Chelsea Girls

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A glamorous and revealing biographical novel for readers of Renee Rosen, Allison Pataki, and Fiona Davis, starring one of Swinging London's defining figures, Mary Quant, who made history with the miniskirt, slashed hemlines, and transformed more than fashion, for herself, for her friends, and for a generation. Post-war London is a city in flux, with burned-out buildings serving as vivid reminders of the past. But beneath those scars is a sense of resurging optimism. Chrissie Walker, a new student at Goldsmiths arts college, feels it keenly. So does Mary Quant, the auburn-haired classmate who becomes Chrissie's best friend. Like Chrissie, Mary wants more from life than to nab a husband and settle down. Though shy, Mary shows her daring in subtle ways, including her home-sewn clothes. Designed to run and move in, her outfits inspire Chrissie and others to reinvent their own style. They also catch the eye of charismatic fellow student Alexander Plunket