My professors have always advised me to get inspiration from a plethora of different sources when it comes to creative work. Books are one of my biggest sources of inspiration, and I try to get my hands on as many of them as my wallet allows. Below is a list of my favorite fashion books that I have owned over the years. For context, I am getting a BFA in fashion marketing and management, and these books are not fashion-based, but rather a more holistic view of the process and the industry.
1. “#GIRLBOSS” by Sophia Amoruso
This was a book I read in high school and it inspired me to take the leap and get a degree in fashion. This book is the autobiography of the founder and executive chairman of e-commerce clothing brand Nasty Gal. Nasty Gal has grown to be a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry. Every girl can find something she likes on this site and for a fairly low price. The autobiography details the humble beginnings of the clothing brand and how she just chose to be confident and believe in herself. The book is very well written and super fun to read. It became so popular that it landed on the New York Time’s Bestseller list and spawned a Netflix show.
2. “The Little Dictionary of Fashion” by Christian Dior
This gorgeous pink book was gifted to me by an ex-boyfriend and became one of my favorites. Dior is my favorite luxury brand and it always has been, so I am totally biased towards this book. This “dictionary” mentions important concepts and items in fashion and then gets defined by Christian Dior. If you are confused by certain terms that are used in the fashion industry, this book is a great place to start to gain a better understanding. There is some very beautiful retro Dior imagery alongside the book, and this book also makes a great decor piece.
3. “Steal Like An Artist,” “Show Your Work,” and “Keep Going” by Austin Kleon
Though these books are not specifically for fashion, I feel like every creative professional or student should have these three books by Austin Kleon. These books detail how to be the most efficient creative in today’s industry where you create amazing content and gain social media attention while not getting burnt out. The books are so easy and fun to read and are not dense at all. It can seem a little redundant at times, but I think the lessons are so valuable. There are some great quotes and images throughout the books which will leave feeling motivated and ready to get back to work.
4) “Fashion: The Definitive Visual Guide” by the Smithsonian
Above all else, this book is absolutely gorgeous with all the incredible imagery that it provides. This is an amazing coffee table book that is the perfect gift for the fashion lover in your life. The book chronicles every piece of fashion in history and its evolution through time. The book truly serves as an encyclopedia for everything fashion and is a great starting point for those who have no idea about fashion history, but also amazing for fashion fanatics wanting to learn more.
5) “The Fashion Chronicles: The Style Stories of History’s Best Dressed” by Amber Butchart
I was so surprised by how much I love this book because I found it on sale in a random TJ Maxx aisle. This book is about the 100 “best dressed” people in all of history. I think the better way to describe the book is that it is a compilation of people throughout history who had a large impact on fashion with their own personal aesthetic or style. This is a great book to learn about influential people in fashion from all over the world in a very digestible manner.
I hope you all enjoy these book recommendations and learn something new, no matter how much of an expert you are on fashion. Let me know what you all think!
