Description

New York Times Bestseller and named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, Vogue, Smithsonian, New York Post, and Financial Times, When Women Ran Fifth Avenue offers a captivating look at the golden age of American department stores and the visionary women who shaped them. Written by award-winning author Julie Satow, known for The Plaza, this book brings to life the era when these grand shopping palaces were more than retail spaces—they were destinations where customers could enjoy afternoon tea, browse the latest fashions, or even plan a wedding or funeral. Although men owned the buildings, it was women who truly ruled within their walls, both as shoppers and as leaders.

This compelling history follows three remarkable women who rose to the top of the industry. In the 1930s, Hortense Odlum began as a housewife aiming to make Bonwit Teller more appealing to women like herself but ultimately became the store’s president. Dorothy Shaver of Lord & Taylor revolutionized American fashion, championing homegrown designers during World War II and becoming the first woman in business to earn a $1 million salary. A few decades later, in the 1960s, Geraldine Stutz transformed Henri Bendel with her unmatched sense of style, setting trends that would inspire fashion retail for years to come.

Julie Satow’s meticulous research and engaging storytelling pull back the curtain on the ambition, risk-taking, and creativity that defined these trailblazing women. Blending personal drama with behind-the-scenes insights, When Women Ran Fifth Avenue captures the glamour, excitement, and innovation of department stores in their heyday, celebrating the women who made their success possible.