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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.

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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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15 Gorgeous Fashion Books To Pore Over In 2024

We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.

Whether you’re a fashion novice hungry for knowledge or aiming to deepen your expertise, there’s no better source than a stellar book. From exclusive insights into the worlds of designers like Pharrell Williams , Rick Owens and Thom Browne , to Charlie Porter’s exploration of the Bloomsbury Group’s early 20-century wardrobes, there’s something to captivate every reader. Scroll on for Vogue ’s edit of the best fashion books right now.

Pharrell: Carbon, Pressure & Time by Pharrell Williams

Hear Pharrell Williams’s insights into the relationship between hip-hop and jewellery, discover more than 100 iconic pieces, and delve into the opulent realm of collectibles, all in one captivating book.

The Burberry Book by Alexander Fury

Incorporating five chapters and 200 visuals, this book captures Burberry’s journey from an 1856 family venture to a global luxury brand in 2022.

Dior by Raf Simons by Tim Blanks

Dior by Raf Simons is the sixth volume in the definitive collection that highlights the house of Dior’s most remarkable haute couture creations.

Bring No Clothes: Bloomsbury and the Philosophy of Fashion by Charlie Porter

Charlie Porter’s latest book delves into the early 20th century, unlocking the Bloomsbury Group’s wardrobes to expose the intricate interplay between attire, liberation and control.

More Rick Owens by Rick Owens and Danielle Levitt

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I Care a Lotta, I Wear Collina Strada by Hillary Taymour and Charlie Engman

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India in Fashion: The Impact of Indian Dress and Textiles on the Fashionable Imagination by Hamish Bowles

Follow the lasting impact of traditional Indian textiles on Western fashion from the 18th century to today.

Fresh Fly Fabulous: 50 Years of Hip Hop Style by Elena Romero and Elizabeth Way

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Thom Browne by Thom Browne

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Carolina Herrera: Colormania – Colour and Fashion by Carolina Herrera and Wes Gordon

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Per Amore by Giorgio Armani

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Givenchy Catwalk: The Complete Collections by Alexandre Samson and Anders Christian Madsen

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Peekaboo-K by Fendi

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Kiko Kostadinov. À Mon Seul Désir by E-WAX

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Fluid: A Fashion Revolution by Harris Reed

In Fluid , Harris Reed attempts to redefine fashion, challenging gender norms and celebrating the intersection of philosophy, art and history in clothing.

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Nonfiction Books » 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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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. Available here

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. Available here

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. Available here

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. Available here

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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

MORE:  11 books written by the royals

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 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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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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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

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20 of the Best Autobiographies That Inspired Influential Women to Dream Big

The best autobiographies can feel like the key to a secret kingdom. After all, their subjects—from celebrities, to icons, to founders of huge corporations —can feel superhuman. But when they tell their story in their own words, it makes them relatable and somehow even more inspiring. By reading their words, we too can start to dream bigger and more boldly, using them as guideposts as we chase after our own goals.

It can be hard to know where to start when looking for the best autobiographies to inspire you, whether that’s in your personal or professional life. Glamour is here to help. We reached out to 20 women who inspire us—CEOs, authors, journalists, founders, influencers, and more—to ask them which women’s autobiographies have challenged them, made them dream bigger, or helped them feel more confident to carve their own paths. The list of books they provided is just as diverse and varied as the women themselves.

From the stories of icons in fashion and beauty, to a woman’s examination of her own family dynasty, to ordinary women’s stories of redemption, pick up any of these titles the next time you need a boost.

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Black White and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self, by Rebecca Walker

'Black White and Jewish' by Rebecca Walker

As a teen I read a lot of feminist books. One that stuck with me was Rebecca Walker’s  Black White and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self . I was always interested in reading about the particular experiences of women, especially women who didn’t fit into the narrow confines of society in one way or another. Walker’s book was about exactly that. She couldn’t fully be herself in most situations; there was always a part left out.

As a Jewish girl in a predominantly Christian culture, I could relate to her experience in my own way. I was always shifting my identity, downplaying and even hiding my Jewishness…. I remember, she didn’t wrap it all up in a neat bow at the end. She acknowledged that she was still evolving, still becoming who she was meant to be. I found that inspirational. 

— Rabbi Diana Fersko , senior rabbi of the Village Temple in Manhattan and author of the forthcoming book We Need to Talk About Antisemitism

Estée: A Success Story, by Estée Lauder

'Estee: A Success Story' by Estee Lauder

I’m continuously inspired by Estée Lauder’s resilience, creativity, and passion. She challenged the traditional female stereotype in a way that nervously excited society, setting a clear example for other women to break down their own barriers. I deeply admire Estée’s business philosophy and love her push for female advancement even more. My favorite lesson is: Projecting your mind into a successful situation is the most powerful means to achieve goals.

