The Prince and the Dressmaker

Frances is one of two titular protagonists in The Prince and the Dressmaker—a working-class, young, white woman from outside of Paris who dreams of “someday be[coming] a great designer” (39). While Frances herself is physically unassuming, wearing practical clothes and an apron with her hair in a simple braid, her design ideas are full of drama, magic, and bold colors, reflecting Frances’s youthful inspiration that springs from the poster for “The Muse of Crystallia.”

Within the narrative, Frances’s most prominent characteristic is her ambitious dedication to her work. She is twice shown working through the night, once on Lady Sophia’s ball gown (9) and once on a collection to convince Peter Trippley of the worth of her work (99). Frances feels that sewing is the reason for all the successes of her life and “if [she] ever stop[s], [she]’ll be nothing” (135), establishing her career as central to her identity. Her ambition and work ethic shape Frances’s interactions with Sebastian, leading her to offer to help him in order to gain recognition for her design ability and launch her career. Later, her aspirations push her to quit because she’s not willing to stay anonymous forever. Near the end of the novel, Frances’s ambition briefly subsumes her sense of self, as she compromises with Peter so she can have a collection in Trippley’s opening day show.