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A list of the notable, interesting, fashion-forward books that hit shelves this year

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Fashion books are favorites among coffee table book collectors, and this year there are already a host of new ones to shop — covering luxury fashion labels from Dior and Fendi to Moschino and Louis Vuitton.

In May, Jeremy Scott released a volume titled “Moschino,” about his role as creative director at Moschino through the publishing company Assouline, and in the same month, Dior released a book through Rizzoli publishers titled “Dior: The Legendary 30, Avenue Montaigne,” about its legendary headquarters and atelier in Paris.

Here, WWD lists some of the most notable fashion book titles published so far in 2022. Read on for more.

“Dior by John Galliano”

Published in January, this fifth volume in a series of books highlighting Dior’s artistic directors, “ Dior by John Galliano ” follows the creations of British designer John Galliano, while he helmed the house from 1996 to 2011.

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With striking, large-scale imagery, the book compiles all of Galliano’s creative work at Dior, including photography by Laziz Hamani, Steven Meisel and Annie Leibovitz, and text by Andrew Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A student of London’s Central Saint Martins, Galliano successfully launched his namesake brand in 1984, became the creative director of ready-to-wear and haute couture at Givenchy in 1995, and dresser at the National Theater. The designer is credited with combining the art of haute-couture costume with illusion.

Assouline, $195

“Moschino”

Designed in collaboration with Jeremy Scott, the creative director of Moschino since 2013, “Moschino,” released in May, is filled with the label’s most special moments, particularly as seen through Scott’s eyes. Written with fashion journalist Alexander Fury, the coffee table book, featuring a silk hardcover, includes images of backstage shows, campaigns, editorials and parties.

Often called the “enfant terrible” of the fashion industry for his rebellious designs, Scott has been credited with revamping the more than 30-year-old Italian fashion label by combining pop-culture references with high fashion .

Assouline, $250

“Love Brings Love: A Homage to Alber Elbaz”

Published in May, “Love Brings Love: A Homage to Alber Elbaz,” pays tribute to late designer Alber Elbaz , best known for reviving Lanvin from 2001 to 2015, who died on April 24, 2021, as a result of COVID-19 complications.

In a memorial show dedicated to the late designer titled “Love Brings Love” on Oct. 5, 2021, 44 designers from France, Japan, Italy and the U.S. designed looks to close out Paris Fashion Week — an event that made history in being the first collaborative memorial fashion show to happen in Paris. Some of Elbaz’s own looks were part of the event as well, produced by his AZ Factory studio and atelier.

This coffee table book is divided into three parts, including pieces written by Elbaz; sketches from the designers and brands who participated in the 2021 memorial show, including Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Comme des Garçons, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Valentino; and a section of photographs, including completed dresses by Elbaz.

Rizzoli, $65

“Louis Vuitton Manufactures”

Taking a bit of a different angle than most fashion coffee table books, “Louis Vuitton Manufactures,” by author, historian and journalist Nicholas Foulkes, features the makers behind the luxury label. With more than 350 illustrations, this book, released in February, is a special issue dedicated to the skilled artisans who make up the ateliers of Louis Vuitton, those in France, Switzerland, Italy and the U.S. The silk cover hardback includes images of the label’s many warehouses, such as their low environmental impact workshop in Beaulieu-sur-Layon, France.

Exclusive images of the making of some of the brand’s most notable pieces, like monogrammed trunks and bags, as well as watches and shoes, are also included.

Assouline, $95

“Brioni: Tailoring Legends”

Released in February, “Brioni: Tailoring Legends,” showcases the fine craftsmanship of the Italian label Brioni founded in 1945 by master tailors Nazareno Fonticoli and Gaetano Savini. The menswear brand debuted the first men’s fashion show in 1952 at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Italy, and has had a global influence on menswear since.

With more than 200 images, this book, written by fashion historian Olivier Saillard, includes original photography of archival garments as well as exclusive materials that celebrate the evolution of the house’s men’s style throughout the decades.

Assouline $195

“Dior: The Legendary 30, Avenue Montaigne”

Released on the fashion house’s 75th anniversary in May, “Dior: The Legendary 30, Avenue Montaigne,” looks at the French fashion house’s rich past through the lens of its headquarters and atelier at 30, Avenue Montaigne in Paris’ high-end Triangle d’Or neighborhood, where the finest haute couture shops are located. The iconic address is a Parisian hotel ​​that Christian Dior handpicked himself in 1946, and has since been the home of his couture collections, beginning, most notably, with his inaugural 1947 fashion show, which marked the New Look era’s debut.

This coffee table book written by Pietro Beccari and published in May features exclusive imagery of Christian Dior working in his design studio, backstage fashion shoes, fitting sessions, archival documents and a portfolio of Dior’s designs.

Rizzoli, $45

“The Joy of Movement”

Released in May, “The Joy of Movement,” outlines the extensive 70-year history of skiwear brand Fusalp. Founded in the Alps of eastern France in 1852, the brand is most known for introducing mountain apparel to the mainstream fashion scene, inspired by both alpine skiing and its French roots.

Authored by 2019 Grand Prix de Littérature Dramatique winner, stage director Mohamed El Khatib, the work includes never-before-seen archival material and firsthand accounts of the figures behind the brand.

Abrams, $35

“Hermès: Straight From the Horse’s Mouth”

Published by Abrams in May, “Hermès Straight From the Horse’s Mouth,” combines anecdotes, profiles and testimonies from the label’s saddlers, sales assistants, window dressers and gardeners, that tell the story of Hermès since its founding by Thierry Hermès in 1837. To accompany the text, written by Luc Charbin, the 96-page work includes playful illustrations by Parisian illustrator Alice Charbin.

Amazon, $25.49

“The Fendi Set: From Bloomsbury to Borghese”

“The Fendi Set: From Bloomsbury to Borghese,” published in May, follows Fendi’s head of couture and womenswear Kim Jones, and his inspirational connection to the Bloomsbury Set: an early 20th-century group of British authors, scholars and artists including Virginia Woolf, Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell.

The book, with text by Jones, serves to reveal the historical connection between the Bloomsbury Set and the Fendi house through enriched photography by Nikolai von Bismarck of landmarks, sites and scenes in Europe, like the Sissinghurst Castle in England, Rome’s Villa Medici and the Villa Borghese in Rome.

Included in the volume are diary entries, letters and excerpts from Bloomsbury members, with artistic photography designed to bring Jones’ creations to life, and imagery of what Rizzoli called his “eternal muses” — Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Demi Moore, among them — bringing things into the present.

Rizzoli, $135

“Street Unicorns”

Released in May, “Street Unicorns” by award-winning New York-based photographer Robbie Quinn, includes more than 250 images of the city’s “style rebels and bold expressionists.”

A commercial photographer with a focus on environmental portraits, Quinn, as the coffee table book’s title suggests, calls his fashionable subjects “Street Unicorns” and includes their testimonials, aspirations and perspectives as well as their outfits.

Abrams publishing describes the book as: “A vibrant declaration against ageism, racism, homophobia and all other discriminations, this book is a love letter to those who aren’t afraid to stand out, embrace nonconformity and share who they are with the world.”

  Abrams, $29.99

“Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks”

Published in June, “Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks,” reveals some of the most innovative processes today’s shoe industry uses to design footwear, like 3D printing, to sustainable material innovation, like using “leather” made from mushrooms to soles made from recycled ocean plastics.

Written by Elizabeth Semmelhack, the curator of the Bata Shoe Museum in Ontario, Canada, the book features in-depth interviews conducted by Semmelhack with well-known designers, including Iris Van Herpen, Steven Smith and the team at virtual shoe company RTFKT, among others. This 224-page collection of footwear innovation is designed to inspire the creative processes for the future of shoes.

Rizzoli, $55

“ Karl Lagerfeld : A Life in Fashion”

“Karl Lagerfeld: A Life in Fashion,” published in February, delves deep into the life of the late and legendary designer, perhaps best known for leading creative direction at Chanel, though even before that he lent his creativity to Fendi and Chloé. And, of course, he had his own namesake label.

Lagerfeld, who died at 85 years old in February 2019, served as the creative director of Chanel from 1983 up until his death and launched Karl Lagerfeld the label in 1984, which he also operated through the end of his life. Written by German editor Alfons Kaiser, a close friend of Lagerfeld, the biography encompasses all eras of the designer’s life, from his adolescence in the “North German flatlands” to his adulthood as the “disciplined Prussian workaholic.”

Abrams publishing said this about the biography: “Drawing from many previously untapped sources, this biography investigates the man behind the persona: the precocious boy who preferred to draw in the attic than play with his peers; the son who quarreled with his parents but never got away from them; Yves Saint Laurent’s competitor, whom he outshone in the end; the brother, uncle, friend — and finally the partner of Jacques de Bascher, the great love of his life.”

Abrams, $30

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Fashion politics and social commentary

Fashion philosophy, and history, fashion designers, coffee table books, for future fashion designers, the 27 best fashion books, from streetwear guides to coffee table books of legendary catwalks.

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• Learning more about fashion gives you more choice in what you say through what you wear.
• Whether you study fashion or want coffee table books , there are many great fashion books out there.
• Below, we outlined the best fashion books, from streetwear guides to tomes about famous designers.

Fashion is a spectacular part of everyone's life: we all wear clothes and get dressed. Every time we wear something, it's an opportunity to tell the world something without saying a word.

But fashion goes far beyond our contemporary experiences — it is tied into every aspect of our history and can even play important roles in social movements. Fashion is often tied to our economy, and trends can speak to the collective experience of a society. The best fashion books leave you with many lessons learned and, more importantly, many more questions to keep you on a learning journey. 

Whether you're looking for coffee table books, are an aspiring designer, or want to dive deep into the history of fashion, below are 27 of the best fashion books available today.

The 27 best fashion books to read in 2022:

"the incomplete: highsnobiety guide to street fashion and culture" by gestalten and highsnobriety.

"The Incomplete: Highsnobiety Guide to Street Fashion and Culture," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $48.12

Streetwear is one of the biggest driving forces in fashion today. This book tells the story of where street fashion meets culture, including on local and global levels. It digs into the impacts of youth-driven movements, of hip hop, and of creatives like Kanye West and Pharrell Williams. If you want to understand the profound impact of brands like Off-White, Dickies, Carhart, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Supreme, and more, the knowledge is within the page's of this Highsnobiety Guide.

"Soled Out: The Golden Age of Sneaker Advertising" by Sneaker Freaker

"Soled Out: The Golden Age of Sneaker Advertising," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $51.99

With its 720 pages, this book doubles as a gym weight and a tome of knowledge and inspiration. Rather than go into the history of sneakers and their increasing popularity, "Soled Out" focuses on the role of advertising and marketing through an assortment of print ads from the 1970s to the 2000s. If you want to understand the genius of marketing and how it has uplifted today's most popular shoes, you'll find it here across artifacts from Adidas, Nike, Jordan, New Balance, and more.

"Dressing the Resistance: The Visual Language of Protest Through History" by Camille Benda

"Dressing the Resistance: The Visual Language of Protest Through History," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $23.16

Fashion always plays a role in social movements and societal change. "Dressing the Resistance" explores the meanings of different colors and even goes beyond clothing. Costume designer and fashion historian Camille Benda breaks down the visual language of fashion in protest through nearly 200 images and paintings. Reading this will not only help you understand how fashions of protests have worked themselves into the average wardrobe, but also the power you hold in your own closet. 

"Fashion and Politics" edited by Djurdja Bartlett

"Fashion and Politics," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $45

Fashion is a fun mode of self-expression, but it always plays roles in other spheres like politics. In "Fashion and Politics," Djurdja Barlett explores the intersection of fashion and politics. If you want to understand fashion's complex role in the political sphere, this book is a must-have. Through contributor essays with philosophical and historical perspectives, this book discusses nationalism, oppression, individualism, decolonization, and surveillance in tandem with fashion.

"Black Ivy: A Revolt in Style" by Jason Jules and Graham Marsh

"Black Ivy: A Revolt in Style," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $46.45

The Oxford button-down shirt, loafer, and three-button jacket are classic silhouettes of the preppy, Ivy style. This book takes you on a fascinating journey to understand how Black men took the look and infused it with new life that continues to influence today's Ivy styles and menswear. Figures discussed include Malcolm X, James Baldwin, John Coltrane, Sidney Poitier, and many more.

