Book picks similar to
Fashion Muse: The Inspiration Behind Iconic Design by Debra Mancoff


fashion
fascinating-women
living-room-table-books
artists-varied-designers

Your Heiress Diary: Confess it All to Me


Paris Hilton - 2005
    Let Paris guide you as you write down the details of your own fabulous life: secrets you don't want anyone to know, quotations that inspire you, your must-have shopping list, plans for your ultimate heiress birthday party, guys who are hot and guys who are not, and the acceptance speech you'll need when you reach the pinnacle of heiress success. Life is a fabulous adventure if you live it like an heiress

The Power of Style: Everything You Need to Know Before You Get Dressed Tomorrow


Bobbie Thomas - 2013
    Get your style therapy with The Power of Style: Everything You Need to Know Before You Get Dressed Tomorrow by Today Show style editor Bobbie Thomas.This thoughtful and inspiring guide provides the information you need to feel stylish, smart, sexy, and satisfied—with a look that’s uniquely your own—in order to become your most confident and beautiful self.You're invited to gain self-awareness, clarity, and confidence, and take full advantage of the fashion tips, tools, and lessons that Bobbie Thomas lays out, including how to identify your best colors, how to select the most flattering clothes for your individual shape, how to edit your closet, and how to shop smart—to harness the power of self-expression.The foreword by fashion icon Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, and color illustrations throughout, reinforce Bobbie's mantra of self-expression: "Style is the way you to speak to the world without words."

The Sartorialist


Scott Schuman - 2009
    His now-famous and much-loved blog, thesartorialist.com, is his showcase for the wonderful and varied sartorial tastes of real people across the globe. This book is a beautiful anthology of Scott?s favorite images, accompanied by his insightful commentary. It includes photographs of well-known fashion figures alongside people encountered on the street whose personal style and taste demand a closer look. From the streets of New York to the parks of Florence, from Stockholm to Paris, from London to Moscow and Milan, these are the men and women who have inspired Scott and the many diverse and fashionable readers of his blog. After fifteen years in the fashion business, Scott Schuman felt a growing disconnect between what he saw on the runways and in magazines, and what real people were wearing. The Sartorialist was his attempt to redress the balance. Since its beginning, the blog has become hugely admired and influential in the fashion industry and beyond. Thesartorialist.com is consistently named one of the top blogs in the world. A self-taught photographer, Schuman shoots for publications including French Vogue, American GQ, Fantastic Man and Elle, and a growing list of advertising clients. Scott has also shown his work at the New York photo gallery The Danziger Projects and appeared in the GAP Style Icon campaign in the fall of 2008. He has been named the number one fashion photography trend by American Photo magazine, as well as one of Time magazine?s top 100 design influencers.

Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style


Kate Betts - 2011
    From the precedent of her race to the singularity of her style, she has been the object of immense fascination. What she says, what she does, and not least, what she wears, is scrutinized around the world.Writing at the crossroads of politics and fashion, Kate Betts explains why Michelle Obama’s style matters, and how she has helped liberate a generation of women from the false idea that style and substance are mutually exclusive. Following the transformation of Mrs. Obama from her early days on the campaign trail to her first state dinner at the White House, Betts, a longtime fashion journalist and former editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar, reminds us that while style can be expressed in what you wear, it is inextricably bound up in who you are and what you believe in. In a smart, breezy voice backed by extensive interviews and historical research, Betts shows how Michelle Obama’s  bold confidence and self-possession have made her into an icon and transformed the way women see themselves, their roles, and their own style.With two hundred color photographs, original designer sketches, and historical images, Everyday Icon is not only a lavish tour of our First Lady’s style statements, but also a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of how she created her image and, more important, what that image says about American style today. Much has been written about Michelle Obama, but Kate Betts places her in a broader cultural and historical context; Everyday Icon is the definitive book on how a working mother of two became an unforgettable, global style icon.

The Luminous Portrait: Capture the Beauty of Natural Light for Glowing, Flattering Photographs


Elizabeth Messina - 2012
    Whether you’re photographing children, weddings, maternity and boudoir, or portraits of any kind, The Luminous Portrait will inspire you with Elizabeth’s personal approach and award-wining images, sharing the art to making flattering portraits that appear “lit from within.”

