Co-Sponsored by the Merchant’s House Museum

Join us as Julie Satow discusses her new book WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion and as we continue our year-long salute to Fifth Avenue on its 200th anniversary. 

Satow draws on her expert knowledge of New York City history and culture to whisk readers back to a bygone era of innovation and glitz. She chronicles the rise of the department store through dazzling portraits of three female powerhouses who broke barriers and created new and evolving possibilities for working women. 

In the golden age of the American department store, every wish could be met under a single roof: one could take afternoon tea, browse the latest fashions, and even plan a wedding or funeral. From bustling big cities to Main Street, USA, women—shopper and shopgirl alike—found newfound opportunities for independence. Men may have owned the buildings, but inside, women ruled. Though the names of these iconic stores, from Bendel’s to Lord & Taylor, are well known, the stories of the women who ran them have been largely lost to history—until now. 

Featuring vivid photos that illustrate the evolution of fashion over the course of a century and dotted with cameos from such legendary figures as Yoko Ono and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE will charm Sartorialists, readers of history, and fans of Mad Men and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Satow captures the department store in all its promise, possibility, and delight as she revives the legacies of the remarkable women who made that beautifully curated world go-round. 

A native New Yorker, Julie Satow is an award-winning journalist and the author of The Plaza, A New York Times Editors’ Choice and NPR Favorite Book of 2019. She is a regular contributor to the New York Times, and her work has also appeared on National Public Radio, Bloomberg Businessweek, Travel + Leisure, and elsewhere. For more information visit www.juliesatow.com.

WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion is published by Published by Doubleday. You can purchase the book here.