"offbeat amusing "hate crime" tale"
The column "Crimes of Fashion" of fashion reporter for the
Eye Street Observer Lacey Smithsonian Chase has more to do
with crime than fashion. She is at the capital building
covering a $40 million dollar appropriation to the
National Building Museum but the committee members do not
how that item got into the bill that was passed. While
observing the proceedings, Lacey notices that Washington
Staffer Esme Fairchild who is always around in a high
profile manner surprisingly is nowhere in sight. Lacey cannot get Esme off her mind and as the days go by,
the police start to believe she is dead. Esme serves as
liaison between fashion designer Hugh Bentley and the
committee who wanted to revoke the museum findings.
Coincidentally, Lacey wore a premier design from Bentley's
first collection. He offers her more money to sell her
the suit. She does not give in to his demand because her
great aunt believed that he was responsible for the
disappearance of factory girl Gloria Adams during WWII who
was having an affair with him. Lacey, who wants off the
fashion beat decides to investigate Esme and Gloria's
disappearance. Ellen Byerrum is a very talented writer with an offbeat
sense of humor and talent for creating quirky and
eccentric characters that will have readers laughing at
their antics. There are some very good fashion tips
spread throughout DESIGNER KNOCKOFF. This is a great
beach read because it is the perfect way to relax and
enjoy the water. It will be hard to wait for the next
book in this "hate crime" series. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 10, 2004
SummaryWhen fashion columnist Lacey Smithsonian learns that a new
fashion museum will soon grace decidedly unfashionable
D.C., it's more than a good story—it's a chance to
show off her vintage Hugh Bentley suit. And it's not long
before the dapper designer himself spots Lacey in the
crowd. A reporter at heart, she manages to get all the
juicy details about his past—including a long-
unsolved mystery about a missing employee. Could it be
linked to the disappearance of a Washington intern or the
recent Bentley boutique robbery? Lacey sets out to unravel
the murderous details in a fabric of lies, greed—and
(gasp!) very bad taste...
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