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Pink Suit
A novel based on the true story behind Jacqueline Kennedy's iconic pink suit.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews
July 17, 2014
This was a gorgeous book. It was more the story of the seamstress behind Jackie Kennedy's Pink Suit than it was about the First Lady or the President. It has it's basis in truth. Chez Ninon was a real haute couture boutique which would reproduce many of the French designers clothing for the wealthy that could afford them. One of their most prominent and famous customers was Jackie. And of course the famous Chanel suit that most of us recognise.
I was transported back to a totally different era. The early 1960's were a time where women dressed well and almost everyone would have their clothing custom made. It is also the story of Kate. Her struggles, her passion for the work she did and her adoration of the First Lady. I was immersed in the world of fabrics and pink wool boucle. I could almost feel the textures and softness of the fabrics. Overall a lovely and enjoyable read. One that made me want to pull out my Mother's Vintage patterns, even though I can't sew!!!
I was transported back to a totally different era. The early 1960's were a time where women dressed well and almost everyone would have their clothing custom made. It is also the story of Kate. Her struggles, her passion for the work she did and her adoration of the First Lady. I was immersed in the world of fabrics and pink wool boucle. I could almost feel the textures and softness of the fabrics. Overall a lovely and enjoyable read. One that made me want to pull out my Mother's Vintage patterns, even though I can't sew!!!
December 27, 2017
Just a wonderful blend of history, fashion and strength.
October 4, 2014
This was a book club read for me. That pink suit and the time in our history is evocative. The idea of the story of the seamstress silently and invisibly crafting the image of such a powerful and visible woman is wholly intriguing. Unfortunately, the characters seemed paper doll and lifeless to me. I relished the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
April 29, 2014
I luxuriated in shades of pink, in descriptions of haute couture so exquisite and precise that I felt elegant just by reading the words. Nicole Mary Kelby has stitched together from scraps of facts a compelling story, a lovable heroine, and a living neighborhood in its last few moments of innocence--all against the backdrop of national tragedy. The novel pulses with what we know now. From its startling opening to its poignant ending, The Pink Suit shows us that behind events of global significance, there are unknown individuals worthy of our interest.
November 30, 2014
"What a strange power there is in clothing."--Isaac Bashevis Singer
THE PINK SUIT is the story of Kate, a talented Irish seamstress who works in Chez Ninon, a New York fashion house that has been commissioned to copy a Chanel suit, in raspberry pink, for the First Lady--the pink suit that Jackie Kennedy was wearing when her husband was assassinated.
But the heart of the story isn't Jackie's suit: it's Kate's obsession with making a perfect copy of a Chanel suit (a knockoff, in fashion terms) and what that tells us about a young woman whose entire life is focused on creating perfectly beautiful garments for Perfectly Beautiful People. In fact, when the story begins, Kate has no other life. Even her relationship with her sister is defined by her gifts of copied clothing, and she very nearly rejects Patrick, a butcher (what a telling occupation!) for Mr. Charles, who wants her to work for him in his new fashion house.
The strength of this beautifully constructed, highly stylized novel is the skillful way Kelby assembles its many significant elements. Obsession with beauty and perfection. Copying (with and without permission) and fakery as an essential part of the fashion industry. High-fashion, artistically-styled clothing as a concealment for unpleasant realities. Clothing as a symbol of role and social status: the Wife, the First Lady, Her Elegance (Jackie's name never once appears). Details of fine fabric and exquisite stitchery, like the details of a painting or a sculpture. Ireland and Inwood (the Irish neighborhood in which Irish Kate lives) and the Irish Kennedy connection. America as the home of knockoff artists. And more, much, much more.
But through a series of events that are historically true and terrifyingly real (yes, the Inwood explosion really happened), Kate learns that the world of fashionable fakery is not a world she can live her life in. Real people need real work, real hopes, real love. While it is true that "a woman in a beautiful suit can go anywhere," the only place Kate is able to wear her personal and unauthorized copy of The Wife's pink suit is a knockoff amusement park, where she is soon discovered as a fake First Lady.
