SLAVE TO FASHION

Misadventures in the British rag trade, from a fashion insider.

Katie Castle, production manager for fabulous London designer Penny Moss, has listened patiently to Penny’s grandiose stories of her glory days in the Swinging Sixties, endured her comically eccentric behavior, and even fended off her husband Hugh’s advances since the day Penny hired her. Katie figures her egomaniacal boss is too wrapped up in herself to notice much—and she never thought a brief sexual fling would bring so much trouble. Well, all right, she was engaged to Penny’s son Ludo at the time. They lived together in a townhouse owned by Penny, which Katie redecorated in the spare style she prefers after tossing out most of Ludo’s shabby stuff. He didn’t seem to mind. Earnest, brainy Ludo teaches at a school where even the teachers carry knives—when not fretting over endangered sea eagles. Katie can’t really be blamed for having a pint or two and falling into the brawny arms of Liam, the company van driver, can she? But once Penny finds out, she fires Katie immediately—and Katie finds out soon enough who her friends are. Not Milo, p.r. whiz and out-of-closet queen. He’s too busy lusting after underage youths and currying favor with Penny. Not Cavafy, the elderly Greek whose factory produces Penny’s designs (Liam bragged about the episode to Cavafy’s son Angel one drunken night, and Angel told all). Katie is sent packing, but she can’t go home to Mum and Dad in the aptly named suburb of East Grimstead. At last Jonah, an amateur philosopher and professional thug, takes pity and arranges an introduction to Kamil Ayyub, hapless scion of an immigrant Kurdish clan and owner/manager of Ayyub’s Parisian Fashions, featuring the latest in durable polyester. Katie will have to take a cut in pay but she doesn’t really care, especially since pretentious Penny gets her comeuppance, with a little help from Jonah.

Sharply observed and very amusing first novel.