The Fashion Designer Survival Guide: Start and Run Your Own Fashion Business


Mary Gehlhar - 2005
    With advice from fashion luminaries including Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Cynthia Rowley, Diane von Furstenberg, Richard Tyler, and top executives from Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, this fully updated and revised edition of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide addresses the latest trends in the apparel and accessories business, the newest designers and a new foreword by designer Diane von Furstenberg.The Fashion Designer Survival Guide provides the necessary tools to get a fashion line or label up and moving on the right track, including:How to create a viable business plan Figuring out how much money you need, where and how to get it, and how to make it last, including the latest on private equity The best sources for fabric and materials Navigating the pitfalls of production both at home and abroad Marketing, branding, and getting the product into the stores and into the customer’s closets Romancing the press, dressing celebrities, and creative publicity techniques Producing a runway show that will get results

Love, Lashes, and Lipstick: My Secrets for a Gorgeous, Happy Life


Mally Roncal - 2014
     Celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal has a message she wants to share with the whole world: What makes you different makes you beautiful! It’s the mantra that inspires her work with A-list clients (who include Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Angelina Jolie, Taylor Swift, Mary J. Blige, and Kelly Osbourne) and every single “bulletproof” item in her Mally Beauty cosmetics line. With her warm, generous spirit, infectious energy, and deeply rooted belief that with a positive outlook and a couple of genius makeup tricks every woman can be gorgois inside and out, Mally has created a legion of fans, a.k.a. Mallynistas, who faithfully tune in whenever she appears on QVC and follow her on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.   In Love, Lashes, and Lipstick, Mally tells her own story of growing up as the daughter of two Filipino doctors; smuggling blue eyeliner into her Catholic school; breaking into the business (with giant platform heels and bleached blond hair) in New York; jetting around the world with megastars; meeting her soul mate when she was least expecting it; and gradually building a full, joyous life running her own business and raising three young girls.   Along with her wise and hilarious life lessons, Mally shares the secrets to all her signature looks with easy, step-by-step instructions and gorgeous illustrations. Want to master Beyoncé’s and JLo’s sexy glow, or the ultimate smoky eye? Need to look polished but fierce for a big day at work, or fake eight hours of sleep when you only got four? As Mally would say, “It’s all here, my loves! Come and get it!”Praise for Love, Lashes, and Lipstick  “The beauty book you’ve been waiting for forever.”—The Huffington Post   “Mally Roncal’s new book is full of beauty wisdom. . . . If you’re a makeup junkie, you’ll want to get your hands on it ASAP.”—Allure   “A beauty lover’s must-read.”—StyleBistro“The most important thing we learn from Mally (aside from everything you ever wanted to know about false eyelashes) is how to have fun, how to be a wonderful, beautiful, love-filled person, and how to enjoy life. Had this book come along earlier, I might have had a better life (and better lashes).”—Isaac Mizrahi   “Mally Roncal’s approach to makeup is exemplified by her personality: smart, sexy, fun, and beautiful. I really dig this woman!”—RuPaul   “Mally’s gift, aside from creating beautiful makeup, is her incredible generosity of spirit. She shares tools for feeling beautiful inside and out. Mally’s family is the center of her universe, and her heart is big enough to enfold each and every friend, client, and customer within that family. Kudos to my dear friend on this amazing book! Within it are the tools for achieving true beauty.”—Tracy Reese   “Mally isn’t just a beauty expert—she’s a spirited cheerleader for women everywhere. Within the first twenty minutes of reading her new book, I found myself in stitches, then tears, then stitches again.”—Amy Synnott, executive editor, InStyle

