Ultimate Fashion Books - Calling all fashionistas
Author: Chrisian
For anybody interested in fashion, a beautiful coffee table tome is a must have to show off your style credentials. Whether you're interested in vintage, designer or high street, there is a wealth of books out there to tickle your fancy. Here are my top ten fashionista bibles.
10. Face Hunter - Yvan Rodic
After running his acclaimed Face Hunter blog for the last four years, Rodic has collected over 300 stunning photographs taken all around the world to produce this homage to street style. It is essentially a collectable version of his online outfit database, to dip into when you're feeling in need of some inspiration. Naturally, he only photographs the most beautiful people in the trendiest of areas but they are all unlikely style icons, nonetheless. It is always far more interesting to have a nosey at what real people are wearing than magazine mannequins and this book will certainly give you the courage to try something new.
9. The Way We Wore: A Life in Threads - Robert Elms
Books about men's fashion are strangely few and far between. If anyone was under the belief that men aren't sartorially minded then this book is quick to dispel that particular myth. Journalist and former New Romantic, Elms, presents a wonderful account of clothes as a defining part of our identities. He remembers events by the outfit he wore at the time and milestones in his adolescence are identified by the acquisition a much sought after item of clothing. Perhaps most interesting of all, is his analysis of youth subcultures like the mods and punks and teds and how style has always been a source of pride for young British men seeking to make their mark in the world.
8. Fresh Fruits - Shoichi Aoiki
Remember when Gwen Stefani sang about Harajuku girls and took four of them around with her wherever she went? This book demonstrates why so many people have become enchanted by Tokyo street style. Excerpts from the ever popular Fruits magazine were compiled to make this guide to the latest Japanese trends. Whilst the magazine was aimed at local teenagers this book has wider appeal as a something to buy for curiosity's sake than for inspiration. Every person pictured is like a glorious cartoon character come to life and every photograph is accompanied by a blurb so that we can learn what exactly they were thinking, going out dressed like that!
7. In Vogue - The Illustrated History of the World's Most Famous Fashion Magazine - Alberto Olliva and Norberto Angeletti
Unlike most books fashion books, In Vogue doesn't only offer gorgeous photographs by Irving Penn and Annie Liebovitz and many an iconic cover, it is actually packed full of things to read too! This book presents the story of the ultimate fashion magazine from its humble origins in 1909 to the present day, through stories from photographers and former editors. A nice touch is also the collection of stories by famous authors that have been published in Vogue over the years. A wonderfully varied and quite hefty book that is beautifully bound and perfect for showing off on your coffee table. Let's face it, we'd expect nothing less.
6. Cecil Beaton: The Art of the Scrapbook
Photographer for Vogue, Royal photographer, Oscar winner and documenter of the roaring twenties. For the first time, Cecil Beaton's private scrapbooks are now available for everyone to look through and as well as providing a fascinating insight into the inspirations for his work, it also serves as a collection of memories from his extraordinary life. Here you will find a photo of Greta Garbo's eyes alongside a watercolour painting and Beaton's own notes. Less a lesson in fashion, this book teaches you how to transform your magazine clippings, sketches and postcards into a work of art in their own right. Perfect for anyone who likes to cut and paste their own mood boards but it is a little pricey.
5. Vivienne Westwood - Claire Wilcox
There is no doubt that Vivienne Westwood is one of Britain's biggest fashion exports and most eccentric designers. This book, which was published to coincide with an exhibition at the V&A museum serves as both a Westwood biography and design retrospective. It charts her origins in Derbyshire to dressing the punk generation and the Hollywood starlets of today, focusing on some of her most iconic designs (remember the platform shoes that defeated Naomi Campbell on the runway?) and the working methods she uses. If you can't quite afford Westwood's clothes, you can console yourself by cooing over the 300 beautiful pictures in this book.
4. Vintage - Emma Baxter-Wright
This book is an absolute must for anyone who, like me, adores rummaging through racks of vintage clothes but is never quite sure what they're looking for exactly. A timeline of fashion from the turn of the last century to the present day, guides you through the key looks of each decade and is accompanied by a beautiful collection of old photographs and illustrations. The features on Dior's New Look of the 1940s and 50s and the success of Biba in the 1960s make for particularly interesting reading. If you're looking to recreate a specific style, the book provides a not too detailed account of techniques used and would be a great buy for anyone studying fashion.
3. Icons of Men's Style - Josh Sims
The second book in my list dedicated to men's fashion first caught my attention thanks to the rather dashing picture of Gregory Peck on the front cover. This comprehensive list of iconic items of men's clothing includes the leather jacket, the boat shoe and the Panama hat. We learn about the brands that made them, usually for a special purpose, the faces that made them famous and how they have come to be staples in men's wardrobes. This book is an easy read as well as being very cool. Expect to see pictures of Tom Cruise in his Top Gun aviator sunglasses alongside James Dean in his Blouson jacket. A must for the fashion conscious man.
2. Fifty Dresses that Changed the World - The Design Museum
More portable than some of the other tomes on this list, this book created by the Design Museum in London is a wonderful tribute to fashion design throughout the decades. It is fun and user friendly and not just for the dedicated fashion student or Vogue devotee. Every iconic dress is included in this, from Marilyn's white dress in The Seven Year Itch to Audrey's little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's and Liz Hurley's frankly bizarre safety-pin creation. Each dress is profiled and discussed to see just why it has come to have an enduring influence on pop culture.
1. Style Diaries: World Fashion from Berlin to Tokyo - Simone Werle
The sartorialists on the street have their say. If you don't fancy trawling the internet for inspiration, this offers a nice selection of people who value personal style above fashion fads. Like the Face Hunter book, Style Diaries focuses on real people who create their own distinctive style and want to share it with the world. Blogging is very much at the forefront of modern fashion and this book acknowledges that by showcasing the 50 best fashion bloggers from all over the world. Not only are we spoiled with pictures of their favourite outfits, but they let us into some of their style secrets and the cute facts about each blogger is a nice touch. If you don't fancy trawling the internet for inspiration, this offers a nice selection of people who value personal style above fashion fads.
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