Ashley Collects - Fashion Reads Part 2
I'm back with more of my fashion book collection! I've got everything from coffee books, fashion history, how to prepare for, build, and improve your fashion career, and what to wear books! I will again include links on where to buy these books for yourself! So, sit back, relax, and enjoy some fashion reads! :)
1. Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style by DK (2012)
This book is a must have for fashion history lovers! It's a huge illustrated guide with so much information, timelines, great extant garments, infographics, and designers and fashion icons throughout time. What I love especially about this book, besides the fantastic infographics, is that it spans over 3,000 years, so it doesn't just focus on the 20th century. It goes all the way back to Ancient Egyptian times! It does focus more on Western fashion and its history, but it has to have some limits- it would be impossible to include fashion history from all over the world! lol It also looks so cool on your table! :)
Above is an exert from this book of a timeline or infographic on 1930s evening wear. It shows a wide range of popular styles throughout many years in the 1930s, and even shows a popular and very influential movie star from the time period! I love that it points out different style details of each dress! I have read and found out myself that DK doesn't always use the proper or actual terms for some historic clothing. For example, they don't inform the reader that those classic "princess-like" headdresses from medieval times are hennins (proper name), but instead just name them as "tall headdresses". This is not an academic book though, so it doesn't compare to actual fashion history textbooks! It is just a fun, beautifully presented read!
Where to buy: Amazon ($31.67), Barnes & Noble ($32.47), Target ($31.99)
2. Fashion Tribes: China by Kevin Tallon (2009)
As you know by now, I love learning about other cultures, especially Asian cultures that are so rich, old, and full of different, innovative fashion and trends! While this book doesn't give much information on the trends like where they come from, prominent designers, or why, it gives great visuals of everyday people wearing some incredible fashions! An introduction at the beginning gives a brief overview of the history of fashion tribes, the effects on street fashion since China's Open Door policy, and China's fashion tribes today. Also included are brief
overviews of the different tribes included in the book at the beginning of each chapter. Fallon's book gives you a glimpse into the trend-setting street fashion of China's youth population. Categorized by the tribes "Alternatives", "Iconics", "Hip Hop", "Fashionistas", and "Casuals", the pictures take center stage and give great inspiration! There are even closeup, detail pictures of accessories and graphics. This book shows the most cutting-edge, unique, modern fashions from Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. I feel that a lot of streetwear fashion books of Asia focus solely on Japan, so it's really cool that this is all about China! The picture to the left is a street photograph from this book. :)
Where to buy: Amazon ($21.95)
3. Figure Poses For Fashion Illustrators by Sha Tahmasebi (2011)
I have not had the chance to use this yet, but now that I'm out of school and have more time to create my own illustrations, I can't wait to use some of these figures! The book comes with a CD that has over 250 images of figures for you to use! I'm so excited!! haha :) The book includes many helpful tips and instructions on fashion illustrating with lots of images, examples, and exercises. First, it goes through how to properly draw a fashion figure and its terminology, and then it goes into the figures for different dress categories. Next, how to professionally draw specific garments and details, and finally different fabrics and embellishments from different medias.
The categories are numerous and include: Sportswear, Business, Outerwear, Eveningwear, and more! It's really packed full of useful information and instruction! The picture above shows an exert from the book of figures from Sportswear. Under the figures are explanations of the poses, tips on drawing these poses, and when they would be useful for the clothing you are drawing. At the side, an example of a pose is shown in completion, and briefly explains the medium and fabrics used. I love this book!!! ^0^
Where to buy: Amazon ($19.14), Barnes & Noble ($19.29)
4. Icons of Fashion: The 20th Century (2nd Ed.) by Gerda Buxbaum (2006)
This is a fantastic overview of 20th century fashion and designers. It looks great as a coffee table book, but also provide lots of interesting information on trends and styles, designers, models, and garments from 1900 to 2000. The vast of amount of images are stunning, and the book is set up in a timeline format according to different styles and designers. I love that there are images from everywhere in the fashion world- runways, illustrations, vintage ads, fashion photographers, photo shoots, movie stills, museums, and more! On the pages dedicated to influential designers, there is history and background information on the designers, and a brief timeline of their beginnings and career.
There's so many years of prominent trends, styles, and designers, but some of the categories discussed in this book are Orientalism, Paul Poiret, CoCo Chanel, the rise of Sportswear, Ready-To-Wear, Christian Dior, Haute Couture, Space Age, Yves Saint Laurent, Military style, Kenzo, Disco, Punk, Donna Karan, Moschino, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Grunge, Fairy-Tale Couture, Prada, Hip-Hop, John Galliano, and more! The picture to the left is the 1960s "Pop Art Fashion" section from this book. Discussed in these paragraphs are the history of Pop Art fashion, where it came from, prominent influences like Andy Warhol, designers who created Pop Art fashions, and the rediscovery of Pop Art fashion in later decades.
Where to Buy: Amazon ($16.05), Barnes & Noble ($16.16), Target ($16.95)
5. La mode au fil de l'histoire présentée par Barbie et Ken by Claude Barbant (2011)
Combining my two loves of fashion history and Barbie, I received this book as a gift from my internship director and professor (Thank you Dr. B.!!) at the end of my internship in my school's historic costume collection. :) This French book is so fascinating as it goes through prominent styles in fashion history by using Barbie in recreated historic dress! At first it's a bit funny with Barbie and Ken dressed as Adam and Eve and prehistoric cavemen, but then it goes to Ancient Egypt and moves its way up 2000. Barbie and Ken are transformed into historic figures such as Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Empress Josephine and Empeor Napoleon Bonaparte, Brigitte Bardot, Princess Diana, and more.
