50 Books Every Fashionista Needs to Read

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Beatrice Own, the webmaster behind www.bachelorofscience.com, has compiled an ingenious list of  the Top 50 Books Every Fashionista Should Read, besides your staple of Vogue that is.

Whether you were a fashionista long before the term made its way into mainstream chatter or you’re the new gal on the block looking to learn about the history and art of fashion, brushing up on facts can always do some good. Learn what fashion was in the ‘40s and ‘50s, the downfall of haute couture, what Posh Spice has to say on the subject and how to make office duds spectacular with the reads on our list of 50 books every fashionista needs to read.

Fashion History Books

Fashion history books are packed with information you may not know about a designer and explain the evolution of a brand.

1. The Yves Saint Laurent-Pierre Berge Collection: The Sale of the Century – Christiane de Nicolay-Mazery. A remarkable look at the spectacular collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge. There’s no other way to view their collection and this book has closing auction prices for the 2009 sale.

2. The World of Coco Chanel: Friends, Fashion, Fame – Edmonde Charles-Roux. The story of Coco Chanel’s rise to fame, including what inspired her and how her life took a turn nearly every time she fell in love.

3. Pierre Cardin: 60 Years of Innovation – Jean-Pascal Hesse. The great Pierre Cardin’s career is chronicled in this book that talks about the rise of the brand that reigned for decades.

4. Balenciaga – Marie-Andre Jouve . This fantastic hardback book showcases the history of the house of Balenciaga, from the voluminous pieces of the 1950s to the flawless structured separates of the 2000s.

5. Yohji Yamamoto – Francois Baudot . A peek at the world of Yamamoto, the avant garde Japanese designers who is still going strong with his namesake collection and diffusion lines like Y-3.

6. Poiret – Francois Baudot Poiret was truly the first fashion designer (in the modern idea of the word) and isn’t discussed, even in hardcore fashion circles. Learn more about the designer from the ‘20s

7. Chanel – Jean Leymarie. This book covers the history of Chanel’s life and the evolution of the fashion house after her death

8. D.V. – Diana Vreeland .The late Vogue and Bazaar fashion editor lived life on her own terms. This is the biography that tells her story of a life lived in the world of fashion

9. Alaia – Francois Baudot .A look at the designer that defined the 1990s and remains one of the favorite fashion houses of the “supers” like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.

10. Diane von Furstenberg – Andre Leon Talley . The Vogue editor carves out the life of the great DVF and the pivotal role she’s played in modern fashion.

11. American Fashion Designers at Home – Rima Suqi.A look at major fashion designers at home. This book proves that great style transcends clothing and usually makes its way to the living room and kitchen of true artists.

12. Front Row: Anna Wintour: What Lies Beneath the Chic Exterior of Vogue’s Editor in Chief – Jerry Oppenheimer.

13. Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky – Chris Greenhalgh.This novel covers the affair between the designer that would go down in history and Stravinky, a Russian composer. It is a fictional account of a very real (though brief) love affair.

14. Yves Saint Laurent by Florence Muller. This is an amazing read that is part history lesson, part fabulous coffee table book. YSL started working under Dior in his early 20s and this book follows his career until his retirement.

15. Karl Lagerfeld: Chanel’s Russian Connection by Karl Lagerfeld. This book chronicles Lagerfeld’s fascination with ‘20s and ‘30s Russia, which was used as inspiration for the 2008 Chanel collection.

Fashion Books by Celebrities or Fashion Personalities

These days celebrities and fashion are synonymous. Here are the books penned by celebs or fashion personalities who are willing to share their insider style tips with you.

16. Style A to Zoe – Rachel Zoe.The celebrity stylist shows you how to bring glamour into your every day life, whether you’re dressing for the office or jetting to a beach locale.

17. A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style – Tim Gunn. Tim Gunn has become one of the most trusted names when it comes to dressing the masses. In this book he shows you how to go from trendy to trendsetter.

18. What You Wear Can Change Your Life – Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine. The original What Not to Wear pair motivate you to take that five extra minutes and make yourself presentable with your own style and personality in mind.

19. That Extra Half Inch – Victoria Beckham. The queen of fashion lets us in on her fashion tips and dressing for every day. You’ll appreciate Beckham’s tone, which makes the book read as if you’re chatting with your favorite gal pal.

20. The One Hundred – Nina Garcia Marie Claire editor Nina Garcia tells us the 100 items every woman should own and why.

21. Influence – Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.Everyone’s favorite billionaire twins penned this book about the influential characters in their lives. Interviews with Diane Von Furstenburg and other designers are included.

22. Style – Kate Spade. A cute book with concise style tidbits that will help you edit your wardrobe and accessories so they work for your lifestyle.

23. The Little Black Book of Style – Nina Garcia. Nina Garcia gives you the essential dressing tips that will help you get through life in style.

24. American Style – Kelly Killoren-Bensimon .The former model and wife of the great Giles Bensimon, wraps up American fashion and style into this fabulous hardcover book that even those out of the fashion loop will enjoy.

25. Olivier Theyskens The Other Side of The Picture – Sally Singer. The former Vogue editor covers the career of Olivier Theyskens, the wonder kid that took the fashion world by storm and has worked at Rochas and Nina Ricci.

26. Lauren Conrad Style – Lauren Conrad.This is a go-to for teen fashionistas. The reality star shares her tips for wearable, approachable style that can be had on a budget.

