100 Best Fashion Design Books of All Time
We've researched and ranked the best fashion design books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more
How the digital age impacts education and the design process from research right through to the finished product
Customer Profiles: demographics, psychographics, the role of advertising, and more
Creating a unique vision with help from ethnographic research, design considerations, iconic... more
With his now-legendary store on 125th Street in Harlem, Dapper Dan pioneered high-end streetwear in the early 1980s, remixing classic luxury-brand logos into his own flamboyant designs. But before reinventing fashion, he was a hungry boy with holes in his shoes, a teen who daringly gambled drug dealers out of their money, a young man in a prison cell who... more
Ben HorowitzAn amazing entrepreneurial story covering everything from dice to fashion. (Source)
The book explores five central themes—the suit, the camellia, jewelry, makeup and perfume, the little black dress—and follows... more
In "The Art of manipulating Fabric," Colette Wolff has set herself just this task, and she succeeds brilliantly. Working from the simplest possible form - a flat piece of cloth and a threaded needle - she categorizes all major dimensional techniques, show how they are related, and give examples of variations both traditional and modern. The result is...
Written for both newcomers and improvers,... more
This book is a complete catalogue of Ford's design work for both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent from 1994 to 2004. It chronicles not only Ford's clothing and accessories... more
Don't have time to read the top Fashion Design books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
Manuela Brambatti began to work in the fashion world in the late... more
This book will help you find the fabrics that suit the affects you want to achieve, show you how the fabric will perform, and recommend ways of using it. This new edition has information that is key to industry professionals (including designers and owners of fashion businesses) and explains textile issues and their impact on the environment. Find the perfect fabric for every design:
Do you want a fabric for structure, drape, added volume, definition, or decoration? Do you want... more
—T: The New York Times Style Magazine
Paul Newman wore his Rolex Daytona every single day for 35 years until his death in 2008. The iconic timepiece, probably the single most sought-after watch in the world, is now in the possession of his daughter Clea, who wears it every day in his memory. Franklin Roosevelt wore an elegant gold Tiffany watch,... more
Shida's strikingly original designs and variations on every imaginable classic stitch result in intricate patterns that form the basis for beautiful and unique knitted fashions. This is the perfect book for the experienced knitter who is looking for new stitches that yield spectacular results! This Japanese knitting book features a wide range of rewarding and intricate stitches including:
cables
popcorn stitches
twisted stitches more
Fashion is ever-changing, influenced by the key designers that capture a moment in history; and Coco Chanel is arguably the most significant influence on women's fashion in the twentieth century. Coco Chanel: The Illustrated World of a Fashion Icon is a compilation of Megan Hess' stunning illustrations of the 100 most quintessential moments through Chanel's history, from Coco's incredible life, to the impact of Karl Lagerfeld and the incredible items that have become fashion icons - the little black dress,... more
No one interested in the history of dress, from art historians to stage designers, from museum curators to teachers of fashion and costume, can function effectively without Janet Arnold's "Patterns of Fashion" series, published by Macmillan since 1964.
Since her untimely death in 1998, admirers of her work have been waiting, with increasing impatience, for the promised volume devoted... more
Don't have time to read the top Fashion Design books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
This is the guide that all anime and manga artists—of any level—need! Chris Hart delves deep into the specifics of drawing anime characters and scenes and explores every aspect of anime forms. He reveals his secrets for composing a complete picture, and discusses rarely covered topics. Entirely new tutorials include instruction on drawing hands and feet in different gestures or positions, arranging... more
From her Barbados childhood to her worldwide tours, from iconic fashion moments to private time with friends and family, the book showcases intimate photographs of her life as an artist, performer, designer, and entrepreneur. Many of these images have never before been published.
