Ashley Collects - Fashion Reads Part 1
Reading has always been one of my favorite past times, and I usually have tons of books shoved in storage containers, on shelves (or milk crates in this case ^_~), and stacked high in a corner of my room. It's gotten so bad that I have had to start sending home the books I've read with my mom when she visits, because I don't have enough room to store all of them at my house! Over the years, I've collected quite the collection of fashion related books that I love so much! In the above picture you can see my fashion book collection, along with some history books. :) I'm sure I've got more lying around other places, at home, or at the new house I'm moving into..lol These books further my education on fashion and different areas of the industry, give me inspiration and techniques, and help me to become a better future fashion professional! I wanted to share with you my fashion reads and where you can purchase them, so you can expand your knowledge as well! I've got books on fashion history, fashion illustration, styling and what to wear, global fashion, modern fashion, and so much more!
1. 100 Unforgettable Dresses by Hal Rubinstein (2011)
This book gives such great examples of beautiful, unforgettable dresses by iconic designers and the celebrities that wore them to make history. Along with gorgeous pictures of the gowns on the red carpet, in film and television, and on the
runway, Rubinstein also gives insight into how each gown was made- the inspiration, the construction, the secrets, the story of how these dresses came to be. Classic style icons are also examined like Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Cher, Sarah Jessica Parker, and more. Through research and interviews with some designers and
celebrities, this book holds fascinating gowns and the stories behind each one! This image shows a sample of some the gowns in the book.
From L-R, T-B:
Elizabeth Taylor in Helen Rose;
Princess Diana in Christina Stambolian;
Nicole Kidman in John Galliano for Dior;
Marilyn Monroe in William Travilla;
Halle Berry in Elie Saab;,
Jennifer Lopez in Donatella Versace.
Where to buy: Amazon ($24.68), Barnes & Noble ($24.68), Target ($23.79)
2. 100 Years of Fashion Illustration by Cally Blackman (2007)
This is one of my favorite fashion books that I own! I love fashion illustration and fashion history, and this combines the two! I actually even used this as a main reference for a school final project! ^^ This book takes a look at fashion illustration from 1900 all the way to 2005, and it's packed full of really inspirational images- over 400! It's really a perfect coffee table book! It gives insight into how fashion illustration has changed over the years, the predominate styles and mediums popular during each era, vintage ads, and illustrators throughout time. I love that it tells you the different mediums used, it gives me inspiration to
experiment with mediums I've never tried like gouache paints, color overlay paper, or linocut. Some examples are shown on the back cover.
L-R, T-B:
"Les Colchiques" by George Barbier, January 1914;
Marcel Vertès for Harper's Bazaar, June 1938;
Caroline Smith for The Queen, June 1965;
Jason Brooks for Chanel, 2004.
This book is amazing!! :)
Where to buy: Amazon ($30.28), Barnes & Noble ($30.28), Wal-Mart ($29.78)
3. Barbie: All Dolled Up: Celebrating 50 Years of Barbie by Jennie D'Amato (2009)
This one might be specific to Barbie lovers like me. ;) I also used this book for a weekly reading assignment during my internship! ^^ All Dolled Up is so visually stunning with brightly colored, collage style pages full of images of Barbie throughout history! This book was released for the 50th anniversary of Barbie, and it starts with Barbie's debut in 1959 and goes forward through her journey
until 2009. It's really the ultimate book for Barbie fans and collectors! There's so much information on Barbie dolls throughout time, creator Ruth Handler, Barbie merchandise, Barbie fashion designers, Barbie illustrations, inspiration,
construction, and more! I especially love the memorabilia replicas you can pull out like a small vintage catalog, a membership card, more! This image is from Barbie in the 1980s focusing on the influence of Madonna and the creation of Barbie and the Rockers!