— Pritika Swarup , model and entrepreneur

The Mother of Black Hollywood, by Jenifer Lewis

'The Mother of Black Hollywood' by Jenifer Lewis

Love yourself so that love will not be a stranger when it comes. This is something I try to remember in every interaction that I’m faced with so that I don’t become so head over heels for an opportunity or a person that I get lost in the idea of good love.

I enjoy the ideology presented by Jenifer Lewis when it comes to living life to the fullest. Being that she faced so many ups and downs in her career but still lived by that motto, it’s is something that I try to embody every day. Jenifer never let anything get in her way, and her book is a reminder that neither should I.

— Venita Aspen , influencer and star of Bravo’s Southern Charm

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

'Everything I Know About Love' by Dolly Alderton

“Everything I Know About Love is one of those reads that radiate comfort. There can never be enough media about that terrifying stage of your early twenties, and Dolly Alderton’s account is exactly the sort I love reading: chaotic, bold, and—ultimately—reassuring, because we’re all just trying to figure out the messiness of life.”

- Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Secret Shanghai novels , as well as the Flesh and False Gods trilogy

Year of Yes, by Shonda Rhimes

I learned to be my own person through the strength of many books, but one memoir in particular taught me to courageously say yes and at times dance it out. Shonda Rimes has transformed television and captivated audiences by introducing to the world complex, authentic, powerful female characters. She is a trailblazer for women in an industry where the movers and shakers are still heavily male dominated. She is fearless tackling important social issues and sparking conversations that not only drive media but society as a whole. Year of Yes reminds us that we have to get out of our own heads, so that we can move beyond our limiting beliefs in both our personal and professional world.”

— Lauren Simmons , youngest person ever to trade on the New York Stock Exchange and author of Make Money Move

Mean Baby, by Selma Blair

'Mean Baby' by Selma Blair

A raw and brutally candid portrayal of Selma’s struggles with alcoholism and multiple sclerosis. It resonated for me having grown up around taboo health issues and alcoholism. I found it inspiring as she tackles each adversity with humor and grace. I laughed out loud more than I cried, and it was a true lesson in resilience and enjoying each day as it comes.

— Tania Boler , founder and CEO of innovative breast-pump brand Elvie

The Soul of a Woman, by Isabel Allende

'The Soul of a Woman' by Isabel Allende

I’m a huge fan of Isabel as a fiction writer, and getting to finally hear about her personal life was a welcome treat for me, especially as she expertly weaves in a backdrop of feminist history plus a fascinating view into her marriage(s) and approach to raising a family all the while juggling continuing to be an incredibly successful, and prolific, author. Isabel is an inspiration to me personally as she is both an author and a self-made, incredibly successful woman. The book was a great reminder both of how far women have come but also how much there is left for us to fight for. It’s humorous, inspiring, and a quick read. I highly recommend it!

—Amanda Bradford, founder and CEO of matchmaking app The League

Me: Stories of My Life, by Katharine Hepburn

'Me: Stories of My Life' by Katharine Hepburn

This book is a remarkable testament to Hepburn’s unwavering determination, independence, and extraordinary success in Hollywood. Beyond her illustrious career, Hepburn’s philanthropy and activism set her apart as a true trailblazer. She passionately championed causes such as women’s rights, civil rights, and environmental conservation, utilizing her platform to inspire others to make a positive impact. Her story is truly inspiring and serves as a reminder of the power of resilience and using one's influence for the greater good.

— Meredith Marks , entrepreneur and star of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

Educated, by Tara Westover

'Educated' by Tara Westover

The story has such raw emotions and is a total page turner! Her writing is super captivating and is very relatable to me as the founder of a women's dedicated health company, as I highly value education myself. My parents are not educated—neither finished first grade—and for me, education is, and has been, a life changer.

— Gloria Lau , founder and CEO of online health care provider Hello Alpha

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), by Mindy Kaling

'Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)' by Mindy Kaling

Growing up, I didn’t see anybody like me in the entertainment industry. Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) came out as I embarked on my career as a hip-hop journalist and was like a lifeline from a friend I had never met. This delightful, sharp, and witty memoir is full of inspiration and heart for any woman blazing her own path.

