Pennie’s pick
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Pennie Clark
Ianniciello
Buyer, Books
Combine family
secrets, World War II,
tragedy and heartbreak and you have
the compelling
ingredients of this
month’s book buyer’s
pick, The Paris
Seamstress, by
Natasha Lester.
After Fabienne
Bissette attends the
Met’s annual gala
for an exhibit
featuring the work
of her ailing grandmother—a legend
of women’s fashion
design—Fabienne
begins to learn about
her grandmother’s
past. What she learns
will change her own
life in ways she can’t
imagine.
The Paris
Seamstress (Item
#1276866) is available
now in most Costco
warehouses.
hile watching Dior and I, a docu-
mentary about the fashion house
Christian Dior, Natasha Lester had a
vision. “I saw a mother and daughter
sitting in a Parisian atelier working,” Lester tells
the Costco Connection from her home in Perth,
Australia. “But I didn’t have a story attached to
it yet.” There was something there, but the rest
of the idea wouldn’t come to light.
So, Lester made a conscious decision to provoke her curiosity and inspiration by listening
to podcasts she wouldn’t normally listen to. She
picked the Bowery Boys New York City History,
and found herself quickly drawn in by an episode
about the city’s garment district. She learned
that, prior to World War II, American fashion
was merely a mimic of Parisian fashion—the
designs were copied by fashion sketch artists
and sold through a long, complicated black-market chain.
Things changed when the Paris fashion
houses were shut down during the war. “When
the rest of the world could no longer copy Paris
SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY
Costco has 50 signed copies of Natasha Lester’s
The Paris Seamstress with signed bookplates
to give away. To enter or see a full set of rules,
along with details and restrictions, go to costco
connectionbookgiveaway.com.
No purchase or payment necessary.
designers, designers had to ;nd their own
aesthetic. For the ;rst time, people began
to say that Americans could design clothing,
particularly ready-to-wear clothing,” Lester says.
Now, a story began to take shape for Lester:
A young woman works with her mother in a
Paris atelier by day and, as a fashion sketch
artist, copies designs by night. She is forced to
;ee Paris and leave her mother behind, goes
W
Wartime
fashionista
The Paris Seamstress
intersects fashion, drama
and historical intrigue
by JUDI KETTELER
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Natasha Lester
Open to legal residents of the 50 United States or D.C. who are
at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in their jurisdiction
of residence, whichever is older) at the time of entry. Void where
prohibited. “Sweepstakes Period” is from 12:00:01 a.m. PT on
December 1, 2018, to 11:59: 59 p.m. PT on December 31, 2018. To
enter, during the Sweepstakes Period, complete the requested
information (including name, address, and email). Limit one ( 1)
entry per household. Fifty ( 50) winners will be selected by
random drawing on or about January 1, 2019, and notified via
mail. Each winner will get one copy of Natasha Lester’s The
Paris Seamstress (ARV $14.99 each). Total ARV of all prizes:
$749.50. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries.
Sweepstakes subject to O;cial Rules. Sponsor: Costco Wholesale
Corporation, 1045 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA 98027.