"Androgyne: Fashion and Gender" by Patrick Mauriès

"Androgyne: Fashion and Gender," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $52.01

Androgyne is an exploration of fashion and gender, focusing on ways gender lines have been blurred through garments long ago and in contemporary examples. The book explores the reasons behind androgyne's resurgence as well as comparing images across time and across cultures. You'll recognize icons cited throughout the book like Grace Jones, David Bowie, and brands pushing the conversation forward like Gucci.

"Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion" by Elizabeth L. Cline

"Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $14.94

Fast fashion has been a hot topic issue for the past several years as fast fashion brands like Forever 21 and Shein rose in popularity. Excess creation, overproduction, and labor abuses are just some of the problems with fast fashion. "Overdressed" is an eye-opening exploration of the high cost of cheap clothes.

"Handbag Chic: 200 Years of Designer Fashion" by Desire Smith

"Handbag Chic: 200 Years of Designer Fashion," available at Amazon and Bookshop , $49.95

Handbags have had an interesting history across the various purposes served and different designs they have embodied. "Handbag Chic" takes you on a journey through 200 years of their history through the lenses of 550 leading bags from 1759 to 2004. This book is great if you want inspiration to create your own handbag or are curious about classic silhouettes.

"Africa: The Fashion Continent" by Emmanuelle Courrèges

"Africa: The Fashion Continent," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $40.71

While the wealthiest fashion houses are European and focus in fashion tends to be directed towards Western designers, this book brings attention back to the content, to Africa. It highlights and celebrates the creativity across Africa that's bringing a new era to fashion. If you seek to understand fashion, you need this book that celebrates creativity and highlights designers, models, and more.

"Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World" by Aja Raden

"Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World," available at Amazon and Bookshop . from $15.18

Gemstones may not be the first thing that come to mind when thinking about fashion, but it's crucial to understand their role in all the glitz and glam of what we wear. "Stoned" explores the history of human desire for jewels and ties it to contemporary examples of cultural moments, war, and pop culture.

"Fashion - Philosophy for Everyone: Thinking with Style" edited by Jessica Wolfendale and Jeanette Kennett

"Fashion - Philosophy for Everyone: Thinking with Style," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $22.75

This book is a cross-disciplinary exploration into fashion and style. If you want to learn more about the power of fashion and what your personal style is, this text will help. It's made up of an awesome collection of essays that tackle a wide range of topics like aesthetics, identity, freedom, ethics, coolness, and even cyborgs.

" Dressed: A Philosophy of Clothes " covers similar ground but comes from one writer instead of a collection of essays.

"The United States of Fashion: A New Atlas of American Style" by Anna Wintour and the editors of "Vogue"

"The United States of Fashion: A New Atlas of American Style," available at Bookshop, $41.85

From the editors of "Vogue," this 2021 book explores fashion in the contemporary scene, including in the presence of COVID. Filled with photographs and stories that have not been seen before in any issue of the magazine, the book offers new ideas on American style, sustainability, and the future of fashion.

"Gucci: The Making Of" edited by Frida Gianinni

"Gucci: The Making Of," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $65.99

It's hard to talk about fashion without any mention of Gucci. This book tells a story of Gucci's history, innovation, and brand identity through archival photographs, essays, and editing from Gucci's former creative director Frida Giannini. 

If you're also interested in the drama behind the house, then you can check out the book that inspired the 2021 thriller featuring Lady Gaga, " House of Gucci ."

"Virgil Abloh. Nike. ICONS" by Virgil Abloh

"Virgil Abloh. Nike. ICONS," available at Amazon, $59.56

Virgil Abloh's (1980-2021) influence in fashion is immeasurable. The architect turned fashion designer knew no bounds on his creativity, leading him to create his innovative streetwear brand Off-White and becoming creative director of Louis Vuitton menswear. "ICONS" explores Abloh's creative process, innovations, and design language that has shaped much of today's fashion.

"Dior New Looks" by Jérome Gautier

"Dior New Looks," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $45.13

Largely through images, "Dior New Looks" explores how Christian Dior influenced and updated elegance and womenswear through his fashions. Sharing photographs from as early as 1947, this book tells the tale of one of fashion's biggest houses with hints as to where it's going.

"Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano" by Dana Thomas

"Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $17.99

Besides learning about how to create a brand or how to find your style, it's also important to understand the icons of the industry to understand fashion itself. "Gods and Kings" is a rich and journalistic exploration of John Galliano and Alexander McQueen's explosion onto the fashion scene in the '90s. It also follows the downfall of the artists through suicide, anti-Semtisim, and alcoholism.

"Christian Louboutin" by Christian Louboutin, David Lynch, and Phillippe Garcia

"Christian Louboutin," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $100.81

Shoes by Christian Louboutin are affectionately called red bottoms and have been referenced across hip hop and have been worn by style icons from Amanda Gorman to Beyoncé. This book is a mix of biography, brand history, and design. With its gold-foil pages, pop-up, and vibrant images within, it's perfect to decorate your home with.

"The Men's Fashion Book" by Phaidon Press

"The Men's Fashion Book," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $54.99

To explore men's style, "The Men's Fashion Book" explores the 500 greatest names in men's fashion from A-Z. Going deeper than brands, the book brings in the expertise of designers, photographers, models, tailors, and stylists across the world to advance a discussion on men's style today and in the past centuries.

“Chanel: The Complete Collections” by Patrick Mauriès

"Chanel: The Complete Collections," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $54.99

In 760 pages of rich photography, this book gives a comprehensive review of Karl Lagerfeld's (1933-2019) collections during his time as Chanel's creative director. It opens with an essay from the late Lagerfeld on his visions for the house. The rest of the book connects the collections, in chronological order, to his original vision and reinvigoration of Chanel. 

If you want to learn more about Chanel, there are several other great books like " Chanel: Collections and Creations ," which explores the houses signature creations through archival photos and quotes from Gabrielle Chanel, as well as " Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto " that tells a story of Chanel's life and work.

"Louis Vuitton: The Complete Fashion Collections (Catwalk)" by Jo Ellison and Louise Rytter

"Louis Vuitton: The Complete Fashion Collections (Catwalk)," available at Amazon, $64.79

While Louis Vuitton began as a trunk maker, the brand is now known for various other items like their handbags, sneakers, and fashion. This book tells a fuller history of the house before going into 1,350 images across designs by artistic directors Marc Jacobs (1998–2013) and Nicolas Ghesquière, who holds the post today.

"Hermès Pop-Up" by Patrick Thomas

"Hermès Pop-Up," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $25.49

Hermès scarves are always infused with beauty, elegance, and motifs of the house. If you find yourself enchanted by their intricate designs, then you'll be able to appreciate the pop-up book features drawings of scarves that come to life thanks to pop-ups within.

If you love Hermès scarves and want something more substantial, check out the book dedicated to their history and design . 

"Prada: The Complete Collections" by Susannah Frankel

"Prada: The Complete Collections," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $52.99

If you're in love with Prada's current trendy items or fascinated by how the brand pioneered nylon, you'll be able to appreciate this Catwalk book. Prada is a 632-page collection of Prada's collections when Miuccia Prada steered the company into women's fashion after its past in leather-goods and accessories.

"The Fashion Business Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Building a Fashion Brand" by Fashionary

"The Fashion Business Manual: An Illustrated Guide to Building a Fashion Brand," available at Amazon, $37.47

If you want to start your own fashion brand, there are hundreds of steps during the journey from creating your brand to getting into retail. To help think through it all, "The Fashion Business Manual" breaks down the steps with fun illustrations that make things clearer and a bit less overwhelming.

"In Vogue: An Illustrated History of the World's Most Famous Fashion Magazine" by Alberto Oliva and Norberto Angeletti

"In Vogue: An Illustrated History of the World's Most Famous Fashion Magazine," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $50.82

There is no fashion publication (or publication, in general) that is as iconic as Vogue. In its 444 pages, "In Vogue" zooms out and takes a look at the magazine's influence throughout history. Through archival covers and clips, you'll be able to learn about the impact of past editors, photographers, and illustrators on global fashion and culture. The book also explores how the magazine is made through research and first-person interviews.

"Fashion: A Fashion History of the 20th Century" by the Kyoto Costume Institute

"Fashion: A Fashion History of the 20th Century," available at Amazon, $59.31

When you're looking for inspirations for your next designs, this book will serve. Assembled by the Kyoto Costume Institute, "Fashion" is a collection of photos from archives that shows trends throughout the past century. From feathered hats to deformed skirts, the photos are diverse in what they capture and in what they may inspire.

"Fabric for Fashion: The Complete Guide Second Edition" by Clive Hallett and Amanda Johnson

"Fabric for Fashion: The Complete Guide Second Edition," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $31.66

If you're curious about any element of fashion design, then this book is an essential. You can't make clothes without an understanding or curiosity for the fabrics that make everything possible. "Fabric for Fashion" offers a special, comprehensive discussion of how fabrics move, look, feel, are made, and much more. The current edition also discusses sustainability and biosynthetic fibers.

"Fashion: The Whole Story" by Marnie Fogg and Valerie Steele

There is always more to learn in fashion, and this book offers a great foundation for understanding fashion. This book breaks down fashion across thousands of years while connecting it to time, literature, and beauty. From the birth of haute couture to the appropriation of menswear, this book is one you'll always come back to in order to learn more about the rich past of fashion.

• Main content

The Most Scandalous Fashion Books to Read Right Now

Pass the popcorn, here are 20 of the most jaw-dropping, gossip-filled fashion books ever!

Finally!! Life-long fashion journalist and former  Vogue  creative director, André Leon Talley's newest book,  The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir   is available—and not a moment too soon. By now, you've most likely finished Netflix, baked 100 different banana breads and have completed enough puzzles to last a lifetime. How about picking up a book to remind yourself of what's really important? GOSSIP!   Early press on ALT's newest memoir teases that this time, he pulls no punches–in particular, with his former boss, a certain sunglass-sporting, bob-having, fresh-from-the-runway Prada wearer. With an unparalleled career spanning from the early 1970s, working simultaneously with the legendary Diana Vreeland at the Costume Institute and Andy Warhol at  Interview  Magazine, plus stints at  W, WWD , the  New York Times  and ultimately  Vogue , if anyone's got stories to tell, it's André. So, if  The Chiffon Trenches  whets your whistle for more juicy scoop, here are 20 more fashion reads that will be sure to satisfy.

The Beautiful Fall: Lagerfeld, Saint Laurent, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris

The title alone is enough to set any fashion fan's heart a flutter.   The Beautiful Fall  recounts the initial friendship and ultimate rivalry of two of the 20th century’s most influential designers and is required reading for every young fashion addict. It's hedonistic, it's transportive, and it's so salacious that Lagerfeld took legal action and tried to block its publication. 

Front Row Anna Wintour : The Cool Life and Hot Times of Vogue's Editor-in-Chief

Love her or hate her,  Front Row  is the ne plus ultra on Anna Wintour.  Unlike the fictionalized novel,  The Devil Wears Prada ,  Jerry Oppenheimer recounts a studied and in-depth look at Ms. Wintour's incredible rise to the top of the fashion food chain.  Along the way, decisions were made, feelings hurt, and wild rumors invented (like her affair with Bob Marley!!), all contributing to Anna's icon status.

Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano

Critically acclaimed fashion journalist Dana Thomas' book chronicles the meteoric rise of groundbreaking fashion greats, Alexander McQueen, and John Galliano in this double biography. The insider account is as spectacular as it is heartbreaking, and certainly hard to put down

Random House Grace: A Memoir

Breakout star of  The September Issue  and American  Vogue's  long time creative director, Grace Coddington, recounts her entré into the fashion world, first as a model in the late 1950s right up to present day. It's charming, witty, and filled with fantastical stories from a creative powerhouse. 

House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder, and Survival

Versace, Versace, Versace, Versace.  As wild and operatic as their name has come to suggest, the  House of Versace  is chock-full of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll, but always, at the heart of it all, fashion and family.   

Knopf D. V.