- Sowmya Krishnamurthy , journalist and author of Fashion Killa: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized High Fashion

Around the Way Girl, by Taraji P. Henson

'Around the Way Girl' by Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson is always at the top of my list of inspirational women. In the pages of her book, you gain a deeper understanding of her persistence and journey to making her dreams a reality.

— Jordan Emanuel , model and star of Bravo’s Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard

Assata: An Autobiography, by Assata Shakur

'Assata: An Autobiography' by Assata Shakur

I read Assata Shakur’s autobiography while I was in college, and it completely opened my eyes to the part women played in the Black freedom movements and the unique struggles they had to overcome, both from within their communities and externally. She had an intersectional approach to activism that I admired, and she did not shy away from speaking on the government sanctioned crimes that were waged to disempower and disband Black organizers. Shakur’s story of purpose, love, impact, and survival was inspiring and made me want to do more to support my community. She’s one of the people who inspired me to launch The Folklore.

— Amira Rasool , founder and CEO of commerce support company The Folklore Group

Born to Shine, by Kendra Scott

'Born to Shine' by Kendra Scott

Kendra’s book is about her journey from small-town Wisconsin girl to one of America’s few self-made women billionaires. Her story is inspiring and demonstrates once again that success is not just a straight line; it is filled with life’s greatest highs and deepest lows, but you keep moving forward. It’s the resilience you see, time and again, which leads to success. One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “The day had come where the risk of staying in the bud was greater than the risk of blooming.”

— Emily Hikade , founder and CEO of luxury nightwear maker Petite Plume

Paris: The Memoir, by Paris Hilton

'Paris: The Memoir' by Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton’s book was such a surprising, refreshing story of resilience, tenacity, and building confidence. I went into it not knowing what to expect but was blown away by the adversity she’s overcome. From being left naked in a dark room to verbal, sexual and emotional abuse at boarding school, she created her future in her mind. It was the only thing they couldn’t take from her. Paris’s story is inspiring for all women and is an incredible story about designing your own future.

— Lauryn Bosstick , podcaster and founder of the lifestyle brand The Skinny Confidential

D.V., by Diana Vreeland

'D.V.' by Diana Vreeland

Diana was eccentrically, unapologetically brazen—full of exaggerated, witty one-liners and epic style. There is so much humor in how extra and fantastical she was, from her outrageous opinions to sartorial ideologies. She understood the pulse of global fashion, society, art, music—and more—that left a lasting impact. We owe the popularization of denim and bikinis to her, which is trivial, yes, but also emblematic of the evolution of a zeitgeist. She embraced her imperfections and celebrated them with confidence. It’s light and playful reading that really moved us both.

—Karen Robinovitz and Sara Schiller, cofounders of playspace centers The Sloomoo Institute

Untamed, by Glennon Doyle

'Untamed' by Glennon Doyle

I came across this book during a period of much self-reflection and growth. One of the most real, brave, and honest books I’ve ever read.

— Ariel Kaye, founder of luxury bedding brand Parachute

The Cartiers, by Francesca Cartier Brickell

'The Cartiers' by Francesca Cartier Brickell

The Cartiers walks you through the story of the Cartier family building their eponymous business in the early 1900s in France. The story is so well told that you feel transported to that time. The writer, a granddaughter of the founders, talks through special stories her grandparents told her and how those moments changed her life. I found it so inspiring. A story about hard work, luck, and family.

— Seema Bansal Chadha , entrepreneur and cofounder of floral brand Venus et Fleur

Dolly: My Life And Other Unfinished Business, by Dolly Parton

'Dolly: My Life And Other Unfinished Business' by Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is such an inspiration to all! She believes in the power of dreams and the perseverance it takes to make them happen. As an artist, philanthropist, businesswoman, inspiration, and icon, she never fails to be unapologetically herself.

— Paige Lorenze , influencer and founder of lifestyle brand Dairy Boy

Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert

'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love is a quintessential journey of self-discovery. It reached me at a time in my life when I was about to take a big chance. I was considering leaving investment banking to pursue a career in marketing where I had no formal training, and I was terrified to take the leap just as the protagonist had to leave the familiar to find what she truly wanted. Sometimes a book comes along to reframe life and give you a version of what freedom, happiness, and risk-taking could result in.

—Amanda E/J Morrison, cofounder and president of health care startup Julie

Josephine, by Josephine Baker

'Josephine' by Josephine Baker

American-born French entertainer Josephine Baker, and her autobiography Josephine, has inspired me throughout the entirety of my life and career. As she once said, “Embrace your uniqueness, defy limitations, and let your talents shine bright.” That has carried me through the creation of my brand, Scarlett Gasque. It has taught me to believe in myself, challenge the norms, and encourage others to feel confident in their own unique ways.

