Anyone interested in the world of fashion should have a bookshelf filled with designers’ memoirs, journalists’ investigative pieces and coffee table books featuring brands’ famous collections.
At Fashion North we have curated some of the best books that every aspiring fashionista should own, read and educate themselves from.
From an academic perspective, any aspiring fashion journalist should own and reference throughout their studies Julie Bradford’s ‘Fashion Journalism’. Written by the former Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism at University of Sunderland, it gives a detailed overview of the world of fashion, and how to become a successful fashion journalist in both print and online media.
‘Fashion Journalism’ by Julie Bradford available on Amazon (£37.99).
Some of the most powerful and influential people in fashion have written amazing memoirs that help to aspire young people who are wanting to follow in their footsteps.
Grace Goddington’s self-entitled memoir ‘Grace’, follows the life of former American Vogue Creative Director on how she landed one of the biggest jobs within the industry alongside Anna Wintour and created some lifelong friendships with Bruce Weber and Calvin Klein.
This is a must-read for aspiring journalists and fashion creatives who dream of following in Grace’s footsteps.
‘Grace’ by Grace Goddington available on Amazon (£30).
‘The Vanity Fair Diaries’ is a memoir written by former Vanity Fair editor on how the British journalist came to America to save Condé Nast’s publication.
Tina Brown recalls the inside stories and scoop that sold millions across America, but equally on the struggles and drama of raising a family whilst running one of the biggest magazines in America.
The memoir gives an insight into the world of fashion journalism, and is a great read for anyone curious about the life of a fashion journalist at a large publication.
‘The Vanity Fair Diaries’ by Tina Brown is available on Amazon (£9.99).
Former editor of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman, Sunday Times bestseller ‘ Clothes…and other things that matter’ is a mixture of a memoir, fashion history and social observation that encourages women to consider what their own clothes mean to them, the life they live in them and the stories they tell.
The book explores the meaning of clothing and how we wear them, taking pieces of clothing and examining their role in her life and women across the world, touching on sexual identity, ambition, power and body image.
It is a must read for anyone interested in the industry, as well as those who want an insight into the connotations surrounding them in society.
‘ Clothes…and other things that matter’ is available on Amazon (£16.99).
‘Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes’ author and journalist Dana Thomas explores the cost of fast fashion and how we can get to a more sustainable future.
‘Fashionopolis’ is the first comprehensive look at how to start a more sustainable feature. It is a must read for fashion creatives, as the issue of fast fashion has been very topical within the industry in recent years and we must understand the importance of a sustainable feature.
‘Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes’ is available on Amazon (£20).
‘The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris’ by Alicia Drake is an exposer of 1950s Paris, and follows Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld who were friends and the rising stars of the fashion world. But by the late sixties the city was divided, and both were drawn to the power of fame making them bitter rivals.
This novel is great to get an insight into a cruel era of fashion that formed two of the biggest names in the world of fashion, whose rivalry lead to them holding positions at two of the most powerful and established fashion brands.
‘The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris’ is available on Amazon (£16.99)
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