The Cream Kingdom: A History of Parisian Fashion, 1921–1971

This is a history of fashion and high society in twentieth-century France, with Ernest Hemingway and Coco Chanel at its heart. Spanning 1921 to 1971, the book uses the lens of “fashion literature” to portray the people and stories of the French fashion and arts scene and upper-class society in Europe and America over half a century, including Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Coco Chanel, and Jean Patou. It covers nearly a hundred French and Italian luxury brands, from haute couture, fine jewelry, and perfume to fine dining, yachts, leather goods, watches, and aristocratic furniture. Like a fashion hunter, the author recreates the cultural connections and fascinating stories behind these brands, which together form a complete fashion ecosystem. Studying the people and lifestyles of this society is of great value to the development of China’s fashion industry, as well as its cultural and artistic fields.