13 Fashion Books to Know
Dior: The New Look Revolution by Florence Muller
Dior’s Bar Suit, or New Look, is held largely responsible for galvanising a significant change in women’s clothing. With a cinched in waist, pronounced bust and enhanced hips, we owe feminine shapes to the 1947 style; and this chic coffee table book charts its creation, from the initial sketches to the subsequent designs it has inspired.
Gio-Graphy: Serious Fun in the Wild World of Fashion by Giovanna Battaglia and Natalie Massenet
You may not know Giovanna Battaglia by name, but chances are you’d recognise her – one of fashion’s most prolific street style stars, the Italian editor’s extrovert, creative style has landed her a regular FROW seat, as well as close to a million Instagram followers. Covering style and beauty for daytime, night-time, travel, and work, this book is brimming with her sartorial wisdom, from how to pull off bold fashion moves to her secrets for transitioning between multiple outfits in one day.
Peter Lindbergh. A Different Vision on Fashion Photography by Thierry-Maxime Loriot and Peter Lindbergh
One of the 20th centuries most iconic photographers, Peter Lindbergh has collaborated with everyone from Anna Wintour to Jean Paul Gaultier, and the roster of contributors to this book is no less glittering. Considered a pioneer in photography, explore over 400 images of his artistic vision and boundary-breaking creativity.
Grace: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue by Grace Coddington
Anna Wintour’s under-the-radar right hand man for over 30 years, Grace Coddington is the former model turned fashion editor who is credited for many of the 20th century’s most iconic editorial moments. First published in 2002 and reissued by Phaidon in 2015, this book puts her in the spotlight, charting how Coddington turned static location shoots into cinematic narratives, alongside contributions from Helmut Newton, Cecil Beaton, Guy Bourdin, Mario Testino, Steven Meisel and Annie Leibovitz.
Grace: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue by Grace Coddington, £49.95
Vogue: The Editor's Eye by Anna Wintour
Ever wondered how fashion’s top editors decide what makes the cut? This book highlights the work of eight Voguers, from Polly Mellen to Grace Coddington, and their cannons of work; how, with the same roster of photographers and models, they each produce something different and extraordinary.
Kate Moss by Mario Testino
Fashion has provoked few collaborations more iconic and influential than that of Kate Moss and Mario Testino. This title charts not just their show-stopping editorials, but the behind-the-scenes action spanning two decades of friendship.
Andy Warhol. Polaroids by Richard B. Woodward and Reuel Golden
Delve right into the glamorous days of Studio 54 with this retrospective of Andy Warhol’s personal polaroids, snapped by the artist from the late 50s until his death in 1987. Expect candid portraits of celebrities including Mick Jagger, Alfred Hitchcock, Yves Saint Laurent and Debbie Harry, along with behind-the-scenes snapshots of some of his most iconic work, from soup cans to Cabbage Patch dolls.
Andy Warhol. Polaroids by Richard B. Woodward and Reuel Golden, £40
Tom Ford by Tom Ford and Bridget Foley
This one may not come cheap, but it’s a Pinterest coffee table favourite, making it a winner in our books. From his iconic tenures at Gucci to Saint Laurent to his vision for his eponymous brand, from fragrance to architecture, this is all the insight you’ve ever needed into his legendary fashion career.
Alexander McQueen by Claire Wilcox
Those who managed to score tickets to the sell-out McQueen: Savage Beauty at the V&A in 2015 will know what to expect from this collection of accompanying images. Charting the designer’s short-lived career, the book takes you through the exhibition’s key themes (tailoring, gothic, primitivism, naturalism and futurism) and explores everything from his dramatic collections to the spectacles of his shows. If you didn’t nab a ticket to the real thing, this one’s for you.
The Fashion Book by Caroline Kinneberg and Laura Gardner
From the people behind the industry to the photographers and retailers who’ve supported it, this chic title covers over 200 years of fashion in intricate detail. Plus, the cover is almost as stylish as the names referenced…
The Fashion Book by Caroline Kinneberg and Laura Gardner, £24.95
Chanel: The Karl Lagerfeld Campaigns by Patrick Mauriès and Karl Lagerfeld
You may be familiar with Karl Lagerfeld’s show-stopping runway visuals for Chanel, the fashion house he has helmed since 1983, but we bet you didn’t know he shot all the brand’s campaigns from 1987 onwards. Organised chronologically, this weighty tome chronicles images from the supermodel decades through to Cara Deleveigne and Lily Rose Depp – plus, it’s one good looking monochrome book.
Chanel: The Karl Lagerfeld Campaigns by Patrick Mauriès and Karl Lagerfeld, £35.75
Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon by Iris Apfel
Iris Apfel may be 97 years old, but that doesn’t slow down her sartorial prowess. A one-time interior designer (she decorated The White House for seven presidencies), there’s even been a Netflix documentary and a Met Costume Institute exhibition charting her extraordinary eclectic style. Part-biography, part-photo book, this tome is an insight into her colourful, creative life from the woman herself.
Valentino: Themes & Variations by Pamela Golbin
One of the most legendary designers in the industry, this book celebrates 45 years of Valentino's couture creations, including fabric samples, sketches, photography and orginal artistry. Valentino is the only couture house recognized by the French government outside of Paris, and this special tome is all the evidence you need that it's a warranted accolade.
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