This is a sharp and rollicking read full of life, excitement, and style. In  D.V.  , Mrs. Vreeland brings us all the way back to her childhood and the influences which helped form her unique and singular vision, and in turn shape the look of not only  Harpers Bazaar  but  Vogue  as well.   While working in fashion for over 50 years, Mrs. Vreeland experienced a cast of characters second to none, and in  D.V.  she brings you into her world.

Fashion Climbing: A Memoir

While you may recognize Bill Cunningham as that sweet old New York Times photographer, in  Fashion Climbing,  he shows us another side, one very much on the pulse of fashion, years before his bike and blue workman's jacket.  With fascinating stories of socialites and scammers, designers and debutantes, spanning from the late 1940s right up until his death in 2016.

Flammarion-Pere Castor The World According to Karl

The things that came out of this man's mouth!! Karl Lagerfeld, like Coco Chanel before him, knew the power of a well-placed sound-bite. This collection of always outspoken, often outlandish quotes, (approved by the late great designer) will keep you chuckling–that is if you can pick you jaw up off the floor.

Isabella Blow: A Life in Fashion

Editor, muse, eccentric, Isabella Blow lived life as an artist striving to create and celebrate beauty.  An early champion of Alexander McQueen and Philip Treacy, Blow walked the walk in their oftentimes jarring and challenging creations–pressing forward the idea of what is considered beautiful. This book uncovers the highs and lows of her life in fashion as well as her privately fought demons which would ultimately get the better of her. 

Obsession: The Lives and Times of Calvin Klein

It's been almost 20 years since Calvin Klein sold his company and walked away from the mega-brand he created. So, it's understandable that you might know very little about the man behind the brand (and the guy whose name is on your underwear)! This book will clear that all up for you–and then some! From 1968 through 2002, Calvin Klein, the man, WAS the brand. Leading a thrilling life in the public eye while creating some of the most shocking and memorable advertising campaigns ever made. 

Champagne Supernovas: Kate Moss, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, and the '90s Renegades Who Remade Fashion

A rip-roaring ride through the 1990s as told through the lives of three of the most compelling subjects of the decade: Kate Moss, Alexander McQueen, and Marc Jacobs.  Champagne Supernovas  drops you right into the deep-end of the '90s and the decadent and debaucherous Champagne-fueled, perfect-storm energy that helped create these three as the flawed fashion icons they have become.

Shocking Life: The Autobiography of Elsa Schiaparelli

In her own words, designer/artist/aristocrat Elsa Schiaparelli tells of her childhood right through to the height of her fashion prominence.  While imbuing Dadaism and Surrealism into her clothing, thanks in part to her friendships with Duchamp, Man Ray, Cocteau, and Dali, Schiaparelli pioneered the advancement of her couture house through the use of perfume and her invention of the color "shocking pink".  Her story definitely fits the title " Shocking Life."

The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed

Forget everything you think you know about horse-bits and logo belts, this book will throw you for a loop.  This sensational tale of the Gucci family, who created the brand we know and love today, is a page-turning account filled with lavish tales of spending, stealing, and murder.  

Walking with the Muses: A Memoir

Pat Cleveland has been swanning down catwalks and lighting up photoshoots for over 50 years now. Born in New York City to a white father and black mother, Pat was on the front line of  breaking racial stereotypes since she began modeling in the late 1960s.  Walking With The Muses  is filled with stories of Paris in the '70s—where her career really hit its stride. This book will make you fall in love with Pat, as designers have been, (and continue to) for years. 

Genuine Authentic: The Real Life of Ralph Lauren

A dazzlingly detailed description of how Bronx-born Ralph Lifshitz spun his Gatsby-infused dream of Americana into a multi-billion-dollar global empire. 

The Vanity Fair Diaries: 1983 - 1992

While not technically a "fashion read," Tina Brown's,  Vanity Fair Diaries  sure is filled with all the juicy gossip one may expect to hear from a woman helming a top-tier magazine during the days of  power-lunches, purring town cars, and bottomless budgets. 

Chic Savages

Legendary  W/WWD  publisher John Fairchild was known for his cutting and acerbic wit. During his almost 40 year reign, Fairchild was one of the most powerful men in fashion, giving rise to designers like Oscar de la Renta and Bill Blass while spilling equal ink on the socialites of the day, blending fashion, celebrity, and high-society in a way not previously seen. In  Chic Savages , Fairchild pulls the curtain back on the spending habits of the rich and famous.

imusti The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Made History

Pulitzer-Prize-winning fashion journalist Robin Givhan tells of all the behind-the-scenes details and dramas surrounding the fashion world's UFC, The Battle of Versailles—which pitted American designers against the French in a charity battle for the restoration of Versailles. With bold-faced names aplenty, (and egos to match) Givhan, describes the event that changed American fashion forever.

Atria Books The Price of Illusion: A Memoir

Former Editor in Chief of  Vogue Paris   Joan Juliet Buck recounts her fabulous life traipsing the globe for decades in a fashionable whirlwind. It is when the music finally stops however, that she must face that a lifetime in fashion doesn't necessarily guarantee a happy ending. 

Simply Halston

With a Ryan Murphy-produced  Netflix miniseries  starring Ewan McGregor as Halston on the horizon, now is the time to brush-up on the famed fashion figure.  Simply Halston  lays bare all the dirty, decadent details of a man who built an elegant empire only to see it die on the vine due to his compulsions and addictions. 

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Joseph Errico is Marie Claire’s Fashion Director. As a career-long fashion editor and celebrity stylist, he has had the opportunity to work alongside the world’s top image makers and talent. He has styled editorial and advertising, red carpet, music videos, fashion shows and writes about fashion, culture and most anything bon vivant-y for  marieclaire.com . He feels most at home in an airport lounge, a beach, a disco or gossiping front row at the collections. His blood type is Gaultier.

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Best Biographies

The best fashion biographies, recommended by justine picardie.

Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life by Justine Picardie

Justine Picardie , editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar UK and author of Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life , chooses her favourite fashion biographies, and considers whether fashion and art are inextricably linked.

The Allure of Chanel by Paul Morand

Dior by Dior by Christian Dior

Shocking Life by Elsa Schiaparelli

The Unexpurgated Beaton by Cecil Beaton (Author), Hugo Vickers (Editor)

Diana Vreeland by Eleanor Dwight

1 The Allure of Chanel by Paul Morand

2 dior by dior by christian dior, 3 shocking life by elsa schiaparelli, 4 the unexpurgated beaton by cecil beaton (author), hugo vickers (editor), 5 diana vreeland by eleanor dwight.

What got you into writing about fashion?

Many people dismiss fashion as frivolous. Why do you think it’s important?

I think it’s absurd to call fashion frivolous. It’s like criticising cinema or pop music. Of course, aspects of it are infuriating. But what we choose to wear, or conceal, is so revealing about who we are. There was an era in feminism, partly coinciding with my time at university in the early 80s, when some people believed you couldn’t be a feminist if you liked fashion. That’s such a narrow, reductive view of why what we wear matters.

“I think it’s absurd to dismiss fashion as frivolous. What we choose to wear, or conceal, reveals who we are.”

I wrote the Coco Chanel book because she was an amazing designer and a fascinating, iconic woman. Her career and personal life intersected with key moments of 20th century history: two world wars, the 1929 Wall Street crash, the Great Depression, the expansion of Hollywood, and beyond. To ignore, and not write about, designers like Chanel on grounds of frivolity is as ludicrous as saying ‘let’s not write about Debussy’.

Is it fair to think of fashion as an art form in the same way as, say, a Debussy piano piece or a great film?

That’s a complicated question. I think great fashion designers inhabit the same territory as other significant artists. That’s not quite the same thing as saying fashion is high art. But I think artists and fashion designers sometimes share the same concerns, such as how to express themselves, and the generation they find themselves in, creatively.

Your first choice is Paul Morand’s The Allure of Chanel. He lived near her in St Moritz, right?

They were both in exile just after World War Two, having had rather too much contact with the Germans during the Paris occupation. Morand had known Chanel since the 20s. He inhabited the same cultural milieu, which included Picasso , Stravinsky, Diaghilev and Cocteau. Morand had a number of conversations with her in St Moritz in the winter of 1946. He made notes but didn’t transcribe them until after her death in 1971.

Did you find it useful when researching your own book?

Yes. She was a great storyteller – not that all the stories that appear in the book are true. There’s a description of her and an aunt, whom she claims brought her up. She was, in fact, raised by nuns in an orphanage. I think these fictions are as interesting as the truth. They show how she wanted to reinvent herself and find a narrative that was bearable to live with.

Did you discover anything else about her?

Your next choice is Dior by Dior .

The Dior autobiography is very sober, which is true of the designer’s own personality. But it’s a fascinating insight into the New Look, one of the most important post-war movements in fashion.

Chanel hated corseting, which she felt constricted women. Her whole aesthetic was against it. When she saw Christian Dior doing just that, with his wasp-waist dresses and sharply tailored suits, she came out of retirement to compete against him. She hated the Dior look but many women adored it. I’m a huge fan and wanted to hear about it from Dior’s point of view. His take on the fashion industry is very interesting, but there’s very little on his private life.

French style is currently very popular here in the United Kingdom. Why do you think it has such an enduring appeal?

Your next choice is Shocking Life: The Autobiography of Elsa Schiaparelli , the Italian fashion designer.

Yes. She was Italian but worked in Paris. You can really see a crossover with art in her designs. She worked with some of the great surrealists, including Salvador Dali. Several of her designs, like the lobster hat and the skeleton dress, are particularly artistic. Maybe it’s more fruitful to talk about Schiaparelli as part of the surrealist art movement than fashion.

So was she a true artist?

Like Dali, she had a good business sense and understood the power of marketing. I think the notion that you can draw up a clear distinction between art and fashion, where art is somehow entirely pure and commercial fashion is impure, is ridiculous. Is Damien Hirst a purer artist than Alexander McQueen? Speaking of McQueen, perhaps the conflict you see in his work would be less troubling if he had decided to work in another art form.

His shows seemed to be that way inclined.

Let’s move on to your next choice, The Unexpurgated Beaton , edited by Hugo Vickers.

Beaton was a marvellous writer as well as a great photographer. His diaries provide wonderful insights into designers like Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. They have the same economy and deftness of touch as his fashion illustrations. He was very good at summing up what people were like at a particular moment.

What are some of your favourite descriptions?

He talks about doing the designs for Coco , the Broadway musical based on Chanel’s life. Katharine Hepburn rather improbably played the title role. Beaton had a horrendous time with Hepburn and Chanel on that and he’s wonderfully descriptive about it.

Let’s finish with the biography of the legendary fashion editor, Diana Vreeland , by Eleanor Dwight.

This book has wonderful photographs and is beautifully produced. Vreeland was a hugely influential fashion columnist and editor, working at Harper’s Bazaar and then American Vogue . She covered the great fashion era from the 30s to the 70s.

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She worked as a consultant for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art after Vogue fired her in 1971. She put on some incredible exhibitions that really showed fashion as art – that theme again. The pictures in the book from the 1973 Balenciaga exhibition are amazing. The director of the Met at the time thought museums should show things in new ways and push boundaries. He recognised that Diana Vreeland had the same vision. She was very forward-thinking.

February 22, 2011

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Justine Picardie

Justine Picardie is the editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar UK and Town & Country UK .  She was features editor of British Vogue and is a former editor of the Observer magazine. She lives in London with her two sons. Her latest book, Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life , is published by HarperCollins.

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9 Inspiring Biographies Every Fashion Girl Should Read

Kristen bousquet.

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As someone interested in the fashion world, you probably have at least one person in the industry that inspires you. Whether it be a famous designer, a CEO or some entrepreneur who’s made a difference, what they’ve done has made you want to do better.

Lucky for you, lots of these fashion gurus have written about their inspiring lives, and we’ve rounded up some of the absolute best fashion biographies to read this year!

