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Heaven, Hell & Mademoiselle
Four young fashion hopefuls arrive in Paris, 1968, determined to claw their way to the top of the ruthless world of haute couture. Monique, a seamstress destined to become so much more, watches Chanel's staff spray No 5 perfume in the street outside the famous maison de couture. Can her dreams of success and love come true in this magical place? Christopher, London born and bred, a handsome new designer, determined to make it in a world where sex-appeal and success go hand in hand—and heterosexual men are rare and prized. Samantha, an ultra-spoiled Daddy's girl who always gets her way, has the gift of selling French perfume and fashion with sex, sex and yet more sex. But can a loud, brash American ever conquer the sophisticated ladies of Paris? And hauntingly beautiful Sophie, the top model who becomes Chanel's 'Face' on a million billboards and magazine covers, yet has a terrible secret in her past that refuses to stay buried. Four young lives collide and entangle in the secretive world of French fashion as Harold Carlton weaves a spellbinding tale of passionate love, ambitious rivalry and exquisite clothes.
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First published May 13, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 29, 2019
1960's Paris, Chanel, the fashion industry. Enjoyable and written by an insider. Recommended.
July 14, 2010
My Grandma never left me alone when I told her I had a Harold Carlton book for review 'oh I love him....my favourite book of his is Labels...oh once I picked it up I couldn't put it down' she went on and as my nan has never been wrong about a great author I trusted her word and waited until the girls where away so I could start reading.
Harold Carlton manages to combine his inside knowledge of fashion with the brilliantly described main characters at the same time as throwing in humour and atmosphere which perfectly evokes Paris at the time.The story is set in the late sixties going in to the seventies. It is a stunning portrayal of what life in retro, post-war, pre-seventies hippie must be like, with classy and elegant writing.
I was truly amazed with this unexpected read which felt like a tribute to the legendary Mademoiselle Chanel. It left me comparing notes with the history of her, although some facts are changed the basic idea of how Chanel must be like, and how a fashion house operates are convincingly real.
I recommend this book to anyone with a love for Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada it is a 'fashionista read' that will take you on a great journey with many stops along the way.
Harold Carlton manages to combine his inside knowledge of fashion with the brilliantly described main characters at the same time as throwing in humour and atmosphere which perfectly evokes Paris at the time.The story is set in the late sixties going in to the seventies. It is a stunning portrayal of what life in retro, post-war, pre-seventies hippie must be like, with classy and elegant writing.
I was truly amazed with this unexpected read which felt like a tribute to the legendary Mademoiselle Chanel. It left me comparing notes with the history of her, although some facts are changed the basic idea of how Chanel must be like, and how a fashion house operates are convincingly real.
I recommend this book to anyone with a love for Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada it is a 'fashionista read' that will take you on a great journey with many stops along the way.
August 1, 2018
A good concept and the blurb sounded really interesting but the writing was too wooden and the sentence "Just taking a bust measurement, stretching the tape measure across the nipples, made him hard!" made me want to weep, so I had to abandon. Très sad.
May 29, 2021
Its good read. Showing how coco chanel manage to build her empire. Recomended
August 9, 2011
This book is about four people working in the Paris fashion industry in the later part of the 1960's, who care about nothing but fashion, sex, and themselves.
Oh yes - fashion, sex and selfishness are the only words needed to describe this story.
It's not that it's bad, it's just repetitive. The fashion bits are interesting actually, a lovely little insight into 60s Parisienne haute couture, but the sex occurs too often and adds NOTHING to the plot. Now, I'm no prude and I even enjoy the odd sex scene if I'm reading a romance, but I don't want three sex scenes a chapter that seem to have been put there just for the sake of it. The story is predictable and only a few of the characters are sufficiently fleshed out, others are cartoons inserted into the story for comedic effect (for example, Samantha, the six foot American) or angst (Sophie, the oh-so-beautiful rich girl who tragically finds out she's adopted). There's too much petulant drama for this to be a decent adult novel but too much sex for young adult.
Sex and the City meets Devil Wears Prada? Verdict - not as good as either.
Oh yes - fashion, sex and selfishness are the only words needed to describe this story.
It's not that it's bad, it's just repetitive. The fashion bits are interesting actually, a lovely little insight into 60s Parisienne haute couture, but the sex occurs too often and adds NOTHING to the plot. Now, I'm no prude and I even enjoy the odd sex scene if I'm reading a romance, but I don't want three sex scenes a chapter that seem to have been put there just for the sake of it. The story is predictable and only a few of the characters are sufficiently fleshed out, others are cartoons inserted into the story for comedic effect (for example, Samantha, the six foot American) or angst (Sophie, the oh-so-beautiful rich girl who tragically finds out she's adopted). There's too much petulant drama for this to be a decent adult novel but too much sex for young adult.
Sex and the City meets Devil Wears Prada? Verdict - not as good as either.
December 4, 2010
Billed as a delicious mix of Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada, the book almost lives up to its promise.
Monique, Sophie, Christopher and Samantha arrive in Paris in the 1960s. Each one dreams of working for Coco Chanel, who is known to all who work for her as Mademoiselle. Monique is a superb seamstress, Samantha, an American publicist. Christopher is a handsome heterosexual English designer, and Sophie is the hauntingly beautiful model, with a secretive past, who becomes the Face of Chanel.
All four characters bear witness to the last days of Coco Chanel and the death of Haute Couture.
The book was not particularly well written. However, the interesting characters, setting and incidents were fascinating. The snippets of gossip that have been weaved into the book are intriguing. I am sure that Carlton has written from life, having worked as a designer for Nina Ricci and Courreges. He has also illustrated Mademoiselle Magazine and The New York Times, and worked as Menswear Editor of the Sunday Times.
A satisfying holiday read for fashion fans.
Monique, Sophie, Christopher and Samantha arrive in Paris in the 1960s. Each one dreams of working for Coco Chanel, who is known to all who work for her as Mademoiselle. Monique is a superb seamstress, Samantha, an American publicist. Christopher is a handsome heterosexual English designer, and Sophie is the hauntingly beautiful model, with a secretive past, who becomes the Face of Chanel.
All four characters bear witness to the last days of Coco Chanel and the death of Haute Couture.
The book was not particularly well written. However, the interesting characters, setting and incidents were fascinating. The snippets of gossip that have been weaved into the book are intriguing. I am sure that Carlton has written from life, having worked as a designer for Nina Ricci and Courreges. He has also illustrated Mademoiselle Magazine and The New York Times, and worked as Menswear Editor of the Sunday Times.
A satisfying holiday read for fashion fans.
June 1, 2010
Was expecting more from this. The tag line on the cover calls it a cross between Sex & the City and The Devil Wears Prada. Very misleading. Very disjointed and far too long.
August 21, 2011
Enjoyed this but it was nothing too exciting. I love fashion and I'm not sure that I would have enjoyed it so much if I didn't.
It's very easy reading...
It's very easy reading...
April 23, 2015
3.5 stars. A good read before travelling to Paris. I enjoyed "feeling" I was in Paris in the 60s but a little slow going. Difficult to continue to the finish at times.
April 25, 2017
'It was okay to read' is the first thought that spring to mind. I enjoyed sitting and reading the story I must admit though the end felt like rushed.
Most of all, I was frustrated to see that most French sentences/words were incorrect.. what a disappointment
Most of all, I was frustrated to see that most French sentences/words were incorrect.. what a disappointment
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews