Chelsea Girls

by Catherine Lloyd

A glamorous and revealing biographical novel for readers of Renee Rosen, Allison Pataki, and Fiona Davis, starring one of Swinging London’s defining figures, Mary Quant, who made history with the miniskirt, slashed hemlines, and transformed more than fashion, for herself, for her friends, and for a generation.

Post-war London is a city in flux, with burned-out buildings serving as vivid reminders of the past. But beneath those scars is a sense of resurging optimism. Chrissie Walker, a new student at Goldsmiths arts college, feels it keenly. So does Mary Quant, the auburn-haired classmate who becomes Chrissie’s best friend. 

Like Chrissie, Mary wants more from life than to nab a husband and settle down. Though shy, Mary shows her daring in subtle ways, including her home-sewn clothes. Designed to run and move in, her outfits inspire Chrissie and others to reinvent their own style. They also catch the eye of charismatic fellow student Alexander Plunket Greene, who becomes Mary’s partner and helps fund the opening of Bazaar, a King’s Road shop that marks the beginning of an empire.

Dresses with ever-rising hemlines, skinny-rib sweaters and Peter Pan collars, boldly patterned tights and scarves—Mary Quant’s “Chelsea look” becomes a sensation among socialites, working-class girls, and everyone in between. As the miniskirt becomes a global phenomenon, Mary Quant ignites a fashion revolution that transforms everyone in its orbit—including Chrissie, who must reconcile her own ambitions with her friend’s fame, debutante Daphne, whose life opens up in unexpected ways, and Fern, an aspiring model who will become an icon. 

In the years that follow, each will deal with the public and personal challenges faced by unconventional women willing to break the rules—and in the process, transform the world.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Adult Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published June 30, 2026

About the author

Catherine Lloyd was born just outside London, England, into a large family of dreamers, artists, and history lovers. She completed her education with a master’s degree in history at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and uses the skills she gained there to research and write her historical mysteries. Catherine currently lives in Hawaii with her husband and youngest daughter..

Please note only the Kurland St. Mary mysteries are written by this Catherine Lloyd, not the romances.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Mae B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ate this book up. It was so good.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because of my age, I have a problem considering the 1960s to be historical fiction but have finally realized that if historical fiction is considered anything over 50 years old, even the 1970s are considered historical fiction! Now that I’ve recovered from this fact, I will say that I loved this book and learning more about the background of the designer and models who revolutionized style in the 1960s.

It’s 1951 and post-war London is still recovering from the ravages of World War II. Two totally different girls meet at Goldsmiths arts college and their optimism for the future helps them become best friends. Mary Quant and Chrissy Walker are both at art college despite the protests from their families but both know that they want more from life than to find a rich husband and spend their lives doing charity work and raising children. Mary designs and sews her own clothes and soon Chrissie and other women at the college are wanting to dress in a similar fashion. Mary soon catches the interest of a very rich young man who becomes her partner and helps her open Bazaar in 1955. Bazaar was the first catalyst of the new fashions in London and then in the entire world. The clothes were all designed by Mary Quant and were a rebellion against the formal, rigid fashion of the 1950s. Soon Bazaar, the Chelsea district of London and Mary Quant’s clothes became the center of ‘swinging London’. With the introduction of the Beatles into the world, everyone wanted to dress in the new youthful clothes from London and Mary’s fashions became well known all over the world. She introduced the mini-skirt and different fabrics and designs than what had been available in the past. She also introduced new make-up and hair styles to the young who wanted to set new paths in fashion. Not only were her clothes different but they were affordable enough that everyone could afford them. The first US store that she got a contract with was JC Penny.

Not only does the book give the reader a look at Mary and her growing fashion explosion but we also get to know Mary and see some of the stresses that she was under as she worked with so many different people to revolutionize fashion. Her friend Crissie became a key person in her life and helped Bazaar become popular. The book also does a bit of name dropping as we learn how Mary’s fashions helped the rise of various models – such as Twiggy – and there are mentions of the Beatles and Patty Boyd and other famous musicians of the time.

This is a book about fashion and a new fashion revolution that was started by Mary Quant but more importantly it’s a book about women leaning to become successful in areas that they had never been allowed to enter in the years before. Chrissie broke away from her parents’ plan for a good marriage and upper-class life to becoming one of the main parts of Mary’s empire, Daphane went from life in the upper class to becoming a world-renowned model and eventually became a well-known photographer in war zones. Fern went from a very poor life to becoming a well-known model and becoming a writer for Vogue US. All of the female main characters became well known in areas that had been for men-only! As the women fought to become successful, they found that they were stronger than they'd ever believed before.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

While not a bad book and certainly an easy read, I couldn't help but feel it felt very shallow. The characters felt more like constructions rather than breathing people and somehow everything felt so small. That isn't to say that the author didn't do her homework; rather, that I could almost see her outline in my head and building stories around the facts in a very constructed way.

Story: Kings Road is a run down place until an entrepreneur injects money and his savoir faire into the area. One of his discoveries is a young fashion designer with a different viewpoint: Mary Quant. Through the eyes of college friend Chrissie and models Daphne and Fern we get a to see how the Chelsea revolution took hold and transformed a generation.

Mary is a character in the book but she is only viewed through the eyes of the other women. Pragmatic Chrissy wanted to do fashion design but recognized she did not have Quant's unique fashion perspective. Bubbly Daphne is a posh rich girl 'slumming' it working for Quant despite her parents' disapproval. Reserved Fern is from the wrong side of town and sees a chance to make a better life for herself. Chrissy grapples with jealousy/envy, Daphne feels the pull between two worlds, and Fern's family are a constant distraction.

So yes, each of the girls has a distinct viewpoint though admittedly their issues do seem trivial and they rise above and find the perfect husbands who are willing to be wed to 'modern' women who want to work and steer their own lives. Admittedly, I didn't feel the women were there as a compelling story on their own and instead just there to provide an avenue for the author to put the facts about Quant's life into a story. Quant is pretty much an enigma to all of them (and us as a result). It also felt like a let down that none of the women in the story remained independent and unmarried.

The story follows the 1950s to late 1960s. There are 'where are they now' for all the characters but not Quant herself in the epilogue. We pretty much end with Quant having her son Orlando. Along the way we get the expected cameos: Beatles, Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, etc.

So is this worth it as a sort of biography read? Yes because the facts are all there, many in their mundanity (e.g., the JC Penney era travelling). So you will get a good perspective on Quant's successes. On the other hand, despite being given a best friend, Quant remains very hard to get a good understanding of through the story. There is a lot of tell rather than show here.

This is a very easy read and I do appreciate and respect that I learned a lot about Quant's work. I just wish the characters were less caricatures. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Reyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5?
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway!

The strongest part of this book is the middle 1/3. I absolutely loved the pace of it, and I encourage people to try to get to that point before making judgments! I didn't really pay attention to the years at the beginning of the chapters, so once I recognized how quickly these girls seemed to be growing up, I went back and reframed the timeline in my mind.

The weakest part of this book for me was that I didn't really know where we were going. The characters all simply loved creating and wanting to be part of this world, which is understandable, but gets a bit stale when you don't have much conflict to overcome or barriers to achievement besides the occasional manufacturing error or family tiff. Once I just let myself follow the journey, it was enjoyable but I did find myself rushing to wrap up the ending. It kind of just felt like, "and all of these wonderful independent driven women in male-dominated industries and businesses end up marrying rich and wealthy men, resolving all of their familial issues, and remaining good friends. The end."

About the characters:
Chrissie: We start with Chrissie. She's driven and smart, but feels inadequate in skill in her fashion eye in comparison to Mary. She ends up resenting Mary a little bit throughout the book, but we don't really ever get a discussion about this involving Mary. Chrissie kind of ends up just recognizing the opportunities that Mary has given her and recognizing that she's projecting her own perception of inadequacy.

Mary: Mary is quiet and calm, but driven and skilled. Her unique vision quickly makes her successful in launching designs, creating clothes, and more. Her primary conflict is that she feels overworked and exhausted and unable to handle a work-life balance.

APG: A rich boy, him and Mary get together. His money helps fund her skill, and his business mind helps them remain profitable. He wants to keep the business going, which conflicts with Mary's desire to slow down and enjoy life and start a family.

Archie: The adult who has to exist to get them off their feet investment-wise and business-wise. He quietly disappears as a character once our established characters are adults.

Daphne: Her family wants her to do the debutante rituals and care a lot about status. She models for Mary and ends up earning her own income.

Fern: From a less well-off family, also ends up modeling for Mary and earning her own income.

Overall, this is a 3-star book that's pushed to 4-stars because of the middle 1/3 and the unique nature of the novel. I think it's exciting to read about these characters starting a business and growing, but I do wish we had a little more substance.

[John Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advance Reader Copy from bookbrowse.com

Chelsea Girls, set against the backdrop of a nation grappling with the aftermath of World War II, spans the period from 1951 through the early 1970s—an unprecedented era of change in the long-established structural hierarchies of British life. Shifts in attitudes, hopes, fears, needs, and wants rattled the English establishment and its inherent, traditional social mores. These were the decades that brought us rock music, teddy boys, mods and rockers, punks, and, of course, a corresponding transformative revolution in women’s fashion, pioneered and led by Mary Quant. Turbulent times indeed, especially in the ‘rag trade.’

Chelsea Girls uses the voices of three fictional characters to tell the story. Chrissie Walker is from a middle-class family and meets Mary as a fellow student at London’s Goldsmiths College of Art in the early 1950s, where they both study art and illustration, and later becomes the manager of ‘Bazaar,’ Mary Quant’s first clothing store on Chelsea’s King's Road, dashing the hopes of her teacher parents that she follow them into that chosen profession. Daphne is the daughter of an upper-class, aristocratic English family, and to her mother’s horror, also worked at Bazaar before later modeling for Mary Quant. Fern, also a model, is the daughter of a working-class family from London’s East End and faces the same level of criticism and disapproval from her parents regarding her chosen profession as does Daphne. All three protagonists are in their late teens when the reader first meets them.

Catherine Lloyd’s compelling storytelling style in this expository, fast-paced, flowing novel aptly mirrors the creation and rapid expansion of the Mary Quant brand on both sides of the Atlantic; all woven with a rollercoaster of personal highs and lows that such precipitous growth often brings. Lloyd’s three fictional characters are far more than just props to support or punctuate a Mary Quant timeline. Each is a fleshed out, well-rounded protagonist dealing with their own life demands and aspirations. As their widely differing family backgrounds emerge, we come to learn about their interactions with each other, their individual hopes, strengths, and vulnerabilities, their work at various Quant ventures, and their respective romantic interests.

Readers familiar with Mary Quant and those mid-century decades will find Chelsea Girls a perfect source for reviving and reliving memories, and maybe even fill in some memory blanks. For those unacquainted with that era and Mary Quant, but intrigued, there could hardly be a better introduction.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating:3.5 stars

Catherine Lloyd's Chelsea Girls operates on two tracks. First, it is a fictionalized biography of the fashion career of British designer Mary Quant. In this stream, the story functions almost as a catalog of job-related events, beginning with her education at Goldsmiths, a London art school and her first business ventures, followed by the progression of her career through various design lines. On this level the story does not sparkle. The prose is pretty pedestrian; the characteristics that made her design career so remarkable do not shine through. The characters in this part of the story (who are mostly actual historical people) are not deeply developed; we know she and herboyfriend-later husband fight a lot and drink a lot and that she' shy, but I didn't feel much regarding her inner motivations.

But there's that second track: the three narrators, whom the author says in her end note are fictional "composite" characters drawn from Quant's memoir and autobiography as well as interviews with those who knew her, are drawn from a variety of strata in British society and rally do reflect the changes undergone in the 60s as barriers dropped and young people resisted being drawn into the "good old days" thinking of their war-weary parents. Particularly interesting were the changes in women's roles, as the younger folk resisted being forced into the "just a housewife taking care of her husband" mode and began looking for their own career opportunities. Quant personified this movement.

I identified with the story personally. I was in high school and college during Quant's years of emergence and success, scandalizing my mother with mini-skirts and bright swing dresses, so the story was meaningful to me. I do wish Lloyd had capture a bit more of the vibrancy of the movement, but I'm glad I read the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookbrowse.com in return for participating in an on-line book discussion.

What brings the book to

[Carol N · Rating 4 out of 5]

For many of us who lived through the aftermath of World War II, Catherine Lloyd's has given us a compelling fast paced novel, "Chelsea Girls" to savor. It was a time for shifts in our hopes, fear, and attitudes and brought us rock music, punks, mods and rockers and a revolution in women's fashion pioneered by Mary Quant.

The author uses the voices of three fictional characters to tell her enjoyable novel. Chrissie is from a middle-class family and meets Mary Quant in Goldsmiths College of Art in the early 1950's. She becomes the manager of Mary's first clothing store, "Bazaar," much to her parents’ chagrin. Daphne is a daughter of an aristocratic English family, works at the store and later models for Quant. Fern is also a model and a daughter of a working-class family who faces criticism and disapproval from both of her parents for having her chosen the profession. The reader meets all three in their late teens and follows them through to their adulthood. The story, woven into a story of Quant's personal highs and lows, mirrors the creation and expansion of the Quant brand on both sides of the Atlantic. The three fictional characters support Quant's life while dealing with their own life's demands and aspirations. While working on various Quant ventures, they learned to interact with each other and with their differing backgrounds, learn to support each other’s hopes, strengths and vulnerabilities. This book is not only a look into women owning their own businesses, but it also deals with the difficulties women faced while doing so.

For those readers who were familiar with this mid-century decade and the influence of Mary Quant's creations, this book will let them look back on their memories of this era. For readers who are not unaware of this era and Quant's fashion influence, I can't suggest a better way to be introduced to it than reading Lloyd's amazing novel.

Thank you to Book Browse for providing me with a copy of this book and I look forward to participating in its online discussion later this month.
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[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

London, 1951. Two new students start at Goldsmiths Arts College, Mary Quant and Chrissie Walker, both want a career and are not interested in snagging a husband. Mary is shy and the daughter of Welsh parents, Chrissie is more outgoing and her mother thinks it’s a waste of time furthering her education.

Mary makes her own clothes, no boring twin sets, pearls and tweed skirts for her, simple, fresh and new young styles, and something she can run to catch a bus in. Mary catches the eye of Alexander Plunket Greene, who becomes Mary’s boyfriend and later a business partner, buys a building on King's Road and they call it Bazaar.

The place is a huge hit and Chrissie manages it for Mary, because she has to suddenly source material design her new ideas and find seamstresses. Dresses with clip on Peter Pan collars, jumpers can be worn underneath and she starts raising the hemlines, bright and colourful scarves and tights. Mary has no clue it will become a global empire, at times Chrissie feels like she has been taken for granted and left out.

Two other characters I really liked were models Daphne a socialite who much to her mother’s horror doesn’t care about finding a titled husband, who wants to work and cockney teenager Fern who she takes under her wing and shows her the ropes.

I received a copy of Chelsea Girls by Catherine Lloyd from Edelweiss + and Kensington Books in exchange for an unbiased review. When I think about 1960’s, three things come to mind, miniskirts, short pixie haircuts, and The Beatles.

While this is a fictional story, it doesn’t give you an idea about what it was like for Mary Quant, a shy women who becomes a global sensation and the pressure she was under and her personal challenges and represents the era. Teenage girls lined up, screamed about her clothes and she created mix and match wear.

Four stars and I recommend reading for lovers of cultural change and the importance of fashion.

[Madoka Kamimura Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Lloyd brings us a story of friendship, love, and life in postwar London. We meet Chrissie and Mary at Goldsmith's arts college on their first day at school. Wanting more than what society and their families have decided for them, they decide to forge their own paths. They catch the eye of fellow student Alexander Plunket Greene who helps the girls begin their fashion career. With his connections to the world, they open Bazaar on King's Road that revolutionizes fashion and pushes the envelope of what is considered cool and appealing. We are introduced to the world created by Mary Quant and those around her: her best friend Chrissie and those who work and model for her. We get a glimpse into that world from the beginning and how it grew into the empire and brand we are familiar with today.

Catherine Lloyd brings us the story of these women who decide for themselves what their path would be instead of what society dictated. Each of the women we meet came from different parts of England and different classes, but they get to be whatever they want at Bazaar and the world of fashion. We get to follow along with Chrissie, Mary, Daphne, Fern, and all the other characters we meet from their first days at the arts college to the founding of Bazaar, and the creation of an empire. We get to go with them on this journey through personal and professional ups and downs. We see how each character enters the fashion world and where it leads them. We travel with them through the years and get to see how the world changes with them and get to see bits of history and events that we are familiar with adding to their story.

I have received and read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley, Kate Pearce, and Kensington Publishing | Kensington for this privilege.

[Lindsey Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and informative read! If you love historical fiction with a background in fashion, Chelsea Girls by Catherine Lloyd is definitely one to add to your TBR.

Set in post-war London, the story follows Chrissie Walker and her friendship with the soon-to-be iconic Mary Quant (who is credited with being the inventor of the mini skirt and hot pants) as they navigate art school, ambition, love, and the rapidly changing world around them. Against the backdrop of Swinging London, we get a front-row seat to the rise of the Chelsea fashion scene, the opening of Bazaar on the Kings Road, and the cultural revolution that helped redefine what women could wear, and who they could be.

What I enjoyed most was the celebration of female friendship and the way the novel highlights women choosing their own paths at a time when society expected something very different. The fashion history was fascinating, and I loved being immersed in the energy and optimism of 1960s London. Several of the side characters, such as models Daphne and Fern, added depth to the story, and watching their lives evolve alongside the changing cultural landscape kept me turning the pages.

That said, I wanted a little more depth from some of the characters - particularly Mary herself. At times, the story moves quickly through major events and relationships, and I found myself wishing for a deeper emotional connection to the people at its core. Still, it's an engaging, entertaining read that shines when exploring fashion, friendship, and women breaking the mould. I loved the way the author included iconic models such as Pattie Boyd and Twiggy in the story, and there is even a couple of cameos from The Beatles!

Overall, Chelsea Girls is perfect for readers who enjoy fashion history, strong female friendships, and stories about women daring to dream bigger than the world expects of them. Recommended!

A big thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Publishing and Catherine Lloyd for gifting me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 STARS I am by no means a fashion-forward person, so this fictionalized biography of 1950/60's fashion designer Mary Quant is outside my proverbial wheelhouse. But I love a good dive into a different historical era, and I was intrigued to learn more about Quant, her impact on fashion and women's changing roles.

The story is told using multiple POVs of Chrissy, Fern, and Daphne, a few young women around Mary who, as the author details in her notes, are a blend of people from Mary's life who reflect changes happening during that era. But I was surprised and disappointed that we didn't get Mary's perspective to help us understand her and her motivations.

Honestly, this story felt like it was based on a bunch of historical tick marks the author wanted to include, not on a solid story or deep dive into character development. I appreciated that social issues impacting women were addressed, but it all felt very surface level with bits of info dumping and celebrity cameos of 1960's icons thrown in for good measure.

With its pedestrian writing and slow pace, this book was a struggle for me. I appreciated getting a picture of what life was like in London's Chelsea neighbourhood as young Mary Quant makes her mark on the fashion world and seeing women pushing through societal barriers, but I finished the book not knowing much about who Mary was a person.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Kensington publishing for surprising me with a trade paperback of this book which was gifted to me in exchange for my honest review.

[Linbur0100 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a perfectly enjoyable read but it felt a bit "undefined". It was presented as a novel, which comes with certain expectations of plot and story arcs, and yet it was presented more as a multiple narrator first person non fiction book, which obviously is a thing that cannot exist. What I mean by that is, there were multiple story arcs that could have been wrapped up more definitively rather than just fizzling out as they did.

Honestly if this author was not already well established with contacts, it's unlikely this book would have been published in this form, as it just is very "fuzzy" as a book. There are random narrator changes, which really don't add much to the story. That is, I think Mary and Chrissie make sense as narrators so we can learn both sides of the meteoric rise of the brand, but it felt completely unnecessary to add Fern and Daphne as their own narrators later in the book.

And yet, even though it really feels like it couldn't decide what kind of book it wanted to be, it was still an enjoyable read, so I'm giving it 4 stars.

[I received an advance reader's copy of this book. The decision to write this review, and my opinions expressed in this review, are my own.]

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways for the copy of this book.

This book is ostensibly about Mary Quant, the rise of her fashion empire and the impact she had on the fashion industry. It is told from the perspectives of Chrissie, her best friend who comes to work for her; Daphne, a debutant who resents the constraints of her pedigreed upbringing and becomes a model for Mary; and Fern, who is trying to break out of her working class roots and becomes a modeling icon by working for Mary.

One of my main problems with the book is that you only see Mary through their eyes. You never hear from Mary directly. It would have been more interesting if you got Mary’s POV on how she upends the fashion world, and especially her view of her marriage to Alexander Plunkett Greene. Another issue is that the writing is pedestrian at best.

For me, the best part of the book is how it inspired me to go down the Google rabbit hole and look up Mary Quant’s fashions. I was a tween/teenager when the miniskirt became the rage and remember some of the furor over it, as well as sewing some dresses based on Mary’s styles. Frankly, the clothes of the 60s and 70s are so much better than what is out there today…or maybe I’m just old.

This is an enjoyable read but it could have been so much better.

[Angelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chelsea Girls - Chrissie, Mary, Daphne, and Fern all have personal challenges and professional hurdles to overcome as they reach for freedom in their careers in the fashion industry.

I liked a lot about this story-these girls and their fight for something new and different. The history of art and fashion was interesting and I learned new perspectives from this story. I liked how they all broke out from societal expectations, their interesting relationships, and adventures they took to get where they were.

A few things I liked less. The initial character development was strong, but the character emotions and depth kind of fizzled. The story meandered at times, reading more like facts than fiction. I wanted more from the character interactions and the challenges with their homes lives read a bit myopic. That said, I imagine it’s challenging for an author to decide how much liberty to take with biographical fiction. 3.5 stars and will round up, as I recommend more than not!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book reminded me that I am a part of History. That is, if you consider the 1950's to be long enough to be historical!

Mary Quant was a leader in women's fashion, leading women out of the dull colors of Post-War England and into the bright and shining colors and shapes of a new era.

I'm a bit young and poor to have worn any of her clothing, but my wardrobe still had some influence of Mary Quant. My fashion ended up being hip-hugger bell-bottoms and crop tops, which still flood the market. These had been influenced by Mary.

A lot of name-dropping went into this book-Sasson, Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, J.C. Penney, etc.

This was a brilliant piece of fiction with a ton of reality included.

This will make a great beach read as well as a book club choice. There is a lot to discuss in this book, especially for a slightly older group who lived this era.

Not only does this book tell all about the fashion revolution, it is also a deep look into women owning their own businesses and the difficulties surrounding women in business.


*ARC was supplied by the publisher, Kensington Books. the author, and NetGalley.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and Kensington Publishing for this ARC!

I adore anything about "Swinging London", and was excited to read this novel about Mary Quant. This is a very successful first draft--the characters and basic plot line are good foundations for a rich tapestry of the times, attitudes, and personalities that made the "scene" what it was. I was hoping for more developed characters and more depth the story line. Lloyd flitters from one thing to the next as she chronicles the lives of the "Chelsea Girl" models that Quant made famous. I was very disappointed that there was really no depth to Quant's character at all, and the references to Beatles, Stones, Royalty, etc. were total name dropping with no real purpose. Lloyd describes the ease of Quant's clothes without much more description, and much of the dialogue and descriptions were almost verbatim from other sources (i.e. Pattie Boyd describing her wedding dress). There is such potential here, but needs another go at the drawing board.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Post-war London is a city in flux, with burned-out buildings serving as vivid reminders of the past. But beneath those scars is a sense of resurging optimism. Chrissie Walker, a new student at Goldsmiths arts college, feels it keenly. So does Mary Quant, the auburn-haired classmate who becomes Chrissie’s best friend. Like Chrissie, Mary wants more from life than to nab a husband and settle down. They also catch the eye of charismatic fellow student Alexander Plunket Greene, who becomes Mary’s partner and helps fund the opening of Bazaar, a King’s Road shop that marks the beginning of an empire.

A trip down memory lane & as a Boomer I lived in these times. I was drawn in from the start & my interest grew as did the pace. I really liked Chrissie, Daphne & Fern I loved the dynamics between them & how their lives evolved – all this against the back drop of the rise of Mary Quant. I recommend it as a memory trip to Boomers & also to younger readers to discover that Granny wore mini skirts, partied & lived the best life
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Sherry Chiger · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's little that's "novel-like" in this novel about Mary Quant's role in the '60s "youthquake." Just about anything that could have been shown, from the subtle erosion of class distinctions to the interior of the Ad Lib Club to the first window displays of Quant's shop, is instead dismissed in a few flat words. (We're told the displays draw crowds, for instance, but with one exception the displays are not described.) The evolving relationship between Mary and her art school bestie, Chrissie, could have made an intriguing novel in and of itself, but again, we're merely told that Chrissie is resentful, until she no longer is. (Um, okay.) The characters aspire to be two-dimensional, never mind three-dimensional, and Chrissie in particular is so dull I wondered why Mary keeps her around.

This did make me want to read Quant's own books, however.

Thank you, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the 1950's and women are still under the thumb of men and what the men (or your mother) thinks is what is proper and what is scaldalous. Enter Mary Quant and her friend Chrissie Walker fresh from design school and full of fresh ideas that soon set the fashion industry on its head. Mary Quant took up the hemlines, created bold colors and patterns and did what no one had done for the fashion industry since getting rid of the hoop skirt. It was an exciting time and Mary and Chrissie both were running as fast as they could. Instead of marrying young and settling down to raise a family they and the young women they employed were facing a dilemma and a lot of family push back. This is a fresh story of women forging their own path uphill and downhill. Catherine Lloyd weaves in a slew of famous names from Vidal Sasson to the Beatles to pull the reader into this supercharged time of groovy fashions in swinging London and the States. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Leila Coppala · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about Mary Quant, the fashion designer often credited as the inventor of the mini skirt? Heck yeah! Although I knew her name and her claim to fame, I knew next to nothing else about her. Chelsea Girls begins when Mary is at art school and becomes friends with Chrissy, one of the main characters in the book who is a fictional amalgam of people in Mary's circle. I really enjoyed learning so much about England in the swinging sixties and how youth culture was changing and changing the rest of the world, too. I found the writing style was often not super engaging, but I liked the chapters told from the perspectives of the fictional characters more. I'm sure it's harder when you're fictionalizing a real person's life and conversations. Overall, if you are interested in fashion and/or british culture in the 1960s, I recommend this book!

Thanks Kensington and Catherine Lloyd for the ARC!

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a good story that has the elements of a coming of age novel and provides some insight on the fashion world then you need to check out Chelsea Girls! I will admit before reading this book I had no idea who Mary Quant was so I ended up doing a little bit of research and was impressed with what I found. I have to say it is quite impressive how one person can go from having an ordinary life to having successful fashion empire. If you are someone who enjoys sucess stories like this you should consider reading this book.

In 1950's England we are introduced to Chrissy who is trying to make it through her college years. It isn't easy as her mother basically disappoves of everything including her friendship with Mary. However, despite the conflict Mary manages to make something big of herself. Soon she becomes the biggest fashion icon of not only London but also a movement of popularity of the 1950's.

[FULVIA BELLINATO · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is set in a post-war London where three girls find themselves being part of a fashion revolution starting from a small shop in Chelsea and taking London and then the rest of the world by storm.
In the span of 20 years Chrissie, Daphe and Fern tell from their point of view the encounter with Mary Quant, starting from the early days at school untill her genius made her conquer the american fashion market, from the first meeting with her future husband Alexander untill the birth of their only child Orlando.
This book talks about not living in the past and moving forward, trying to better oneself even at the cost of breaking the well established rules of society and risking everything: that’s how the world moves forward and society evolves, by thinking outside the box.
I really enjoyed reading this book, fiction ( the three girls are fictional ) with a real and fact- based background.
That’s for sure something the author should do again!

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review

This is the story of Mary Quant and how she shaped fashion on "both sides of the pond". She went from being a student at Goldsmiths arts college, where she met Chrissie Walker, who she became best friends with. She fell in love with fellow student Alexander Plunket Greene (APG). She opened the fashion boutique Bazaar, with the help of APG who becomes Mary’s partner and helps fund the opening of Bazaar, Mary Quant’s “Chelsea look” becomes a sensation to everyone from socialites to working class girls. She was known for her dresses with ever-rising hemlines, skinny-rib sweaters and Peter Pan collars, boldly patterned tights and scarves. She launched several modeling careers for girls who modeled her fashions. This book is perfect for anyone who loves fashion, historical fiction, or both.

