Set in the fashion capital of 1938 Paris, we follow the rivalry between 2 fashion icons, Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, as they each strive to be recognized as the most influential designer. This book is filled with elegance, whimsy, and extravagance, juxtaposed with a world that is at war as the Nazis march closer to this glittering city. Additionally, this story is about Lily Cooper who is a young widow striving to find herself in this new city. Lily is an artist and finds herself within the inner circle of these two feuding designers.


The Last Collection is not so much about the couture fashion designs but more about loyalty, purpose, and rebirth. With World War II looming, this book just became more compelling.
I just loved Mackin’s depiction of Paris in the late 1930’s. She made everything come to life in rich color. There is so much layer in this book. It is colorful, fascinating and is absolute perfection!

Color has never been more vividly used to describe emotions, as they are in this book. Set in Paris before the Germans invaded the city, the story is about two rivals in the fashion industry. From the first page, in which blue was described, as sadness, as well as fulfillment and joy, I was captivated. The author drew me into a world I had never traveled before.. It is a well written, and engaging story.

Color theory provides context for an artist who experiences the loss of her husband and begins to restart her life and World War II threatens to destroy her rebirth. All this with the petty battle of Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, two fashion icons of the era. While the use of the word frock dominates the first section of the book, clothes become less important and finding place and purpose. Slow to start, but allow the allure of Paris to bring you back to the spark of life that can restart the most difficult times.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Great historical fiction about Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel. I learned a great deal about their positions during the war and about their personal lives. This is an interesting and enlightening novel.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, I want to note that I tackled Jeanne Mackin’s The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel as a buddy read with one of my favorite fellow book bloggers. Magdalena reviews books at A Bookaholic Swede and if you haven’t done so already, I really recommend checking her site out. She’s a prolific reader and has a great catalog of honest reviews spanning a variety of genres.

Having said that, I have to say I’m at odds with this book. I loved much of what Mackin chose to incorporate, but I often felt the various elements of the story existed in competition with rather than in compliment of one another.

The rivalry between Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli was wonderfully drawn and I was impressed with how intriguing it proved despite my decidedly limited understanding of high fashion. Long story short, it would be a mistake to classify this novel as a niche interest fiction especially when one considers the enormity of the politics that grow to characterize and influence this formidable competition.

Lily provided a wonder emotional note to the narrative, but I didn’t think her role as intrinsic as other readers. Her arc is compelling and allowed Mackin to explore lovely parallels between fine art and fashion design, but it felt tagged onto something that didn’t need her at its center.

A solid story with intriguing themes but not a compulsive page-turner. I loved the ideas and concepts of this piece but struggled to appreciate it as a single and comprehensive story.

I love when I read a book and it makes me stop and google what I’m reading about. This historical fiction novel about the rivalry between Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli set against the backdrop of 1930’s Paris leading into World War II is one of those books.
Jeanne Mackin uses character Lily Cooper as her vehicle to tell the story. Lily is a young recently widowed American whose brother Charlie invites her to Paris to visit him. Through Charlie’s starcrossed lover Ania, she gains entry into high class Parisian society- and into a acquaintanceship with Chanel and Schiaparelli.
The descriptive detail of Elsa’s design genius came to life for me. I also kept finding myself thinking “I need to go back to Paris” as i read Mackin’s lush descriptions of Paris.
Fashion isn’t something that normally interests me, but Mackin's thorough research helped me to understand how Elsa used fashion as art and as protest. I loved learning more about fascinating Coco Chanel as well.
I really liked this book and I am giving it 4.5 stars. Be sure to read Mackin’s notes at the end of the book as well!

Lily is swept up in the couture fashion world in Paris as WWII looms when her brother, Charlie, introduces her to his paramour Ania, a socialite. Lily meets two fashion rivals: Schiaparelli and Chanel, both of whom open up to her about their feud, fears and political alliances. Lily's artistic abilities allow her a position in House Schiaparelli where she designs window displays, but is also tasked with observing and keeping tabs on House Chanel. Politics and loyalties become a big part of this story as half of Paris is denying their city's approaching involvement in the War, while others are seeing the writing on the wall and preparing to escape. Although this is a very much a fictionalized account of the Chanel and Schiaparelli feud, the foundation of the story is factual. Interesting read not only for the days preceding WWII, but for a perspective on high fashion and its cultural importance.

A story of strong women and rivalry and the choices that are made to survive and thrive in the Paris fashion scene. Told through the eyes of an American who lands in Paris to escape sadness and rebuild her life as Europe begins to fall apart.

This is a so-so novel about two fashion designers at the beginnings of WWII. It seems very well-researched, but the pacing was slow-going. I did like the imagined American caught up in their competition, but the women themselves were more concerned with their images than the seriousness of the impending war.

this is NOT the right book -- can you please double check the content.

We want to review about Chanel not this one

This is NOT a review but have no other way to provide feedback.

Sara