This large-format edition is 504 pages with 1,050 color images on 3 paper stocks and 7 single- and double-page gatefolds, 9 bound-in booklets, 1 tip-in sheet, and a double-sided, removable poster. less
Includes descriptions, line drawings and reproductions of historic magazines and books. The patterns for selected garments have been updated for the modern silhouette. less
The best-selling bible of sewing -- fully updated to meet the needs of today's market. The constant companion of the many people who are turning to home sewing as a creative -- and money-saving -- hobby. less
The history of these garments is deeply intertwined with Ford’s story as a black girl coming of age in a Midwestern rust belt city. She experimented with the Jheri curl; discovered how wearing the wrong color tennis shoes at the roller... more
Brittney CooperBuy this book! If you liked #EloquentRage, you’ll love #DressedInDreams! Come thru!!! https://t.co/Cej2ZzxETV (Source)
Now with fresh information on subjects such as designs for ready-to-wear... more
Woody’s original premise that Sneaker Freaker would be “funny and serious, meaningful and pointless at the same time” has certainly... more
Includes line drawings, reproductions of historic magazines and books, descriptions of the fabrics used to make the chosen garments and, finally patterns to make the garments that have been updated to fit the modern silhouette. less
Streetwear exists in that rarefied space where genuine “cool” coexists with big business; where a star designer might work simultaneously with Nike, a tattoo artist, Louis Vuitton, and a skateboard company. It’s the ubiquitous style of dress comprising hoodies, sneakers, and T-shirts that is worn by everyone from rappers to models to book editors. In the beginning, a few brands defined this style; fewer still survived as streetwear went mainstream. They are the OGs,... more
Gary VaynerchukSimply put, Bobby Hundreds is a social beast. He knows how to tell a story, where to tell that story, and he's great at bringing people together. He's also crazy dedicated to his work and has the laser-focused attention to detail needed to not only build an everlasting globally relevant brand, but any successful business. (Source)
Jessica AlbaBuilding a brand is about identifying and fulfilling a need in a way that no one else can. It takes vision, dedication, and attention to detail. The Hundreds is a prime example of what it looks like when you've combined all these elements along with tapping into a culture and community. This is Not a T-Shirt guides you through methods and tools you can apply to get you one step closer to... (Source)
Tony HawkThis is Not a T-Shirt tracks the history of surf and skate culture and their relationship to streetwear—from the Zephyr skate team of the 1970s to brands like Stüssy, Supreme, BAPE, and, of course, The Hundreds, which has managed to stay relevant for more than fifteen years in a fickle market. This book is an insider's guide to the prevailing trends in youth culture of the last few decades that... (Source)
Don't have time to read the top Fashion Design books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
No one can unravel couture garment construction the way Shaeffer can, from the art of hand sewing to mastering edge finishes,... more
Amoruso spent her teens hitchhiking, committing petty theft, and scrounging in dumpsters for leftover bagels. By age twenty-two she had dropped out of school, and was broke, directionless, and checking IDs in the lobby of an art school—a job she’d taken for the health insurance. It was in that lobby that Sophia decided to start selling vintage clothes on eBay.
Flash... more
Chelsea FrankI read everything with an open mind, often challenging myself by choosing books with an odd perspective or religious/spiritual views. These books do not reflect my personal feelings but are books that helped shape my perspective on life, love, and happiness. (Source)
Vincenzo RuggieroQuestion: What books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path? Answer: Rework, Getting real and Remote - The combo from Fried and DHH. Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso From Impossible To Inevitable by Aaron Ross & Jason Lemkin How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Predictable Revenue by Aaron Ross Content Machine by Dan Norris Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and... (Source)
Andrea LoubierThe 10% Entrepreneur and Girlboss. Both empower people to create a strategic plan and risk-taking that are needed for considering entrepreneurship. A lot of it is experimenting, learning and just doing. (Source)
To date, there has never been a book devoted exclusively to black models. Supreme Models fills that void, paying tribute to black models past and present: from the first to be featured in catalogs and on magazine covers, like Iman, Beverly Johnson, and Donyale Luna, to the supermodels who reigned in the nineties—Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell. The book also observes the newest generation of models—Adwoa Aboah, Jourdan Dunn, and Joan Smalls—who are shaking... more
Spend less time struggling to draw proportional figures and more time designing gorgeous looks: The Fashion Sketchpad is the ultimate fashion sketchbook for the aspiring designers who love to sketch clothes but don't have the skills (or the patience!) to draw proportional figures. This fashion design book is more than just a sketchpad. It has many additional features, including:
• 420 figure templates in 20 fashion-forward poses to inspire and motivate... more
Starting with the basics of choosing and preparing the dress form for draping, the book advances through pinning, trimming, and clipping, and creating shape using darts and tucks, to adding volume using pleats and gathers, and handling complex... more
New for this edition is the inclusion of colour to help students recognize the different sections of the book and to enhance the garment illustrations? Colour illustrations also offer a new dimension to the updated material on computer-aided... more
People of color are the originators of all things, yet are all too often overlooked. Each... more
Design, style, and accessorize clothes with this fun guide full of practical fashion design ideas for kids!