Chanel and Her World: Friends, Fashion, and Fame


Edmonde Charles-Roux - 1974
    She invented modern clothing for women: at the height of the Belle Époque, she stripped women of their corsets and feathers, bobbed their hair, put them in bathing suits, and sent them out to get tanned in the sun. She introduced slacks, costume jewelry, and the exquisitely comfortable suit. She made the first couture perfume—No. 5—which remains the most popular scent ever created. In this beautiful volume, the glorious life of the incomparable Coco Chanel shines again through hundreds of illustrations and the lively prose of Edmonde Charles-Roux, her official biographer and close friend. Chanel knew and collaborated with the likes of Picasso, Diaghilev, Stravinsky, Cocteau, Jean Renoir, and Visconti—even as she matched their modernist innovations by liberating women from the prison of 19th-century fashion and introducing a whole new concept of elegance. The staggering collection of photographs amassed by the author over decades of friendship with Chanel sheds new light on one of the great stories of the modern age.  “A model pictorial biography.” ~ New York Times “This Chanel biography is as elegantly turned out as its subject.” ~ The Washington Post “This lavish photo tome brings depth to Chanel’s sleek façade while revealing the fascinating woman behind it.” ~ W “Edmonde Charles-Roux (is) one of (Chanel’s) best biographers.” ~ The New Yorker “There have been many books about Chanel, but this is the great classic.” ~ Art of the Times “This beautiful volume contains hundreds of photographs and lively prose by its author, Edmonde Charles-Roux.” ~ American Salon “Provides insight into the development of her sense of style and underscores the timelessness of her vision.” ~ Veranda

It's All about the Dress: What I Learned in Forty Years about Men, Women, Sex, and Fashion


Vicky Tiel - 2011
    Vicky Tiel started as an “it” girl of the 1960s and has had a four decade career designing clothes that make real women look fabulous.  Her sexy, fresh hot pants and miniskirts were used by Woody Allen in his first movie, What’s New, Pussycat?, her classic design inspired the red dress that transformed Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, and her creations are worn today by stars such as Halle Berry and Kim Kardashian.  Tiel’s own life has been dance-the-night-away fun, from her earliest days flunking out of Parsons to design on her own, to starting a chic boutique with best friend Mia Fonssagrives in Paris, from marrying MGM’s top make-up man to becoming Elizabeth Taylor’s dear friend and part of her longtime entourage.  Tiel forged her own path, and picked up some distinctive and hard-earned lessons from the rich, famous and celebrated along the way. In IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DRESS, you’ll get a glimpse of what it’s like to be Hollywood royalty (think yachts, tiny dogs, giant pearls and peanut butter sandwiches washed down with Chateau Margaux), discover the seduction secrets of the greats (from Kim Novak to Goldie Hawn to Warren Beatty), take in a little husband-hunting advice, and even learn legendary model Dorian Leigh’s recipe for gigot d’agneau sept heures. Vicky Tiel will teach you to dress like a sex symbol , cook like the owner of a French country inn, and seize what you want from the world like an American ingénue.

The Suit: A Machiavellian Approach to Men's Style


Nicholas Antongiavanni - 2006
    With The Suit, Nicholas Antongiavanni provides a masterly manual on what it takes to succeed: advice on how to dress with style, flair, and an eye toward gaining power. That's because "business casual" has proved itself a one-way ticket to a lifetime in the corporate dungeon. But if you apply the sartorial advice proffered in The Suit to your clothes, you will project elegance, bravado, and success.Drawing inspiration from Machiavelli's The Prince, Antongiavanni has crafted an essential handbook for the ambitious man who recognizes that smart and stylish appearance is a lever to power. From neckties to footwear, belts to suspenders, lapels to handkerchiefs, The Suit leaves no garment or accessory untouched and will inject a dose of good taste into your closet. The debates over double-breasted vs. single, two-buttons vs. three, English vs. Italian, and many others are settled with wit by Antongiavanni's wealth of knowledge in the art of dress.The Suit is much more than a simple how-to manual -- Antongiavanni packs these pages with insightful and sometimes stinging commentary on celebrities and the clothes they wear. Leading public figures from David Letterman to Donald Rumsfeld are picked apart at the seams. Antongiavanni uses powerful men in the public eye as entertaining examples of how to dress properly and what garish mistakes to avoid. Whether you are already a corporate Prince -- or if you are a Joe Cubicle aspiring to be something greater -- The Suit will teach you how to make your clothes work for you. No matter what your physical build or your status in the workplace, let Nicholas Antongiavanni be your fashion consultant.

