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Empresses of Seventh Avenue: World War II, New York City, and the Birth of American Fashion

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A NEW YORK TIMES MOST ANTICIPATED • "Reads like a work of fiction, but remarkably, it's all true" (Airmail) • In the tradition of The Barbizon and The Girls of Atomic City, fashion historian and journalist Nancy MacDonell chronicles the untold story of how the Nazi invasion of France gave rise to the American fashion industry. Calvin Klein. Ralph Lauren. Donna Karan. Halston. Marc Jacobs. Tom Ford. Michael Kors. Tory Burch. Today, American designers are some of the biggest names in fashion, yet before World War II, they almost always worked anonymously. The industry, then centered on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, had always looked overseas for "inspiration"―a polite phrase for what was often blatant copying―because style, as all the world knew, came from Paris. But when the Nazis invaded France in 1940, the capital of fashion was cut off from the rest of the world. The story of the chaos and tragedy that followed has been told many times―but how it directly affected American fashion is largely unknown. Defying the naysayers, New York-based designers, retailers, editors, and photographers met the moment, turning out clothes that were perfectly suited to the American way of life: sophisticated, modern, comfortable, and affordable. By the end of the war, "the American Look" had been firmly established as a fresh, easy elegance that combined function with style. But none of it would have happened without the influence and ingenuity of a small group of women who have largely been lost to history. Empresses of Seventh Avenue will tell the story of how these extraordinary women put American fashion on the world stage and created the template for modern style―and how the nearly $500 billion American fashion industry, the largest in the world, could not have accrued its power and wealth without their farsightedness and determination. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Press


Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 27, 2024


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250288738


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 38


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.19 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.55 x 1.15 x 9.5 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #96,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #91 in Fashion History #121 in Fashion Design #158 in Women in History


#91 in Fashion History:


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Witty and Bold Women
Review Image by Calder Calder
Review Image by Calder Calder
You will be engaged in history following the witty and bold women who shaped American fashion. The insightful author uses descriptive detail and well constructed chapters to lead you through a part of our history that is fascinating. This is not a fashion photography / coffee table book. It is chock full of surprising facts and characters which make it a great read! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2025 by Calder Calder
    • fascinating history of American Fashion
Fascinating history of American designers and the development of retail ready to wear. I was disappointed that there were pages and pages of footnotes when I wanted to see some photos of the designers and their clothes.
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2025 by Ashopper--this product is terrible and potentially dangerous. Imeediately began shedding fine granular substance that got all over every thing nearby. Useless.
    • Stories behind American Fashion: A great read!
The business of fashion started not so long ago and fashion historian and journalist Nancy MacDonell provides insights and an engaging chronicle of all the ways powerhouse American women were behind the rise of American fashion during World War II, when Parisian design houses were compromised by the Nazi invasion of France. With her usual wit and depth of knowledge (and clever insertion of just the right amount of insider gossip that she's unearthed in her research), MacDonell gives the reader the landscape of the people, stores, magazines and companies who launched American fashion. This is an engaging read for everyone interested in the history of style as well as the history of that era in time. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2025 by Donna B
    • Fun Read But Inaccurate Title
When I picked up this book, I thought I was purchasing a history of NY's Seventh Avenue. While engaging, well-written, and a good read, the title should be changed. The book's subject is not the garment industry but the geopolitical shift that caused fashion design to relocate to New York. I hope this author will write another book about the needle trade in New York. Another thing--no pics. A book about dress design requires photos. I wonder why they were excluded. It's probably cost-cutting by the publisher, but it's a shame. Still, it's a good and fun read, and MacDonell has done an excellent job of telling her story even though it's not the one her title suggests. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2024 by Kindle Customer
    • Profoundly inspiring and an important read
Profoundly inspiring stories that have shaped American fashion, honoring the trailblazing women of that era in such a way that will keep their stories and legacies alive for another 85 years. Nancy is a brilliant writer and one of the few fashion historians with a modern lens. There’s no one better suited to share these compelling tales. All would be proud. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2025 by Brittany Ewing
    • MARVELOUS BOOK
Nancy MacDonell is one of the best writers of fashion history. This book has Nancy at her best, delving into American fashion in a way that showcases her deep knowledge of the subject. Nancy's writing is at once informative and engaging. Fantastic book. If you like this book, you'll love her column in the Wall Street Journal where she explains the genesis of the Polka Dot or the history if the "It Bag". ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2025 by libby
    • Good story but needed pictures
I enjoyed this book. The stories were interesting and the writing was good. But how do you write a book about fashion and not have PICTURES????
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2025 by KBS
    • A book about art and design without a single photograph or illustration??????
This is actually an interesting book about the evolution of fashion from Louis XIV and the development of the haute couture French Legend through post-war America's own growth as a fashion powerhouse standing on it's own with the American take on fashion - less fussy, more useful, but still chic. HOWEVER, there is not a single photograph or illustration. I think it detracts 100% from the value of the book. Who would publish a book about any artist or designer - landscape, fashion, painting, architecture - without any illustrations? ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2024 by Hannah Joy

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