Top Ten Fashion Books for Fashion Students to read.

As you all are aware I am a fashion student, and also previously a girl who searched high and low in endless book stores and websites to find the perfect fashion book to read. One that would allow me to indulge in my obsessions of new upcoming trends, how garments should be worn and well, what others were wearing I guess. Therefore, whilst writing my blog I thought it would be a great opportunity to share with you readers, some of the interesting and awe-inspiring fashion books I have come across or read myself over the past year. I mainly wanted to do this post as it is something this time last year before commencing my study in Fashion Communication and Promotion that I was wishful to come across. The books I have chosen are not textbooks but ones that still offer a lot of insight into the world of fashion, whether they be humorous short stories about the lives of stylists, general guides to fashion do's and don'ts or the biographies of legendary icons we all desire to one day be. These books are perfect for casual reading in your spare time whether you're a fashion student or not! Especially if you're looking for a light hearted escape from the pressure of university work but still something that will fill you with knowledge of the fashion industry without you realising. Just take a look at my list below, the books are not for everyone but they are ones I would definitely recommend as starters!
Top Ten Books!

1) Man Repeller. Obviously as readers you will know my obsession with this book. Not only did it make me realise a lot about fashion but it also made me realise that you do not have to wear what everyone else is wearing to be the most confident person ever. This book is top of the list and is a must have!! (Here is the link to my full book review about Man Repeller ..... http://katefergvson.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/man-repeller-leandra-medine-book-review.html)

2) IT Alexa Chung- So we all wanted to be Alexa Chung at one point, we would be lying to ourselves if we said no. And if we didn't, we at least wanted a boyfriend that had some similarities to the rugged haired rock star Alex Turner from the Artic Monkeys in 2008 to embody that statement power couple charisma they had. This book was a present I received for Christmas a few years ago and since reading it, it has made me so much more aware of many fashionable moments in films and the starlets who first brought certain trends to our screens and into our wardrobes. What I also liked about the book was that Chung recaps the events or influences that have characterised her style today in an informal manner. She includes the styles of individuals such as Kate Moss, her best friend Misty Fox and even Wednesday Addams to share her eclectic fashion taste with those reading.

3)Vivienne Westwood by Vivienne Westwood and Ian Kelly
So this book is a little different to the first two in my opinion and I'm not just speaking in terms of the length it takes to read. Although both books are still autobiographical, this personal memoir (and only memoir) is written from the perspective of one of the greatest English fashion designers in the world to date. The autobiography which is also biographical because Westwood collaborated with Ian Kelly to write it, reflects on the events and individuals that have influenced her as a person today and the ideas that have shaped her modern punk inspired worldwide fashion brand. The brand has been going for the past fifty years and to me, just keeps getting better and better so if you're a fan of Westwood like me, I would recommend reading this book. It takes a very long time but Westwood has so many experiences to share that it is worth the read.

4) Garance Doré -Love x Style x Life
For those of you don't already know, Garance Doré is a French professional fashion blogger, photographer and illustrator. Her work has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, New York Magazine, Vogue US, British Vogue, The Guardian, Elle Magazine and she has also illustrated for the likes of Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton and Dior. To me, Garance Doré is such an inspiring fashion icon because her blog, started ten years ago at the age of 30, has transformed into one of the most read self-written style publications on the internet. Although her book has just came out and I have not had a chance to get myself a copy yet, 'Love X Style X Life' is about the good moments and the bad moments she has experienced in the fashion industry and her life in general. She also includes sections in her book devoted to various carefully chosen women such as Diana Von Furstenburg who she admires a lot.

" Ah, fashion! Street fashion, runway fashion, questions about fashion, celebrations of fashion, exclamation points of fashion… I’ll take them all!

