What readers think of The Last Collection, plus links to write your own review.

It was a delight to learn of Elsa Schiaparelli and then the rivalry with Coco Chanel. Always a fan of Coco Chanel, this book shed a whole new light on her as a person and the period and place she lived in. I could pretend I was Lily and wonder how I would have entered Paris, thrown into the rivalry with the option of wearing either one of their designs and how I would succeed. Having the backdrop as Paris and being on the brink of war added to depth of the story and provided me the ability to bring this story to life. A very enjoyable read.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this story as I am not a "high" fashion person and honestly had never heard of Elsa Schiaparelli. It was very interesting! There is a lot of history about the two designers and their years long feud, along with WWII and their ties to the Nazi's and different political parties at the time. It was a good read!

I am a big fan of historical fiction, especially from WWII era. And I love fashion ... a good mix!
This was the story of Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, Paris' two leading designers, leading up to the Nazi occupation of this beautiful city. Add a recent American widow visiting her brother, who somehow got mixed up in the designers' rivalry.
The story spans the pre-war days to America's involvement to life after for Lily, Coco & Elsa.
If you are a fashion history buff, this book should be on your reading list.

How lovely to be in 1930s Paris. The Last Collection takes you there, and describes the fierce rivalry between fashion designers Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli. Their lives parallel and yet contrast sharply as drawn by a young woman who comes to the City of Light as a widow, and whose life intersects with both fashion gurus.

We see the two designers through the narrator's eyes and hear her thoughts as her life intersects with theirs.

While the writing is evocative and shows originality, it is also a bit uneven and the characters seem somewhat flat. Relationships are complex, though, and the book kept me interested.

This is a promising book club selection, with much for members to discuss - about competition and friendship and the choices women make.

This is a wonderfully written little gem of a book. I enjoyed the historical backdrop written with more focus on Elsa Schiaparelli. She is often one of the forgotten designers of that era, and reading about her was a joy. It is a beautifully written book of Paris before the war. I'll be going back and reading some of the author's backlist.

I enjoyed The Last Collection very much. It gave me a different insight into the ominous days before the invasion of France and Paris during World War II.
The story tells of a young artist unwitting involved in the rivalry between fashion designers Elsa Schiaprelli and Coco Chanel. Each has a different style and political leanings. Lily finds herself drawn to each for different reasons and must choose her own way. The different life perspectives make the story interesting and cause the young artist to grow very quickly from a naïve girl to a young woman who sees the situation for what it is the takeover of a world changing regime.
The story is captivating from start to finish. A good read for historical fiction fans.

"They danced together, two women no longer young but still needing admiration, two business women locked in fierce competition, two women who couldn't be more different in their aesthetics, their way of being in the world." (p 113 of The Last Collection)

This is a thoughtfully crafted look at 2 influential fashion icons, Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaprelli and their intense competition in the world of design.
American teacher, Lily Sutter, recently widowed visits Paris in 1938 and becomes entangled, almost enchained in their rivalry.

The backdrop timeline is historically sizzling. The tale concludes as Lily revisits Paris in 1954.

"The message was brief.
Come to Paris. Need to see you.
Signed Schiap."

This was an engaging story that gave a solid depiction of the designing prowess and controversial rivalry of Coco and Elsa.

How could you not want to read a book about 2 of the most famous and outrageous fashion icons? The book was fascinating in its depiction of the rivalry between these two women. In this historical fiction novel we travel the world with Lily as she interacts with them as their rivalry grows and the world grows more dangerous as WWII looms. The depictions of Paris were right on, and places the reader in its midst. Mackin draws accurate comparisons with the changes in fashion with historical events. Of course, color is the main theme of the book, with each part representing a primary. The author's compulsion of overdoing the color theme was a little distracting and unnecessary, but certainly was in keeping with the subjects Overall The Last Collection was a delightful read and illustrated the world of fashion and the intense competition among designers.