the patrons I interact with at the library.

Reading this novel makes me want to look up these beautiful clothes that are being described but at the same time, I don't want to put the book down long enough to do that. I love reading about Paris. Lily is a very nuanced, multi-layered main character. Her life takes so many twists and turns. Definitely an enjoyable read.

When Lily, a young widow and artist, visits her brother in Paris, she is instantly thrust into the fashion world when she must decide if she prefers a Schiaparelli or Chanel dress. While Chanel is classy and feminine, Schiaparelli is imaginative and bold. Lily, drawn to Schiaparelli, finds herself staying in Paris and eventually working with her. Despite her preference for Schiaparelli clothes, she finds a friendship with Chanel.

This was a well written and interesting book. All of the characters were dynamic and realistic. I loved how the story wove historical figures in with the fictional characters. The book was well paced and well presented. Overall, well worth picking up.

5/5 ⭐️

So I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m not much into fashion and fashion designers, but this held my attention. The alternating timeline was a nice touch to add some depth. I’m surprised how much the mcs had to struggle to where she got to.

Lily travels to Paris in 1938 at the invitation of her brother, Charlie, decides to stay there, and finds work with Elsa Schiaparelli painting backgrounds for displays at her salon as well as a friendship of sorts with Schiap's rival, Coco Chanel. She gradually begins to recover from the death of her husband through her work, friendships and painting. Jeanne Mackin tells a vibrant and well-researched story of fashion, politics and love, using primary colors of blue, red and yellow as themes.

To sat that Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel didn't like each other would be an understatement. An American woman comes to Paris at her brother's request and meets both ladies. The rivalry between the fashion divas, the Nazi soldiers who begin to be more and more prominent in Paris, and a young woman's quest to find her way after sudden widowhood are just a few of the threads of The Last Collection. Historical fiction can be tricky - you have to accurately portray the time period as well as make the characters interesting enough for the reader to care. The Last Collection skillfully does both.

I couldn't finish the electronic copy of The Last Collection by Jeanne Mackin I received to review because I found a discrepancy pretty early in the book so, unfortunately, I won't be reviewing it.

Thank you.
Wendy Ward
http://wendyrward.tumblr.com/

Is there such a thing as literary fanfiction? There may be now! In The Last Collection, readers get to meet and become friends with two fashion icons, Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli. The protagonist of this evocative story is Lily and she tells us the events of the Paris of 1938 to 1939 in the first person which gives us a feeling of immediacy and connection with all of the characters in the book, real and fictional.

As the author tells us in her interesting and informative notes at the end of the book,
“The 1930’s was a golden age of couture and it was dominated by one city: Paris, and the city was dominated by two women: Chanel and Schiaparelli. Into a world of fabulous soirées, over-the-top costume balls, and quiet moments at the bar at the Ritz comes Lily, an American teaching art in England. She has received a cryptic telegram from her brother, requesting her to meet him at 2 pm at a café in Paris. She goes and her quiet, sad life changes just as quickly as the mannequins change outfits at the couture houses.

From the title of the book, to the foreshadowing in the story, we know that the Paris of 1938-1939 will not last long. Even as the characters clutch at the beauty and joy of Paris, they are also scheming- can the Nazi Von Dincklage (a real person) save Coco Chanel or his other lover who is a beautiful Jewish women? Can Schiaparelli save her daughter? And what of Lily’s own love affair? Lily’s friendship with both designers grows and so does her ability to handle life.

The detail and writing in this book is exquisite. From a study of the primary colors, to the operation of the designing world, to how the museums of Paris saved their artwork, the book is absorbing and moving. Did you know that ‘copy houses’ hired ‘sketchers’ to act as spies during fashion shows? They had to be able observe, memorize and then draw the new fashions certain to sell well, when no one was looking. A good sketcher could earn as much as 400 francs from a single two-hour showing of a collection. Fascinating.

The author gives us just as much insight into the creative vision and design abilities of Chanel and Schiaparelli. I would have loved to have seen photos or drawing of their creations. Imagine-a shoe hat! This book benefits from the literary style of writing and from the powerful depictions of the main characters. My only slight disappointment was that the book ended so suddenly. Highly recommend.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the review copy. This is my honest review.

THE LAST COLLECTION by Jeanne Mackin
I was fascinated by the personalities of Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli and the intricacies of Haute Couture and politics in Paris just before and during WWII. But I was also intrigued by the daily life of various classes of people (upper class, middle class, merchants, professionals, wage workers, spies, artists, military, etc.) during that same period. Even the Ritz Hotel and the various cafes became a part of the story.
I was so curious about the gowns being designed, constructed and worn that I looked them up on Google. Yes, they are all there! I hope the finished book has photographs of Lily’s first Schiaparelli dress and the “tree” costume.
At first I thought this would be just another mildly interesting romance with clothes. I was delightedly mistaken. THE LAST COLLECTION is well worth your reading time and would be a good choice for book groups.
5 of 5 stars

The Last Collection is a story about a rivalry between two fashion designers. The book is added to in that it takes place in Paris during the outbreak of WWII. It is told from the perspective of an American who happens to be there. I found this book interesting and I learned a lot.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

A young artist and widow, Lily Sutter, finds herself in the center of a great rivalry between designers Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli in Paris, France in 1938. As she befriends both women, she learns more about them and their past as war looms around them.

I absolutely loved this book. The feud between Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli is described to perfection while Lily sits on the sidelines, being a neutral bystander. Amidst their rivalry, the threat of World War II brings tension to the story. This beautifully written story is difficult to put down and yet you do not want it to end. I highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction.

The Last Collection is an artfully written unique take on a WWII historical fiction story. It focuses on the art, specifically the fashion, during this time period. The famous clothing designers, Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, were rival designers and this book examines the dynamic between the two set alongside the impact of war in France. I found myself researching quite a bit while reading this story because I was honestly fascinated by it all. I immensely enjoyed reading this book. If you love fashion and historical fiction then this is a must for you! I loved how well written and original the story was.