The Beautiful Fall

Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris

By: Alicia Drake

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

In the 1970s, Paris fashion exploded like a champagne bottle left out in the sun. Amid sequins and longing, celebrities and aspirants flocked to the heart of chic, and Paris became a hothouse of revelry, intrigue, and searing ambition. At the center of it all were fashion’s most beloved luminaries - Yves Saint Laurent, the reclusive enfant terrible, and Karl Lagerfeld, the flamboyant freelancer with a talent for reinvention - and they divided Paris into two fabulous halves. Their enduring rivalry is chronicled in this dazzling exposé of an era: of social ambitions, shared obsessions, and the mesmerizing quest for beauty.

Alicia Drake writes regularly for publications including the International Herald Tribune, British Vogue, Travel and Leisure, and W magazine, for which she was a contributing editor. She has lived and worked in Paris for the last ten years.

©2006 Alicia Drake (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Deliciously dramatic… The Beautiful Fall crackles with excitement.” ( New York Times Book Review)

“Fascinating.” ( New York Times)

“[It] moves stylishly forward, with frequent overtheshoulder glances at some very dishy background…A story constructed as exquisitely as a couture dress.” ( Boston Globe)

Fun and immersive -- despite the narrator

An entertaining and informative odyssey through the decadent, hedonistic, and creative world of Paris fashion in the '70s, with an exciting and comprehensive emphasis on YSL and Karl Lagerfeld. But I will never understand why -- for a book that is so obviously focused on France and the French -- would this be given to a narrator who clearly has NO clue as to how to pronounce French words and names, and pronounces them inconsistently throughout, to boot? At the very least, one would expect a reader to make the teensiest effort to check on pronunciations before rattling off words and names?
I was literally gritting my teeth through much of this. At the very least, learn to pronounce "couture." Gaaah.
But a good listen anyway.

Very good except wrong French pronounciations

It's coo-ture, not coe-ture. She gets it right with "boutique," so not sure how "couture" got off the rails. Otherwise, an entertaining story.

Fascinating life of King Karl and YSL

In my opinion, King Karl is one of the most fascinating people on the planet. This book was a thrilling listen. To get insight on the juxtaposition of YSL and King Karl in their creative process/lifestyle/ indulgences was brilliant. I loved this listen.

Interesting

Interesting to learn about talent artist's success story and how it can be so inspiring and sad at the same time.

Beautiful, Glorious, Chic.

Terrific, well written, well read story of the genius that was couture, Yves St Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld. Really satisfies that craving for tales of exotic and immense beauty, talent, envy, creativity and gossip that we all desire. If you’re interested in fashion, Paris, elegance or decadence, you’ll enjoy this. Bon appetit!