If there's anything unconvincing about THE PINK SUIT, it is the ending, where the pink suit is revealed not as a symbol of forgiveness (that was wrong) but as a symbol of strength. That may be, but it happens too quickly, almost clumsily, so that the revelation feels not-quite-earned. This is a minor flaw, though. It doesn't compromise the original design and beautiful execution of this daringly ambitious novel. Read it, enjoy it, but most of all think about it.
And then go look in your closet.
THE PINK SUIT is the story of Kate, a talented Irish seamstress who works in Chez Ninon, a New York fashion house that has been commissioned to copy a Chanel suit, in raspberry pink, for the First Lady--the pink suit that Jackie Kennedy was wearing when her husband was assassinated.
But the heart of the story isn't Jackie's suit: it's Kate's obsession with making a perfect copy of a Chanel suit (a knockoff, in fashion terms) and what that tells us about a young woman whose entire life is focused on creating perfectly beautiful garments for Perfectly Beautiful People. In fact, when the story begins, Kate has no other life. Even her relationship with her sister is defined by her gifts of copied clothing, and she very nearly rejects Patrick, a butcher (what a telling occupation!) for Mr. Charles, who wants her to work for him in his new fashion house.
The strength of this beautifully constructed, highly stylized novel is the skillful way Kelby assembles its many significant elements. Obsession with beauty and perfection. Copying (with and without permission) and fakery as an essential part of the fashion industry. High-fashion, artistically-styled clothing as a concealment for unpleasant realities. Clothing as a symbol of role and social status: the Wife, the First Lady, Her Elegance (Jackie's name never once appears). Details of fine fabric and exquisite stitchery, like the details of a painting or a sculpture. Ireland and Inwood (the Irish neighborhood in which Irish Kate lives) and the Irish Kennedy connection. America as the home of knockoff artists. And more, much, much more.
But through a series of events that are historically true and terrifyingly real (yes, the Inwood explosion really happened), Kate learns that the world of fashionable fakery is not a world she can live her life in. Real people need real work, real hopes, real love. While it is true that "a woman in a beautiful suit can go anywhere," the only place Kate is able to wear her personal and unauthorized copy of The Wife's pink suit is a knockoff amusement park, where she is soon discovered as a fake First Lady.
If there's anything unconvincing about THE PINK SUIT, it is the ending, where the pink suit is revealed not as a symbol of forgiveness (that was wrong) but as a symbol of strength. That may be, but it happens too quickly, almost clumsily, so that the revelation feels not-quite-earned. This is a minor flaw, though. It doesn't compromise the original design and beautiful execution of this daringly ambitious novel. Read it, enjoy it, but most of all think about it.
And then go look in your closet.
April 16, 2014
A very unusual take on the Kennedy assassination and the icon that was Jackie Kennedy. This book very much focuses on the time, money and effort that went into creating and maintaining 'the Wife' as the nation's sweetheart. The story barely involves the Wife at all, choosing instead to focus almost entirely on the design and creation of the iconic pink suit that was worn on that fateful visit to Dallas. The novel is based on the actual Irish seamstress who was integral in crafting the suit in question as well on the fashion house Chez Ninon. The author makes it clear that although Kate and the fashion house were real people the image of them presented her is her own fictionalised take on their lives and attitudes, however for the most part she does an incredible job of breathing life into these characters. As with her previous work, White Truffles in Winter this is a gorgeously sensual novel. The textures, scents and weave of each fabric becomes integral to the plot and characterisation here. The subplot surrounding Kate's own love affair with her homely butcher allows Kelby to draw in more of the wonderful descriptions of food that made White Truffles such a delight.
There were some lovely little cameos from Coco Chanel and Martin Luther King so be sure to look out for these along the way.
This novel could easily have descended into a mere fluff piece but some beautiful writing and a well thought out set of convincing characters ensure that there is no risk of this, all while providing a glimpse into what it takes to build a modern icon.
There were some lovely little cameos from Coco Chanel and Martin Luther King so be sure to look out for these along the way.
This novel could easily have descended into a mere fluff piece but some beautiful writing and a well thought out set of convincing characters ensure that there is no risk of this, all while providing a glimpse into what it takes to build a modern icon.
