Oscar Wilde once claimed that art is eternal and fashion is fleeting. "A fashion is merely a form of ugliness so absolutely unbearable that we have to alter it every six months!" he wrote in an 1885 essay.
No disrespect to Wilde, but we'd argue that fashion is more than just a frivolous cycle of trends that change with the season. It reflects – and shapes – art, culture, politics, society and more, and its history is littered with fascinating characters and stories.
Below are some of the the best books to read about the world of fashion, whether you're a budding fashionista, an industry insider, or simply someone who wants to know more about the clothes in their wardrobe.
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Books about fashion history
Journalist Dana Thomas charts the relatively recent history of luxury fashion's evolution into a global industry, and how the designer handbags, clothes, perfumes, and even counterfeits of today are a world apart from the ateliers and fashion houses of yesteryear. From the formation of conglomerates snapping up market share and growing sales, to the stark reality of the factories and workers making our clothes, Deluxe is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the fashion industry.
Through an exploration of five different types of fibre and fabric – linen, cotton, silk, synthetics and wool – writer and artist Sofi Thanhauser shines a light on the social, economic, and environmental facets of our relationship with clothes, past and present. Learn about the people, communities, landscapes and stories shaped by textiles and garments, from cotton-spinners of South India to the traditional weaving techniques of the Navajo Nation.
This exploration of the Bloomsbury Set's sartorial side, written by acclaimed fashion writer Charlie Porter, takes its name from the correspondences of Virginia Woolf , who often used the phrase as a casual shorthand for rejecting the restrictive norms and fashions of her Victorian predecessors. A must-read for anyone interested in Modernism, culture, and the evolution of 20th-century fashion, Bring No Clothes unearths the rich intersection between literature, politics, social change, and fashion.
Books about sustainable fashion
Bold, playful designs and clever marketing have made Danish label Ganni the epitome of Scandi-cool style. But the company has also become a key player in the sustainable fashion space, with ambitious plans to reduce its negative impact on the environment. From eliminating carbon-intensive materials like leather and investing in solar-powered garment factories, to scaling resale and rental to keep clothes in circulation for longer, founder Nicolaj Reffstrup and Forbes journalist Brooke Roberts-Islam outline Ganni's strategy and lessons for building a company around profit and purpose.
Do you find that your wardrobe is over-stuffed with clothes, but you can't stop shopping for new outfits? Or that garments you've worn a few times are in need of some serious T.L.C.? Orsola de Castro, leading sustainable fashion campaigner and founder of the non-profit Fashion Revolution, is here to help with indispensable advice on how to properly mend, care for, and rewear your clothes – the ultimate antidote to fast fashion.
Fashion biographies
John Galliano and Alexander McQueen: both visionary British designers from humble beginnings who went on to revolutionise the fashion world and lead major brands like Dior and Givenchy as their creative directors. This gripping biography charts the meteoric rise and fall of these two very different men in alternating chapters – from the raw, irreverent work of their early days, to the corporate fashion machine that fed off their creativity.
It's hard to overstate the lasting impact of Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel, the 20th-century French designer whose namesake brand remains one of the most iconic and influential in the world. But, while much ink has been spilled on her life and legacy, Chanel's story is still one of complexity and controversy. Biographer Lisa Chaney brings nuance, incisiveness and detailed research to paint an unflinching and revelatory portrait of one of the most consequential figures in fashion history.
Few historical figures bridged the gulf between art and fashion quite as successfully as Elsa Schiaparelli. Born in Italy in 1890 to minor aristocrats, Schiaparelli moved to Paris and went on to become one of the most influential designers of the 20th century with her Surrealist-inflected creations. From her early years, to her collaborations with the likes of Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau (and fierce rivalry with Coco Chanel), arts biographer Meryle Secrest has created the definitive account of her fascinating life.
