Synopses & Reviews
"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 YouOn November 22, 1963, the First Lady accompanied her husband to Dallas, Texas dressed in a pink Chanel-style suit that was his favorite. Much of her wardrobe, including the pink suit, came from the New York boutique Chez Ninon where a young seamstress, an Irish immigrant named Kate, worked behind the scenes to meticulously craft the memorable outfits.
While the two never met, Kate knew every tuck and pleat needed to create the illusion of the First Lady's perfection. When the pink suit became emblematic, Kate's already fragile world--divided between the excess and artistry of Chez Ninon and the traditional values of her insular neighborhood--threatened to rip apart.
Moving from the back rooms of Chez Ninon to the steps of Air Force One, The Pink Suit is an enchanting, unforgettable novel about hope and heartbreak, and what became of the American Dream.
Review
"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
Review
"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
Review
"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
Review
"
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
Review
"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
Review
"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
Review
"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
Review
"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
Review
"A novel that's just about the pink suit worn by Jackie Kennedy that day in Dallas? Yes-and it's terrific."--Entertainment Weekly
Review
"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
Review
"Inspired by the true story behind Jackie Kennedy's iconic outfit, Kelby has stitched a compelling tale of politics, fashion and history."--People
Review
"A luxurious narrative... This is a novel that book clubs will relish."--Bookpage
Review
"A delectable romantic novel with brains and a heart."--Maggie Gee, author of The White Family
Review
"Excels brilliantly."--Publisher's Weekly
Review
"Here reality and fiction intertwine, held together by the power of a single, fascinating narrative thread."--Harper's Bazaar (UK)
Review
Entertainment Weekly's #1 Mother's Day pick for 2014An Oprah Magazine Top Ten Book of May 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, the First Lady accompanied her husband to Dallas, Texas, dressed in a pink Chanel-style suit that was his favorite. Much of her wardrobe, including the pink suit, came from the New York boutique Chez Ninon where a young seamstress, an Irish immigrant named Kate, meticulously crafted the memorable outfits. While the two never met, Kate knew every detail needed to create the illusion of the First Lady's perfection. When the pink suit became emblematic, Kate's fragile world--divided between the artistry of Chez Ninon and the traditional values of her neighborhood--threatens to rip.
Moving from the back rooms of Chez Ninon to Air Force One, The Pink Suit is an unforgettable novel about hope and heartbreak, and what became of the American Dream.
About the Author
Nicole Mary Kelby is the critically acclaimed author of White Truffles in Winter, In the Company of Angels, Whale Season, and the Florida Book Award winner A Travel Guide for Reckless Hearts, among other works. She divides her time among St. Paul, Minnesota, the UK, and Ireland.