As a fashion stylist I need to know what I’m talking about. I voraciously scour international fashion mags, the net, TV, films, both classic & current, searching for inspiration. I also read. Fashion bios are a passion. Books and mags stylishly litter my home.
Here are a few of my favourite books:
The Fashion Book – Phaidon. It doesn’t just cover decades of designers, it also covers fashion personalities. Small in scale, it’s like Cliff Notes for style.
Tom Ford – Rizzoli International. Tom is one of the world’s great designers. This wondrous, over-sized coffee table book proves he’s not just a designer but a tastemaker, responsible for re-invigorating legendary fashion house Gucci & shaping the face of fashion advertising in the 90s.
Best Movies Of The 70s – Taschen. This is part of a series: …50s, 60s, 70s… They are each great! As a stylist movies are a major inspiration to me. Who can get past the original Stepford Wives? Or Ali MacGraw’s waspy, schoolgirl chic in Love Story? The modern, futuristic sleek of Bladerunner (my fave)? Jane Fonda as a hooker in Klute, which was referenced in almost every NY show this season? The books amaze with behind the scenes anecdotes on actors, directors & the real stars; the movies themselves.
Fashion Now – Taschen. Taschen partnered with the editors of i-D (the super cool British style bible) to select 150 of the world’s most important designers. The book is visual fashion, eye-candy. Yummy.
Domicilium Decoratus – Regan Books. Kelly Wearstler is an interior design rock star. Gorgeous. Talented. The way she mixes styles, decades, colors, textures… It’s dizzying. The book is a feast for the eyes & a treasure trove of home decor ideas. And did I say Kelly is a fox?
Lanvin – Rizzoli NY. The legendary French couture house deserves a tome this gorgeous. The book covers the entire history of Madame Lanvin’s work & fashion line from 1909 until now. But it really gets good during the “Enter Alber” section towards the end. Current designer Alber Elbaz is a genius. Period.
And last but by no means least:
Deluxe: How Luxury Lost It’s Luster – Penguin Press. Dana Thomas’ book is a behind-the-scenes-tell-all on the culture of fashion & commerce. Have you ever wondered if your vintage Gucci mombasa was made in Italy? Odds are it was assembled in China (gasp!) and shipped to Italy where they put the handle on & voila! Made In Italy. This book is sick with the inner workings of high-end fashion. A must read for true fashionistas.
All of these book are great reads and (with the exception of Deluxe) are visually stunning. Give the gift of reading… And fashion.
M*