The Woman I Wanted to Be by Diane von Furstenberg; $19.90 at amazon.com

#GIRLBOSS  by Sophia Amoruso; $16.17 at amazon.com

I’ll Drink to That: A Life in Style, With a Twist by Betty Halbreich; $18.58 at amazon.com

Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington; $20.83 at amazon.com

D.V. by Diana Vreeland; $14.07 at amazon.com

If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You; $12.61 at amazon.com

Alexander McQueen: The Life and the Legacy; $16.54 at amazon.com

Elsa Schiaparelli: A Biography by Meryle Secrest; $25.37 at amazon.com

Champagne Supernovas: Kate Moss, Marc Jacobs, Alexander Mcqueen and the 90s Renegades Who Remade Fashion by Maureen Callahan; $17.77 at amazon.com

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9 best fashion books of all time: Autobiographies & Memoirs from Coco Chanel, André Leon Talley, Christian Dior and MORE

The fashion books every style maven has on her bookshelf....

Whether you're in awe of the catwalk photos from fashion week, or just love the glitz and glam of it all, fashion memoirs are the best way to gain insight into the world so few people get to see. Of course, the only thing better than reading about someone's life is speaking to them in person, but we don't all have Anna Wintour on speed dial.

RELATED:  21 celebrity autobiography books you won't want to put down

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If you want answers to questions like, how did the MET ball start? What goes on inside Condé Nast? Why is that celebrity on the cover of Vogue ? And what does it take to make one of the world's most famous jewellery brands? Then you won't find better answers anywhere else but the pages of these books. 

So, from fashion greats such as Diana Vreeland, Grace Coddington, Iris Apfel and Christian Dior to behind-the-scenes icons Amy Odell and Nicholas Coleridge, these are the best fashion memoirs to learn from, laugh with, and get inspired by .

Best fashion memoirs of all time

The chiffon trenches: a memoir , andré leon talley.

The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir, from £5.99, Amazon

In January, the fashion world mourned the loss of fashion legend André Leon Talley, the editor-at-large of Vogue . And even those who had never met him also felt the loss, thanks to this fabulous memoir. Covering his time at Vogue , how Diana Vreeland changed his life, and the struggles a young black man faced breaking into the industry at the time, this definitely deserves a spot on your shelf.

Diana Vreeland: The Modern Woman , Diana Vreeland

Diana Vreeland: The Modern Woman, The Bazaar Years 1936-1962 , £34.26, Amazon

For anyone who doesn't know the name Diana Vreeland, it's time to. The legendary fashion editor wrote a couple of books in her time, but this has to be one of our favourites.

The Cartiers: The Untold Story of a Jewelry Dynasty , Francesca Cartier Brickell

The Cartiers: The Untold Story of a Jewelry Dynasty , from £3.49, Amazon

Ever wondered how Cartier became the household name it is today? Then this book is your answer. Written by the great-great-great-grandaughter (we think!) of founder Louis-François Cartier, Francesca lifts the lid on what it took to transform a one man band into a global jewellery brand.

Grace: A Memoir , Grace Coddington

Grace: A Memoir , from £12.99, Amazon

Anna Wintour's number two, Grace Coddington, is another name heralded amongst those in the fashion world. Documenting her journey from Welsh model to Creative Director at Large of Vogue , it's a definite page-turner.

Inside Vogue: My Diary Of Vogue's 100th Year , Alexandra Shulman

Inside Vogue: My Diary Of Vogue's 100th Year , from £4.99, Amazon

Another one from the fashionable folk at Vogue , the British magazine's longest standing editor, Alexandra Shulman, spills the beans on what it took to produce the centenary issue. Expect parties, photoshoots and even a mention of the Duchess of Cambridge .

Tales from the Back Row , Amy Odell

Tales from the Back Row: An Outsider's View from Inside the Fashion Industry , from £5.06, Amazon

One of the most realistic insights into what the fashion industry is really like, journalist Amy Odell pulls back the curtain without the glitz and glam. If you're looking to get into the fashion world, this one's definitely worth a read.

The Glossy Years , Nicholas Coleridge

The Glossy Years: Magazines, Museums and Selective Memoirs , from £4.99, Amazon

Nicholas Coleridge worked behind the scenes for decades producing some of the world's favourite magazines at Condé Nast. Side note: he features a great story about Princess Diana you just have to read.

Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life , Justine Picarde

Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life , from £13.49, Amazon

Fashion icon Coco Chanel sadly never wrote an autobiography, but Justine Picarde, former editor-in-chief at Harper's Bazaar , has soothed our pain with this fantastic memoir. From little black dresses, trousers for women, and even the bob haircut, find out exactly just how much this one woman changed fashion history.

Dior by Dior , Christian Dior

Dior by Dior: The autobiography of Christian Dior , from £5.59, Amazon

Everybody has heard of this man, and the famous fashion designer's autobiography is everything you'd hope for. Lifting the lid on the world-renowned luxury house, as well as what 1950s Paris haute couture was really like, we couldn't recommend it more.

Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon , Iris Apfel

 Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon , from £14.99, Amazon

Oh how we love Iris, and Accidental Icon is the perfect title for this book. From her iconic round glasses to her chunky layers of bangles, no one has a style quite like hers, and her book is just as entertaining.

MORE:  11 of the most anticipated book-to-screen adaptations coming out in 2022

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The Best Fashion Autobiographies To Read Now

Champagne Supernovas: Kate Moss, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, and the 90s Renegades Who Remade Fashion by Maureen Callahan 

Veteran style and pop culture journalist Maureen Callahan reveals the stories of the 90s biggest stars in this tell-all. From the rise of the original supermodels, to why Kate and Johnny Depp broke up, dive deep into the gritty, glamorous lives of the biggest stars of the decade.

Available here

The Vanity Fair Diaries: 1983–1992  by Tina Brown

The legendary editor published her memoirs in 2018, documenting Brown’s rise from party girl journalist on the British circuit to EIC of Vanity Fair in New York. Expect a fresh perspective on the magazine industry, inspiring tales of balancing a top job with motherhood, and a fascinating insight into quite how different the world was 40 years ago.

Available h ere

The Woman I Wanted To Be by Diane Von Furstenberg

Often cited as one of the most inspiring autobiographies out there, Diane Von Furstenberg walks you through her life, first as a new princess of a billionaire-euro party scene, later as a business woman, designer and leader, signposting every chapter with advice, guidance and tips on becoming the woman you want to be.

Available h ere 

Inside Vogue: My Diary Of Vogue's 100th Year: A Diary of My 100th Year by Alexandra Shulman

After 25 years at the helm of British Vogue, Shulman stepped away in early 2018, leaving on a high after celebrating the publication’s 100th year. From nabbing the Duchess of Cambridge for a cover to working with Alexa, VB et al, the journalist reveals what life was like at the most revered magazine in the industry in its most glorious year.

Older but Better, but Older: From the authors of How To Be Parisian by Caroline de Maigret & Sophie Mas

A poster girl for effortless Parisian style, Caroline de Maigret is well placed to give advice on aging gracefully. One for anyone who’s ever felt envious of that disheveled, cool, elegant French look, with fun, witty advice straight from the horse’s mouth.

Bon Mots by Alezander Vreeland & Luke Edward Hall

A collection of iconic editor Diana Vreeland’s punchiest, sagest words of wisdom, her grandson Alexander Vreeland sourced and collected her archived work and most famous quotes for this lively book, illustrated by darling of the interiors world Luke Edward Hall.

Available  h ere  from 24th March

Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano by Dana Thomas

Much like Champagne Supernovas , this biography explores the stratospheric rise, and the subsequent disastrous fall, of two of the fashion industry’s brightest stars. Within a year of one another, McQueen had committed suicide and Galliano was disgraced – this tome looks at how the industry was to blame for their respective downfalls.

Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington

She was one of fashion’s most important behind-the-scenes players, until The September Issue thrust her into the spotlight. In this fascinating memoir, Grace Coddington reveals what life was like as one of the most revered stylists in the industry, peppering her stories with throw-back photos and inside info on how she pulled together some of Vogue’s most spell-binding shoots.

Available here 

I'll Drink to That: A Life in Style, with a Twist by Betty Halbreich

At 86 years old, Betty Halbreich spent over 40 years as a personal shopper at legendary department store Bergdorf Goodman. Something of an icon in her own right, her memoir reveals her experiences dressing some of the most famous people in the world, alongside helpful advice for finding your own style.

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24 Essential Fashion Books for the Chic Reader

Whether you're updating your wardrobe or digging into the history of design, take a page from the world's foremost fashion experts.

Fashion editors, designers, photographers, models, and icons have made an entire literary genre of their memoirs, biographies, and coffee table-ready photo books, many of which cradle nuggets of wisdom you won’t find elsewhere. But the true joy of reading about fashion isn’t merely in discovering a good silhouette; it’s in understanding how all the stories are knit together, creating the modern market we know today.

Lavish your bookshelf with these must-read fashion books, covering everything from the history of fabric to the environmental impacts of the industry to the stunning true-crime stories of major houses. It’s the next best thing to New York Fashion Week.

Harper's Bazaar: First in Fashion by Marianne Le Galliard and Éric Pujalet-Plaà

Harper’s BAZAAR  has celebrated a lot of firsts: It was the first fashion magazine in the United States, one of the first to publish the works of Andy Warhol, and the first to debut the collections of leading fashion houses. In 152 years, the publication has evolved with the times, chronicling the best in art, photography, society, celebrity, and, of course, style. All this history was on view at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in February, when, in a characteristic first, a standalone exhibition has been devoted to a magazine. And this tome by Marianne Le Galliard and Éric Pujalet-Plaà, with a forward by by Olivier Gabet and Glenda Bailey, captures all the visual splendor and editorial excellence that have filled the pages of  BAZAAR  over the decades.  

The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History by Kassia St. Clair

Sure, you got the basics from your freshman-year Textile and Apparel Management class, but how thorough were your notes? Brush up on your studies with this fascinating story, which dives deep into the 30,000-year history of fabric as we know it, accented by the technological advancements and cultural customs that made the material the monolith it is today. 

The Asylum: True Tales of Madness from a Life in Fashion by Simon Doonan

You can’t build a life in fashion without overhearing some juicy gossip, and the creative ambassador-at-large for Barneys New York has seemingly heard it all. In this funny, delightful, and insightful collection, he summarizes years spent among the most brilliant—and strangest—minds in the business. 

Neem Tree Press Modesty: A Fashion Paradox by Hafsa Lodi

Modesty has long been one of fashion’s most debated principles. Equally deemed sexist and empowering, depending on who you ask, covering up—whether for religious, cultural, or personal reasons—makes a statement. Fashion journalist Hafsa Lodi answers the question “Is modest fashion a contradiction?” with a well-researched and tender portrait of the politics and people behind a movement. 

Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano by Dana Thomas

Journalist Dana Thomas traces the parallel threads between two of the most provocative names in fashion history: John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. Equal parts compelling biography and detailed social history, Gods and Kings follows the tale of two gay men in London and how their work accelerated the art of high fashion while falling into the clutches of corporate greed. 

Scribner Shoe Dog: A Memoir by Phil Knight

I first stumbled across Shoe Dog among the bookshelves of a friend who owns more than 40 pairs of shoes—most of them Nikes. He swears by this memoir from Nike creator Phil Knight as one of the all-time greatest accounts of how a symbol can become an icon. 

Portfolio Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth L. Cline

We all know fast fashion is bad for the environment. But do we really know how bad it is for the environment? This tell-all from the author of The Conscious Closet examines why those $5 crop tops are much more dangerous than they appear, and pushes both designers and consumers to opt, and shop, for eco-friendly fashion. 

37 INK Walking with the Muses: A Memoir by Pat Cleveland

As one of the world’s first Black supermodels, Pat Cleveland has always had inimitable style, but she’s an inspiring storyteller too. This memoir chases her around the world, from France to New York to Mexico to Japan, as she stamps herself upon the industry and its colorful cast. 

Brown Bohemians: Honoring the Light and Magic of Our Creative Community by Vanessa Vernon and Morgan Ashley

So much of modern style has been co-opted, appropriated, and outright stolen from communities of color. This collection sets the record straight by highlighting the works of creative BIPOC in fashion, lifestyle, and art, illuminating the ways their genius shines through the barriers set up against them. 

Back Bay Books The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris by Alicia Drake

Travel back to 1970s-era Paris with Alicia Drake's enchanting deep-dive, which traces a rivalry between Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent—and the chasm it opened in Paris fashion culture.

