The Last Dress from Paris - by Jade Beer (Paperback)

About the Book

"The secret is hidden within a collection of Dior dresses.... London, 2017. There's no one Lucille loves more than her grandmother (not even her mother, she's ashamed to say). So when her beloved Granny Sylvie asks Lucille to help secure the return of something that is precious to her, she's happy to help. The next thing she knows, Lucille is on a train to Paris, tasked with retrieving a priceless Dior dress. But not everything is as it seems, and what Lucille finds in a small Parisian apartment will have her scouring the city for answers to a question that could change her entire life. Paris, 1952. Postwar France is full of glamour and privilege, and Alice Ainsley is in the middle of it all. As the wife to the British ambassador to France, Alice's job is to see and be seen-even if that wasn't quite what she signed up for. Her husband showers her with jewels, banquets, and couture Dior dresses, but his affection has become distressingly illusive. As the strain on her marriage grows, Alice's only comfort is her bond with her trusted lady's maid, Marianne. But, when a new face appears in her drawing room, Alice finds herself swept up in an epic love affair that has her yearning to follow her heart...no matter the consequences. Told in alternating timelines, The Last Dress from Paris is a lush, evocative tale of two women's enduring friendship, and explores the ties that bind us together, the threads of our past that give us hope, and the secrets we hold that make us who we are"--

Book Synopsis

The secret is hidden within a collection of Dior dresses...

London, 2017. There's no one Lucille adores more than her grandmother. So when her beloved Granny Sylvie asks for Lucille's assistance with a small matter, she's happy to help. The next thing she knows, Lucille is on a train to Paris, tasked with retrieving a priceless Dior dress. But not everything is as it seems, and what Lucille finds in a small Parisian apartment will have her scouring the city for answers to a question that could change her entire life.

Paris, 1952. Postwar France is full of glamour and privilege, and Alice Ainsley is in the middle of it all. As the wife to the British ambassador to France, Alice's job is to see and be seen--even if that wasn't quite what she signed up for. Her husband showers her with jewels, banquets, and couture Dior dresses, but his affection has become distressingly elusive. As the strain on her marriage grows, Alice's only comfort is her bond with her trusted lady's maid, Marianne. But when a new face appears in her drawing room, Alice finds herself yearning to follow her heart...no matter the consequences.

The City of Light comes alive in this lush, evocative tale that explores the ties that bind us together, the truths we hold that make us who we are, and the true meaning of what makes someone family.

Review Quotes

"Beer peels back layers of the story slowly, keeping readers guessing. For fans of fabulous historical settings with a modern parallel narrative."--Booklist

"A delightful fashion treasure hunt involving some of my favorite Dior gowns made this book a winner for me! The present day and 1950s narratives weave seamlessly together, the dresses dance from the pages, and Paris is resplendently depicted."
--Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Secret

"After finishing Beer's latest, it was all I could do to not book the next plane to France and head straight for the House of Dior. Offering a whirlwind tour through Paris, both past and present, the novel is a rich exploration of the power of female friendships and the true meaning of family. Moving and utterly enjoyable."
--Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue

"An absolute delight! The Last Dress from Paris is as original, elegant, and romantic as the Dior dresses the novel's mystery is woven around. Jade Beer seamlessly stitches together an illuminating story of female friendships, secrets, and a couture treasure hunt that takes the reader from post-war Paris to present-day London. The writing is a breath of fresh air, and in her leading ladies, Lucille and Alice, Beer delivers intriguing complex characters for her readers to really care about. Magnifique!"
--Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of When We Were Young & Brave

"I devoured this multigenerational masterpiece! Jade Beer invites her reader on a glamorous treasure hunt through Paris, searching for exquisite Dior dresses and secrets from the past. The Last Dress from Paris is a stunning mix of haute couture, romance, scandal, and intrigue. With breathtaking prose and a stunning Paris backdrop, Jade Beer offers a tender, heartfelt look at love and friendship, and the sacrifices we make for both."
--Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany

"An unexpected trip to Paris starts this journey of discovering lost fashion treasures while uncovering a tale of forbidden love. In The Last Dress from Paris, Jade Beer's gorgeous prose brings Dior's fashions to life as she deftly weaves together a novel that is part homage to fashion and part romance as well as a celebration of mothers and daughters. Readers will eat this one up!"
--Renee Rosen, USA Today bestselling author of The Social Graces

"An elegantly and evocatively written, thoroughly researched novel that will prove to be an absolute must read for romantics and fashionistas. Transportive, dreamy and aspirational, guaranteed to uplift and entertain."
--Adele Parks, internationally bestselling author of Both of You

"As beautifully stitched together as a couture gown, Jade Beer's book entrances with its themes of family and female friendships. I loved it."
--Jessica Fellowes, internationally bestselling author

"With Beer's exquisite dress descriptions in trendy Paris settings, complete with complex characters, suspenseful plot developments, and a dash of exciting romance, The Last Dress from Paris has it all!"--Fresh Fiction

"This story has it all...Paris, a mystery from the past that ties together today, romance and well-written characters and a story you are engaged in and don't want to put down."--Red Carpet Crash

About the Author

Jade Beer is an award-winning editor, journalist, and novelist who has worked across the UK national press for more than twenty years. Most recently, she was the editor-in-chief of Condé Nast's Brides. She also writes for other leading titles including The Sunday Times Style, The Mail on Sunday's YOU magazine, The Telegraph, the Tatler Weddings Guide, Glamour, Stella magazine, and is one of The Mail on Sunday's regular fiction and nonfiction book reviewers. Jade splits her time between London and the Cotswolds, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.