The Dressmakers of London
Julia Kelly’s latest novel sensitively explores the emotional journey of two sisters, Izzie and Sylvia, who were raised in the same home but had very different upbringings. Izzie has spent her life dutifully working beside her mother at Mrs. Shelton’s Fashions. She has a talent for design but doesn’t dare go against her mother’s traditional aesthetic. When her mother suddenly passes away, Izzie is shocked to find that she has been left 50% ownership of the London dress shop, with the other half going to her estranged sister. The two have barely spoken since Sylvia left years ago to marry a wealthy husband. Sylvia has no interest in the business and quickly decides to sell to her sister, but when Izzie is conscripted into the WAAF, Sylvia reluctantly agrees to oversee the business until the end of the war. Their unexpected change of circumstances upends everything they thought they knew about each other and themselves. Writing to each other, at first just about the shop, the two slowly begin to heal their broken relationship, providing a poignant narrative that will resonate with readers interested in family dynamics.
This well-researched novel offers a fascinating glimpse into women’s lives during WWII, both in the military and on the home front. Kelly is a master at weaving in historical details without being heavy-handed or giving the reader a history lesson. Setting her novel in a dress shop creates the perfect backdrop to show how the British people dealt with wartime austerity measures like clothing rationing. Particularly interesting is how designers struggled to make clothing that was practical and still stylish. Highly recommended to fans of Jennifer Ryan’s books.
