Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The American department store: a palace of consumption that epitomized modern consumerism. Every wish could be met under one roof—afternoon tea, a stroll through the latest fashions, a wedding (or funeral) planned. It was a place where women, shopper and shopgirl alike, could stake out a newfound independence. Award-winning journalist and author Julie Satow celebrates and focuses on the untold stories of the women who built and shaped some of the most iconic department stores in America, from Dorothy Shaver at Lord & Taylor to Hortense Odlum at Bonwit Teller and Geraldine Stutz at Henri Bendel. Macy’s has just optioned Satow’s book to develop into a fictionalized TV series.
The American department store: a palace of consumption that epitomized modern consumerism. Every wish could be met under one roof—afternoon tea, a stroll through the latest fashions, a wedding (or funeral) planned. It was a place where women, shopper and shopgirl alike, could stake out a newfound independence. Award-winning journalist and author Julie Satow celebrates and focuses on the untold stories of the women who built and shaped some of the most iconic department stores in America, from Dorothy Shaver at Lord & Taylor to Hortense Odlum at Bonwit Teller and Geraldine Stutz at Henri Bendel. Macy’s has just optioned Satow’s book to develop into a fictionalized TV series.
