The Pink Suit, Nicole Mary Kelby
The Pink Suit, Nicole Mary Kelby
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The Pink Suit
A Novel

Author: Nicole Mary Kelby

Narrator: Gabrielle deCuir

Unabridged: 9 hr 9 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/29/2014

Synopsis

"Inspired by the true story behind Jackie Kennedy's iconic outfit, Kelby has stitched a compelling tale of politics, fashion and history." -- People

On November 22, 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy accompanied her husband to Dallas dressed in a pink Chanel-style suit. Much of her wardrobe, including the pink suit, came from the New York boutique Chez Ninon where a young Irish immigrant named Kate worked behind the scenes to meticulously craft the memorable outfits.

Kate is torn between the glamorous world of Chez Ninon and her traditional Manhattan neighborhood. Finding balance is not easy in a time when women are still expected to follow the rules. And when you're in love, it's impossible. Kelby's luxurious narrative gives fascinating insight into the real story behind the iconic pink suit, introducing the reader to the wildly unforgettable characters that made Jackie Kennedy into the fashion icon of the century.

About Nicole Mary Kelby

N. M. Kelby is the
critically acclaimed author of In the
Company of Angels, Whale Season,
and the Florida Book Award winner A
Travel Guide for Reckless Hearts, among other works. She lives in Saint Paul.

Reviews

Goodreads review by joyce g on December 27, 2017

Just a wonderful blend of history, fashion and strength.......more

Goodreads review by Susan on 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-......more

Goodreads review by Susan on 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 Kenn......more

Goodreads review by Shirley on 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 s......more

Goodreads review by Kelli on October 15, 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.......more

Quotes


"Luxuriate in shades of pink, in descriptions of haute couture so exquisite and precise that you can feel elegant just by reading the words. Nicole Mary Kelby has stitched together from scraps of facts a compelling novel, a lovable heroine, and a living neighborhood in its last few moments of innocence. 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." --Susan Vreeland, author of Clara and Mr. Tiffany and Luncheon of the Boating Party

"Beautifully written and engrossing, The Pink Suit gives us an extraordinary alternative reality, transforming JFK and Jackie's romance into the unforgettable love story of a seamstress and a butcher. Kate and Patrick are wonderful creations, and the evocation of the early 1960s is moving and convincing. Kelby spins a compelling tale of one of the most iconic garments ever sewn, and makes it entirely her own."
-Claire Kendal, author of The Book of You

"The Pink Suit is a rare work, fascinating and beautifully crafted.Nicole Mary Kelby's sensuous prose is as opulent as the couture she describes." - Jennifer Chiaverini, author of the New York Times bestseller Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker

"The Pink Suit is a wonderfully absorbing and richly textured novel, strikingly rendered with a keen eye for the details of art and fashion and an equally acute ear for the workings of the human heart. Kelby captures perfectly the yearnings, disappointment and aspirations of an unforgettable heroine against the backdrop of a national tragedy."

-Anne D. LeClaire, author of Entering Normal and The Lavender Hour

"One of history's most tragic and iconic outfits has long had its own strange and compelling story. Now, at last, that story has been told-and beautifully."

-Jeffrey Kluger, author of Lost Moon: The Perilous Journey of Apollo 13

"The Pink Suit, built around the Garment District back story of that now-famous outfit, is sure to catapult the writer's career straight from pret-a-porter to haute couture... Kate gets an insider's glimpse into the rarefied world of high-society matrons and wealthy socialites so often cloaked in mystery to outsiders. So do we... The Minnesota author herself seems poised to reach rosy new career heights with the publication of this carefully tailored novel."—The Minneapolis Star Tribune

"While the novel is filled with politics, history and lots of insider views of designer fashion, Kate remains grounded... It's a look at an ordinary woman and how she played a small role in an extraordinary time."—The Fort Worth Star Telegram

"Novelist Nicole Mary Kelby picks up those threads of memory and weaves them into The Pink Suit, a subtly heartbreaking, completely believable tale inspired by the Irish immigrant dressmaker who made Jacqueline Kennedy's Chanel knockoff."—Dallas Morning News

"A novel that's just about the pink suit worn by Jackie Kennedy that day in Dallas? Yes-and it's terrific."—Entertainment Weekly

"Getting a behind the scenes glimpse inside the fashion industry of the 1960s was a treat. But the real charm of the book is the protagonist herself, portrayed as a strong, independent and courageous woman who defies conventional expectations."—Historical Novel Society

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