I adore historical fiction, and that goes doubly for a book based in fashion history. The Last Collection is one of my favourite books (and audiobooks), and when I saw that the author Jeanne Mackin had recommended it, I knew I needed to read it! Lucile was one of the most influential couturiers of the early twentieth century but is largely forgotten now- her fascinating life has been brought back into the spotlight. A Dress of Violet Taffeta is one of 2022’s best books and a must-read for any historical fiction fan this summer!
Thank you to the author, Tessa Arlen, and Austenprose PR for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Who Is Lucile?
If the name Lucile sounds somewhat familiar to you, it might be because you read my Style History on her. In the second half of her life, she was largely known for escaping the Titanic and the resulting legal and social chaos. However, her life was so much more than that. Now, onto the main attraction…
A Dress of Violet Taffeta, Tessa Arlen
Lucy Duff Gordon knows she is talented. She sees color, light, and texture in ways few people can begin to imagine. But is the male dominated world of haute couture, who would use her art for their own gain, ready for her?
When she is deserted by her wealthy husband, Lucy is left penniless with an aging mother and her five-year-old daughter to support. Desperate to survive, Lucy turns to her one true talent to make a living. As a little girl, the dresses she made for her dolls were the envy of her group of playmates. Now, she uses her creative designs and her remarkable eye for color to take her place in the fashion world—failure is not an option.
Then, on a frigid night in 1912, Lucy’s life changes once more, when she becomes one of 706 people to survive the sinking of the Titanic. She could never have imagined the effects the disaster would have on her fashion label Lucile, her marriage to her second
husband, and her legacy. But no matter what life throws at her, Lucy will live on as a trailblazing and innovative fashion icon, never letting go of what she worked so hard to earn.
Why You Should Read This…
Fashion history can be a tough subject to base a piece of fiction on. We know the hallmarks and signatures of designers like Lucile so well, and it is easy to see if the author has done their research. Arlen has done more than her fair share of research with this book. She has brought Lucile’s life alive again, and done it with no small amount of skill.
Although her first and second marriages are obviously featured in the book, I loved that Arlen focused on Lucile’s career and relationships with women, particularly her assistant and friend, Celia. Having several chapters from Celia’s POV not only gives us insight into their relationship and business, it also helped to flesh out this Edwardian world for me. Given that she was essentially invisible in her own world, she is able to see many things that Lucile would not have been able to, and it is crucial for world-building.
I will admit, I went into this book having an idea of how the sinking of the Titanic would be written but I was happily surprised. “Seeing” the ship and the events from Lucile’s perspective brought it into a new light for me.
If you are a fan of Downton Abbey or The Gilded Age, A Dress of Violet Taffeta is the perfect book for you!
Is A Dress of Violet Taffeta on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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