Barbie and Ken are also put in prominent styles of different decades like medieval dress, Directoire Period, Belle Epoque Period, Paul Poiret designs, CoCo Chanel designs, Dior's New Look, Paco Rabanne designs, and more. I love that many decades include Barbie in a wedding dress of the times! I also really love that this book includes paintings and photographs of real historic fashion and people to see where Barbie and Ken's dress comes from! This book is all in French and focuses on different style periods in France, so for example there is a section on the Second Republic, which would be 1848-1852. However, even if you don't read or speak French the pictures are so much fun to go through, and most of the titles are can be understood easily. :) This pictures shows the back cover where Barbie and Ken (large picture) are dressed as Louis XV and Marie Leszczynska from c. 1740.
Where to buy: I can't find any sites to buy this book :( I know my professor purchased my copy from the Palace of Versailles, but I can't find it on their boutique website. However, feel free to browse Versaille's boutique here! ^^
6. Lauren Conrad Style by Lauren Conrad (2012)
Many of you might remember Lauren Conrad from the mid-2000s MTV reality show "The Hills", but since the series ended in 2010, Conrad has become a force in the fashion industry. She has released many books related to fashion, lifestyle, and fictional stories! This book is all about creating a professional, classy, fashionable wardrobe and staying fashionable in everyday life. It's a style guide to create your own look and find inspiration based around Conrad's classic style. I love that Conrad includes pictures of herself for outfit inspiration! She gives so many tips on many areas of fashion for the everyday woman in daily life.
Chapters are split into the sections "Fashion", "Beauty", and "Lifestyle", and include building your wardrobe, how to shop, accessories, makeup, hair, work and school, travel, and events and parties. She gives advice on key pieces and must haves for every woman's wardrobe, how to style, fit, organization, tailoring, money saving tips, mixing prints, how to easily go from day to night, and so much more helpful everyday secrets and tips! This is a really fun and relatable read! The picture above shows a couple examples of Conrad's special event outfits. She explains what is appropriate and fashionable to wear to cocktail parties, weddings, and proms. She also helps you decode the invitation of casual, smart or business casual, cocktail, black-tie optional, and black-tie so you always know what to wear!
Where to buy: Amazon ($7.48), Barnes & Noble ($9.02), Target ($12.99)
7. New Orleans Style by Andi Eaton (2014)
New Orleans is such a fantastic, distinct, and exciting city full of history and a variety of unique fashion! I picked this up while on vacation in New Orleans, and I didn't realize it contained so much information on the fashion history of New Orleans! It not only focuses on modern fashion, but gives a brief history of the start of New Orleans and goes all the way back (briefly) to the 1700s! I love that this just isn't a coffee book, and includes so much information on both general history and fashion history. The images though are amazing as there are
paintings, photographs, fashion illustrations, advertisements, street photographs, festivals, and more included (and of everything- the city, people, and fashion!). I just love that it includes not only fashion, but also so much about New Orleans' culture and history! This picture shows a woman at a jazz festival in a feathered top hat, and the text discusses the jazz festivals of New Orleans' Congo Square starting in the 1970s.
Where to buy: Amazon ($15.70)
8. Sewing for the Apparel Industry (1st Ed.) by Claire Shaeffer (2001)
Here is another textbook from my college courses. This textbook is so helpful for sewers, especially inexperienced ones like myself! The book goes through so much, and gives steps and images to help you become more efficient in sewing. Topics covered include different industrial machines, how to set up and use a basic home sewing machine, how to create basic stitches and seams, hems, darts, facings, seam and hem finishes, assembling a garment, cuffs, sleeves, zippers, collars, pockets, and more. Since this is a textbook, it is going to go so much more in detail on each operation and give great explanations. The step by step processes are really
helpful! If I was more into sewing and wanted to learn I would definitely utilize this book more often. lol It's a great item to keep in my collection though for reference and for times when I may be sewing in the future. :) The image shows part of a step by step process for creating a piped buttonhole. This type of buttonhole is the most frequently used and easiest to sew!
Where to buy: (I can only find the 2nd Ed.) Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Chegg
9. Street View: The New Nylon Book of Global Style by Nylon Magazine (2010)
I love this book! The presentation of this book is so cool and funky! This is more of a straight coffee book, so information is limited, and the pictures are the focus. It's great to look through and pull inspiration from in both designs and for your own outfits! The contents are split into the different cities discussed. The cities are New York, Barcelona, London, Montreal, Stockholm, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. Many fashion professionals, designers, and general fashion lovers are now turning to street fashion as inspiration and influence, so this book contains all street photographs of everyday people with a great sense of style! At the beginning of each section, the city is briefly discussed with a focus on the feel, history, and prominent fashions. I love that this has such a variety of
cities and fashion from all over the world from Western countries to Eastern countries! I also love that each picture has the individual's name, occupation, what they are wearing (brands), and questions like "Why are you wearing this?", "What do you love about this city?", "Who is your style icon", and more. This makes it so much fun to read! :)
Where to buy: Amazon ($18.93), Barnes & Noble ($19.08)
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...now go relax and read a good book! ;)
*currently listening to "30Sexy" by Rain
xoxo~ Ashley