Draw and color creations, choose materials, and learn to design through drawing your own fashion. Packed with practical tips and inspiration, children can enjoy experimenting with new ideas. Illustrations mixed with photography show kids how to choose gorgeous colors, design dress shapes, customize T-shirts, design a bag, pick a color palette, design with texture, and add... more
Don't have time to read the top Fashion Design books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
"The perfect handbook for fashion students everywhere, Fabric for Fashion: The Swatch Book 2e, presents over 120 swatches of fabrics so that one can not only appreciate their aesthetic appeal, but also familiarise themselves with each one's structure, feel and weight. The book also details information on fibers, basic construction of fabrics, weights, construction, and weave comparison, so you'll be a textile expert in no time!" HungerTV
This easily navigable resource provides 125 swatches of... more
This delightful guide offers the perfect introduction to the fundamentals of fashion figure drawing. First learn the tools and materials you need to get started and some basic drawing techniques. Fashion Design Workshop covers color theory, how to create... more
Set your inner designer free with this on-trend sequel to Christopher Hart’s bestselling Fashion Design Studio, featuring easy templates to help aspiring fashionistas draw the garments of their dreams. Hart not only covers perennially popular styles and the basics of drawing dresses, tops, pants, and accessories, he provides the fun details all fashion-forward artists love. Here are... more
Don't have time to read the top Fashion Design books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel (1883-1971) was undoubtedly the most influential fashion designer of the 20th century. Her clothes and accessories have remained perennially chic, and her legendary fashion house continues to exert a powerful sway over today's designers. Jérôme Gautier tells the story of Chanel's iconic style through hundreds of images, many taken by the leading lights of fashion photography, including Richard Avedon, Gilles Bensimon,... more
Writing clear, easy-to-follow knitting patterns is easier than you think! In The Beginner's Guide to Writing Knitting Patterns, knitting expert Kate Atherley provides everything you need to know to share your projects with fellow knitters. This one-stop guide includes concrete guidelines with lots of examples on everything from pattern writing basics, to schematics and charts, to handling multiple sizes, establishing a personal style sheet, and more. The book addresses the details of how to create complete, clear and... more
Learn to drape fabric on a dress form to create your own patterns.
The step-by-step instructions are organized from basic to advanced projects using both imperial and metric measurements, so you don't have to convert measurements. The book includes a wide variety of fashion styles, from bodices to bias-cut gowns. Intermediate and... more
filled with how-tos, personal essays, anecdotes, recipes, and a liberal dash of style, all in good taste will transform you into the hostess everyone wants an invitation from. the book covers the essential lost arts—how to shuck an oyster, curate a vibrant guest list, guide a dinner-table discussion—right alongside modern conundrums such as... more
Step–by–step tutorials show how to create fashion drawings for women, men and children, and adapt them for different markets
More than 1000 illustrations depict work from leading designers and illustrators revealing a wide variety of approaches
Discover how to render fabrics,... more
Diane von Furstenberg started out with a suitcase full of jersey dresses and an idea of who she wanted to be- "in her words, the kind of woman who is independent and who doesn't rely on a man to pay her bills." She has since become that woman, establishing herself as a global brand and a major force in the fashion industry, all the while raising a family and maintaining... more
Karlie Kloss[The author]'s taught me to be the woman I want to be and confidence is a huge part of that. (Source)
On Kahlo’s death, her husband, Diego Rivera (1886–1957), ordered that her most private possessions be locked away until 15 years after his death. The bathroom in which her belongings were stored in fact remained unopened until 2004. Through this incredible archive, Frida Kahlo’s Wardrobe gives readers a unique window into Kahlo’s life. It will focus on the personal,... more
Megan's tour reveals where fashion icons such as Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfield, Chistian Dior and Louis-François Cartier worked and played, the top restaurants,... more
Fabrics in Fashion Design showcases a wide range of patterns, their history and terminology, and is illustrated with around 1,600 colour photographs. Fabrics in Fashion Design is an exhaustive study of the... more
Don't have time to read the top Fashion Design books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
In this fifth edition, the chapter on computer aided design now has full colour illustrations and reflects the growing importance of CAD to the industry and as a part of fashion and design courses. The rest of the book has been updated where necessary: in particular, new blocks for tailored shirts, new details on... more
The book includes 20 complete patterns that show how to cut every aspect of the menswear including adaptations from basic slopers through to classic garments and trend-led styles. Using a step-by-step approach, illustrated with accurately sized and scaled flat diagrams, technical flats and fashion illustrations, and photographs of muslins, it explains the theory behind the practise enabling the reader to... more
"The thing about white is that it goes with everything, it is a canvas for life, whoever you are and whatever your tastes. You just can't beat it." - Chrissie Rucker
Whether you live in a tiny city apartment, a rambling country cottage or an elegant town house The White Home offers the definitive book on decorating with white and neutral tones. From room schemes for light, bright family kitchens and calming bedrooms to the all-important details - including lighting, display and window treatments - this is a book to be inspired by again and again.