I love fashion because it’s one of the best ways to communicate and that its nature is the passing of time – which I find incredibly romantic. No need to give you a link here, fashion is ever-present everywhere on my blog."- Garance Doré

5) 100 Ideas that changed Street Style by John Sims
This book is a must have, especially if you are interested in different kinds of style tribes and street trends. From New Romantic to Geek Chic, this book offers a cultural context behind each of the included street styles and why they are so iconic still today. It is also really helpful if your studying current trends as many of the styles within this book are ones that designers have embraced throughout their collections over the past decade and are quite frequently recycled or altered to fit the fashion of the 21st century.

6) 'How to be Parisian Wherever you are' by Sophie Mas, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret and Anna Berest
So this book had been one that I had wanted to purchase for a long time and I finally got round to it last week! The book is written from the perspective of four French successful women who offer a culture perspective on what it takes to be a true Parisian, whether you are actually from the origin or not. It is not primarily a biographic style book like many I have already mentioned but a book filled with life guides in the form of an essay on how to 'deal with men troubles', 'host an unforgettable dinner party' and even how to interior the rooms in your house to fit this French aspirational identity. In one chapter the stylish foursome even share with their readers the most famous Parisians who were not actually from Paris or from France for that matter.

Also whilst on the topic of fashion books and Paris for any of you who plans to read or has read Man Repeller, this book would have been perfect for Leandre Medine during her study in Paris as she tries to wear the attitude and style of a Parisian during her teens.

7) Not that Kind of Girl- Lena Dunhan
This book isn't completely fashion related but is an autobiographical novel written by Len Dunham sharing the life lessons she has learnt while growing up and the bizarre things she has come across. The memoir is an archive of essays, emails and lists personally written or received by Dunham and offers a hilarious take on the subjects included in them. Dunham exposes more than expected with her ruthlessness and lack of verbal filter to create a sub culture for young woman who also categorise themselves as not being your typical kind of girl.

8) #GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso
The #GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso is another autobiography that recollects the moments that pushed Amoruso to ditch her day time receptionist job in an art school and become the CEO of the American E-Commerce retailer, Nasty Gal. Little did she know at the time, that nine years later her company would go on to become one of the fastest growing online fashion retailers ever, with approximately 550,000 customers in 60 different countries and would be worth roughly $180 million.
This book is great for those who are a fan of attitudinal fashion and are confident with their style, hence its growing popularity since its inception in 2014.

http://www.girlboss.com/

9) Icons of Fashion
So this was actually a book that was set as a core textbook on my degree course in university and I have found it really useful since I bought it! The book presents the evolution of fashion or the term 'second skin' as the authors of the book would suggest. It includes every designer in the 20th century who made a name for themselves and the patterns, trends and colours that designers such as Paul Poiret, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent were inspired by during the creation of their garments.

10) Fashion: The Ultimate book of Costume and Style
This book is titled the 'ultimate' book for fashion for the main reason that it includes every single trend ever created. Dating all the way back to the Ancient World in 600CE, the book travels through time in each chapter to explore fashions from the revolutionary 1700's, the jazz age of the 1920s then to the contemporary fashion statements of present day. And that's just three examples, there are ten chapters written to fill your mind with all different silhouettes, garments, accessories and shoes that have ever existed in the history of fashion.

Just a little something extra for those going down the route of communications, marketing, management, merchandising or buying. The textbook 'Marketing Fashion: Strategy, Branding and Promotion by Harriet Posner is definitely worth purchasing for your studies as it offers insight into all aspects of marketing for fashion such as the Marketing Mix, SWOT and PEST analysis, (these are a few key acronyms you will come across during your fashion degree) and plenty more elements of both high end and high street fashion.

Fashion Magazines
I also thought I would suggest a few top fashion magazines that are definitely worth a read, especially if your planning on studying fashion. These magazines include articles about fashion, culture, lifestyle, art, photography, music and film and are ones that have influenced or inspired me in some way or have helped me with my current studies. They are in no particular order however, I would say that Dazed and Confused and Tank were my favourite magazines as they are the most culturally diverse in my opinion and offer an alternative outlook onto the fashion industry.