Where to buy: Amazon ($21.38), Wal-Mart ($21.38), Barnes & Noble ($21.09)
4. Born-Again Vintage: 25 Ways to Deconstruct, Reinvent, and Recycle Your Wardrobe by Bridgett Artise and Jen Karetnick (2008)
This is a creative book that gives the reader projects to try out by taking vintage or thrift store finds, and recreating them into modern pieces when cut, mixed, and sewn with modern garments. The result is awesome, unique pieces for your wardrobe! The book starts with great images of the finished projects and descriptions, and then instructions in the back split into seasons and easy, intermediate, and experienced sewer categories. Information and helpful tips are given on vintage clothing and vintage/thrift shopping.
What's really nice is that at the end of the book, there is a reference to vintage stores by state, so you can find those unique
pieces for your project! Artise, a fashion designer, gives truly unexpected transformations.From the image to the left, you can see a project from the book that takes an a-line strapless dress and a button-front skirt transformed into a chic capelet, made popular in the 1950s, but now with a modern twist!
Where to buy: Amazon (bargain price!), Barnes & Noble ($9.99 - ebook)
5. Color Me Couture: Imagine, Create, and Sketch Your Own Fashion Designs by Gloria Collazo and Catherine Mong (2013)
This is like one of those adult coloring books, except with historical, couture fashion designs! It's awesome! :) The dresses range from the late 1800s to 1060, and then there's a range of contemporary gowns and shoes and hats as well. Examples of how the dress might be designed is given along with the date and season, materials the dress would be made of, inspiration and type of style, and a short description of the times and/or details of the garment. Not only can you learn about historical dress and fashion terms, but you can design your own dresses as if you were designing during those times! This book is so cool!
The back of the book shows an example of what you would see within the book. On one side you have an example of how the dress would typically be styled and designed, and then a blank garment of the same dress is given on the other side for your creativity to flow! :)
The image shown is the "Celebrate" Evening Dress from Spring 1927. The materials are sheer and feathers (for the example), and inspiration and style are Peggy Hoyt and American. The description tells us that this is the year Hollywood started the Academy Awards! So, this is a red carpet dress for a silent movie star actress. The dress shockingly low cut, has thin layers of sheer, and a feather trim! :)
Where to buy: Amazon ($6.89), Barnes & Noble ($12.48)
6. Creating A Successful Fashion Collection: Everything You Need to Develop a Great Line and Portfolio by Steven Faerm (2012)
This book is about to come in handy real quick for me lol since I'm graduating next week! :) Faerm's book is a great tool for near future fashion professionals! This book goes through so much, and is extremely helpful. Topics extensively covered with examples include creating your purpose and aims for your collection, defining your target market, building research, choosing fabric, design principles, merchandising planning, prototypes, styling, look books, final presentation, and so much more! It's such a detailed look into the industry, and will really help me with my
preparation and transition into the fashion industry as a professional. The image to the left shows the section in the book, "Final presentation and evaluation". Other sections include internships and interviews, web presence, departments within fashion like menswear and bridal wear, careers in fashion, and interviews with fashion designers and other fashion professionals! I really recommend this book to anyone wanting to go into the industry!
Where to buy: Amazon ($18.81), Barnes & Noble ($18.94), Wal-Mart ($18.81)
7. Fabric Remix: Repurpose & Redecorate with Simple Sewing & Easy Upholstery by Sandy Stone (2010)
So I'm not much of a sewer, but I would sure like to try these out! :) This book has a bunch of projects to make your home a bit more eclectic and fun with vintage, recycled, or everyday materials! Stone takes the reader through this whole creative process, starting with inspiration. She gives information and tips on scavenge shopping, estate sales, thrift shops, vintage shops, antique shops, and occasional sales. Next, useful raw materials are discussed, and Stone talks about the creative hidden potential in found furniture, obis, used clothing, vintage scarves, bed linens, and more
materials that you would never think of as a way to transform and decorate with! The projects are introduced with beautiful pictures like the Born-Again Vintage book with the specific instructions coming later in its own chapter. These instructions are all simple sewing projects, and include many diagram like pictures! Finally at the end, Stone lets you in on her self-taught techniques and must have tools. The image shown here is the zipper tapestry made entirely from any metal zippers you can find! All you do then is sew them together- super simple to get such a neat, unique tapestry!