Ecco Press D.V. by Diana Vreeland

Fashion editor of Harper’s BAZAAR  is just one of the many accolades the brilliant Diana Vreeland earned in her lifetime among the parties (and closets) of the rich and famous. In this effervescent autobiography, Vreeland takes no shame in name-dropping but never allows a vapid sentence to pass from her fingertips. 

The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir by André Leon Talley

If you want to understand the modern figures pulling the strings of global fashion, you need to know the name André Leon Talley. Once a friend to the controversial designer Karl Lagerfeld, he used his wit, style IQ, and connections to become bureau chief of Women’s Wear Daily and eventually the creative director of Vogue . In this memoir, he describes his long and winding journey to becoming one of the most powerful voices in the industry today. 

Gotham Books Hijacking the Runway: How Celebrities Are Stealing the Spotlight from Fashion Designers by Teri Agins

We live in the age of influencers, and fashion will never look the same. As follower count and star power evolve to dictate the styles we buy and the brands we notice, it’s important to understand how these influences came to be. Hijacking the Runway might be a bit dated now—it was written in 2014—but its principles and historical context provide an essential primer to understanding the celebrity impact on modern fashion. 

Simon & Schuster The Woman I Wanted to Be by Diane Von Furstenberg

You already know her name. (And if you don’t, shhh. Start reading now.) The entrepreneur, philanthropist, and icon behind the luxury brand DVF shares both her detailed memories as well as her timeless philosophies in this fashion fanatic must-read. 

Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem: A Memoir by Daniel R. Day

Daniel Day, otherwise known as Dapper Dan, is arguably one of the most important figures of the last century of fashion. He turned his Harlem store, Dapper Dan’s Boutique, into a bastion of streetwear fused with high-end luxury, co-opting logos from brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton to create a style all his own. Now revered by hip-hop and fashion legends alike, he tells his story from childhood to present in this brilliant best seller. 

imusti The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own by Nina Garcia

If you’re looking to rebuild your wardrobe from the ground up, start with these 100 closet must-haves, curated by Project Runway judge and ELLE Editor-in-Chief Nina Garcia. She details exactly which pieces are essential and why, as well as offers tips for how to style them in any season. 

The Glass of Fashion: A Personal History of Fifty Years of Changing Tastes and the People Who Have Inspired Them by Cecil Beaton

Originally published in 1954, fashion photographer Cecil Beaton's The Glass of Fashion is an alluring collection of vignettes from the '40s and '50s. Illustrated with Beaton's line drawings, the book includes witty profiles on everyone from Chanel and Balenciaga to Beaton's own aunt.

Yale University Press Chanel: The Vocabulary of Style by Jérôme Gautier

You won’t get far in the fashion world without tracing the paths of those before you, and Coco Chanel’s footprints are everywhere. In this visually stunning volume, Jérôme Gautier details the traits that best characterized the designer’s signature looks, all while serving you a delicious feast for the eyes. 

The New Black Vanguard: Photography Between Art and Fashion by Antwaun Sargent

In this rich and gorgeous collection, curator and critic Antwaun Sargent profiles 15 Black fashion photographers, examining the methods with which they’ve constructed the Black image around the world. Fighting for diversity in an oft-blindingly white space while drawing audiences with their individuality, these artists are an inspiration for any modern creative. 

ABRAMS The Little Dictionary of Fashion by Christian Dior

The Little Dictionary of Fashion is your guide on how to be chic, as written by the man himself: Christian Dior. From how to walk with grace to how to tie a scarf perfectly, Dior's words of advice are both witty and timeless.

Lauren Puckett-Pope is a staff culture writer at ELLE, where she primarily covers film, television and books. She was previously an associate editor at ELLE. 

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The 30 Most Engrossing Fashion Books of All Time

In the wake of André Leon Talley’s new book, The Chiffon Trenches, we present a guide to fashion literature – from tell-all biographies to inspiring essay collections

This week, former Vogue editor-at-large André Leon Talley released his long-awaited second autobiography. Titled The Chiffon Trenches : A Memoir, the book is reported to lift the lid on Talley’s relationship with Anna Wintour, alongside his friendships with the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Andy Warhol, Roy Halston Frowick, and Madonna. But it has also been said that The Chiffon Trenches chips away at fashion’s glamorous veneer, with Talley outlining the discriminiation he faced as a working-class black man from America’s South with a place at the top of the industry’s table. While you wait to get hold of a copy, we’ve compiled 30 non-coffee table fashion titles  to add to your reading list now; including inspiring collections of essays and interviews with designers, to critical explorations of fast fashion, and tell-all biographies.

1. The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Made History by Robin Givhan

In 1973, The Battle of Versailles Fashion Show was held at Versailles to raise funds for the palace’s restoration. French designers – such as  Yves Saint Laurent and Marc Bohan at Christian Dior – went head-to-head with American fashion heavyweights, including Halston and Oscar de la Renta. Guests such as Liza Minnelli and Josephine Baker graced the front row with their presence. Washington Post fashion critic  Robin Givhan recounts the event with encyclopaedic detail in her 2015 book, as well as discussing how it changed American fashion forever.

2. D.V. by Diana Vreeland

Diana Vreeland ’s autobiography, written in 1984 and edited by George Plimpton, the then-editor of the Paris Review , is everything you might expect it to be – and yet, never ceases to surprise. Including such Vreeland-isms as: “Toast should be brown and black. Asparagus should be sexy and almost fluid,” and, “peacocks, I always say, are unbelievably beautiful – but they’re vulgar”. Bill Blass said that reading D.V. is akin to spending a night in the company of its author.

3. Sleeveless: Fashion, Image, Media, New York 2011–2019  by Natasha Stagg

A collection of essays and stories on 2010s fashion, art, and media, Sleeveless is a love/hate letter to the city and culture of New York. The second book from Natasha Stagg , it draws on her experience of working as an editor at  V  magazine and consulting for fashion brands, alongside musings on fashion as metaphor – including the red Autumn/Winter 2017 thigh-high  Balenciaga knife boots as a symbol for the political climate. 

4.  Visionaries: Interviews with Designers by Susannah Frankel

Written by Susannah Frankel , AnOther Magazine’s editor-in-chief, this collection of in-depth designer profiles was originally published in The Independent , The Guardian and Dazed and Confused between 1996 and 2001. Here, Frankel speaks candidly with the likes of Alexander McQueen , Vivienne Westwood , Tom Ford , Rei Kawakubo , Yves Saint Laurent,  Valentino and more, offering insight into the worlds of some of the greatest minds in fashion history.

5.  The Fashion Conspiracy: A Remarkable Journey Through the Empires of Fashion by Nicholas Coleridge

Published in 1988, Nicholas Coleridge probes the names in fashion who exemplified this decade of excess. Interviewing over 400 people for the book – including Paloma Picasso , Tina Chow, Ralph Lauren , and  Calvin Klein –  The Fashion Conspiracy is as much an anthropological study as it is a witty commentary on glitz, glamour and extravagance.

6.  The Price of Illusion: A Memoir by Joan Juliet Buck

Former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris , Joan Juliet Buck, was the first and only American woman to hold this position. Her memoir was published in 2017, and outlines her extraordinary – and at times dramatic – life spent between London, New York, Paris and Los Angeles. The Price of Illusion is a moving account of a woman in search for authenticity behind the beguiling veil of fashion and glamour.

7.  King of Fashion: The Autobiography of Paul Poiret by Paul Poiret

Often considered the father of modern fashion, master couturier Paul Poiret penned his autobiography in 1931. The son of a draper, Poiret established his own fashion house in 1903, quickly rising to prominence through a combination of innovative draping techniques and way with marketing.  King of Fashion is an essential read for those who want to discover more about the man behind this brand.

8.  Fashion Work: 25 Years of Art in Fashion by Jeppe Ugelvig

Released earlier this year, Fashion Work by curator and writer Jeppe Ugelvig explores the relationship between art and fashion through the genre-bending practices of DIS  magazine , Susan Cianciolo, Bless and Bernadette Corporation. Examining the pocket of time between the 1990s and the present day, Ugelvig taps into a part of recent history that is yet to be explored in as much depth by any other critic.

9.  The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever by Teri Agins

Wall Street Journal columnist and fashion writer  Teri Agins explores the seminal shift from haute couture to mass-marketing, deep diving into the mechanics of the contemporary fashion industry. With case studies on Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Isaac Mizrahi, this book – written at the turn of the millennium – is a fascinating exploration of fashion as business.

10. Grace : A Memoir by Grace Coddington

From teenage model and muse of Norman Parkinson to creative director of US  Vogue , Grace Coddington’s memoir tells the story of a girl from Wales who made it big. With her story spanning a period of over 50 years, the book is beautifully illustrated with Coddington’s signature drawings, and photographs of the flame-haired fashion heroine.

11.  Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes by Dana Thomas

A blistering account of how fast fashion is destroying the planet, style writer Dana Thomas ’ Fashionopolis often poses more questions than it answers. Bringing to attention the environmental and human impact of brands such as Zara producing mass-market fashion at cheap prices, alongside an investigation into the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster, this book is an essential part of anyone’s fashion library.

12.  The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris by Alicia Drake

Fashion journalist Alicia Drake tells the parallel stories of Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent. The two designers were once friends growing up in 1950s Paris, but drifted apart before ultimately becoming rivals. Drake describes this history in great detail, following the decadence of the 1970s along two divided paths.

13.  The Language of Fashion by Roland Barthes

Roland Barthes was constantly drawn to the subject of clothing and fashion and his 2006 book  The Language of Fashion comprises a collection of the critic and semiotician’s essays on the subject, including writings on the meaning of colour, the power of jewellery, and the style of André Courrèges and Coco Chanel .

14.  Quant by Quant by Mary Quant

First published in 1966, Mary Quant’s autobiography outlines the early stages of her life and career, from her childhood in Blackheath and evacuation during The Blitz, to opening Bazaar on The King’s Road in 1955. “Life was a whizz! It was such fun and unexpectedly wonderful despite, or perhaps because of its intensity,” she writes. “We were so fortunate with our enormous luck and timing. We partied too – there were no real boundaries.”

15.  The Master of Us All: Balenciaga, His Workrooms, His World by Mary Blume

“He was the master of us all,” said  Christian Dior said of Cristóbal  Balenciaga upon his death in 1972. It is from this quote which Mary Blume’s biography on the designer takes its title, a book which pays tribute to the man behind some of the most breathtaking fashion the world has ever seen.

16.  Chic Savages by John Fairchild

Founding editor of W  John Fairchild had a column in the back of the magazine under the pseudonym ‘Countess Louise J. Esterhazy’. Chic Savages, published in 1989, is an equally campy look at the fashion scene of this time (featuring salacious gossip about Donald and Ivanka Trump, and the designers that they favoured).

17.  The Glass of Fashion: A Personal History of Fifty Years of Changing Tastes and the People Who Have Inspired Them by Cecil Beaton

Illustrated with over 150 of Cecil Beaton ’s drawings, The Glass of Fashion is an 18-chapter-long memoir telling the story of the larger-than-life characters that inspired the fashion photographer – from Coco Chanel, to his Aunt Jessie. Out of print for years (it was first released in 1954) the book is now readily available and much-loved.

18.  Fashion is Spinach by Elizabeth Hawes

American fashion designer Elizabeth Hawes was a woman with many strings to her bow. A union organiser, women’s rights activist, and champion of ready-to-wear, Hawes wrote her first book in 1938, titled Fashion is Spinach. In it, she provides a critique of fashion and style through her signature witticisms, including quips such as: “I would not be doing justice to the future of clothes if I did not point out that practically all psychologists who have bothered to consider the subject agree that eventually we will all become nudists.”

19.  Fashion Climbing: A New York Life by Bill Cunningham

Self-taught New York Times photographer  Bill Cunningham was known and beloved for his street-style portraiture that he pursued right up until his death in 2016. In the wake of his passing, Cunningham’s estate was put in order, and a secret written memoir discovered. The manuscript, named Fashion Climbing: A New York Life, was edited and published two years later, with a preface by Hilton Als. Als draws comparisons between Cunningham’s storytelling and that of Truman Capote’s in Breakfast at Tiffany’s – except the former, of course, is based on real-life events.

