Reviewer: Leah
The Dress Thief, by Natalie Meg Evans, is a historical fiction novel about a young, Jewish, and British girl, Alix Gower; who dreams of become a fashion designer, specializing in haute couture. Working as a telephone operator in 1930s Paris, she supplements her income by copying designer wear and selling the sketches to create cheap imitations passed off as the real thing. She is given the chance to work for a real designer, renowned for promoting women with talent, as long as she delivers on the promise of duplicating his latest show. Alix finds herself caught between her morals and values; the pressure of supporting her grandmother; the attentions of a gangster; questions about her parentage; blackmail and violence; a secret long hidden from her past; and the fact that she has to betray a man she deeply respects.
The book is very intriguing as it presents a multitude of characters with intense histories as they all struggle to run away from their past, achieve their dreams, and survive the ever changing world of the 1930s. The beginning is a little hard to push through as Evans presents so many subplots that it leaves the reader confused as to what the overarching plot is and who they should they pay the most attention to. But by the middle of the novel the story is especially thrilling as all the characters have connected to each other and one finds themselves caught up in what will happen next. The book lags a bit near the end, as one finds themselves floundering in the mess and uncertainty that becomes Alix’s life. However, by the very end the book is once again going full-throttle and extremely enjoyable.
I highly recommend this book to any historical fiction fans and lovers of Paris. It is a great read and not only gives one a taste for the Paris of the past but a view into the world of fashion, showing the reader every job and step in the process of creating a design.
