Book Review: The Dress Thief by Natalie Meg Evans

MY Synopsis

Imagine This: It’s 1930s, Germany is waging war over Spain and Paris is still the heart of haute couture on the globe. Think Chanel, Think Hermes. And think you, with dreams of establishing your own successful fashion brand.

You might not have the income, or a lover as in Coco Chanel’s case, but you sure do have talent. And you are looking for that one little break to shoot through the ranks of fashion’s elite. But dreams and talents do not put breakfast on the table of you and your fragile grandma, shitty jobs do.

Then suddenly, a task falls in your lap. Your boyfriend has managed to pull a gig that would grant you the opportunity to be all that you want. The task? Copy the whole spring-summer collection of a renowned fashion house. Every detail. Down to every thread. The result? So thousands of fakes could swamp the New York ready market for cheap counterfeit couture. The prize? A lot of money.

It’s all a very easy-task when you are plunged in the fashion house to act as mole.

But things wouldn’t be as easy as you assumed. Because you might find it difficult to gain the trust of this theatrical designer, you might be fighting off the advances of one model’s dangerous boyfriend, you might be having your thoughts constantly wrapped around an English Adonis reporter who promises a second date but disappears, you might face the threat of being arrested by the fashion police. And as though all the above isn’t scary enough, there’s a killer on your tail, threatening to make you disappear if his demands are not reached.

In a world of lies, deceit, hatred, love and haute couture Alix Gower must keep her head in the game or lose it––literally.

MY REVIEW

I loved, loved this book. So you know in my review I’d be yelling at you to go get it.

Girl wants to succeed in fashion, Girl is giving the most treacherous task, Girl needs to keep her mind focused on her family, a possible love life and her life if she wants to live long enough to be a name on every fashion enthusiast’s list. Amazing strory-line! Who really doesn’t want to read about 1930s popular culture teamed with some good, old vintage love story? A star to the story-line. ── ★

An enchanting heroine! Alix Gower might not be today’s it-girl, but she sure is a force for the Kardashian sisters to reckon with (except when you consider the bootay). You’d love her passion to survive in the cutthroat world of fashion, you’d love her sense to pick the style of clothes down to every detail metres away, you’d love her artistic talent to design something fresh, and her ability to predict future trends. Not to portray her as a die-hard, fashion girl––which she is, you’d be enthralled by her curiosity to tie-up the bits and pieces of her shattered past, and her intelligence. A star to the lead. ── ★★

A terrifyingly addictive plot! You wouldn’t want to put this book down. All through it, you’d be swishing from foot to foot to let go of this book so you could go spend the rest of the holiday festivities with your family. High levels of suspense and intrigue to get you flipping for more even though you’ve completed your reading limit for the day. ── ★★★

Marvellous supporting cast! There’s Verrian, the hot English reporter who would never call in time for a second date. There’s Monsieur Javier, the theatrical talented fashion designer. There’s Mémé, the secretive grandmother who worries Alix is quitting a shitty job for a shittier one with long hours and peanuts as salary just to chase her dream. There’s Bonnet, the artist friend who’s bad enough to keep a secret after a little pint. There’s Madame Rey, the nosy concierge who probes too much into Alix’ love life. There’s Serge Mantel, the persistent model’s boyfriend who has very strange tastes in bed.  Madame Kiplin, who reminds you of a pretentious socialite known to wear only counterfeits. Rosa, the landlady with witty sayings and quotes who deserves a twitter account. Loads of other characters that are amazingly developed. ── ★★★★

Humour ── ★★★★★

My rating: Obviously a five/five star book. And it’s not every debut you could label a five-star read so applause to Natalie Meg Evans.

Natalie Meg Evans' fabulous debut is available on amazon.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about the hip, vintage world of the 1930s, anyone who wants a title laden with suspense and intrigue and anyone who wants a story with an engaging lead enough to keep you awake through 500 pages.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on goodreads.

Review + Giveaway: Tongue In Chic by Kristie Clements

Blurb:  An eye-opening account of all that is tantalising and addictive in the crazy world of high fashion.

Following in the stiletto heels of her bestselling The Vogue Factor, Kirstie Clements' Tongue in Chic is a witty and salacious exposé of the world of glossy fashion magazines - a tell-all by the ultimate insider.

True events revolve around the fictitious Chic magazine, where an average day involves counting calories (preferably other people's), masterful justification of spending half an annual salary on a blue fox fur, and keeping a kohl-lined eye on the competition.

