Books For Fashion Lovers
- Karolina
- May 28
- 4 min read
...and all bookworms in general.
Inspiration and knowledge can be found anywhere you look. How you get there, and what impacts you the most—that’s down to the individual. Still, books are a source a lot of us have drawn on for ages, and since we’re quite fashion-serious here (or unserious—both are true in my case), I cannot not recommend some of the books that shaped my understanding of fashion, improved my knowledge on the subject, and simply brought me a lot of pleasure.
Let’s start with:
Memoirs
Man Repeller: Seeking Love. Finding Overalls – Leandra Medine | Published: 2013
The days of Man Repeller the blog might be over (and I still miss it a lot). Fortunately, Leandra Medine is still gracing us with her writing, and you can find her here:
As for the book — a decade may have passed since it was published, but the passion and wit Leandra brings to recounting her sartorial choices still feel fresh. Her essays explore how clothes intersect with identity, confidence, love, and awkward moments in the most self-aware way.
Grace: A Memoir — Grace Coddington & Michael Roberts | Published: 2012
Another book full of incredible stories and memories that any fashion lover would appreciate is Grace Coddington’s memoir. To be honest, you do not need to be into fashion at all to enjoy this one, as Grace is known not only for her incredible fashion eye but also for her charisma.
How to Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence from the World’s Only Image Architect – Law Roach | Published: 2024
I mentioned this book as one of my favourite reads in 2024 and for a good reason — it’s a bold yet grounded account of someone who has worked, won, and reshaped fashion on their own terms — inspiring, fun, and very honest.
Style Advice
Wear It Well - Allison Bornstein | Published: 2023
There are plenty of books out there full of incredible tips and ideas on how to dress, organise your wardrobe, declutter, find your personal style and language. However, Allison’s offering is just the best—it follows her dressing philosophy that is very approachable and extremely doable—a little fashion therapy in a book. She also writes on Substack: Allison Bornstein.
Speaking of therapy…
Style Therapy Book – Lauren Messiah | Published: 2021
I have not read this book yet, but it is on my reading list.
The blurb:
Personal styling and life coaching come together in The Style Solution, an action-filled guide to curating a closet that supports your goals and takes the stress out of getting dressed. Authored by Lauren Messiah, a Hollywood stylist-turned-entrepreneur who has built two successful online businesses, The Style Solution surpasses all other wardrobe planning books by helping you identify and clear the roadblocks that hold you back from putting the best (and best-dressed) version of yourself out into the world. Lauren breaks down the process of defining and building your style into a week-by-week plan that you can complete in 30 days or follow at your own pace. Throughout, the book offers advice based on Lauren’s experiences working with hundreds of women, and provides writing prompts and space for reflecting on your own style journey.
Knowledge
Various Colour Me Beautiful books – some information in them might be outdated at times, and I do not necessarily agree with the whole concept of dressing according to your body shape (we all have to strive for this one ideal hourglass shape — flattering according to whom? — so many issues, so many questions — this topic might require a separate post). Still, if you can get your hands on them, there are a lot of very helpful pieces of information included in the books, and I find their way of explaining colour theory easy to comprehend.
The Psychology of Fashion (The Psychology of Everything)- Carolyn Mair | Published: 2018
I have already talked about this book because IT IS JUST SO GOOD. I could quote half of it to prove my point, but:
if you are curious about human relationship with clothing,
if you have always been interested in why people care so much about how they present themselves to the world,
and finally, if you think that dressing and clothing go deeper than vanity and attention seeking insinuate
…just get the book!
The Secret Lives of Colour - Kassia St Clair | Published: 2016
This quote by Simon Garfield describes it perfectly:
'A mind-expanding tour of the world without leaving your paintbox. Every colour has a story, and here are some of the most alluring, alarming, and thought-provoking. Very hard painting the hallway magnolia after this inspiring primer.'
Last but not least, my farewell suggestion, a book that my eyes have been secretly steeling glimpses of, angered that I have not opened it yet:
CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion - Sunita Kumar Nair | Published: 2023
CBK’s style has been quoted and featured on MULTPILE occasions, pinterest boards, platforms, I could go on and on. What has drawn me to this book, however, is its author - her passion for the subject, knoweldge and eagerness to go deeper into Carolyn’s world.
That’s it from me for today. Once I am done with a few more positions on my ever-growing fashion reading list, I shall update you on what’s good out there soon.
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