— Chloe Rogers , CEO and founder of lingerie brand Scarlett Gasque

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Alexander McQueen

New,York,-,February,14

Born: London, England, 1969 Death: London, England, 2010

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Known as the bad boy of fashion, the late Alexander McQueen found himself at the forefront of fashion virtually over night at the main seat of Givenchy.

The son of a taxi driver, McQueen was the youngest of six children. Growing up in a council flat tower block in Stratford, his interest in fashion began at a young age while making dresses for his three sisters, preceding him to declare his ambition to become a fashion designer. After leaving school with one O-Level in Art, he began to serve an apprenticeship with Savile Row tailors Anderson and Sheppard. He then joined Gieves and Hawkes and then theatrical costumiers Angels and Bermans. With his technical skills McQueen moved to Kohji Tatsuno as a pattern cutter and then flew to Milan on a whim. After working with Romeo Gigli, McQueen returned to London in 1994 to apply to work as a pattern cutter tutor at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. With the strength of his portfolio he was persuaded to enrol as a student.

On graduating, his whole collection was bought by influential stylist Isabella Blow which launched his career. On her direction he changed his name from Lee McQueen to his middle name Alexander.

Forming his own line he saw success with his low waist bumster trousers causing a minor fashion sensation. Earning the title ‘l’enfant terrible’ he caused a stir when appointed head designer at Givenchy in 1996 succeeding John Galliano . McQueen swept into Paris insulting everyone in his pass including John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood and calling Givenchy’s founder Hubert de Givenchy as ‘irrelevant’. With his first collection unsuccessful, he told American Vogue in October 1997 ‘I know it was crap’. He toned down his designs for Givenchy but not his rebellious streak, with his catwalk shows still causing controversy. McQueen stayed at Givenchy until March 2001 when his contract ended.

With accomplishments including Best British Designer of the Year, which he won four times between 1996 and 2003, he was also awarded the CBE and named International Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers in 2003. Celebrity fans including Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Lady Gaga, Rhiana and Bjork.

Credits & copyrights: David Burton

Openly gay, McQueen’s personal life affected his fashion. With the suicide of his close personal friend Isabella Blow, McQueen received press attention from rumours there was a rift between McQueen and Blow. Following the death of his mother McQueen was left depressed leading to him taking his own life on February 17th 2010. With musicians and friends including Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Katy Perry and Courtney Love commemorating McQueen his funeral was attended by Kate Moss , Naomi Campbell , Stella McCartney , Anna Wintour , Sarah Jessica Parker amongst 2500 other invited guests.

Alexander McQueen had eighty percent of an unfinished autumn/winter collection before he died. His long-term assistant Sarah Burton finished the collection which was presented in Paris during 2010 Fashion Week. The collection had a medieval, religious theme with a recurring theme of angels and demons. Editors said it was hard to watch as it showed McQueen’s obsession with the afterlife. Sarah Burton was appointed as new creative director of Alexander McQueen presenting her first women’s wear collection in Paris September 2010.

The year 2011 marked a sombre moment for the fashion industry as McQueen tragically passed away, leaving a void in the industry. Sarah Burton stepped in as the brand’s creative director, debuting her first collection for the label, the Autumn/Winter 2010 collection, which paid homage to McQueen’s iconic style while infusing her own artistic vision. In 2012, the brand collaborated with luxury retailer Harrods to create an extraordinary retrospective exhibition that celebrated McQueen’s groundbreaking work and artistic genius. The year 2013 witnessed the unveiling of the Savage Beauty exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, a remarkable showcase of McQueen’s provocative and imaginative designs that attracted international acclaim.

In 2014, Sarah Burton was honoured with the Designer of the Year award at the British Fashion Awards, acknowledging her remarkable talent and contribution to the brand’s evolution. The year 2016 marked the brand’s 20th anniversary, commemorated with a runway show featuring iconic pieces from McQueen’s archive alongside new designs that paid tribute to his legacy. In 2018, the brand continued to innovate, introducing its first-ever fragrance collection, capturing the essence of McQueen’s dark romance and rebellious spirit.

In 2019, Alexander McQueen opened its flagship store on London’s Old Bond Street, offering a luxurious and immersive retail experience that reflected the brand’s unique aesthetic. In 2020, the brand celebrated its craftsmanship and sustainability efforts with the release of the “McQueen Creators” campaign, highlighting the skilled artisans and eco-conscious practices behind their creations.

Alexander McQueen 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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