⭐⭐⭐✨ 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 A Dress of Violet Taffeta follows the rise of fashion icon Lucy Duff-Gordon, and the narrative unfolds through her eyes and those of Celia, her young assistant, who claws her way up from serving as a scullery maid to running much of the operation. Their dual viewpoints give the story texture—Lucy brings the glamour, while Celia shows the grit behind the gowns. The novel is rich in historical color, and I appreciated the glimpse into the early days of haute couture. Still, I wish the author had stayed truer to Lucy’s real-life spirit. She was a powerhouse, but here she sometimes feels softened, […]