Review: The Last Collection

Title: The Last Collection

Author: Jeanna Mackin

Release Date: June 25, 2019

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: Paris, 1938. Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli are fighting for recognition as the most successful and influential fashion designer in France, and their rivalry is already legendary. They oppose each other at every turn, in both their politics and their designs: Chanel's are classic, elegant, and practical; Schiaparelli's bold, experimental, and surreal. When Lily Sutter, a recently widowed young American teacher, visits her brother, Charlie, in Paris, he insists on buying her a couture dress--a Chanel. Lily, however, prefers a Schiaparelli. Charlie's beautiful and socially prominent girlfriend soon begins wearing Schiaparelli's designs as well, and much of Paris follows in her footsteps. Schiaparelli offers budding artist Lily a job at her store, and Lily finds herself increasingly involved with Schiaparelli and Chanel's personal war. Their fierce competition reaches new and dangerous heights as the Nazis and the looming threat of World War II bear down on Paris.

My Review: This book was a fascinating look at two of fashions greatest icons at a time when the world was facing the upheaval of World War Two and the Nazis. The story of the feud between Chanel and Schiaparelli isn’t one that I had of, though admittedly I don’t pay too much attention to fashion. That being said I really enjoyed the story. It was beautifully written and flowed nicely. I thought the character development was well done and the story held my interest. The only thing I didn’t really like was Lily as a character. Her main point in the novel was to be the bridge to tell the story of the two fashion greats, so her story got overshadowed and I wasn’t as interested in it as I might have been.

*I received this book from Berkley Publishing in exchange for an honest review*