20.  The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden

Lady Gaga is reportedly starring in the Ridley Scott-directed screen adaptation of Sara Gay Forden’s book. The singer is set to play the ex-wife of Guccio Gucci ’s grandson, Maurizio Gucci, who ordered a hit man to murder Maurizio in 1995. Forden’s tell-all account of the Gucci dynasty is certainly not a title to leave off your reading list.

21.  Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones

Part of Imogen Edwards-Jones’ Babylon s eries, Fashion Babylon follows an unnamed London-based designer over the period of six months, starting at the fashion show and ending with the collection on the rail and on the covers of magazines. A funny, gossip-laden, yet informative read.

22.  Style Wars by Peter York

The Independent once described Peter York as “the Delia Smith of cultural studies … [whisking] up clever dishes of Zeitgeist analysis and pop-culture assessment” . York’s 1983 book Style Wars is a series of essays which does just that, examining the influence of class on the way we dress. With chapters on Sloane Rangers, Post-Punk and ‘Mayfair Mercs’, the book is brilliantly of its time, yet remains just as interesting in 2020.

23.  All We Know: Three Lives by Lisa Cohen

A triple biography telling the interconnected story of three different women – New York intellectual Esther Murphy, poet Mercedes de Acosta, and fashion journalist Madge Garland – All We Know is a meticulous examination of the lives of each protagonist through the lens of modernism and sexuality.

24.  Dressed: A Philosophy of Clothes by Shahidha Bari

Academic and critic  Shahidha Bari stops to consider the symbolic language of clothing in Dressed: A Philosophy of Clothes, which was published last year. Pinpointing cultural and historical moments and trends, Bari offers a comprehensive and compelling study on the way we get dressed.

25.  Helmut Newton: Autobiografia by Helmut Newton

Helmut Newton’s autobiography was released just months before he was killed in a car accident on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles in 2004. The book recounts Newton’s early life in Germany – picking up his first camera at the age of 12 and fleeing the country under Nazi persecution – to the period where he earned the title of ‘The King of Kink’ as a fashion photographer in the 1970s and beyond.

26.  Taking Time: Conversations Across a Creative Community by Azzedine Alaïa with Donatien Grau

Taking Time   is a collection of conversations on the subject of time, between the late couturier  Azzedine Alaïa and the likes of Marc Newson, Charlotte Rampling, Isabelle Huppert and Julien Schnabel. Donatien Grau collaborated with Alaïa on the book and says: “Each of these interviews is like a couture dress made of words. They truly are a call to be aware of, to be at ease in, and perhaps to change time. Azzedine took time for us. Now let’s take time with him.”

27. The Vanity Fair Diaries: 1983–1992 by Tina Brown

Tina Brown, one time editor of Vanity Fair , recounts her years at the helm of the magazine through the diary entries she kept during that period. Arriving in New York from London in the 1980s, Brown was tasked with the job of whipping the publication into shape, and The Vanity Fair Diaries is an insider look at some of the most famous covers and stories which did just that.

28.   Catwalking: Photographs by Chris Moore by Alexander Fury

A selection of essays by AnOther’s fashion features director  Alexander Fury accompany images taken by catwalk photographer Chris Moore. In this book , Fury unpicks seminal runway moments that Moore captured over his 60-year career – such as Versace Autumn/Winter 1991, Yves Saint Laurent’s final couture show for Spring/Summer 2002, and Thierry Mugler Autumn/Winter 1984.

29. Get a Life: The Diaries of Vivienne Westwood by Vivienne Westwood

A window into the singular mind of the godmother of punk, Get a Life publishes anecdotes from Dame Vivienne Westwood’s online diaries that could only belong to her – whether that be paying a flying visit to Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy, driving a tank to David Cameron’s house, chatting eco-politics on the phone with Shami Chakrabarti, or having her yoga session interrupted by Lady Gaga.

30.  Simply Halston: The Untold Story by Steven S. Gaines

Fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick was a complex person, with a complex career to match. Steven S. Gaines gets to the heart of his subject in this 1991 biography, written only a year after Halston had died from Aids. Simply Halston is the first exploration of the man who trademarked himself into becoming a household name, but whose true story was yet to be told.

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What's on Our Shelves: The 18 Fashion Books You'll Want to Read Immediately

A quick scroll through Instagram might inform you of the  most up-to-date trends and brands to put on your radar, but the best way to dive deeper into fashion's rich history is to pick up a book on the subject. While many fashion books feature beautiful imagery, they will also transport you to the worlds of your favorite designers, aid your personal style journey, and tap into the small pocket of the industry you enjoy the most. (If you have a niche, there's probably a book about it.) This year, we saw a lot of industry-related releases, such as  Sunita Kumar Nair 's homage to the classic style of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and  Glossy,  which reads like a true crime and explains the inner workings of the beauty business and rise of Emily Weiss's Glossier. 

The offering can be a tad overwhelming, so to make it a little easier, we've selected the best books that not only have been published more recently but also are crucial to a deeper understanding of fashion (and beauty) right now. As the holidays approach, one of the books below would make a great gift for the fashion and beauty lover on your list. (And they won't be collecting dust on a coffee table or bookshelf.)

When it comes to classic and effortless style, there's no denying that Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was an icon. The imagery will leave you itching to re-create her tasteful ensembles, and anecdotes from luminaries such as Tory Burch, Samira Nasr, and Wes Gordon will give you further insight into the impact she left behind.

This is one of the coffee table books that you and your guests will  definitely be flipping through. It's no secret that J.Crew's seen a boom in popularity this past year, but the brand's influence spans decades, and this book takes you through the brand's highs of American sportswear.

Allison Bornstein's videos and coveted "Three Word Method" have helped many on their personal style journeys, and  Wear It Well  takes the joy of getting dressed even further. If you're in a wardrobe rut or want to start the New Year getting the most out of your clothes, this book is for you.

When Emily Weiss launched Glossier after finding success with a beauty blog, there was a surge in "Millennial Pink" packaging in everyone's makeup bags. This book delves into how exactly the start-up built a cult following and became one of the most disruptive brands in the beauty industry.

The Oxford button-down shirt, hand-stitched loafer, and three-button jacket are all things we'd call wardrobe staples or pieces of polished style. But  Black Ivy  explores how the classic "Ivy Look" was redefined by stylish men who were fighting for racial equality and civil rights and how that change influences today's menswear.

We know that Anna Wintour is the editor in chief of American Vogue (and has been since 1988), but Amy Odell's biography of Wintour shares the story of how she rose to become one of the most powerful figures in fashion media. With extensive interviews with her friends, collaborators and media insiders, this book tells not only the story of Wintour but also the hierarchal dynamics of the fashion industry and Condé Nast.

If your shoe racks are lined with sneakers, and you're constantly waiting for the next coveted shoe to drop, this book will pique your interest. Going through 100 years of sneaker history, it gives you a deeper look into the evolution of brands like Nike, Converse, and Adidas, and how every new sneaker brought out another level of hype.

You may already own the catwalk books of Prada and Chanel, so this new release should be on your radar. Givenchy: The Complete Collections (Catwalk) celebrates the house's history and features designs from Hubert de Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, and Matthew M. Williams.

Virgil Abloh and Nike first came together to create a collection in 2016, and this book documents how exactly the two brought ideas to the table. The book highlights Abloh's work with lettering, ironic labels, and sculpting techniques, and also explores the culture of sneakers and collaborative work within fashion and design history.

If you already zipped right through the first part of Netflix's The Crown season six, this book might satisfy you until the next part comes out.  The Crown in Vogue is a tribute to the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II and her family. From beginning to end, you'll see the royal family through the lens of  British Vogue .

The New York City Ballet celebrated its 75th anniversary this year and has been collaborating with prominent designers since its inception. The most recent collaborators? Wes Gordon of Carolina Herrera and Christopher John Rogers stand out.  New York City Ballet Choreography & Couture features more than 30 designers and their work for the ballet and how their designs are adapted to work with the dancer's performances. 

André Leon Talley is not a name one forgets, and his memoir,  The Chiffon Trenches , offers a candid look into his career and how he survived the industry while facing racism, rumors, and general challenges of the cutthroat fashion world. 

While we all watched J.Crew's journey back to the heights of the industry this year, many wondered how the brand flew under the radar for so long when it was once the peak of American fashion. Fashion journalist Maggie Bullock tells the story of J.Crew, how it rose to its legacy of preppy style and how it was hit by the unfortunate "retailer apocalypse."

We like to think the industry has come far in setting more realistic beauty standards, but the harsh reality is that it's still affecting the emotional and physical health of girls and women. Many of them know they need to fight a way against their beauty-sick culture but can't figure out where to begin.  Beauty Sick  provides workable solutions to help those struggling embrace their whole selves and transform their lives—and inspires them to redefine what "beauty" means away from those who aim to belittle and manipulate them.

In 1973, five top American designers faced off against five top French designers in front of an audience filled with notable people such as Princess Grace of Monaco, the Duchess of Windsor, Paloma Picasso, and Andy Warhol. This one night altered fashion history, and journalist Robin Givhan offers a lively and well-researched account of this event. 

If you're looking for a broader scope of the fashion industry as a whole,  Dress Code is an essay collection that covers everything from the French archetype that remains popular to how our clothes send signals to those around us. 

Edward Enninful's issues of British   Vogue  are unlike anything we've ever seen before. From constantly championing designers and photographers of color to putting first responders and activists on his covers, Enninful wants nothing more but to change the way we view the exclusive industry that is fashion.

Patricia Field's memoir details her time as a costume designer for  Sex and the City,  so those who still want more intel from the wardrobes of Carrie Bradshaw will be pleased. It also covers the beginning of her fashion career as a store owner in Downtown NYC and her most recent gig creating the conversation-stirring outfits on Emily in Paris .

My summer uniform.

By Florrie Alexander

It's time to fall in love all over again.

By Grace Lindsay

Or artfully place on a coffee table.

By Renee Swanberg

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15 Memoirs and Biographies to Read This Fall

New autobiographies from Jemele Hill, Matthew Perry and Hua Hsu are in the mix, along with books about Martha Graham, Agatha Christie and more.

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By John Williams ,  Joumana Khatib ,  Elizabeth A. Harris and Alexandra Alter

• Published Sept. 8, 2022 Updated Sept. 15, 2022

Solito: A Memoir , by Javier Zamora

When he was 9, Zamora left El Salvador to join his parents in the United States — a dangerous trek in the company of strangers that lasted for more than two months, a far cry from the two-week adventure he had envisioned. Zamora, a poet, captures his childhood impressions of the journey, including his fierce, lifesaving attachments to the other people undertaking the trip with him.

Hogarth, Sept. 6

A Visible Man: A Memoir , by Edward Enninful

The first Black editor in chief of British Vogue reflects on his life, including his early years as a gay, working-class immigrant from Ghana, and his path to becoming one of the most influential tastemakers in media.

Penguin Press, Sept. 6

Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman , by Lucy Worsley

Not many authors sell a billion books, but Christie’s nearly 70 mysteries helped her do just that. Born in 1890, she introduced the world to two detectives still going strong in film adaptations and elsewhere: Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Her life even included its own mystery, when she vanished for 11 days in 1926 . Worsley, a historian, offers a full-dress biography.

Pegasus Crime, Sept. 8

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands , by Kate Beaton

This graphic memoir follows Beaton, a Canadian cartoonist, who joins the oil rush in Alberta after graduating from college. The book includes drawings of enormous machines built to work the oil sands against a backdrop of Albertan landscapes, boreal forests and northern lights.

Drawn and Quarterly, Sept. 13

Like a Rolling Stone: A Memoir , by Jann S. Wenner

In 2017, Joe Hagan published “Sticky Fingers,” a biography of Wenner, the co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine. Now Wenner recounts his life in his own words, offering an intimate look at his time running the magazine that helped to change American culture.

Little, Brown, Sept. 13

Stay True: A Memoir , by Hua Hsu

A New Yorker staff writer reflects on a life-changing college friendship cut short by tragedy. Hsu — interested in counterculture, zines and above all music — seemed to have little in common with Ken, a Dave Matthews Band-loving fraternity brother, with the exception of their Asian American heritage. In spite of their differences, they forged a close bond; this is both a memoir of their relationship but also Hsu’s journey to adulthood as he makes sense of his grief.

