Books on Fashion

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The fashion industry is one that has existed since time immemorial. Notably, the fashion industry is among industries that have always performed well despite myriad economic crises. The performance could be attributed, albeit partly, to the numerous amounts of fashion literature currently available in fashion institutions, bookstores, and educational facilities.

To have a glimpse at the future of fashion, it is advisable to read books on the history of fashion. An example of a book on the history of fashion is Champagne Supernovas by Maureen Callahan. Reading this book guarantees the readers a substantial gauge of the fashions in the 1990s. The book uses the late 20th century fashion icons, such as Kate Moss, Marc Jacobs, and Alexander McQueen, to enlighten current fashion enthusiasts about the past of the industry. In the process, current fashion lovers are greatly inspired by the works and efforts of their predecessors.

The other book about history of fashion is The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris by Alicia Drake. The reader can travel back in time to the 1970s to have a nostalgic view of the fashion world. The book chronically discusses the fashion rivalry between the then-famous fashion designers, such as Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent. The author focuses on Paris, which is the capital of French fashion, bringing to the reader the past fashions at the center of French fashion culture.

The book Culture to Catwalk by Kristin Knox also does a splendid job of researching, tracing, and narrating to the reader the cross-culture practices in the fashion industry. The author especially compares western designs with designs from other parts of the world. For instance, a comparison is made between the traditional kimonos, exemplified by Diane von Furstenberg’s wrap dress, and Africa-inspired textiles, exemplified by des Garcon’s works. The book is the best for fashion lovers interested in combining fashion cultures, a practice that is commonplace in contemporary fashion.

The other recommendable book on fashion is Chanel: A Woman of Her Own by Axel Madsen. This book discusses the life of renowned French fashion guru, Gabrielle Chanel. Despite many instances of criticism for not addressing the French origins of Chanel with the expected energy, the book is quite captivating. Nevertheless, such criticism is expected from French fashion lovers who would like to read more about Chanel’s French origins and the role of the French fashion culture on Chanel’s successes as a fashion guru. Despite Chanel’s loss of touch with her French past, Madsen manages to develop quite a good profile of the fashion guru.

The book Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster by Dana Thomas chronologically discusses the development of the luxury segment of fashion. The book portrays the journalist credentials of the author who had served as a style writer for various newspapers (Washington Post) and journals before penning the novel. The author traces the history of luxury fashion from Louis Vuitton and Hermès through to the transformations of the late 20th century. These developments are then intricately linked to modern luxury.

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