The weather is getting colder and it’s the perfect season to curl up with a good book. I love to read fashion biographies. Here are some of my favorites. They would make great gifts for the fashion lover in your life.
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The Chiffon Trenches – Andre Leon Talley
I have not finished reading this book yet, but it immediately drew me in from the first page. Andre Leon Talley has a unique perspective as a black man in the fashion industry, and he has crossed paths and worked with anyone who’s anyone, from Anna Wintour to Andy Warhol. I can’t wait to get to the insider gossip from his time at Vogue.
DV Diana Vreeland
In my opinion Diana Vreeland will forever be THE queen of all fashion editors. Her eccentric personality, fabulousness and incredible eye for talent and style will never be matched. Fun fact- the editor character in the film “Funny Face” with Audrey Hepburn was based on Vreeland.
The Beautiful Fall
You know you want to learn more about the drama of Paris fashion in the 1970s, when a sparkling, explosive rivalry erupted between Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent. This book is like a vintage gossip magazine and you won’t want to put it down.
Coco Chanel The Legend and the Life
There are plenty of books about Chanel but this is one of the best. I particularly enjoyed all the elegant photos and gorgeous illustrations. You’ll learn a great deal about the many chapters (some controversial) in the life of the legendary woman behind the French fashion house.
Grace – A Memoir
I still have pages from Grace Coddington’s fashion shoots framed on my wall. Her imagination and talent absolutely captivates me. And if you haven’t watched “The September Issue” documentary, add it to your watch list NOW! When it comes to creative directors she’s the best of the best. Fun fact–Grace started out as a model before switching to the other side of the camera at British (and later American) Vogue.
Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano
These two fashion designers meant the world to me as a fashion obsessed college student. The back story of McQueen and Galliano’s meteoric rise to fame and subsequent dramatic downfall (leading to McQueen’s suicide and Galliano’s disgusting racist attacks) is often difficult to read. But it’s a vital reminder of the dangers of substance abuse and mental illness.
The World According to Karl
This is not a biography but rather a whimsical collection of Karl Lagerfeld’s best sayings and musings. The iconic fashion designer was incredibly intelligent, sometimes shocking, and always quotable.
LVMKE 