EMPRESSES OF SEVENTH AVENUE World War II, New York City, and the Birth of American Fashion

From the time of Louis XIV's Versailles through the 1930s, the world of fashion was dominated by the French. Gail Shalan narrates this fascinating account of the dramatic and permanent changes in the industry instigated by the Nazi invasion of Paris in 1940. Women were most influential in the birth of New York's Seventh Avenue as the heart of new fashion. Shalan describes the designers, couturiers, journalists, and fashion buyers, sometimes colleagues but often rivals, whose creativity sparked the popularity of American style. Shalan adds a bit of character for some of the players and conveys the detailed account with clarity and enthusiasm for the topic. Thanks to the empresses of Seventh Avenue, modern fashion is accessible in both couture houses and department stores. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2024]