August 24, 2017
This is the story about Kate and the creation of the pink dress that "the Wife" wore when the President was assassinated. It's about relationships too between Kate and Patrick, Kate and her sister, everyone at Chez Ninon and just everyone in general in the Irish part of New York in the late 50's and early 60s. Although I've read books about seamstresses before but set back in the 1920's and this had that feel to it, which was slightly confusing for me. I enjoyed the care and love that Kate puts into making this dress, a Chanel line for line creation. She is a true seamstress. She can feel the fabric sing just by touching it. She feels the fabric carries all the stories of everyone who has ever touched it, had a hand in creating it.
What made me keep thinking this was the 1920s was the fact that after watching Mad Men and how much bed hopping is in that show, and then to have Father John in this book frown on Kate and Patrick even kissing. I really enjoyed this book. It's a different perspective on this side of the Wife and is based on real people.
I won this book on Goodreads.
What made me keep thinking this was the 1920s was the fact that after watching Mad Men and how much bed hopping is in that show, and then to have Father John in this book frown on Kate and Patrick even kissing. I really enjoyed this book. It's a different perspective on this side of the Wife and is based on real people.
I won this book on Goodreads.
December 18, 2014
This book shows the absolute power there is in clothing. It is set in New York city in the early 1960’s. John F. Kennedy has just been elected President and his wife Jacqueline is First Lady. And she’s First Lady in all American hearts. The public embrace Jacquie with her elegance and her sense of style. Her perfect family and her very attractive husband made a lot of women envious at that time. We see all this unfolding through the eyes of a very appealing young seamstress by the name of Kate who is the main seamstress of The Wife, as she is called in this book. Kate is the most likeable heroine you’ll ever meet. She’s a young Irish immigrant who is a very talented seamstress. She takes great pride in her perfect hand sewing, and she is thrilled to be sewing for Jacquie. She loves nothing better than making a perfect copy of a glorious Chanel suit. In this fictional take on the origin of the famous pink suit, Kate is the one who sewed it for the First Lady. Apparently, it was quite common for such replica garments to be commissioned and sewed by other firms other than the haute-couture shop where they were designed. Kate realizes that the lady is elegance personified and although she has never met her, she creates a garment that will complement her style, and a garment that will be shown off to the world. Kate’s personal life is tied to the Irish neighbourhood that she lives in, and to a very attractive butcher by the name of Patrick. True events of the time are woven into the plot of the story. The real people in the book like the President and his wife, Coco Chanel herself, and various others help to make this book very realistic. The book is sumptuous in its descriptions, especially in the descriptions of the lovely clothing that binds the story together until the inevitable end. In the end the beautiful raspberry pink suit serves as a shroud for Jacqueline’s dying husband in November 1963 in Dallas.
July 22, 2014
When I went to pick up this book at the library, the woman at the check-out desk looked at the cover and said, "Jackie Kennedy." I think she was surprised to find out she was right. Just about everyone of a certain age will identify that iconic pink suit as the one Mrs. Kennedy wore the day her husband was assassinated in Dallas.
A problem with historical fiction is that you wonder what is actual history and what is fiction. Most people of my generation can tell you exactly where they were when they heard the news that President Kennedy was shot. This brought back a lot of memories of that era, but I was not happy with the way Jackie Kennedy and her entourage treated Kate the seamstress. Making her wait for hours even though she has arrived at the agreed-upon time - I do hope that is fiction, but somehow I'm afraid it's not. But that's just one small part of the book. Almost anyone who sews will revel in the descriptions of the fabrics and the details of the construction of the beautiful garments created by the boutiques back in the early 1960s. The descriptions of Kate's New York neighborhood, including a visit to the Horn & Hardart automat, were evocative of that era. I think that most people who are old enough to remember President Kennedy's assassination would enjoy the book. Most of it revolves around Kate and her life, but it does take the reader back to a time when women wore hats and gloves to go to the city and where no one worried about conserving gasoline.