Tongue in Chic delivers an eye-opening account of all that is tantalising and addictive in the crazy world of high fashion.

Note from the author: The characters and scenarios in this book are drawn from a career that spanned over twenty-five years, and are a hybrid of the many people I encountered over this period. They do not refer to any specific individual. All dates, names and titles have been changed, combined and exaggerated. Slightly.

Imagine this: You are EIC of a hip fashion magazine. Judging tomorrow’s trends are your thing. Pulling down your contact lenses below your nose and giving an employee the “What the fuck do you have on look?” seems like a pastime. And whenever there’s a trace of fat on anyone you know, you are quick to point it out “Hey, I hope that slab is a just a tummy tuck gone awry.”

At least that’s what people perceive you to be. The Devil.

But you are not really so.

You might wear Prada, attend all the Prêt-á-porter shows in all the fashion capitals sitting front row with your signature brocade skirt, a stole and an accessory that would give your outfit an oomph to look so-this-season, dine and wine with celebrities and fashion’s elite. But then, what if there’s more to being just an EIC of the world’s most prestigious fashion brand people wouldn’t ever find out until you tell?

 

This book is a winner!! All my life, you all regulars on this blog know my only dream is to be the Editor In Chief of a hip, fashionable men’s magazine (GQ, all the way!), so you can’t even imagine how I related to this book. I don’t see why fashion lovers wouldn’t absolutely gush over this book over a diet coke. It’s all you would expect a book super-packed with fashion to be. And the reading experience is even more tantalizing when you find out you are really holding non-fiction.── ★

Was I frightened when before I picked this book? Hell, yes! A part of me felt I wouldn’t be able to love it given it’s non-fiction and all. But I tell you, I loved, loved the writing style. It was so effortless and didn’t even feel like it was a non-fiction title. It felt like a breezy fiction title but with more density and had more of the feel-good factor given that you were assured what you were reading are facts!── ★★

This book is deliciously insightful. Everything, just everything you would want to know about being the EIC of a hip fashion magazine. The constant fears of being in the digital age with print dying out fast; the managers who made it seem taking trips to exotic locations for photo shoots was just another chance for you to jet off on an all-expense paid holiday; the fashion bloggers giving you a run for your money posting everything on the internet; the models who get thinner and thinner every year on the runways; the bid to ace that celeb before your rival magazine got her on their covers instead; the constant battle between you and your rivals; the interviewees who for some reason thought working in a magazine like Chic was a sure way to get free stuff; the employees who against all odds would jet off with that vintage Jean Paul Gaultier gown to wear for their own weddings; the strict office diet-watchers who are quick to call a model on a little gained fat; the fashion week outfit dilemmas you only thought present in the movies; the talk of who has done what (to their faces) and with whom; the managers that keep cutting the number of staff; the husband that keeps sending you emails whenever your child is sick and for some Paris Fashion Week you cannot fly back.; All the dilemma that’s being overshadowed by the world’s perception of your glitzy and glamorous job just because you happen to be spotted wearing a simple Balenciaga boot (that would later snap in the presence of fashion’s most obeyed elite). All these would sure get you asking “How does she do it?” It’s not like you do not do anyway but, this time the question would be out of realization than sheer amazement (because you’ve read the facts).── ★★★

Again, towards the end, there was this dense theme of happiness that cropped up that I really liked. At the end of the day, all that matters is whether you enjoy your profession considering all the perks, the lows and the perceptions. “Is it all worth it?” we mostly ask ourselves when deep in thought. This factor added some substance to this work.── ★★★★

I’m not supposed to bring this but: The uncertain end was what made this book the star that it is for me. It gives you, the reader, the opportunity to fill in the blank spaces and answer the “So what is she going to do next?” question on your own.── ★★★★★ (Answers you might find out if you follow @kristieclements on twitter.)

I am giving this book a five star!

Kristie Clement’s fantastic and fashionably delicious work, Tongue In Chic, is available on Amazon. If you are like me who would grab her debut, The Vogue Factor, you can find it here.

Melbourne University Publishing is giving away…a Rafflecopter giveaway .

I recommend this to anybody who has some ties to the world of fashion or not. Anyone who still keeps up their subscription to all the glossies or not. Anyone who fancies reading something fixed a little stronger than fiction. Anyone who would love to send me an email to gush about titles, should get this! Surely, it’s the one book to make centerpiece for your brunch table.

 
My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads.