New reading material: Fashion books for the 2023 wish list

Every year a slew of great fashion books come out. Whether it be
biographies, a deep dive into an aspect of the industry or an overview of a
fashion house – there is plenty to choose from. In case your wish list for
the holidays is still very empty, or you are simply looking for a book to
give to yourself as a gift, FashionUnited has collected some of the latest
or upcoming publications to possibly add to the list.

Dior by Raf Simons

Although Raf Simons has not been designing for Dior for quite some time,
his designs for the French fashion house remain iconic. As an ode to his
time at Dior, the book ‘Dior by Raf Simons’ was published in early 2023. It
is part of a series in which Dior highlights the fashion house’s various
creative directors.

Dior by Raf Simons, Author: Tim Blanks, Publisher: Assouline, Price:
220 dollars/165 pounds

Pharrell: Carbon, Pressure and Time: A Book of Jewels

Before becoming the lead designer for Louis Vuitton Menswear, Pharrell
Williams paved his way in the world of fashion via iconic jewellery
collaborations with some of the industry’s most notable houses. Next to
details on a selection of Williams’ own designs, the book also goes into
how the world of jewellery and hip hop intertwine and the history behind
their symbiotic relationship.

Pharrell: Carbon, Pressure and Time, Author: Pharrell Williams,
Publisher: Rizzoli, Price: 65 dollars/50 pounds

No Finish Line

Nike has an ambitious goal with its No Finish Line book. The sports
brand is aiming to “inspire the next generation of athletes to create a
better world through design and sport”. It therefore zooms in on research,
technology and production.

No Finish Line, Publisher: Actual Source, Price: 30 dollars/22
pounds

Fluid

Designer Harris Reed challenges the traditional boundaries of ‘masculine’
and ‘feminine’ with his designs. This book explores the historical context
of ‘fluid’ and power structures and, more importantly, encourages people to
find their authentic selves in fashion. The book is complemented by
photography and sketches.

Fluid, Author: Harris Reed, Publisher: Abrams, Release Date: January
16, 2024, Price: 45 dollars/35 pounds

More Rick Owens

‘More Rick Owens’ picks up where the previous book, released in 2019, left
off, covering three decades of Owens’ work, documented by the designer’s
continued collaborator, photographer Danielle Levitt.

More Rick Owens, Author: Rick Owens, Publisher: Rizzoli, Price: 65
dollars/50 pounds

Fashion Before Plus-Size

Not only is the beautiful cover a reason to put this book on your wish
list, it is also a good account of how the fashion industry deals with
various sizes. From when the term ‘plus-size’ was coined and what
developments all preceded this to what is the current state of the
plus-size industry, the book covers a wide spectrum of this category.

Fashion Before Plus-Size, Author: Lauren Downing Peters, Publisher:
Bloomsbury Publishing, Price: 115 dollars/85 dollars

Women Dressing Women: A Lineage of Female Fashion Design

Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, this book falls alongside
the institute’s upcoming exhibition of the same name, through which it will
explore the legacy of women designers via the work of those that led the
way. The book itself comes as a supplement to the showcase, featuring
essays that touch on women’s impact in the field of fashion, highlighting
both celebrated designers and those forgotten to history.

Women Dressing Women: A Lineage of Female Fashion Design, Author:
Mellissa Huber and Karen van Godtsenhoven, Publisher: The Metropolitan
Museum of Art, Release Date: December 5, 2023, Price: 50 dollars/35
pounds

Carolina Herrera: Colormania – Colour and Fashion

Colormania provides an in depth look at the world of American luxury
brand Carolina Herrara, captured through the eyes of photographer Elizaveta
Porodina, who collaborated with creative director Wes Gordon on a series of
imagery that aims to memorialise the house’s evolving collections.

Carolina Herrera: Colormania, Author: Wes Gordon and Edward
Enninful, Publisher: Rizzoli, Price: 85 dollars/80 pounds

Burberry

A book about British fashion house Burberry is called… exactly,
‘Burberry’. The book sets out the fashion house’s 165-year history with
illustrations, photographs and information from its archives.

Burberry, Author: Alexander Fury, Publisher: Assouline, Price: 195
dollars/150 pounds

The Intersection of Fashion and Disability: A Historical Analysis

The Intersection of Fashion and Disability looks to give insight into an
area of fashion that is often overlooked, the presence of disability within
the industry. Through the perspectives of historical figures, events and
movements, the publication details how the world adapted from the
concealment of such bodies to the growing awareness of inclusive fashion
today.

The Intersection of Fashion and Disability, Author: Kate
Annett-Hitchcock, Publisher: Bloomsbury, Price: 30 dollars/20
pounds

Kate Spade New York: It’s So You: The Joy of Personal Style

Unlike others in this list, Kate Spade New York’s book acts as more of a
self-help guide, teaching readers how to approach personal style and build
a wardrobe. Described as a “visual” biography, the contents of the book
provides a deep dive into the world of styling through conversations, hacks
and tips.

Kate Spade New York: It’s So You, Author: Kate Spade New York,
Publisher: Abrams, Release Date: November 14, 2023, Price: 35 dollars/23
pounds

Thom Browne

This is the first book to feature designer Thom Browne. The brand is
celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and is celebrating its own
heritage through the book. Photographer Johnny Dufort was specially hired
to capture over 200 looks from previous seasons.

Thom Browne, Author: Thom Browne, Publisher: Phaidon Press, Price:
150 dollars/125 pounds

I Care a Lotta, I Wear Collina Strada

Founded in New York by Hillary Teymour, Collina Strada has come leaps
and bounds since its birth, the journey of which has now been archived in a
book that is as equally chaotic as the label itself. Following a
chronological format of the brand’s own timeline, I Care a Lotta, I Wear
Collina Strada touches on each collection from AW19 onwards and further
elaborates on the brand’s own sustainability values, of which it has become
known for.

I Care a Lotta, I Wear Collina Strada, Author: Collina Strada and
Charlie Engman, Publisher: Rizzoli, Price: 60 dollars/50 pounds

CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion

While Carolyn Bessette Kennedy may have passed away nearly 25 years ago,
her impact on fashion has lived on. It is exactly that which has been
covered in the upcoming book CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, where the
legacy of the 90’s fashion icon is explored through photography and design.

CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, Author: Sunita Nair, Publisher:
Abrams, Release Date: November 30, 2023, Price: 65 dollars/50
pounds

Forever Valentino

The upcoming book Forever Valentino celebrates the 30 year anniversary
of the iconic Italian fashion house, while accompanying the brand’s
landmark exhibition in Doha, Qatar. Among the pages are imagery and details
of over 150 Valentino collections, sitting alongside displays from the
exhibition and sketches of the designs.

Forever Valentino, Author: Alexander Fury, Publisher: Silvana
Editoriale, Release Date: December 19, 2023, Price: 85 dollars/73
pounds

This list has been compiled by Caitlyn Terra and Rachel
Douglass.