Fashion in Paris and New York City during WWII
Empresses of Seventh Avenue
World War II, New York City, and the Birth of American Fashion
by Nancy MacDonell, August 27, 2024, St. Martin's Press, NetGalley
Description
Fashion historian and journalist Nancy MacDonell chronicles the untold story of how the Nazi invasion of France gave rise to the American fashion industry.
The fall of Paris to the Nazis in WWII had a profound effect on the French Legend, the belief that all women in Europe and America wanted only French couture and fashion. With Paris shut down and shut off during the war, American designers came into their own.
My comments:
When Paris was taken over by the Nazis in WWII, that famous capital of
high fashion began a decline that was filled by American couturiers who
had previously relied on the French to lead the way in fashion, no longer only copying
their styles and looking to Paris for their inspiration, Starting
September 1940, American designers began to shine on their own and by 1945 American fashion
began to rival that of France, and New York began to challenge Paris as the capital of high fashion.
This amazing historical novel on the growth and emergence of American
fashion shows the rise of "democratic" principles in the fashion world -
American designers began creating couture for all types of women.
Sportswear, ready-to-wear clothes, and mix and match outfits became the
new styles for America and signaled a new era of fashion.
This book tells the story of how the Americans could move forward
without Paris, for once disregarding the French Legend as the one and
only source of haute couture. The first American designers of note are the "empresses of Seventh Avenue." These included Eleanor Lambert, first superstar fashion publicist; Claire McCardell, creator of American sportswear; designer Elizabeth Hawes, among several others.
An important book for fashion lovers and for those interested in this
aspect of American history, the book details the lives and stories of
little remembered designers and couturiers in America who were important
to American fashion. A fascinating book that is well worth reading.
What are you reading/watching this week?
Memes: Paris in July 2024, The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, Sunday Salon, and Stacking the Shelves
Fashion historian and journalist Nancy MacDonell chronicles the untold story of how the Nazi invasion of France gave rise to the American fashion industry.
The fall of Paris to the Nazis in WWII had a profound effect on the French Legend, the belief that all women in Europe and America wanted only French couture and fashion. With Paris shut down and shut off during the war, American designers came into their own.
My comments:
When Paris was taken over by the Nazis in WWII, that famous capital of
high fashion began a decline that was filled by American couturiers who
had previously relied on the French to lead the way in fashion, no longer only copying
their styles and looking to Paris for their inspiration, Starting
September 1940, American designers began to shine on their own and by 1945 American fashion
began to rival that of France, and New York began to challenge Paris as the capital of high fashion.
This amazing historical novel on the growth and emergence of American
fashion shows the rise of "democratic" principles in the fashion world -
American designers began creating couture for all types of women.
Sportswear, ready-to-wear clothes, and mix and match outfits became the
new styles for America and signaled a new era of fashion.
This book tells the story of how the Americans could move forward
without Paris, for once disregarding the French Legend as the one and
only source of haute couture. The first American designers of note are the "empresses of Seventh Avenue." These included Eleanor Lambert, first superstar fashion publicist; Claire McCardell, creator of American sportswear; designer Elizabeth Hawes, among several others.
An important book for fashion lovers and for those interested in this
aspect of American history, the book details the lives and stories of
little remembered designers and couturiers in America who were important
to American fashion. A fascinating book that is well worth reading.
What are you reading/watching this week?
Memes: Paris in July 2024, The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, Sunday Salon, and Stacking the Shelves