Organized... more
While many love the idea of wearing special underthings, lingerie can be intimidating. How is it supposed to fit? How do you take care of it all? Is lingerie really for me? In this beautiful and empowering guide, lingerie expert Cora Harrington demystifies intimate apparel, making it accessible to all sizes, ages, and budgets. Covering everything from basic... more
This valuable handbook contains the information and ideas essential to planning and executing fashion projects of every scale and distills them in an easy-to-use format that is compact enough to slip into a tote. Linking six central phases in the cycle of fashion—research, editing, design, construction, connection, and evolution—Fashion Design: An... more
Don't have time to read the top Fashion Design books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
Let one of the world's most successful fashion illustrators guide you through one of the world's greatest fashion cities. From Chanel to Dior, Bloomingdales to Bergdorf Goodman, Megan Hess has drawn for some of the most prestigious fashion brands around and experienced the incredible style the city of New York has to offer. In her latest book, Megan Hess takes you on an adventure, showing you the best places for a fashionista to eat, sleep, and play – all... more
From the extravagance of Ancient Egypt, through the legendary houses of Chanel and Dior, to today's catwalk sensations, this gorgeous, carefully curated collection shows how fashion reflects people and places, and captures the times in which they lived.
Packed with a dazzling combination of original fashion plates, archive images, and commissioned photography, Fashion takes you on a fabulous... more
Don't have time to read the top Fashion Design books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
For Abloh, the museum catalogue is another opportunity to "question everything." This monograph, produced in close collaboration with the artist himself, explores his creative output in a three-books-in-one format. The catalogue section offers an overview of Abloh's interdisciplinary practice by Michael Darling and features essays and interviews with key voices in art, fashion, design, and architecture, including Taiye Selasi, Lou Stoppard, Michael Rock,... more
• Comprehensive illustrated overview of fashion design and the fashion industry
• Decodes the complex behind-the-scenes world of fashion
Fashion Design is a primer on the industry for the twenty-first century, uniting history, theory, and practice in one indispensable book. Topics include the language of clothing, patterns, fabrics, and making techniques, how to build a collection and portfolio, and how to present on the catwalk and in the office. Perfect for aspiring designers, this describes the skills needed to become a fashion designer,...
LaTonya Yvette, the blogger and stylist behind the eponymous site, is unapologetically candid about life’s trials, including motherhood, love, death, and racism. Her first book, Woman of Color, is part memoir, part lifestyle guide—packed with moving essays, gorgeous original and archival photographs, and practical style and beauty advice. At the very heart, though, it’s about LaTonya’s experience growing up as a woman of... more
Maira Kalman, the author of the bestsellers The Principles of Uncertainty and The Elements of Style, and Alex Kalman, the designer, curator, writer, and founder of Mmuseumm, combine their talents in this captivating family memoir, a creative blend of narrative and striking visuals that is a paean to an exceptional woman and a celebration of individuality, personal expression, and the art of living authentically.
In the early 1950s, Jewish émigré Sara Berman arrived in the Bronx with her husband... more
Thirty ready-to-color illustrations depict lavish dresses and gowns of velvet and damask; smart riding outfits trimmed with braid and gilt; an elegant cashmere shawl, children's outfits; as well as hair ornaments, footwear, and other accessories.
A lovely collection that offers an authentic glimpse of what... more
Don't have time to read the top Fashion Design books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.
Each chapter of Lessons from Madame Chic reveals a valuable secret Jennifer learned while under Madame Chic's tutelage: tips you can incorporate into your... more
* Fascinating case studies by industry pros
* Inspiring illustrations plus no-nonsense text
All fashion designers need a strong understanding of fabrics and their properties. How are different types of fabric made? What are they made from? How will they perform? Author Jenny Udale offers a full, authoritative overview of fabrics and techniques for dyeing, printing, embellishing, embroidering, and more in this lavishly illustrated guide. Case studies from textile... more
Fulop's vibrant step-by-step illustrations make mending easier than every, demystifying techniques and displaying unique ways to show off your personality. And when your mending possibilities run out, she has simple yet striking solutions to repurpose fabric, including... more
Many women don't know what their personal style is, don't have a wardrobe that actually matches their style or life, and don't know how to shop for a structured wardrobe of all pieces that can be worn easily and confidently. Style and minimalism blogger Anuschka Rees presents a fascinatingly strategic, prescriptive approach to identifying, refining, and expressing personal style and building the ideal wardrobe to match it,... more
In this thought-provoking book, Tanisha C. Ford explores how and why black women in places as far-flung as New York City, Atlanta,... more
In Sara Alm's Designing Clothes with the Flat Pattern Method, sewers learn a technique that opens up myriad possibilities for making one-of-a-kind garments. By using basic pattern blocks called slopers, Alm shows sewers how to design new shapes, style lines, and fashion details--creating patterns for nearly any piece of clothing they want to sew. Take a basic straight skirt pattern, for example, and convert it into any other... more
Don't have time to read the top Fashion Design books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.