The Style Notes

Summer is a great time to sit down and relax with a good book, so if you're interested in fashion and looking for a summer reading book, be sure to check these out:

Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards Jones- This book follows a fictional London-based designer over a six month period. It opens the day after their runway show and closes the day of their next show, six months later.  Though the designer is fictionalized, the author claims that everything about the book is entirely true, stating that "only the names have been changed to protect the guilty". This book explains every little detail that goes into producing a collection, and it's a fun and fascinating read. You'll learn about the mark-ups at stores, the process of hiring models for the show, what it takes to get a good review, and a lot more! 

Some Like it Haute by Julie K.L Dam- This fiction book is about a fashion writer's experiences during fashion week in Paris, trying to get the scoop on the hottest new designer. It's a light read, with not too much substance, but it's jam-packed with interesting tidbits about the how the insiders spend their time during fashion week.

The Beautiful Fall:Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris by Alicia Drake- This book delves into the lives and careers of two of the most famous men in fashion: Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent. Did you know they used to be friends and were both prizewinners of the same International Wool Secretariat design competition way back in 1954? I am not finished with the book, in fact I have barely started it, but I can tell you that you will be fascinated with the lives of these two icons. Not only will you learn about "glorious excess in 1970s Paris", but also about the historical context that surrounded fashion during that time.

The End of Fashion by Teri Agins- This well-researched book looks at fashion from a business perspective, exploring all aspects of the industry including manufacturing, retailing, licensing, and image making. It explains the beginning and the "end" of Paris couture houses, the rivalry between Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani's success with Hollywood, and much more. Agins looks at the fundamental changes in the fashion industry and "how marketing changed the clothing business forever". This book is so informative and well-written, anyone who is interested in learning more about how fashion came to be what it is now needs to pick up a copy of this book pronto!