[Sharon Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was somewhat a trip down memory lane. Even though I was a young child, I remember a lot of these fashions from my mother and my teen-age years. This book is based on the life of London fashion designer Mary Quant. She started in a small shop, but her clothes became known worldwide. The author has also added the characters of Chrissie (her partner), Daphne (a debutante whose life is changed by working in fashion) and Fern (an aspiring young model). Even though these characters are fictional, they represent Mary's world. I enjoyed all the fashion settings and the models. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the clothes-I had to go online and look at some of them. I recommend this book to all readers that are interested in 1960's fashion.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction based on Mary Quant and her revolutionizing impact on fashion. Fictional Chrissie Walker befriends Mary Quant on their first day of art school. Their friendship spans decades, through Quant's first shop, Bazaar, and resulting fashion empire. The novel also introduces socialite Daphne, who becomes a shopgirl, model, and muse, and Fawn, an economically disadvantaged teenager who gets her big break modeling.

Other real-life characters--Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton--make appearances. This is a fascinating look at an interesting period in social and fashion history, albeit a PG-rated one (which is fine with me). Put on your miniskirt and go-go boots and learn about fashion history. #ChelseaGirls #NetGalley

[eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set against the backdrop of a post-war London, Chelsea Girls spans the period from 1951 through the early 1970s, and follows the story of Mary Quant as she revolutionises fashion, through the eyes of three fictional figures in her life.

I'm not one to exaggerate much, so believe me when I say that to say I'm blown away would be reductive. I was very fascinated by the premise for this one, and I was incredibly curious to see how this story in particular was going to be presented; I might not be a big fashion girlie, but it still is something I do love to dip my toe in it every now and then, and I have always loved the vibrancy of Quant's work. So, this one was calling to me, and I am so happy to report how much I loved it.

I love a good historical fiction, and I occasionally truly do love a fictionalized version of real life events— I don't know what it is about that, but it just scratches a very specific itch in my brain. Now, what I genuinely loved about this is that all three of the narrators, Chrissie, Daphne and Fern, were so incredibly well flashed out, and felt so real. It would have been so easy for them to be a device to tell a story, but they were so much more, and they became so essential to what was going on, that I found myself looking up whether they were real people or not... you know, just in case I got it wrong. Honestly, it was almost disappointing to find out that they were, indeed, not real.

It was such a compulsive, entertaining read, and I could not put it down, nor stop thinking about it whenever I did eventually put it down. I loved watching Mary's process through the eyes of the people around her rather than her own— I feel that was so much more interesting to me for some reason I can't exactly pinpoint. As I said, I'm not that knowledgeable on fashion, so this was also such a fascinating read, and honestly so inspiring; I knew the basics about Quant, but there was something so wonderful in reading how she built it all in this way. And also, it did send me down a rabbit hole which led to me staying up all night to read on about her and everyone in her life and everything she did, but I am not complaining!

Huge thanks to Kensington Publishing & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Stephanie Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book! I love historical fiction, but the early 1960s isn't a time period I've read a lot of! I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, I really liked Mary and Chrissie's friendship, and appreciated the complicated relationship Chrissy has with her parents. I loved following them both from their fashion courses, into their independent adulthood. I would definitely recommend for anyone who is interested in art history, fashion history, the 1960s and swinging London!

[Leah Skull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this ARC in the Goodreads giveaway and I didn’t know what to expect, but I really loved this book. It was fun to read. I love the friendships and I love that this book is about women breaking the mold of what was expected of them at the time. And having each person find their purpose in life.

The time jumps are also done well. They don’t feel jarring and they progress the story perfectly.

[Deb Danhauer Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in a Goodreads giveaway, thank you!

I enjoyed this book greatly! I really knew next to nothing about the 1960s fashion scene before reading this book. This read is entertaining, informative and light hearted. I appreciated that while there were a few mentions there was no overt sexual scenes. That is also hard to find these days in newly published books.
Highly recommend this book!

[Wendy]

Catherine Lloyd brought Mary Quant to life through the models and friends that she made in her fashion business. I enjoyed reading about the "girls" that Quant befriended, hired, and brought to fame. It was interesting to read about the person who brought a truly unique style to fashion in the 60's. Hearing names such as Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, and of course all of the Beatles was a fun way to learn about this time in fashion history.