A problem with historical fiction is that you wonder what is actual history and what is fiction. Most people of my generation can tell you exactly where they were when they heard the news that President Kennedy was shot. This brought back a lot of memories of that era, but I was not happy with the way Jackie Kennedy and her entourage treated Kate the seamstress. Making her wait for hours even though she has arrived at the agreed-upon time - I do hope that is fiction, but somehow I'm afraid it's not. But that's just one small part of the book. Almost anyone who sews will revel in the descriptions of the fabrics and the details of the construction of the beautiful garments created by the boutiques back in the early 1960s. The descriptions of Kate's New York neighborhood, including a visit to the Horn & Hardart automat, were evocative of that era. I think that most people who are old enough to remember President Kennedy's assassination would enjoy the book. Most of it revolves around Kate and her life, but it does take the reader back to a time when women wore hats and gloves to go to the city and where no one worried about conserving gasoline.
August 4, 2024
Loved this!!
February 24, 2018
Boring. Boring. Odd. The relationships didn't make sense in some places. Very little to do with Jackie Kennedy. I don't see what the heroine and her had in common at all.
October 16, 2018
It was kind of fascinating learning what went into the making of Jackie's iconic pink suit (and other designer clothing). Although I didn't love the writing style, it was an enjoyable read and transported me back to the Kennedy era.
June 30, 2024
This one was a bit disappointing. Somehow, it just wasn’t what I was expecting, from the cover with that iconic pink dress. I got about halfway through and started bogging down, so I “fast-forwarded” to the end. The author’s notes were interesting.
March 7, 2017
This is the story behind that famous pink suit that Jacqueline Kennedy wore. The main character is fictional, but much of the story is historically true. The devoted seamstress, who is the main character, almost literally works her fingers to the bone working on the suit and other designs. The story introduced me to a whole other world of fashion that I'm guessing the average person has no idea exists. If you know and love the fashion world, I would imagine this book would be more appealing. I thought the way the author described the pink dress was poetic; she did a great job with that and I really looked forward to the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. It was a solid book, but for my taste a bit too detailed in the telling of the sewing and not enough of the characters. I was between 3 and 4 stars, but because I like strong characters in a book I gave it 3 stars.
July 21, 2014
Imagine, if you will, that perfect dress that looks amazing on you, encapsulating color and style. Or imagine that pair of shoes that feel so nice that its as though your not even wearing the. Or, imagine that pair of jeans that could have been made specifically for you.
Now imagine if you had sewed that dress, those shoes, or cut the fabric that made those jeans. Imagine creating something so beautiful only to release it to the world and never see it again, but to know that someone is out there wearing your creation, living in it, as you yourself lived while making it.
The Pink Suit follows that premise. Kate is a middle aged Irish seamstress who is obsessed with fabric, fashion, and the elegence of Jackie O. She works for Miss Sophie and Miss Nona at the historic clothing boutique Chez Ninon in New York, where high end "knock offs" are created from the likes of Chanel and other European designers at a lower cost for the American public.
Although Jackie is a major force throughout the novel, she is never a real character. Snhes described by her whisper speech, or her swayback from horse riding which caused a strange alteration to the shoulder of her blouses and jackets. She had size ten feet, was unable to hold still during dress fittings, and often left a cloud of grey cigarette smoke in her wake.
The making of the iconic pink suit was an intense act of love and adoration. Everything from the raspberry Chenel fabric to the countless hours of quilting for the lining. During this process Kate finds herself falling in love with her old friend, the Irish butcher Patrick Harris. Like the suit, this too is a long struggle for Kate. She loves Patrick deeply, but their individual lives propell them in opposite directions. The people of the neighborhood don't understand Kate, she makes knock off-knock off clothes for herself and her sister Maggie, and people refer to her as Queen. Patrick's shop is boycotted by some of the more influential parishioners because of his relationship with Kate. On the other hand, Kate cannot bring herself to be a butcher's wife, and she's confused. Conflicted over her mixture of fear and love.
This book is really something special. I wouldn't categorize it as magical realism, but its clear that emotions and even the magic of human sensitivity is being pored into the suit from Kate. I loved the detail about Jackie's life at "Maison Blanche" and how the inner working of Chez Ninon linked up with their exclusive clientele.
