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Reading lists

Must-read books about fashion

From the memoirs of industry insiders to sustainable style guides, we've rounded up some of the best books about the fashion world.

Rachel Deeley

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

Books about sustainable fashion

Fashion biographies

Fashion memoirs

Books about design, theory and style

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.

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