Where to buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble ($14.82)
8. Fabric Science 10th Edition by J.J. Pizzuto, Allen C. Cohen, and Ingrid Johnson (2012)
This is actually the first of four textbooks I have kept in my collection from my soon to be ending college career. The textbooks were either only available to buy or, most of the time, I just decided that it would be useful to me/enjoyed it so I kept it! :) Being a textbook, it's much larger and unfortunately much more expensive, but Fabric Science has so much information on industry terms that a fashion professional will need to know and use quite frequently! I actually believe there is a newer edition out
now, but this is the one I have in my collection. The book is actually a three-ring binder and the pages, all 383, just snap right in. This book discusses all things textiles from terms, to fiber characteristics, textile dyeing, textile printing, fabric innovations, the textile industry, and so much more! This will have everything you need to know about the textile industry! The image shown discusses and gives examples of different types of fabric weaves. The images show a balanced twill weave, warp-face weave, filling-face weave, right-hand twill weave, and a right-hand twill weave on graph paper. Find the newer 11th edition here: Amazon ($115 new, $88.70 used).
Where to buy: Amazon ($98.35 new, $81.78 used), Barnes & Noble (98.35)
9. Fashion: A History from the 18th to the 20th Century from the Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institue by Akiko Fukai (2006)
This book is amazing. There's so much to look at and it's such a fashiongasm! lol :) The garments are a selection from the Kyoto Costume Institute in Kyoto, Japan, and like the title states are all extant garments from the late 1700s to the late 1990s. What I like about this book is that the pictures take the center stage. I love learning about the stories and historical times behind garments, but this book provides clear, large detailed pictures of the garments. Sometimes it's nice just to observe, appreciate, and adore the garments themselves. There are also fantastic close ups of some garments to show their detail- beautiful! Of course, the book gives small
information on the what influenced fashion at the time, designers and their lines, and innovations. Along with this names of designers, what the garment is, name of label if any, time period, and materials/details are provided, which is excellent for research purposes! This image from the book shows a robe à la française from c. 1760, and other French dresses from the 1760s.
Where to buy: Barnes & Noble (marketplace sellers), Amazon *there seems to be more than one volume, I need them all!! ^0^
10. Fashion Forward: A Guide to Fashion Forecasting 1st Edition by Chelsea Rousso (2012)
This is another textbook that I have had for a couple years since my Fashion Trend and Industry Analysis course, which was one of my favorites in my college career! :) This is a guide to forecasting, but it also provides some information on general fashion terminology, fashion history, fashion movements, and social and cultural influences on fashion. The rest of the book goes through the creative process of developing a forecast. Some topics include market and sales research, theme, color, textiles,
and presenting a forecast. It's very informational and another good tool to have in your repertoire as a fashion professional. The book provides many images and examples, including many modern fashion and celebrities, which is cool since I can relate more. :) This example from the book is from the chapter on developing and presenting a fashion forecast. The forecaster should describe the look on the forecast board, so a title must be created. This little section explains how to properly title a forecast board, and tips to make it stand out and be professional!
Where to buy: Barnes & Noble ($90), Amazon ($90 new, $65.44 used)
11. Fashion Now (Icons) by Taschen and editors Terry Jones and Susie Rushton (2008)
Taschen is a publishing company founded and located in Germany. They also published the #9 on this list! They have so many stunning books in a variety of areas, and there are more volumes of Fashion Now! This book introduces fashion designer icons in the industry from all over the world. It's a small book packed with interesting information, history, and stories! Throughout the book you have one side that tells the story of the designer- a little biography, how they started as a designer, what their known for, and their impact. Then the other side is a full page, beautiful photo of their work. It's really fun to flip through, and I have discovered so many designers from reading this!
You can also really draw inspiration
from this book, discover a designer to do more
research on, or perhaps find your new favorite designer!
Giorgio Armani is show here in the picture!
Do you own any of these books, if yes, which ones? What book do you find most intriguing and want to read? Who is your favorite designer? What is your favorite era in fashion? Let me know all your thoughts and comments in the comment section! ^^
Thanks for reading!
xoxo~ Ashley