In Fashion: From Runway to Retail, Everything You Need to Know to Break Into the Fashion Industry


Annemarie Iverson - 2010
    Former beauty and fashion news director of Harper's Bazaar and editor in chief of Seventeen, Annemarie Iverson—the outsider’s insider—knows just how to get noticed and stay on top. In Fashion is packed with her insightful tips, along with advice from leaders at Michael Kors, Bergdorf Goodman, Condé Nast, and more. Straightforward, honest, and insightful, Iverson has put together a book that will help you determine your best fashion career fit will providing a bird’s eye view into the most elite fashion companies. Along the way, you’ll learn what school may be best for you, as well as how to write a chic resume, handle the pressures of a fast-paced environment, hone your skills to make you a success in your ideal job, and more.   The most comprehensive guide available for a notoriously competitive industry, In Fashion exposes all of its seams, with plenty of details on what it's like to work at dozens of of elite and cutting-edge companies. Whether you're just getting started or are considering a career switch, In Fashion offers all the resources you need to land your dream job in fashion.

Menswear Dog Presents the New Classics: Fresh Looks for the Modern Man


David Fung - 2015
    Organized seasonally, The New Classics highlights the timeless, can’t-go-wrong items every man needs in his wardrobe—from a chambray shirt to a perfectly fitted peacoat (all modeled by Bodhi, of course)—and shows how to mix and match them all year long. Whatever your style dilemma, dog’s got your back! Readers will learn what to wear to a summer wedding, when to splurge (on the perfect white dress shirt) and when to save (snag your military field jacket at a thrift store), the secrets to getting the right fit, the brands that stand the test of time, the basics of clothing care, and more.

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty


Andrew Bolton - 2011
    Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty examines the full breadth of the designer’s career, from the start of his fledgling label to the triumphs of his own world-renowned London house. It features his most iconic and radical designs, revealing how McQueen adapted and combined the fundamentals of Savile Row tailoring, the specialized techniques of haute couture, and technological innovation to achieve his distinctive aesthetic. It also focuses on the highly sophisticated narrative structures underpinning his collections and extravagant runway presentations, with their echoes of avant-garde installation and performance art.Published to coincide with an exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art organized by The Costume Institute, this stunning book includes a preface by Andrew Bolton; an introduction by Susannah Frankel; an interview by Tim Blanks with Sarah Burton, creative director of the house of Alexander McQueen; illuminating quotes from the designer himself; provocative and captivating new photography by renowned photographer Sølve Sundsbø; and a lenticular cover by Gary James McQueen.Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty celebrates the astounding creativity and originality of a designer who relentlessly questioned and confronted the requisites of fashion.

Fashion Design Course: Principles, Practice, and Techniques: The Practical Guide for Aspiring Fashion Designers


Steven Faerm - 2010
    The book opens with an overview of the principles of fashion design, a survey of the industry's history and its key designers, and a description of today's markets and customers. The tutorials that follow instruct in designing sportswear, tailored garments for wear to business careers, denim/activewear, cocktail and evening wear, children's clothing, men's garments, and accessories. The author also advises on creating and presenting a fashion portfolio, and on "selling" oneself in a job interview. His several discussions with some of the industry's leading professionals give students valuable insights on how to create and develop one's own original collection. Fashion Design Course is a fine introduction for students, dressmakers, and all others aspiring to careers in this dynamic and rewarding industry. More than 450 how-to color illustrations.

Dress [with] Sense: The Practical Guide to a Conscious Closet


Christina Dean - 2017
    On a broader scale, initiatives to promote a more sustainable approach to fashion have made headlines and grown like never before, from the release of the high-profile documentary The True Cost to the launch of the worldwide “Fashion Revolution” campaign.This timely book is organized into four chapters—Buy, Wear, Care, and Dispose—each containing a short introduction with essential information followed by practical tips and illustrated case studies to help you make the first step toward a more sustainable wardrobe. A detailed reference section recommends not only the best ethical fashion labels and collections but also eco-friendly fabrics, standards, and certifications; cleaning methods; renting, swapping, and recycling initiatives; and much more.