Empresses of Seventh Avenue discusses the effect of World War II on the fashion industry in America. The author, journalist and historian Nancy McDonnell gives an apt timeline for what would become a sort of revolution in the fashion industry. With the inability to take concepts and design ideas from France, American designers were left to pull from their own imaginations and create the foundation for American couture as it is seen up to this day.

The author does a fantastic job digging into many of the common misconceptions about post wartime fashion while still lauding the pioneers of the industry. I believe that this book has a wide appeal beyond just those interested in fashion history. American fashion and the manufacturing around it would not be the same without this turning point.

I highly recommend the audiobook. It’s narrated solely by Gail Shalan. She keeps the tone light but impactful.

I voluntarily listened to and reviewed an advanced copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Although I am no fashion icon, I grew up with both my mother and grand-mother sewing and handcrafting many of my clothing items. Swimsuits, short sets, figure skating dresses and Halloween costumes were all homemade and I watched as countless hours went into creating and altering various pieces. It was with this nostalgia that I picked up Empresses Of Seventh Avenue: World War II, New York City, And The Birth Of American Fashion by Nancy MacDonell.

As an outsider, I had no idea there was so much history in the fashion industry, but it dates back to the days of Marie Antoinette and before. It was interesting to discover that fashion options were truly influenced by customers lives, with styles being creatively adapted in inventive ways, and to learn that many creators were well ahead of their time.

Admittedly, it was the "World War II" tagline that appealed most to me about this book, and although that point in history marked a pivotal change in fashion, the focus of this narrative was not as based around that time period as I had expected. Instead this is the mark of America transitioning to creating their own pieces and defining their own style. This era became the foundation for what we know of the fashion industry today.

MacDonell did a remarkable job researching the history of fashion, and although this historical book was told in an altogether non-linear way, this approach makes sense when looking back on the founding style icons. I enjoyed how each chapter ended with a glimpse into what was in the forthcoming chapter, and how there was personality within MacDonell's words instead of just presenting the facts in a text-book-like way.

Gail Shalan does a great job narrating this work. Her voice is straightforward and to the point, seamlessly pronouncing the various French words as needed.

This book would make the perfect gift for the fashion lover or hobby seamstress in your life or to have on hand in a home economics classroom!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

August was a difficult reading month for me, at least at the start. I could not connect with anything I was reading and everything was just “not it”. (That is a me problem, not a comment on the books.) However, Empresses of Seventh Avenue was the exception- I read this in one sitting!

This is a fast and very readable history of WWII/post-WWII American fashion, and I really enjoyed it. MacDonell is a great writer and makes the topic very approachable. She covers the major industry figures, like Carmel Snow, Diana Vreeland, and Claire McCardell, and the major events (like the Battle of Versailles) quickly. Her explanations of the designers are succinct but very useful.

MacDonnell makes the topic accessible for all readers no matter how much or little you know about American fashion history. (A lot of fashion history books will require a decent amount of prior knowledge.) This is not the book for the person writing their PhD on social influence in the fashion industry but it is a delightful and entertaining intro book, which I think makes it far more useful book for more of us!

Gail Shalan’s narration of the audiobook was wonderful. Non-fiction narrators can sometimes come across as uninterested but Shalan’s narration was never bored or dry, only further bringing these women to life.

My one slight qualm is that there weren’t any photographs in the ebook, but there may be some in the final book!

This book was a bit out of my typical reading wheelhouse, but I enjoyed it so much! It was so interesting to dive into the history of the fashion industry. I was blown away by all the connections between historical events and the way the industry is today. I am a fashion loving girl and this made me think so differently about the clothes I wear, the clothes I drool over in magazines, and the fashion industry today.

The audiobook was easy to listen to and a fun way to learn something new while getting things done around the house.

📚 Book: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Audio: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Huge thank you to macmillan audio for the gifted copy of this ALC.

This was so interesting about the evolution of fashion. Parts of the book really dragged on, but it was really interesting. I'm not sure into fashion but I could appreciate the way it evolved and changed as fashion started being manufactured in America. This would be a cool book for fashion students to study in school.

I found this really interesting even as someone who doesn’t know a lot about the fashion world. There was so much history of the WW2 era that is not typically covered in other books about that time period.

Empresses of Seventh Avenue follows the rise of American fashion during the Nazi invasion of France. I really enjoyed this book and learned so much while reading it! Looking back, it would have been helpful to have had a physical copy so I could annotate and keep track of important details since it was so packed with information. One thing I didn't enjoy was the fact that the book wasn't chronologically written. I had a hard time following which people were important during which time periods and how they overlapped. I think MacDonell did a fantastic job at the end bringing it all together and that is when the timeline finally clicked for me. I just wish it had been more clear throughout the book.

The narrator did a fantastic job at bringing the book to life and made this very accessible to read.

Overall, if you enjoy fashion, I think this is a wonderful read. It definitely gave me a new perspective on fashion and how American fashion became so popularized. I would absolutely recommend reading this book!

This masterpiece gets an enthusiastic five stars from me. I’m a wishy-washy nonfiction reader, and while I enjoy it, I frequently need a LONG time to get into any given nonfiction book. This one? I was hooked from the very first chapter, where a feuding set of women make disparate decisions on whether to sail to Paris for the spring 1940 collections being shown.

The author writes an enraptured tale of how fashion—long known as something only the French are qualified to create—is turned on its head when Paris falls to the Nazi occupation in the early 1940’s and can no longer be the world’s beacon. Instead, the United States steps up to take over from the French.

We meet the influential women of the times, and we see how more than just the fashion industry changed in relation to the fashion industry’s moves. We hear about the rise of Lord & Taylor and department stores, along with the marketing and merchandising strategies of the day. We see how something as simple as a window display evolves to what it eventually is today. Most importantly, we watch as American designers bring life and vitality into ready-to-wear and sportswear designs—which become the backbone for today’s casual fashion around the world.

I’m not a fashionista, or someone who ever had concerned themselves with brand names or haute couture. I’m a suburban mom who loves a deal, who occasionally enjoys dressing up for a night out, but mostly lives in a small capsule wardrobe made up of separates that coordinate. I could not put this book down. Learning about how women were the driving force behind an entire industry before they could do much of anything in our country…and were wildly supported while tearing down all the expectations the world had about fashion was empowering and fascinating.

The audio made this read like a novel, instead of nonfiction. Gail Shalan was perfect—her French was impeccable, and her narration truly made this book come alive.

Highly recommend this one.

Thanks, Macmillian Audio, for the audiobook!

Fashion history is my passion. I love learning about it, especially when it’s well-researched and presented in an entertaining format. EMPRESSES OF SEVENTH AVENUE by Nancy MacDonell was very interesting. I learned many new things about fashion history as it covered World War II, New York City, and the Birth of American Fashion. I really liked the narrator, Gail Shalan, who kept me engaged and didn’t make it seem like I was listening to a textbook.

It was neat to hear about the American side of fashion during the war and have a more in-depth discussion about “the American Look,” whereas this time frame usually focuses on Parisian designers and their couture houses. They are still discussed, but MacDonell lets the reader know what is going on both sides of the world and how American designers significantly influenced fashion.

This is an excellent listen if you like the podcast Dressed: A History of Fashion, Apple TV’s show The New Look, or are a fan of fashion history.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is an extremely detailed and informative nonfiction showcasing the unique history of the American fashion industry specifically in New York City. When WWII crippled Paris by the NAZI invasion and the renowned fashion couturier's could not get their designs to out, America designers stepped up to revamp the fashion industry. Focusing on ready-to-wear and modern styles department stores, fashion editors, buyers and design mavericks changed the way women shopped and wore clothing forever. I was blown away with the amount of research and detail Nancy MacDonell was able to provide in this book. I learned so much ab0ut the women who had a major hand in shifting the fashion capital of the world from Paris to New York. Since she builds the chapters around a particular woman more than a timeline some details feel repetitive and gets a little bogged down in the middle. Overall this is an enlightening nonfiction read for fashion fans and another take on WWII history.

I had the audio version read by Gail Shalan who does an excellent job. She is easy to listen to with a clear pace and tone to keep my interest.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Just when it seems every facet of World War II has been featured in a book, Nancy MacDonell wrote Empresses of Seventh Avenue: World War II, New York City, and the Birth of American Fashion. It's a summary of historical events and their impact on women's fashion in France and the United States.

Each chapter features one or two women and their unique role in creating and shaping the American fashion industry. Prior to World War II, France was the center of the fashion world, but when war changed everything, the United States gradually moved from imitator to innovator, changing the industry forever.

The book features several interesting topics including the ways fashion designs were (illegally) copied, the evolving philosophies surrounding women's wardrobes from haute couture to ready-to-wear, and the role of department stores in this transition. The chapters about women journalists and their role in managing fashion magazines were my favorites - so fascinating.

The author conducted extensive research for this book. It didn't feet like an information dump, but there were so many facts, I just let them 'wash' through my mind. At first, it felt superfluous to focus on fashion in the midst of life-and-death world war events, but I eventually dropped the guilt as I became more invested in the topic.

Reading this via audiobook narrated by Gail Shalan was definitely the best option for me. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for access to the audiobook.

I received a free ebook in exchange for a fair and unbiased review from Netgalley. I really like non-fiction. I like fashion. I really never thought about the history of fashion. This book taught me a lot.

The book explains the history of fashion in Paris. Then it explains what happened when the war started, Paris could no longer lead fashion. It explains America's role in fashion.

The book talks about a lot of the leading woman in clothes and fashion. Honestly, I never heard of these woman before. One of the many reasons, this book was so important.

The narrator's voice is perfect. It was a subject I knew so little about. Yet,the voice was soothing and smooth.

The book is kind of complicated. It took me longer to listen to it than usual. Yet, I am so glad I listened to the book.

The book makes you think about fashion, class. woman's roles, the world in the 40s. 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and even today. The book takes you to a different world. Yet, it is easy to identify with the designers and the strong woman who changed fashion.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I am glad I heard this book.

A truly interesting and detailed history of the U.S. fashion industry highlighting many of the women that helped it become what it is today. Many of these women broke the glass ceiling before it was even called that. Up until the Nazi invasion of France, Paris was the fashion capital of the world and was the major influence for American designers. Things changed and we learn of the details all along the way over years leading to where we are now. Wonderfully narrated story about attire, but so much more.

Empresses of Seventh Avenue is an engrossing look into the women of the American fashion industry, with a focus on the mid-twentieth century. Honestly, most of these names were new to me, but I’m glad I know their stories now.

With a brief foray into how Paris became the epicenter of fashion and then a turn into how fashion changed for America as Paris fell under Nazi control during the Second World War, this book not only details the trajectory of fashion as things pivoted from specially-tailored haute couture to a more ready-to-wear aesthetic but also presents the stories of fascinating feminist figures in their own right.

Although the book does get into the weeds a bit with all the details, it kept my attention from beginning to end.

This would be good for fans of Natasha Lester’s fiction, especially The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre and The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard, who want to dig even more into the history of the fashion industry.

If you prefer to take your reading on the go, I recommend listening to this one on audio. I was easily able to keep up with Gail Shalan’s measured narration.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

I have read a lot about WWII but never from this perspective. Aware of the impact on geography, the many peoples from all sides and some of the domestic impact. This was a unique view at how not only the war imap ta but how it drive innovation in fashion and the narrative of self I. Society. And as the old is replaced by the new and then the old is the new again and the cycle continues. It’s fascinating to see the inner workings of the big fashion houses and overall was a very satisfying read.

World War II transformed the fashion world, cutting off Paris and pushing American designers to innovate. In the absence of European influence, they developed a distinct, modern style that redefined fashion. This book uncovers the overlooked women whose creativity and determination built the foundation for the American fashion industry’s rise to global prominence.

Reading about WWII- 😴 Reading about WWII through fashion- 🤓 Yes, this history is truly centered on the creation of American fashion—we wouldn’t have our capsule wardrobes without it—but I also genuinely learned about WWII, how it affected travel, careers, and the overall purpose of how people spent their days. If the U.S. entered a war now, you wouldn’t automatically think fashion editors would participate in or influence the war. Fashion goes beyond influencing clothing; it’s always been about lifestyle for Americans. So when they’re cut off from Parisian designs, innovation for American culture is able to emerge in the gap. Say hello to separates and ready-to-wear designs (I can’t even imagine having to go to a tailor every time I need new pants)

But the tone of this book isn’t simply inspiring because of how war sparked innovation and creativity; it’s the women who pioneered a non-existent creative field when women weren’t thought to influence anything. I wish the writing style reflected more of the beauty found in the clothing rather than primarily their practicality (I wanted some Emily in Paris flare). Nevertheless, this straightforward historical exposé still highlights the drama, politics, and marketing in an engaging way.

Thank you @macmillan.audio @netgalley for the ALC

Perfect for you if you like:
Intersection of fashion and politics
WWII and it’s impact on culture
Fashion history
Women’s history and empowerment

Similar to:
Anna: The Biography by Amy Odell
PODCAST- Dressed: The History of Fashion
Dressing Barbie by Carol Spencer

What a delightful journey through fashion this was!! I’ve always loved lore surrounding Parisian couture and American fashion trends and this had so many fun details for me. Well-written, perfectly narrated, and full of fun stories and historical significance. Well done!!

I found the book interesting and enjoyed the audio. I also received an early physical copy of the book and wish photos had been included of all the different designers & fashions that were mentioned. Maybe they will be in the final copy.

This was a great audiobook. I liked the historical detail and the writing was propulsive. I would read more from this author.

A fascinating look, and how American designers and fashion critics managed to wrestle the chokehold on style awayfrom Paris in the 1940s.

Always known as the fashion at the center, Paris kept a tight lock on what was in style for centuries until the World War II Nazi occupation of France cut ties with the rest of the world.

Without Paris to look too, New York designers and fashion riders took up the mantle and created a space for themselves in the fashion hierarchy.

Tell the story how this is done the hard work of many individuals from designers to buyers writers fashion icons to make America a place to look towards as a fashion epicenter. For this time, they only had an industry built on re-creating design in the Paris fashion houses.

Truly inspiring story of how American makes a place that makes a name for themselves in fashion. I think this type of history where women take the lead absolutely fascinating.

I really enjoyed this book and all of the fascinating information, but I did find myself, wishing that they were corresponding images to go with the big names and the big fashion that made it all possible.

The audiobook narrated by Gail Shalan the perfect companion for this book. Shalan’s enthusiasm for the topic blends well with Nancy MacDonell’s storytelling narrative. I found this very easy and enjoyable to listen to.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the respective book and audio review copies.