The Top Fashion Books Every Style Addict Should Own

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”  –Stephen King

 

Have you got your summer reads yet?  While a good literary novel or a mystery series is always a nightstand staple, why not add some fashion books for some style inspiration and add some glamour while you’re lounging by the poolside?  Don’t leave them on the bookshelf–these pages are excellent on the coffee table , in your beach bag, on your desk or better yet–in your hands!

Here’s our top fashion picks:

 

A go-to, charming guide to entertaining, and even more meaningful now upon the passing of Kate Spade.  Easy, unpretentious ideas for the modern-day hostess that are easy, festive, authentic, and always with an air of deliberate polish.

 

A unique and lavishly illustrated collection of musings, anecdotes, and observations on all matters of life and style, infused with the singular candor, wit, and exuberance of the globally revered ninety-six-year-old fashion icon whose work has been celebrated at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and by countless fans worldwide.

 

Dubbed a “cyber icon” and “fashion heroine” by the New York Times, Italian fashion editor and stylist Giovanna Battaglia is known for her colorful street style and fun-loving personality. Her monthly column in W chronicles fashion, art, and adventure. In this, her first book, she has written an irreverent how-to guide for dressing for every occasion, finding fashion inspiration, living stylishly, and having fun while doing it.

“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” – Jhumpa Lahiri in The Namesake

 

From Instagram star Aimee Song, creator of the popular fashion blog Song of Style, comes the very first introductory how-to Instagram guide, breaking down the essentials to taking gorgeous photos and building your brand and following.

 

In this stunning updated edition of the successful Vogue: The Covers, Vogue continues to pay tribute to its tradition of beauty and excellence with a compilation of even more spectacular cover art. In addition to featur­ing classic covers from the magazine’s 125-year history, this updated edition features every cover since 2010, with each cover displaying the magazine’s cutting-edge takes on style, fashion, and culture.

 

This follow-up to the bestselling Advanced Style features more senior street style and inspiration from all over the globe. In this new edition Ari Seth Cohen shares his work from the past few years including some of the world’s best-dressed older gentlemen.

 

Today’s leading online cultural influencers—the female bloggers, designers, entrepreneurs, and activists—who are shaping what’s hot and what’s not in fashion, beauty, and personal style.

 

Tom Ford has become one of fashion’s great icons. In the past decade, he transformed Gucci from a moribund accessories label into one of the sexiest fashion brands in the world. His designs have increased sales at Gucci tenfold and have helped build the Gucci brand into the luxury goods conglomerate that it is today.

 

Organized by content sections such as Behind the Scenes, Travel, and Parties, this glimpse through the lens of the designers themselves will provide photography fans and fashionistas alike with a brand-new take on their favorite tastemakers.

 

This monograph on Coco Chanel chronicles the life and legacy of one of history’s most influential couturiers. From her early days of millinery, through her revolutionary inventions in sportswear and jersey fashions for women, the classics that have made her name, such as the Chanel cardigan jacket and the little black dress, to the global empire of the brand under the helm of Karl Lagerfeld, this beautifully illustrated book offers a fascinating account of Chanel‘s evolution and innovation.

 

Based on the wildly popular fashion website, The Coveteur is a photography coffee table book offering exclusive access to celebrity closets and homes.   TheCoveteur.com has over four million visitors a month who come for the insider portraiture, profiles, and beautiful photographic excavations of fashion’s celebrated personalities.

 

From Sophia Amoruso, the New York Times–bestselling author of #GIRLBOSS, a lushly illustrated embodiment of the collective spirit of the Nasty Gal brand, Sophia’s own personal brand, and girlbosses everywhere, with a foreword by Courtney Love.

” I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a book.”  –J.K. Rowling

In this personal, insider’s look at his own work, Christian Siriano takes his fans through the creation of his favorite gowns, from sketch to dress.  Photography of the Siriano at work in his Manhattan studio and narration by the designer himself track the design process, and give a behind-the-scenes look at the work of one of America’s leading young fashion stars.

 

When German photographer Peter Lindbergh shot five young models in downtown New York City in 1989, he produced not only the iconic British Vogue January 1990 cover but also the birth certificate of the supermodels. The image didn’t just bring revered faces together for the first time; it marked the beginning of a new fashion era and a new understanding of female beauty.

“I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” – Jane Austen

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Any books missing here you think we should know about?  Let us know!