After spending almost a month stuck in the midst of Edward Rutherfurd's The Forest (with no exit point in sight), this charming novel's romp through Paris came as a breath of fresh air. In its pages we get couture, romance, the tragedy of war, and many secrets which all make for a well-rounded (if slightly frivolous) read. What struck me was that even while our protagonist dreams of being a couturier the author keeps the book well-grounded and away from the realsm of fantasy by providing extremely realistic counterpoints such as Alix's struggle to care for her aging grandmother and how hard it is for single, unprivileged women to make ends meet. PRoviding further realism is the ever-present spectre of war that hovered over Europe during the 1930s. Many were still recovering from the Great War, the Spanish Civil War was widely reported on, and for those with political insight the Bosche were on the rise again. Evans concludes the novel with the final scene from Alix's first comeback runway show, so it seems all things are concluding as they should, but I would not be at all surprised if she brought these characters back for another round. ( )

A modern tale of desire and deception set in the world of 1930s Parisian haute couture – perfect for fans of The Perfume Collector or The Paris Wife.

Alix Gower has a dream: to join the ranks of Coco Chanel to become a designer in the high-stakes world of Parisian haute couture. But Alix also has a secret: she supports her family by stealing designs to create bootlegs for the foreign market. A hidden sketchbook and two minutes inside Hermès is all she needs to create a perfect replica, to be whisked off to production in New York.

Then Alix is given her big break - a chance to finally realize her dream in one of the most prominent Parisian fashion houses - but at the price of copying the breakthrough Spring Collection.

Knowing this could be her only opportunity, Alix accepts the arrangement. But when a mystery from her past resurfaces and a chance meeting has her falling into the arms of a handsome English war reporter, Alix learns that the slightest misstep - or misplaced trust - could be all it takes for her life to begin falling apart at the seams. ( )

I have just finished the novel called The Dress Thief by Natalie Meg Evans. Alix Gower is living in Paris, France during the 1930’s. She lives with her grandmother, Danielle. They were living in England, but her grandmother no longer felt safe (she is Jewish). She persisted until Alix agreed to go to Paris (talk about going from the frying pan to the fire). Alix works as a telephone operator, but in order to make more money (living in Paris is more expensive than London) Alix starts stealing designs. Alix has a good memory and an eye for fashion. Her friend, Paul le Gal showed her how to pirate designs (for a cut of the take). Paul then gives them to his contact. The designs are then cheaply reproduced in America. Alix does not enjoy this line of work, but she does not know how else to earn the extra money they need.

Alix was lucky to get a good education thanks to Jean-Yves, Comte de Charembourg. He is a friend of the family and knew her grandfather. Alix thinks there is more to the story, but she cannot get answers. When Alix gets fired from the telephone exchange, Paul’s contact gets her an interview with Maison Javier. Alix loves his designs. Alix gets the job, but she does not like stealing designs from Javier. But with their rent being raised (thanks to world’s fair), she does not have a choice. Then someone starts threatening Alix. She is attacked and is given a message for Comte de Charembourg. Someone is blackmailing the Comte for money. What did he do? Until he pays up they are threatening Alix and those he cares about (the blackmailer must know more about the relationship between Alix and the Comte than Alix does).

Verrian Haviland is the second son of an English noble and a journalist. He has been reporting on the Spanish Civil War when he had to leave Spain quickly. Verrian and Alix are destined to meet from the minute he needs help with a phone call (before she gets fired from the telephone exchange). Can they work out their differences to be together? Will Alix get caught pirating designs? Who is behind the blackmail?

I give The Dress Thief 4 out of 5 stars. It is a good story, but a little long (the length of one and a half books). There are also parts that I felt could have been eliminated or were not needed for the story. The book does contain drugs, excessive alcohol drinking, and sex. I enjoyed reading about the fashion industry during the 1930’s. The fashions during that period were so beautiful with exquisite details. All the work that goes into making a collection and then someone steals your designs! I did enjoy the mystery in the book (the blackmail). The person behind it was obvious, but I enjoyed following the clues to find the culprit.

I received a complimentary copy of The Dress Thief in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own. ( )