Bergdorf Blondes tries very hard not to be a replacement for 'Sex & The City', but essentially, that's what it is. Fashionista Plum Sykes' first novel is a comic tale of a superficial New York socialite's search for the perfect partner (and the perfect pair of Chloe jeans). It's littered with fashion jargon and written with a sharp wit that suggests she's been there, done that and bought the (designer) t-shirt...
Beware! This book falls smack bang in the middle of the 'love it or hate it' category. You really only need a little knowledge of who Plum Sykes is (Vogue fashion royalty, and a woman who thanks fashion designers and stylists in her acknowledgements) to work out whether you'll enjoy this book. Fashion is a big element of the book, so unless you can imagine those Balenciaga minis, Valentino gowns and McQueen cocktail dresses, you might find yourself giving up after a couple of chapters. Feminists should definitely give this one a wide berth! The women in this novel are silly, flighty and ridiculous, but they're not half entertaining!
Our nameless heroine (and narrator) is a 'champagne bubble of a girl about town'; the kind of New York woman who writes the odd feature for a magazine yet dresses in the best designer clothes. Her best friend is uber-socialite Julie Bergdorf, heiress to the Bergdorf Goodman fortune and generally self-obsessed (perfect) blonde bimbo. Together, they're on the hunt for a potential husband (a PH).
Though the men are entertaining enough, the romantic plot isn't really what keeps this book going. It almost takes second billing to the clothes, the ridiculous women and the set-pieces (an attempted suicide, a 'book club', a Chanel sample sale...) that have you laughing in disbelief. Basically, this is a book which pokes fun and lifts the lid on the little intricacies of the NY social scene. There's a wonderful description of what a 'muse' to a fashion designer really does, and some hilarious takes of interior decorating. It's a silly, silly book and no mistake, but Sykes just about saves it by writing with a tone that insists "yes, this happens, but not to me."
It's not going to set the world on fire, but it's a funny, silly story that'll have you feeling very intelligent in comparison. It's worth picking up if you miss Sex & The City and love laughing at the social elite, otherwise you might wonder what you wasted your money on. None of the characters are especially endearing, even our narrator. After all, it's hard to find sympathy for a woman who gets on a private jet with a man she's known for all of three seconds, just because she can't stand to fly economy!
