Mother wore Chanel!

The Fashion Orphans by Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose      

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Two sisters, divorced Gabrielle and widowed Lulu, who’ve stopped communicating, are brought together over their mother’s grave, and their mother’s obsession with all things Coco Chanel. The sisters are like chalk and cheese. Their roles neatly pigeon holed from early childhood. Stepping in from the “Beyond” via a tightly managed will, care of lawyer Ms. Hayes, whom the sisters dub The Gtheir mother Bette leaves a structured and perplexing task for her daughters. A task they must collaborate on. The women are both puzzled and dismayed by the will and what that reveals about their mother and her obsession. Shocked and yet not. As was said, Bette’s “self-absorption [which] could sometimes rival Miranda Priestly’s in The Devil Wears Prada, always rose to the occasion.” 

Their discoveries at Bette’s apartment opens up into the world of high fashion, and feeds into their mother’s absolute mania with all things Coco Chanel. A world these two must translate and conquer.

They meet their mother’s friends who are all fashion divas and long time members of the same group,   “The Style Endures Society.” These friends take the sisters into the fold. They turn out to be a group of crazy dames, somewhat resembling the Ya Ya Sisterhood ladies, doyens of style, who bring their influence and talent to bear on the sister’s quest.

As the lives of the sisters unfold, and as the future beckons, some threads are left hanging. But all becomes clear for Gabrielle and Lulu, including their questions around their mother’s love for them, which they have seriously questioned. Their search is leavened with Coco quotes.

I love the inclusion of the idea of buying vintage being “green.” A thought close to my own heart.

A Vibrant, often joyous, and frequently puzzling read.

A Blue Box Press ARC invitation via NetGalley 

Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change