# Unsinkable Lucile: How a Farm Girl Became the Queen of Fashion and Survived the Titanic - Hardcover

by **Hugh Brewster** (Author), **Laurie McGaw** (Illustrator)

**Before Chanel there was Lucile.**

She was one of the world's most glamorous women and the most famous fashionista of the Edwardian age. Yet, couturiere Lucile, Lady Duff Gordon was born as just plain Lucy Sutherland and grew up in a stone farmhouse in Ontario, Canada. How she went from a backwoods farm to presiding over an international fashion empire is a remarkable story of unshakeable determination and female achievement at a time when it was thought that a woman's place was in the home.

_Unsinkable Lucile_ is a lavishly illustrated story of Lucile's lively childhood, her rise to the top of the fashion world and her survival of the _Titanic_ disaster and its aftermath, during which she was unjustly vilified. Time and time again, she proved that nothing could sink her spirits or stop her drive to innovate and create.

Among Lucile's many innovations were the first fashion shows, the first fashion models and the Edwardian craze for oversized hats. She also helped free women from the corset and coined the word "chic." Lucile was also a fashion adviser to millions and the creator of clothes seen in over 115 movies.

Replete with historical photos and beautiful paintings by award-winning illustrator Laurie McGaw, _Unsinkable Lucile_ is a humorous, touching and empowering tale of a woman who beat the odds, never backed down and changed the world of fashion forever.

### Author Biography

Hugh Brewster is an award-winning author, editor, historian and playwright who has written 13 books for young readers. Hugh worked with Dr. Robert Ballard, discoverer of the _Titanic_, to create the international bestseller _The Discovery of the Titanic_ and _Exploring the Titanic_. Hugh oversaw the creation of _Titanic: An Illustrated History_, a book that provided inspiration for James Cameron's film. His other titles include _882 1/2 Amazing Answers to All Your Questions About the Titanic_; _Deadly Voyage_ (_I Am Canada_ series); _Gilded Lives_, _Fatal Voyage; Anastasia's Album_; _Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose_; _The Other Mozart_; and _Dinosaurs in Your Backyard_.

Laurie McGaw has previously collaborated with Hugh Brewster on a number of award-winning illustrated books, including _Polar the Titanic Bear_, which has sold over 680,000 copies and was nominated for a Governor General's Award. Her other titles include _To Be a Princess_, _African Princess_ and _Journey to Ellis Island_. She is a renowned portraitist and has painted portraits of Oscar Peterson, Norman Jewison and David Suzuki among others. She has also been commissioned to create 34 coins for the Royal Canadian Mint.

**Number of Pages:** 40

**Dimensions:** 0.4 x 10.1 x 10.1 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** September 01, 2022

## Details

- **Price:** 19.95 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 19.95 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Unsinkable Lucile: How a Farm Girl Became the Queen of Fashion and Survived the Titanic - Hardcover

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> Updated: 2026-07-23