And each of the characters were wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Each of them was quirky, deep, and sensitive in their own way
July 30, 2014
Absolutely LOVED this book. Yes, it had many elements that intrigue me or bring me joy: Jackie Kennedy, fashion, history, Irish narrator, love, New York, bacon, the color pink, Chanel and humor but if it was poorly written, I would have dumped it.
Instead I devoured this parallel narrative of the life of the seamstress who sews the iconic and tragic pink Chanel suit that Jackie Kennedy was wearing during her husband's assassination.
The writing wasn't tentative, but was subtle and deliberate and it was a fascinating story of growth, politics, ambition, fashion and marriage.
Kate is in love with the neighborhood butcher, but how can a man who works with blood all day understand the music that silk makes as it moves? Do the Ladies want her for herself, for her talent or because they are lazy? Does Mr. Charles see her as a partner, or just a skilled laborer? Does Patrick want her for herself, or does he just miss his mother?
It made me sad that I don't have anything I'm passionate about as much as Kate is about clothes or Patrick is about meat. Well, I do feel that way about books, so I guess I am truly lucky.
The humor in this book is what I call "Irish Humor" - bittersweet- and it's not a treacly love story, but it's truly one of the best books I've read all year.
Instead I devoured this parallel narrative of the life of the seamstress who sews the iconic and tragic pink Chanel suit that Jackie Kennedy was wearing during her husband's assassination.
The writing wasn't tentative, but was subtle and deliberate and it was a fascinating story of growth, politics, ambition, fashion and marriage.
Kate is in love with the neighborhood butcher, but how can a man who works with blood all day understand the music that silk makes as it moves? Do the Ladies want her for herself, for her talent or because they are lazy? Does Mr. Charles see her as a partner, or just a skilled laborer? Does Patrick want her for herself, or does he just miss his mother?
It made me sad that I don't have anything I'm passionate about as much as Kate is about clothes or Patrick is about meat. Well, I do feel that way about books, so I guess I am truly lucky.
The humor in this book is what I call "Irish Humor" - bittersweet- and it's not a treacly love story, but it's truly one of the best books I've read all year.
February 22, 2017
Not my usual read, but interesting.
Kate is a back room girl at a fashion boutique that sells knock-off clothing passed as originals. She lives a life surrounded by and in search of beauty that revolves around what the Wife of the President orders and wears. She is good friends with the butcher who comes from the same place as her in Ireland. Despite their immensely different lifestyles, something more than friendship blossoms between them. Kate is obsessed with the Wife and the clothing Kate herself helps make for her.
Quite a bit of the tone of this book is lonesome and depressing, and I don't share Kate's passion for fashion, so the historical fiction aspect was most interesting to me in this book. However, all of the "history" is filtered through the lens of fashion. I learned quite a bit more than I'd known before about some aspects of fashion and garment design and construction. It's not a how-to manual by any stretch of the imagination, but I suspect people well-versed in fashion design would understand much more of this book than I did.
Kate is a back room girl at a fashion boutique that sells knock-off clothing passed as originals. She lives a life surrounded by and in search of beauty that revolves around what the Wife of the President orders and wears. She is good friends with the butcher who comes from the same place as her in Ireland. Despite their immensely different lifestyles, something more than friendship blossoms between them. Kate is obsessed with the Wife and the clothing Kate herself helps make for her.
Quite a bit of the tone of this book is lonesome and depressing, and I don't share Kate's passion for fashion, so the historical fiction aspect was most interesting to me in this book. However, all of the "history" is filtered through the lens of fashion. I learned quite a bit more than I'd known before about some aspects of fashion and garment design and construction. It's not a how-to manual by any stretch of the imagination, but I suspect people well-versed in fashion design would understand much more of this book than I did.
