Reviewed by Wendy Lipke
The Frock Shop is the eighth novel by Australian writer, Sophie Green. It is another human-interest story of women of various ages, who are linked by a common interest. All her stories have characters who are returning to Australia or moving to another area where they find a supportive group of like-minded women who help them find their own potential.
The frock shop at the centre of this story was once a boutique but now functions as a charity shop. The story that is revealed is set in the Sydney harbourside suburb of Mosman and features local resident Daphne who has had connections with this shop since its early days. Daphne is now in her seventies but still spends some of her time at the shop. She is the glue that connects all the other characters attached to the frock shop.
Daphne once had dreams of becoming a dress designer but now uses her skills to help others to find the outfit most appropriate to their needs. She strongly believes that sometimes clothing can do the work that the individual needs even if they are not yet aware or ready themselves.
The story about Daphne and those who benefit from knowing and working with her, is told in the third person and unfolds in a relaxing conversational style highlighting many issues that impact on modern life. The main characters included in the story are a schoolgirl who does not feel safe at home. She has a passion to create clothing which is not appreciated or encouraged. There is an accomplished cellist who is finding that her age is precluding her from future engagements; an actress who is caught up in a perceived scandal and a young woman who has been shut off from the world by her own circumstances and now finds she must step out from her cocoon. Then there is the revelation of an adopted love child who now wants to connect with the birth mother. This will tear apart a long-lasting friendship.
Through the stories of these characters the reader shares the feelings of fear, hopelessness and apathy, embarrassment, betrayal and loss. But the frock shop brings them together and gives them a sense of purpose and happiness.
Connected to the story of these women is another which highlights clothing styles from Australia’s 20th Century fashions. These segments are found within the story line as well as in sketches at the front and back of the book. As most women will understand pieces of clothing have their own story and can be repurposed and rehoused.
The reader, who will probably be a woman, is told that there is power in clothing. An outfit can act like a costume so the wearer can play the role. Over time the role becomes life (97). In this way women can evolve themselves away from difficulty. I suppose this is the feminine version of ‘clothes maketh the man”. They have a good example within the group of characters as one of them has been an actor and must take on the mantle of the people she portrays at a particular time and situation.
This is a lovely story of friendship. The frock shop allows the women in the story to do something they have always wanted to do regardless of their age. They all learn that they must express themselves otherwise things fester inside and go rotten and that it is never too late for something to be expressed to stop the rot going further.
I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline as I have other books by Sophie Green.
The Frock Shop
(2026)
by Sophie Green
Hachette Australia
978-0-7336-5403-9
$34.99; 336pp