Pearl Sgutt Gordon was born in Minot, North Dakota and attended the University of Minnesota where she met her husband Marvin and they moved to his hometown of Topeka, Kansas. This is where she wrote "Simply Elegant" as a survival manual for their eldest son that was away at college.
"Simply Elegant" was first published in 1970 and sold out in two months. That same year, Pearl ran for the Kansas Legislature. In the 1970's and 80's, they lived in the Chicago suburbs of Winnetka and Northbrook before retiring to Tucson, Arizona. Pearl said, "My favorite dinner guests are my very own children."