May 19, 2014
Full disclosure: I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
An iconic suit, two women--one a seamstress, the other the wife of the President--, and the story that ties them both together. Kate is the Irish-born seamstress who worked at Chez Ninon, the New York based couture house that was utilized by the Wife. Kate helped create the Chanel-inspired suit that captivated Kennedy and the world. This is Kate's story, the story behind the iconic pink suit. This is her life, her experiences, her brush with fame, and her neighborhood in the Sixties when President Kennedy and his wife were in the White House.
An iconic suit, two women--one a seamstress, the other the wife of the President--, and the story that ties them both together. Kate is the Irish-born seamstress who worked at Chez Ninon, the New York based couture house that was utilized by the Wife. Kate helped create the Chanel-inspired suit that captivated Kennedy and the world. This is Kate's story, the story behind the iconic pink suit. This is her life, her experiences, her brush with fame, and her neighborhood in the Sixties when President Kennedy and his wife were in the White House.
May 16, 2014
If you love fabric and sewing then this is the novel for you. The Pink Suit tells a fictionalised story about the making, and the maker, of the Pink Suit that Jackie Kennedy wore on the day that her husband was assassinated. It captures the pleasure of working with a beautiful fabric, the joy of completing a technically complex piece of work and the reverence for smart clothes. Once the suit has been made and delivered the story fizzles out and has a flat and unsatisfactory ending. Great cover, excellent start and middle, shame about the end.
September 21, 2016
I didn't read this for the story but the tidbits on the couture sewing details. Therefore, I was not invested in the characters or the story-line. I felt the characters were flat and the story trivial. It could have been a better book.
Nevertheless, I loved the nuggets of information about the couture sewing. And the author was quite adept at vividly describing the process, the fabrics - as well as the dichotomy of a seamstress' frustration and joy of creating. It has inspired me to attempt a Chanel type jacket.
Nevertheless, I loved the nuggets of information about the couture sewing. And the author was quite adept at vividly describing the process, the fabrics - as well as the dichotomy of a seamstress' frustration and joy of creating. It has inspired me to attempt a Chanel type jacket.
September 16, 2014
I loved reading this book! The characters came alive for me and I loved the history of the early 6o's mixed in with the storyline. It brought back many memories of my early teen years and what was happening in those times. Also, I truly enjoyed reading about the amount of detail there was to making a true original outfit. The pink suit will never be forgotten by anyone who can remember November 22, 1963 and this story honored it in such a special way.
August 31, 2014
Clever premise about the seamstress behind Jacqueline Kennedy's pink suit. This is at the heart a story about two immigrants and the author does an excellent job of capturing the time period and the struggles of the seamstress Kate. I liked the actual making-of-clothes part the best, and wasn't into Kate's story quite as much. Well-written though.
October 2, 2016
The angle of the story seemed promising. I like the idea of telling a well known story through the eyes of an individual who lives behind the scenes. But the story just didn't come alive for me. I don't know enough about sewing or the fashion world to get the full effect of all the details the author provides. I found it bland.
May 31, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Although not quite what I was expecting, I loved the blend of historical facts with the semi-fictional account of the characters in the American fashion world of the '60s. A fun read if you have even a little bit of interest in fashion and couture.
March 17, 2018
The prologue was intriguing, the the novel was just average historical fiction.
February 15, 2019
It was a lovely book really, it was just hard to get into it when I could only read bits at a time. The last third read really fast.
June 29, 2021
Perfectly serviceable beach read fluff.
July 13, 2022
What a wonderful story. This is a departure for me and the sorts of things I read - but I picked it up after a friend recommended it. And now I'm recommending it to my mom.
If you're a fan of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, you'll probably love this. And I'm a sew-er, so I enjoyed all the couture designing and sewing all the more. It's nice when you know exactly what they're talking about.
Gabrielle de Cuir is absolutely fantastic on audio.
If you're a fan of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, you'll probably love this. And I'm a sew-er, so I enjoyed all the couture designing and sewing all the more. It's nice when you know exactly what they're talking about.
Gabrielle de Cuir is absolutely fantastic on audio.
October 26, 2025
Great story combining history and fashion
July 3, 2018
Good. Enjoyed reading about a suit destined to become world famous for the wrong reasons and it came into being. Although a fictionalised account it does bear the weight of its destiny.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews