I was delighted and perhaps a little honoured recently, to receive
an early copy of a beautiful book, The Dress, by one of my favourite authors -
Irish novelist, Kate Kerrigan. It was difficult not to judge this book by its cover... the stunning and elegant artwork was incredible and paved the way for
a romantic and stylish tale which I devoured in a matter of days! I have a
fondness for historical fiction, which is why I've loved Kate's previous
novels; but this time we are brought back and forth between 1950's New York and
modern day London, as we delve in to the lives and loves of distantly related
Lily and Joy Fitzpatrick. Joy, a stunning New York socialite who made waves on
the scene in her day, and Lily a quirky vintage fashion blogger who is top of her
game on social media.
I am a girl who is obsessed with fashion but
not a slave to trends, my personal style is very much a mixture of old and new
- I love adding an old, beautiful piece of vintage to my modern look. I trawl
charity and vintage shops for one of a kind bits, enjoy finding my bargains and
quality staples and love to find and wear old pieces that belong to my
Mum. The intricate details in vintage clothing give us a glimpse of that era,
vintage can be quite telling and a little magical. Elements from the day gone by add
beauty and intrigue to the ordinary!
Follow Kate's #TheDress Pinterest Board -
Follow Kate's board #TheDress on
Pinterest.
The same can be said of my taste in literature, while I love visiting the
past, and generally lean towards books set in the early to mid 1900's, but sometimes a modern tale is refreshing and relatable - The Dress was a
perfect melange of past and present. The ideal book for a lover of old and
new! This book is the perfect fit for
bookworms and fashionistas. It was exciting for me, as I knew I loved Kate's
style of writing; the worlds she creates and strong women she depicts, so add
some layers of fabulous fashion to the already perfect formula and I was sold!
Lily Fitzpatrick is a well renowned
vintage fashion blogger, who is grieving the loss of her Grandad, Joe - who was
an endearing and popular Irish man, whom Lily was very fond of. Whilst
researching for her latest blog piece, Lily becomes transfixed by a
beautiful couture dress - worn by a breathtaking woman named Joy Fitzpatrick in 1950's New
York, and designed by an unknown, Honor Conlon. Is Joys surname a coincidence?
Using the power of the internet and her London fashion connections, Lily begins
a journey of discovery. On her quest to get over her Grandfather's death, Lily
reverts back to her first love, designing clothes, and attempts to uncover the
past. We are next introduced to Joy's life of glamour, social climbing,
marriage and haute couture. Without giving away too much, when the novel
focused on Joy's life, those were by far my favourite chapters - this was a
complex woman, who seemed to have it all, but the perfect facade starts to
slip...
My late Grandmother Mary Murphy & her sister Sophie Sugrue in London in the 1950's.
Some of my favourite dresses to
date...
A burgundy lace dress I wore
to a business awards event during my first year of my current job, which I
love. Bought in a Donegal boutique.
A floral boho
inspired Asos dress I wore on the best holiday of my life in Greece.
Last minute
panic buy for a family wedding a few weeks back, I wasn't keen on it at first
but had a fantastic time and was very comfortable and felt elegant.
I imagined Joy to look like Miranda Kerr,
tall, slim, chiseled cheek bones and waif like physique. With each of the
different characters in The Dress, I could truly identify with the reasons behind their flawed
behavior. Joy was deeply misunderstood by many of those around her and as I read, I found myself really rooting for her to find happiness. Author, Kate really understands the complexities of human nature, and deals with heavy
themes such as alcoholism and depression in a very insightful and honest
way.
Ethereal
timeless beauty, Miranda Kerr.
Perfect!
How I
envisioned Joy - is this the modern day version of her and Frank?
I fell head over heels for Kate's unique
brand of fiction a few years back - my first read was Ellis Island, part of an
enthralling trilogy following the spirited Ellie Hogan and her emigration
adventures, set between Ireland and New York from the nineteen twenties
throughout Ellie's unpredictable life. I loved those books so much that I've
shared them with several friends since, as well as my Mum who is now a bigger
Kate Kerrigan fan than I am, if possible! I feel that Kate's books are
timeless/ageless classics that any generation can enjoy and learn from! The way
in which Kate entwined beautiful fashion in this latest novel, #TheDress,
proves style and elegance must play a part in the novelists life - she really
understood both the sense of femininity and class in New York during the fifties/sixties but also the importance of style from a fashion
bloggers perspective, how it's a lifestyle - modern character Lily really came alive and I
almost wished she was real so I could follow her online, and see all of her
latest thrift-shop finds!
'Kate Kerrigan's distinct and unique style of storytelling is in linking the
ghosts of our pasts with modern dilemmas, interweaving yesterday with today in
a mesmerizing and moving way. Just beautiful.' - Cecelia Ahern
Tell us about #TheDress in your life, be it real or something you
lust after, what is the story behind its significance?
Marie x