Fashion memoirs
A Harvard dropout turned hat designer turned fashion journalist and New York Times contributor, Bill Cunningham was a hugely influential fixture in New York's fashion scene who pioneered the street style genre of photography as we know it. Fashion Climbing , published two years after his death in 2016, is a fascinating self-portrait of a man who broke into a notoriously cagey industry and, despite making a career out of capturing decadence and glamour, lived an intensely private and simple life.
The late Iris Apfel was revered for her illustrious career as an interior designer, curator, champion of heritage arts and crafts, and tastemaker with an idiosyncratically brilliant and quirky sense of style. Written not long before her death at the age of 102, Colourful comprises beautiful visuals and musings on everything from creativity to courage, and finding the colour of happiness. This book is, in short, a testament to a vibrant life and legacy.
As the editor-in-chief of British Vogue from 1992 to 2017, Alexandra Shulman presided over a number of milestones for the storied fashion magazine, including its centenary in 2016. Inside Vogue offers a candid and riveting glimpse into the personal and the professional, the glamorous and not-so-glamorous moments of a whirlwind year – from organising a star-studded gala, to dealing with bin day whilst on the front rows of Milan Fashion Week.
When she was made editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue in 2016 at the age of 29 (and prior to that, made history as the publication's first Black beauty director) Elaine Welteroth oversaw nothing short of a revolution at the beloved magazine. Alongside spreads about fashion, makeup, and celebrities were thoughtful articles and videos about pressing social issues, which helped galvanise countless young people during a turbulent period in American and world politics. More Than Enough is part memoir, part manifesto, while also being a roadmap for pursuing a career with a difference in fashion, media and beyond.
Fashion and textile designer Zandra Rhodes has had a dazzling and colourful career in fashion spanning more than 50 years. With the help of journalist Ella Alexander, Rhodes opens up for the first time to tell the story of her life through 50 objects – including the first piece of clothing she ever made (for her childhood doll), Karl Lagerfeld's fan, Andy Warhol's wig, a quilted caftan from the set of Absolutely Fabulous , and the Damehood medal she received in 2015.
A former model turned editor and stylist, Grace Coddington is the visionary behind some of the most fantastical, dreamlike and thought-provoking images to ever grace the pages of American Vogue , where she served as creative director-at-large. Coddington's memoir charts her equally remarkable life as a fashion insider – from her days as the muse for much of London's swinging '60s scene, to her move to New York and longtime partnership with Anna Wintour.
Books about design, theory and style
We all interact with clothes on a daily basis, but what is the hidden significance of the fabrics, styles, and silhouettes we wear? From gender politics to the desire to defy ageing, academic and broadcaster Shahidha Bari digs into philosophy, history, literature, art and film to unearth the deeper meaning woven into our clothes. In doing so, she pieces together a more complete picture of how we choose to express ourselves and navigate the world around us.
Net-A-Porter fashion director Kay Barron has compiled all the practical wisdom you will ever need for honing your sense of style. From jeans to jewellery, party-wear to pregnancy, How to Wear Everything is the ultimate guide to the art of getting dressed (and dressing well), whatever the occasion. Discover advice on footwear from Sarah Jessica Parker, occasionwear from celebrity stylist Law Roach, summer dressing from It-girl Sofia Richie Grainge, luxurious cashmere from Oprah Winfrey, and more.
If you're interested in bringing a particularly scholarly lens to the world of garments, trends, and glossy magazines, look no further than Roland Barthes' groundbreaking 1967 text, in which the French philosopher analyses the 'language' of fashion. Proving that style can be intellectual (and intellect can be stylish), The Fashion System is a rigorous yet rewarding read for anyone keen to take their love of fashion to a whole new level.
From the clean silhouette of Christian Dior's 'New Look', to the curated maximalism of Alessandro Michele's Gucci, consider this series, penned by The Times ' assistant fashion editor Hannah Rogers, your unofficial guide to mastering the style of the biggest heritage brands in fashion. Learn the styling secrets and inspiration you need to develop your own personal style and create runway-worthy looks with these practical and giftable volumes that you can come back to time and time again.
