“I THINK IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH A DRESS!” SAYS CHICAGOAN GIOIA DILIBERTO, SUMMING UP THE PLOT OF HER NEW NOVEL, “THE COLLECTION” (SEE EXCERPT ON PAGE 24).
THE BOOK IS A FICTIONAL ACCOUNT OF ORPHANED, 22-YEAR-OLD SEAMSTRESS ISABELLE VARLET, WHOSE LIFE BECOMES ENTANGLED IN HEDONISTIC JAZZ AGE PARIS WHEN SHE IS ENLISTED INTO THE WORKROOMS OF THE DEMANDING, CONNIVING, HAUTE COUTURE DIVA, COCO CHANEL. “I’VE ALWAYS BEEN INTRIGUED BY CHANEL,” SAYS DILIBERTO. “SHE WAS THE MOST PROMINENT DESIGNER OF THE CENTURY, WHEN WOMEN DIDN’T EVEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.”
MUCH IS DRAWN FROM THE AUTHOR’S IMAGINATION, BUT A DRESS AT THE CENTER OF THE ACTION IS BASED ON A REAL CHANEL CREATION. DILIBERTO SET THE SCENE IN 1919 AFTER READING A COMMENT FROM CHANEL DECLARING IT “THE YEAR I WOKE UP FAMOUS.” DILIBERTO MAY ONE DAY SAY THE SAME OF 2007.