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1944: A student of fashion journalism meets a designer…his name is Christian Dior
The Designer
What you need to know before your trail
In 1944, newly married Copper Reilly arrives in Paris soon after the liberation. While the city celebrates its freedom, she’s stuck in the prison of an unhappy marriage.
Alone in Paris, she finds an unlikely new friend: an obscure, middle-aged designer from the back rooms of a decaying fashion house whose timid nature and reluctance for fame clash with the bold brilliance of his designs. His name is Christian Dior.
Realising his genius, Copper urges Dior to strike out on his own, helping to pull him away from his insecurities and towards stardom.
Soon Copper finds herself torn between two very different suitors, questioning who she is and what she truly wants.
Locations
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Paris
This is the story of Paris after the liberation
The city is slowly waking up to its new reality. It’s getting out of the shadow of occupation and the grim everyday it has had to endure. There is still a dark cloud hanging over much of the city and its people however and collaboration is still a dirty word and an accusation which lingers long after the war has ended. The scars will not fade completely.
Against the backdrop of war however, life for some in Paris is a creative outlet. There is a new energy of creativity which is now allowed to flourish. Men like Dior have options now which weren’t allowed before. There is therefore an influx of bohemian artists, painters writers. Plenty of famous names sprinkle the city and breathe new life into it.
The city is on the crux of change. Dior’s part in this journey is quite remarkable and the cast of characters are as colourful as any one of his creations. However the stain of collaboration threatens to engulf them all.
Booktrailer Review
Susan: @thebooktrailer
This was an immersive read which took me back to the artistic Paris at the time of WW2. The whole novel is peppered with stars and notable figures of the art and fashion world in particular. Literary stars too which the city became noted for. It was a delight to wander through this city without the plot – but the plot detailing the journey of Christian Dior, a penniless fashion artist to what he later became is nicely done.
The story follows a young female journalist, her failed marriage and how she meets and gets to know Dior. His story is the focus and it’s an interesting one. I don’t pretend to know much about Dior but this got me interested in how the city and the people of Paris were at that time and the artistic leanings of the city despite the overriding privations of the time.
I did enjoy reading about Paris after the liberation, and how the city survived under the occupation and then tried to breathe again once the war was over. However, despite the end of the war, its scars remain and the unrest in the city where collaborators are treated with disdain was an interesting background to the main story. In fact I didn’t think two stories of war and the fashion world would work together but they showcase and illustrate the best and worst of both, very nicely indeed.
Booktrail Boarding Pass: The Designer
Destination : Paris Author/Guide: Marius Gabriel Departure Time: 1944
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