Doubleday, Sept. 27

Wild: The Life of Peter Beard: Photographer, Adventurer, Lover , by Graham Boynton

A biography of the photographer Peter Beard, who had a fondness for risk, drugs and beautiful women. Boynton, a journalist and author, was a friend of Beard’s for more than 30 years.

St. Martin’s, Oct. 11

The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A Memoir , by Paul Newman

When Newman and his iconic blue eyes died in 2008, the actor left behind taped conversations about his life, which he had put together with hopes of writing his life story. Now, with the participation of Newman’s daughters, the transcripts have been turned into this book, which sees Newman on his early life, his troubles with drinking and his shortcomings as a husband and parent, as well as his decorated career.

Knopf. Oct. 18

Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman

Rickman, the English stage and screen actor who died in 2016, was famous for his roles in “Die Hard,” the Harry Potter movies, “Love Actually” and many other films. He kept a diary for 25 years, about his work, his political activism, his friendships and other subjects, and they promise to be “anecdotal, indiscreet, witty, gossipy and utterly candid.”

Henry Holt, Oct. 18

README.txt: A Memoir , by Chelsea Manning

Manning, a former Army analyst, shared classified documents about the U.S. military’s operations in Iraq with WikiLeaks. In this memoir, she explores her childhood and what drew her to the armed services, her eventual disillusionment with the military and her life as a trans woman.

Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Oct. 18

The White Mosque: A Memoir , by Sofia Samatar

Samatar, a novelist, turns to nonfiction in this complex work combining religious and personal history. Raised in the United States, the daughter of a Swiss-Mennonite and a Somali-Muslim, Samatar recounts her life while relating a pilgrimage she undertook retracing the route of German-speaking Mennonites who founded a village in Central Asia in the 1800s.

Catapult, Oct. 25

Martha Graham: When Dance Became Modern , by Neil Baldwin

The biographer Baldwin’s eclectic list of subjects has included William Carlos Williams, Man Ray, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Here he turns his attention to Martha Graham, the American choreographer who revolutionized modern dance and founded her own company, which is still going strong, in 1926.

Knopf, Oct. 25

Uphill: A Memoir , by Jemele Hill

Hill, now a contributing writer at The Atlantic, rose to fame as a TV anchor on ESPN. Her memoir covers the time in 2017 when ESPN suspended her (she had criticized the politics of the Dallas Cowboys’ owner, Jerry Jones, and had called President Trump a white supremacist). But the book offers a much broader canvas that includes her upbringing in Detroit and the trauma of generations of women in her family.

Henry Holt, Oct. 25

Friends, Lovers and the Terrible Thing: A Memoir , by Matthew Perry

Perry, who played Chandler Bing on “Friends,” has been candid about his substance abuse and sobriety. In this memoir, he returns again to discussions of fame and addiction, but also reaches back to his childhood.

Flatiron, Nov. 1

I Want to Die, but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir , by Baek Sehee. Translated by Anton Hur.

A best seller in South Korea, Baek’s memoir recounts her struggles with depression and anxiety, told through discussions with her therapist, which she recorded over a 12-week period. The therapy sessions are interspersed with short essays that explore her self-doubt and how feelings of worthlessness were reinforced by sexism.

Bloomsbury, Nov. 1

Elizabeth A. Harris writes about books and publishing for The Times.  More about Elizabeth A. Harris

Alexandra Alter writes about publishing and the literary world. Before joining The Times in 2014, she covered books and culture for The Wall Street Journal. Prior to that, she reported on religion, and the occasional hurricane, for The Miami Herald. More about Alexandra Alter

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The Best New Biographies and Memoirs to Read in 2024

This year sees some riveting and remarkable lives—from artist ai weiwei to singer-songwriter joni mitchell—captured on the page..

A life story can be read for escapist pleasure. But at other times, reading a memoir or biography can be an expansive exercise, opening us up to broader truths about our world. Often, it’s an edifying experience that reminds us of our universal human vulnerability and the common quest for purpose in life.

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Biographies and memoirs charting remarkable lives—whether because of fame, fortune or simply fascination—have the power to inspire us for their depth, curiosity or challenges. This year sees a bumper calendar of personal histories enter bookshops, grappling with enigmatic public figures like singer Joni Mitchell and writer Ian Fleming , to nuanced analysis of how motherhood or sociopathy shape our lives—for better and for worse.

SEE ALSO: The Best Addiction Memoirs for the Sober Curious

Here we compile some of the most rewarding biographies and memoirs out in 2024. There are stories of trauma and recovery, art as politics and politics as art, and sentences as single life lessons spread across books that will make you rethink much about personal life stories. After all, understanding the triumphs and trials of others can help us see how we can change our own lives to create something different or even better.

Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir by Ai Weiwei and illustrated by Gianluca Costantini

Ai Weiwei , the iconoclastic artist and fierce critic of his homeland China, mixes fairy tales with moral lessons to evocatively retrace the story of his life in graphic form. Illustrations are by Italian artist Gianluca Costantini . “Any artist who isn’t an activist is a dead artist,” Weiwei writes in Zodiac , as he embraces everything from animals found in the Chinese zodiac to mystical folklore tales with anamorphic animals to argue the necessity of art as politics incarnate. The meditative exercise uses pithy anecdotes alongside striking visuals to sketch out a remarkable life story marked by struggle. It’s one weaving political manifesto, philosophy and personal memoir to engage readers on the necessity of art and agitation against authority in a world where we sometimes must resist and fight back.

Alphabetical Diaries by Sheila Heti

Already well-known for her experimental writings, Sheila Heti takes a decade of diary entries and maps sentences against the alphabet, from A to Z. The project is a subversive rethink of our relationship to introspection—which often asks for order and clarity, like in diary writing—that maps new patterns and themes in its disjointed form. Heti plays with both her confessionals and her sometimes formulaic writing style (like knowingly using “Of course” in entries) to retrace the changes made (and unmade) across ten years of her life. Alphabetical Diaries is a sometimes demanding book given the incoherence of its entries, but remains an illuminating project in thinking about efforts at self-documentation.

Splinters: Another Kind of Love Story by Leslie Jamison

Unlike her previous work The Empathy Exams , which examined how we relate to one another and on human suffering, writer Leslie Jamison wrestles today with her own failed marriage and the grief of surviving single parenting. After the birth of her daughter, Jamison divorces her partner “C,” traverses the trials and tribulations of rebound relationships (including with “an ex-philosopher”) and confronts unresolved emotional pains born of her own life living under the divorce of her parents. In her intimate retelling—paired with her superb prose—Jamison charts a personal history that acknowledges the unending divide mothers (and others) face dividing themselves between partners, children and their own lives.

Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring by Brad Gooch

Whether dancing figures or a “radiant baby,” the recognizable cartoonish symbols in Keith Haring ’s art endure today as shorthand signs representing both his playfulness and politicking. Haring (1958-1990) is the subject of writer Brad Gooch ’s deft biography, Radiant , a book that mines new material from the archive along with interviews with contemporaries to reappraise the influential quasi-celebrity artist. From rough beginnings tagging graffiti on New York City walls to cavorting with Andy Warhol and Madonna on art pieces, Haring battled everything from claims of selling out to over-simplicity. But he persisted with work that leveraged catchy quotes and colorful imagery to advance unsavory political messages—from AIDS to crack cocaine. A life tragically cut short at 31 is one powerfully celebrated in this new noble portrait.

The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul Charles

In The House of Hidden Meaning , celebrated drag queen, RuPaul , reckons with a murky inner world that has shaped—and hindered—a lifetime of gender-bending theatricality. The figurative house at the center of the story is his “ego,” a plaguing barrier that apparently long inhibited the performer from realizing dreams of greatness. Now as the world’s most recognizable drag queen—having popularized the art form for mainstream audiences with the TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race —RuPaul reflects on the power that drag and self-love have long offered across his difficult, and sometimes tortured, life. Readers expecting dishy stories may be disappointed, but the psychological self-assessment in the pages of this memoir is far more edifying than Hollywood gossip could ever be.

Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne

Patric Gagne is an unlikely subject for a memoir on sociopaths. Especially since she is a former therapist with a doctorate in clinical psychology. Still, Gagne makes the case that after a troubled childhood of antisocial behavior (like stealing trinkets and cursing teachers) and a difficult adulthood (now stealing credit cards and fighting authority figures), she receives a diagnosis of sociopathy. Her memoir recounts many episodes of bad behavior—deeds often marked by a lack of empathy, guilt or even common decency—where her great antipathy mars any ability for her to connect with others. Sociopath is a rewarding personal exposé that demystifies one vilified psychological condition so often seen as entirely untreatable or irreparable. Only now there’s a familiar face and a real story linked to the prognosis.

Ian Fleming: The Complete Man by Nicholas Shakespeare

Nicholas Shakespeare is an acclaimed novelist and an astute biographer, delivering tales that wield a discerning eye to subjects and embrace a robust attention to detail. Ian Fleming (1908-1964), the legendary creator of James Bond, is the latest to receive Shakespeare’s treatment. With access to new family materials from the Fleming estate, the seemingly contradictory Fleming is seen anew as a totally “different person” from his popular image. Taking cues from Fleming’s life story—from a refined upbringing spent in expensive private schools to working for Reuters as a journalist in the Soviet Union—Shakespeare reveals how these experiences shaped the elusive world of espionage and intrigue created in Fleming’s novels. Other insights include how Bond was likely informed by Fleming’s cavalier father, a major who fought in WWI. A martini (shaken, not stirred) is best enjoyed with this bio.

Knife: Meditations after an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie , while giving a rare public lecture in New York in August 2022, was violently stabbed by an assailant brandishing a knife . The attack saw Rushdie lose his left hand and his sight in one eye. Speaking to The New Yorker a year later , he confirmed a memoir was in the works that would confront this harrowing existential experience: “When somebody sticks a knife into you, that’s a first-person story. That’s an ‘I’ story.” Knife: Meditations after an Attempted Murder is promised to be his raw, revelatory and deeply psychological confrontation with the violent incident. Like the sword of Damocles, brutality has long stalked Rushdie ever since the 1989 fatwa issued against the author, following the publication of his controversial novel, The Satanic Verses . The answer to such barbarity, Rushdie is poised to argue, is by finding the strength to stand up again.

The Art of Dying: Writings, 2019–2022 by Peter Schjeldahl (Release: May 14)

Peter Schjeldahl (1942-2022), longstanding art critic of The New Yorker , confronted his mortality when he was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer in 2019. The resulting essay collection he then penned, The Art of Dying , is a masterful meditation on one life preoccupied entirely with aesthetics and criticism. It’s a discursive tactic for a memoir that avoids discussing Schjeldahl’s coming demise while equally confirming its impending visit by avoiding it. Acknowledging that he finds himself “thinking about death less than I used to,” Schjeldahl spends most of the pages revisiting familiar art subjects—from Edward Hopper ’s output to Peter Saul ’s Pop Art—as vehicles to re-examine his own remarkable life. With a life that began in the humble Midwest, Schjeldahl says his birthplace was one that ultimately availed him to write so plainly and cogently on art throughout his career. Such posthumous musings prove illuminating lessons on the potency of American art, with whispered asides on the tragedy of death that will come for all of us.

Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell by Ann Powers (Release: June 11)

Joni Mitchell has enjoyed a remarkable revival recently, even already being one of the most acclaimed and enduring singer/songwriters. After retiring from public appearances for health reasons in the 2010s, Mitchell, 80, has returned to the spotlight with a 2021 Kennedy Centers honor , an appearance accepting the 2023 Gershwin Prize and even a live performance at this year’s Grammy Awards . It’s against this backdrop of public celebration of Mitchell that NPR music critic Ann Powers retraces the life story and musical (re)evolution of the singer, from folk to jazz genres and rock to soul music, across five decades for the American songbook. “What you are about to read is not a standard account of the life and work of Joni Mitchell,” she writes in the introduction. Instead, Powers’ project is one showing how Mitchell’s many journeys—from literal road trips inspiring tracks like “All I Want” to inner probings of Mitchell’s psyche, such as the song “Both Sides Now”—have always inspired Mitchell’s enduring, emotive and palpable output. These travels hold the key, Powers says, to understanding an enigmatic artist.

