The Best Fashion Books Worth Adding to Your List

Recognised as one of the most influential designers, this book invites you to rethink fashion. You learn about Rei Kawakubo's process and vision with insightful quotes and interviews. From her collections, exhibitions, and MET Gala, all is explained. You really get to understand her art, vision, outlook, and who she is as a person; she is a great visionary and a feminist. It is an educational and enticing read for anyone interested in learning more about Rei Kawakubo and her art. Image: Amazon

It is an informative coffee table book that explores Chanel's evolution of trademark designs through the years. The book is divided into six iconic sections: the suit, perfume, jewellery, makeup, the little black dress, and the camellia. It includes lots of images, original drawings and would look great displayed on your coffee table! Image: Amazon

One of the most imaginative and influential designers, Alexander McQueen, has constantly challenged fashion conventions. His work is born out of his own passions; it's personal, he's everything an artist should be, innovative and talented. Savage Beauty contains his entire history as well as his designs and collections. The book features iconic designs, specialised techniques, technological innovation, runway presentations, installations, interviews, and quotes by the designer himself. Image: Amazon

Iris Apfel conveys her own journey; her wonderful escapades as a young girl, a fashion journalist, an interior designer, and as an "accidental icon," complete with brilliant photography and graphic design, befitting this "geriatric starlet" and her passion for design, fashion and all the essential accessories that she wears with such style. She had a great sense of humour and style. The book makes for a fun and inspirational read. Image: Amazon

The acclaimed journalist Dana Thomas tells the true story of McQueen and Galliano in her revolutionary work Gods and Kings. In doing so, in the last two decades, she has revealed the revolution in high fashion and the price it demanded from the very people who saved it. It is a well-documented book with lots of information and a few images; containing testimonies of close relatives and detailed descriptions of the designers' designs on the runways. It begins with their births and ends with McQueen's death and Galliano's fall. Image: Amazon

Sophia Amoruso, CEO and founder of Nasty Gal, went from committing petty theft, scrounging in dumpsters for food, to owning a 250 million dollar fashion retail company. She has written this book for girls like her; on how to carve a unique path to success and how being successful has nothing to do with what college you went to or how popular you were. The book is inspirational, witty, funny, candid, and bold, and she tells it like it is. It's a quick and exciting read. Image: Amazon

The book takes you through the history of fashion, clothing by clothing. It's full of classic Tim lines like, "At malls, I am tempted to set up the fashion equivalent of a guns-for-cash or needle exchange booth and call through a bullhorn:' Throw your cargo capris into the flaming trash can, step behind the screen and claim your wrap dress!' I would find it very cathartic...albeit very hot beside the pyre given the ubiquity of the look" There are also tips to grow your wardrobe and personal style. It's a very informative and enjoyable read and something you should definitely have in your collection. Image: Amazon

Valerie Steele, Yale Ph.D., gives a detailed and informative insight into the history of corsets and their influence from the Middle Ages to the modern ages. A particularly interesting chapter is on the medical implications of wearing a corset. Overall it provides an intriguing view of attitudes over the centuries towards corsetry. If you're interested in learning the history of the most controversial garment in fashion, this serves to be a thought-provoking read. Image: Amazon

Cline strives to unearth the true identity of the cheap fashion behemoth, tracing the surge of budget apparel stores, the death of middle-market and self-reliant retailers, and the origins of our unhealthy obsessions with steals and deals. She travels to low-cost Chinese factories and follows the industry as they pursue even lower costs in Bangladesh and analyses the impact. The book is eye-opening and thought-provoking with regards to fast fashion. It tells you how to be a responsible buyer and the truth behind cheap fashion. Image: Amazon

This is a very practical book containing all sorts of technical information such as styles, materials, and technical terms to use with pictures and infographics. It is a must-have for fashion students as it contains a lot of helpful information. It is the ultimate fashion bible that would prove to be very helpful. It is mainly educational and an easy read. Image: Amazon

Author and fashion insider Simon Doonan provides an insight into the crazy fashion industry through a hilarious collection of essays. He does write about certain vital topics, such as fashion body image and some terribly sad issues, such as the toll of AIDS, which occurred during the 80s, but the book's general tone is poignant. His writing is witty, and as he shares some true stories, he comes off as incredibly likable. Image: Amazon

As the title suggests, it's a light-hearted book about her life and style but it is also a lot more than that. It's about feeling like a real confident woman, about loving yourself and your personal style. Including short interviews, she conducted with women that inspired her and some stunning illustrations done by Dore. In her own words, "Let me take you on a journey to the essence of style, from the outside (How to wear a jean jacket?) to the deepest parts (How to love someone?), I've learned that real style comes down to one question: What makes a person beautiful?" It is an excellent read leaving you feeling confident and beautiful. Image: Amazon