THE KNOCKOFF

The glamorous world of fashion is met with a tech invasion in this satirical novel by fashion editor Sykes and editor/journalist Piazza (Love Rehab, 2014, etc.)

The fashion industry is notoriously cutthroat; The Devil Wears Prada taught us all about the nasty power struggles. In this story, though, the “devil” comes not in a dictatorial fashion editor but instead in the form of technology and the millennials who wield it with the goal of taking over the world, one click or “like” or Tweet at a time. Here, our likable protagonist is Imogen Tate, a 40-something fashion goddess and editor in chief who is just returning to her post after a six-month medical leave. Much to her surprise, she returns to Glossy magazine to discover her staff has been entirely replaced by young women strapped to devices that never stop beeping, no matter the hour. Imogen’s respected magazine has been turned into an app, and digital-only Glossy.com is now run by the hyperactive Eve Morton—Imogen’s old assistant, who left to get her MBA two years ago. Eve has returned a sociopath, a “techbitch” who labels Imogen the office dinosaur and laughs in her face when she doesn’t understand what a “gif” or a “dongle” is. As Eve becomes increasingly power hungry, Imogen realizes she must figure out how to adapt and take back what’s hers. This story is over-the-top, no doubt: it’s hard to believe the speed with which Glossy is revolutionized or just how tech-illiterate Imogen is, and Eve is simply a monstrosity. These exaggerated moments would translate well on the big screen, as would the portrayal of the generation gap and the endless, comedic tech struggles.

Sykes and Piazza must be connected with most of Hollywood on social media; it won’t be long before this story moves off the page.