• SEE ALSO : Will Keen On Playing Vladimir Putin On Broadway in ‘Patriots’

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The best memoirs and biographies of 2022

Heartfelt memoirs from Richard E Grant and Viola Davis, childhood tales of religious dogma, and vivid insights into Agatha Christie and John Donne

The best books of 2022

C elebrity memoirs often follow the same trajectory: a difficult childhood followed by early professional failure, then dazzling success and redemption. But this year has yielded a handful of autobiographies from famous types determined to mix things up. Richard E Grant’s vivacious and heartfelt A Pocketful of Happiness (Gallery) recounts a year spent caring for his late wife, Joan Washington, who was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly before Christmas in 2020, and the “head-and-heart-exploding overwhelm” that followed. The book interweaves hospital appointments with memories of the couple’s courtship plus showbiz stories of Grant at the Golden Globes, or hijinks on the set of Star Wars. This juxtaposition of glamour and grief shouldn’t work, but it does.

Minnie Driver’s Managing Expectations (Manila) comprises spry and amusing autobiographical essays that detail pivotal moments in the actor’s life. These include her experience of becoming a mother, cutting off all her hair on a family holiday in France and the time her father sent her home to England from Barbados alone, aged 11, including a stopover at a Miami hotel, as punishment for being rude to his girlfriend (Driver got her revenge by buying up half the gift shop on her dad’s credit card). She also recalls the disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein bemoaning her lack of sex appeal, which she notes was rich from a man “whose shirts were always aggressively encrusted with egg/tuna fish/mayo”.

Alan Rickman’s Madly, Deeply (Canongate) diaries provide insight into the inner life of the late actor who, despite his many successes, frets over roles turned down and rails at the perceived ineptitude of script writers, directors and co-stars. He nonetheless keeps glittering company, hobnobbing with musicians, prime ministers and Hollywood megastars, and almost single-handedly keeps the tills ringing at the Ivy. And while he seethes at critics’ reviews of his own work, his assessments of less-than-perfect films and plays are so deliciously scathing, they deserve a book of their own.

In Finding Me (Coronet), the actor Viola Davis gives a clear-eyed account of her deprived childhood and her rise to fame, along with the violence, abuse and racism she endured along the way. The book is not so much a triumphant tale of overcoming adversity as a howl of fury at the injustice of it all. Davis may now be able to survey her career from a place of Oscar-winning privilege, but she doesn’t hesitate in calling out her industry and its ingrained racial bias, which leads to white actors landing plum roles and “relegates [Black actors] to best friends, to strong, loudmouth, sassy lawyers and doctors”. In The Light We Carry (Viking), the follow-up to her bestselling memoir Becoming, Michelle Obama also touches on the impossible-to-meet expectations that dog anyone trying to make it in a world that sees them as different, or deficient. “I happen to be well acquainted with the burdens of representation and the double standards for excellence that steepen the hills so many of us are trying to climb,” she writes. “It remains a damning fact of life that we ask too much of those who are marginalised and too little of those who are not.”

Away from the world of global fame and its attendant scrutiny, the journalist Chitra Ramaswamy’s touching memoir Homelands (Canongate) documents the author’s friendship with 97-year-old Henry Wuga, who escaped Nazi persecution as a teenager and began a new life in Glasgow. Interwoven with Wuga’s recollections is Ramaswamy’s own family story – she is the daughter of Indian immigrant parents – through which she digs deep into matters of identity, belonging and the meaning of home. Similar themes are explored in Ira Mathur’s multilayered Love the Dark Days (Peepal Tree), which, set in India, Britain and the Caribbean, reads like a fictional family saga as it leaps back and forth in time. The book charts the lives of the author’s wealthy, dysfunctional forebears against a backdrop of patriarchal hegemony and a collapsing empire.

The Last Days (Ebury) by Ali Millar and Sins of My Father (Weidenfeld & Nicolson) by Lily Dunn each tell harrowing stories of families torn apart by religious dogma. Millar, who grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness on the Scottish borders, reflects on a childhood haunted by predictions of Armageddon and blighted by her eating disorder. As an adult she marries, within the church, a controlling man and has a baby, though at 30 she makes her escape and is “disfellowshipped”, meaning she is cut off for ever from her family. Meanwhile, Dunn recalls losing her father to a commune in India presided over by the cult leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, where disciples were encouraged to “live in love”, meaning they could engage in guilt-free sex. Dunn’s book is her attempt to pin down this charismatic, mercurial and unreliable figure and the ripple effects of his actions on those closest to him. In Matt Rowland Hill’s scabrously funny Original Sins (Chatto & Windus), it is the author who is the agent of chaos. The son of evangelical Christians, Hill shoots heroin at the funeral of a friend who died from an overdose, and tries to score drugs on a visit to Bethlehem. Were his account a novel, you might accuse it of being too far-fetched.

In Kit de Waal’s first autobiographical work, Without Warning and Only Sometimes (Tinder Press), the author recalls how she and her four siblings would go to bed hungry while their father blew his earnings on a new suit, and her mother would work off her rage by collecting empty milk bottles and throwing them at a wall in the back yard. After a bout of depression in her teens, De Waal eventually found comfort and escape in literature. Her book is a brilliant evocation of the times in which she lived, when children learned to make their own entertainment and adults didn’t talk about their feelings, and a funny and tender portrait of a complicated family.

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The Crane Wife (Viking), by the American author CJ Hauser, began life as a confessional essay about the time she travelled to the gulf coast of Texas to study whooping cranes 10 days after breaking off her engagement. Published in the Paris Review, the essay blew up online, prompting Hauser to expand her thoughts on love and relationships into this thoughtful and fitfully funny book. Across 17 confessional essays, we find her furtively spreading her grandparents’ ashes at their old house in Martha’s Vineyard, contemplating breast reduction surgery and reflecting on her relationships with a high-school boyfriend and a divorcee who is clearly still in love with his ex.

Finally, some excellent biographies. Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman (Hodder & Stoughton) by Lucy Worsley is a riveting portrait of the queen of crime viewed through a feminist lens. The book acknowledges Christie’s flaws, most notably in her views on race, while portraying her as ahead of her time in putting women at the centre of her stories and showing how older women “have more to offer the world than meets the eye”. Super-Infinite (Faber), winner of this year’s Baillie Gifford prize, is a biography of the 17th-century preacher and poet John Donne by Katherine Rundell, the children’s novelist and Renaissance scholar. Ten years in the writing, the book approaches its subject with wit and vivacity, bringing to life Donne’s inner world through his verse.

Jonathan Freedland’s The Escape Artist (John Murray) is a remarkable account of the life of Rudolf Vrba, a prisoner at Auschwitz who was put to work in “Kanada”, a store of belongings removed from inmates which revealed that the line fed to them was a lie: they were not there to be resettled but murdered. Vrba and his friend Fred Wetzler pledged to escape and tell the world about the Nazis’ industrialised murder, hiding beneath a woodpile for three days before slipping through the fence to freedom. The horror of this story lies not just in its account of “cold-blooded extermination” but in the slowness of authorities to react to the Vrba-Wetzler report, which laid out the workings of Auschwitz, complete with maps showing the chambers. Freedland recalls the words of the French-Jewish philosopher Raymond Aron, who, when asked about the Holocaust, said: “I knew, but I didn’t believe it. And because I didn’t believe it, I didn’t know.”

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Founded by Mario Prada in 1913

Credits & copyrights: Courtesy of Prad

Founded in 1913 by Mario Prada, the company initially operated two boutiques in Milan, specializing in the sale of imported English steamer trunks, handbags, and leather goods. Quickly gaining prestige, Prada became a favorite among international aristocrats.

In 1919, Prada earned recognition as the official supplier to the Italian Royal House, adopting the House of Savoy’s coat of arms and knotted rope symbol into its trademark logo.

In 1970, Miuccia Prada, armed with a degree in Political Science, joined the company. She focused on accessory design, forming a pivotal partnership with entrepreneur Patrizio Bertelli, who managed the business side, enabling Miuccia to fully dedicate herself to design.

Miuccia’s creative journey began with backpack and tote designs in 1979, using materials reminiscent of those used for steamer trunks. In the same year, Prada ventured into women’s footwear.

The ’80s marked the opening of a second Milan boutique in 1983, followed by expansion into Florence, Paris, Madrid, and New York in the subsequent year. Prada’s iconic handbag, known for its clean lines and black nylon, made its debut in 1984 and remains a timeless piece.

Prada’s debut in women’s ready-to-wear fashion in 1988 was initially met with puzzlement but eventually gained recognition, especially in New York, for its simple, luxurious designs featuring clean lines and basic colors.

The ’90s were a defining period for Prada, solidifying its position as one of the most influential fashion houses, known for producing luxurious, simple, and provocative styles. In 1993, Miuccia launched Miu Miu, a brand with a strong and avant-garde personality. Prada received the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) award for accessories that same year.

Miuccia and Patrizio’s interest in contemporary art led to the establishment of the Fondazione Prada in 1993, hosting exhibitions in collaboration with Italian and international artists.

Prada Uomo debuted in 1993, and the brand continued to receive recognition, earning the CFDA Designer of the Year award in the same year. Notable celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Kim Basinger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Vanessa Paradis, Kirsten Dunst, Chloe Sevigny, and Hailee Steinfeld became testimonials for the Miu Miu brand starting in 1995.

Further expansion occurred in 1996 with the opening of Prada’s largest store in Manhattan, New York. This period also witnessed the launch of a men’s ready-to-wear line.

Prada introduced a leisure line in 1999, followed by the launch of eyewear in 2000. Fragrances joined the brand’s offerings in 2003, and even the mobile phone market was explored in 2007.

The ongoing traveling exhibition, “Waist Down,” in collaboration with AMO and architect Rem Koolhaas, started in 2004, showcasing innovative skirts created by Prada since 1988 and hosted in various cities worldwide.

In 2009, Prada worked with AMO and Koolhaas again, creating the Prada Transformer in Seoul, a tetrahedron-shaped structure hosting art, cinema, and fashion events for six months.

The “Fondazione Prada,” founded in 1993, explores architecture, design, philosophy, and science. In 2011, it opened a new exhibition space at Ca’ Corner della Regina, a prestigious 18th-century palace in Venice.

Today, Prada is not just a fashion powerhouse but also a force in art, architecture, cinema, culture, and sports.

Miuccia Prada’s visionary approach has molded Prada into one of the world’s most influential fashion houses. Her sophisticated and recognizable aesthetic blends elements from her daily life into her designs. Miuccia Prada places immense value on quality and historic artisan craftsmanship, integral to the brand. Alongside Patrizio Bertelli, they’ve created a brand that not only anticipates but also drives fashion.

In 2011, Prada faced scrutiny when the Hong Kong Stock Exchange approved its IPO amid the Prada Gender Discrimination Case, which Prada eventually won. Despite a less-than-expected IPO in June 2011, Prada continued to evolve. Sales rebounded in March 2018, after a period of decline, leading to a rise in stock value.

In 2019, Prada announced its commitment to eliminate fur from its collections, emphasizing innovative materials and ethical products.

February 2020 marked a significant change as designer Raf Simons was named co-creative director alongside Miuccia Prada.

In August 2020, Prada decided to cease using kangaroo leather in its products. The Resort 21 campaign received promotion from Vanity Teen magazine.

In January 2023, Andrea Guerra was appointed as Prada’s CEO, with plans to potentially dual-list Prada stock on both the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and a European stock exchange.

Prada regularly hosts seasonal runway shows on the international fashion calendar, primarily in Milan. The brand has showcased collections in various locations, including a Resort 2019 show in New York City. Prominent models and actors have graced Prada’s shows and campaigns, with runway music designed by Frédéric Sanchez.

Prada Biography

Written by Saxony Dudbridge

Saxony Dudbridge was one of the first contributors to the Catwalk Yourself project, Saxony studies International Fashion Marketing and she is responsible for our great History and Designers Biographies sections.

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Prada is an Italian luxury fashion house widely know for their leather handbags, travel bags, fashion accessories. Best across globe.

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