Empresses of Seventh Avenue is a non-fiction deep dive into the role of the United States in the business of fashion, particularly in the first half of the twentieth century. As the wars in Europe raged, designers, editors, journalists, department store managers, and other tastemakers in the U.S. stepped up and finally gave Paris serious competition.

This is a fascinating read, filled with details about the private and professional lives of women who aren’t famous outside of their field. It’s really interesting to see how far the U.S. has come—from mostly copying French designers to a country that creates and cultivates its own talent. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in fashion as both an art and a business.

🎧 Audiobook Notes: This book is narrated by Gail Shalan, who does an excellent job with the narration, including the pronunciation of French words and names.

Disclaimer: An ALC (advanced listening copy) of Empresses of Seventh Avenue was provided by Macmillan Audio for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.