27. Fierce Style: How to be Your Most Fabulous Self – Christian Siriano. It’s the gay cheerleader every woman needs, only in book form. Designer Christian Siriano walks you through becoming fierce with fashion.

28. The Style Strategy – Nina Garcia . Fashion editor Nina Garcia directs women in the right direction to make their fashion picks become reflections of personal style.

29. Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide To Finding the Style That’s Right for Your Body – Clinton Kelly and Stacy London.. The duo from What Not to Wear show you how to dress for your body, whether you’re at the office or a cocktail party.

30. The Sartorialist – Scott Schuman. Schuman is definitely a fashion star for Internet dwellers. His photos on his blog are now compiled into one nifty book which shows that style has a leg up on fashion any day of the week.

Books to Learn the Basics of Style and Fashion

While the most adventurous among us believe there’s no such thing as fashion “rules,” those living in the real world may benefit from these fashion books with tips on how to dress for any occasion.

31. Things a Woman Should Know About Style – Karen Homer. These rules are written for the mid-century woman, but some of them still ring true today.

32. The Gospel According to Coco Chanel: Life Lessons from the World’s Most Elegant Woman – Karen Karbo. This book offers style and life lessons from the free-spirited designer that took women out of corsets and into LBDs.

33. Brenda’s Wardrobe Companion – Brenda Kinsel. If you’re looking to start your style makeover from scratch, this is your book. Kinsel takes a psychological approach to dressing that will have you loving your wardrobe from the inside out.

34. Does This Make Me Look Fat? – Leah Feldon. Avoid looking heavier by sticking to classic pieces that work for your figure and don’t add bulk. This book shows you the way.

35. The Lucky Shopping Manual – Kim France and Andrea Linett. The editors of Lucky magazine bring you the ultimate shopping manual to curb reckless spending and show you how to spend on items you’ll actually use.

36. Harper’s Bazaar Fashion: Your Guide to Personal Style – Lisa Armstrong.Bazaar is one magazine that preaches both fashion and personal style. Find out how to marry the two for an outlook on fashion that will always reflect your feelings for an occasion.

37. Oh No She Didn’t: The Top 100 Style Mistakes Women Make and How to Avoid Them – Clinton Kelly. If you aren’t sure what’s right and wrong, you may want to check out this book that will help you avoid fashion faux pas large and small. When in doubt, consult a three-way mirror, a friend who won’t lie or your mother.

38. Dressing in the Dark – Marion Maneker .For the fashionista that wants to add a little something extra to the fashion lives of the men in her life, this book takes male fashion tips from film and implements them for every day life.

39. The Classic Ten: The True Story of the Little Black Dress and Nine Other Fashion Favorites – Nancy MacDonell Smith. Here’s the scoop on the top 10 items that most fashionistas have in their wardrobes. How they were created and what made them skyrocket to become classics.

40. Different Like Coco – Elizabeth Matthews. There’s a difference between fashion and style and this book will make you want to embrace your freak flag and let yourself shine when it comes to dressing or anything else in life.

Fashion Photography Books

Fashion photography books make great gifts and can dress up a room in no time. The following books give you gorgeous images to gawk at and also provide some eye candy as they sit on your coffee table.

41. Back Stage & Front Row- Gauthier Gallet. Get a backstage pass to fashion shows and functions on every corner of the globe with amazing images from photographers Gauthier Gallet and Karl Lagerfeld (who penned the forward).

42. Tom Ford – Tom Ford.Tom Ford is synonymous with luxury, so what better way to add major impact to your coffee table than with this stark book filled with images from Ford’s time with the Gucci Group.

43. Chanel: Collections and Creations РDani̬le Bott. A chronicle of Chanel collections through the decades, all wrapped in a glossy black hardback book with a stunning white flower on the front (in true Chanel form).

44. Little Black Dress: Vintage Treasure – Didier Ludot.The owner of the most famous vintage shop in Paris pens this amazing photography book over various designer little black dresses and images of style icons in their favorite LBDs.

45. Helmut Newton: Sumo – June Newton. This is the more palatable version of the original Sumo, which now goes for thousands. If you’re a fan of Newton, you know his groundbreaking photography is a must for every fashion lover.

46. In Vogue: The Illustrated History of the World’s Most Famous Fashion Magazine – Alberto Oliva. Here’s a look at Vogue’s history in pictures. While the images may not stop you in your tracks, it’s an essential edition for the fashionista’s living room book display.

47. The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion – Harold Koda. This fantastic book chronicles the Model as Muse exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which showed a few years ago.

48. Coco Chanel: Three Weeks/1962 – Douglas Kirkland.For three weeks in 1962 photographer Douglas Kirkland followed Coco Chanel around. Get an exclusive look at the designer on an everyday basis with this stunning coffee table book.

49. Backstage Dior – Roxanne Lowit. If you’re a John Galliano fan, you know his fabulous designs for the house of Dior have left their mark on the world of fashion.

50. Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 – Carol Squiers. True fashion lovers know Avedon did fashion photography best. This is a peek at a few decades worth of his work.

There’s nothing like being inspired and fashion books tend to make us want to revamp our look or improve upon what we’re working with. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge of fashion history or just need inspiration for your own wardrobe, you’ll learn a lot by reading these must-have books for fashionistas of every age.