12 Best Books For Fashion Students

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This article showcases our top picks for the Books For Fashion Students. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below).

We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.

The Psychology of Fashion by Carolyn Mair

This product was recommended by Yolandie Hamilton from Hamilton Styling

This book is a thought-provoking read on various aspects of the fashion industry from how those who work in the industry are affected by its demands, how we are influenced mentally by the clothes we wear, and even how clothing helps us form our identity. The psychological side is seldom discussed and this is a great place to start exploring the subject.


Fashionpedia – The Visual Dictionary Of Fashion Design by Fashionary

This product was recommended by Cindy Corpis from SearchPeopleFree

For having a strong foundation, I would say Fashionpedia – The Visual Dictionary Of Fashion Design by Fashionary is a great choice to make. It features all the key fashion designing and related terms with infographics. It helps fashion students to have a smooth journey. Lots of useful information is presented interestingly. Sleeves types, neckline designs, types of fabric, and various other stiff used in the fashion industry can be understood easily with the help of this book.


How to Create Your Final Collection by Mark Atkinson

This product was recommended by Warren Dai from OurPCB Tech

Designing a final degree collection is a fashion student’s first chance to approach the reality of the industry. This handbook provides a step-by-step guide to creating this collection, with each chapter exploring a different stage of the project: from understanding the brief and identifying the market to research, development, and sampling, through to garment design, range planning, and styling and presentation. The book will be accompanied by a CD containing 15 additional student case studies.


Beyond Design by Sandra Keiser

This product was recommended by Warren Dai from OurPCB Tech

How to Draw Cool Stuff shows simple step-by-step illustrations that make it easy for anyone to draw cool stuff with precision and confidence. These pages will guide you through the basic principles of illustration by concentrating on easy-to-learn shapes that build into complex drawings. With the step-by-step guidelines provided, anything can become easy to draw. This book contains a series of fun, hands-on exercises that will help you see line, shape, space and other elements in everyday objects and turn them into detailed works of art in just a few simple steps. The exercises in this book will help train your brain so you can visualize ordinary objects in a different manner, allowing you to see through the eyes of an artist. From photorealistic faces to holiday themes and tattoo drawings, How to Draw Cool Stuff makes drawing easier than you would think and more fun than you ever imagined! Now is the time to learn how to draw the subjects and scenes you’ve always dreamt of drawing. How to Draw Cool Stuff is suitable for artists of any age benefiting everyone from teachers and students to self-learners and hobbyists. How to Draw Cool Stuff will help you realize your artistic potential and expose you to the pure joy of drawing!


The Beautiful Fall by Alicia Drake

This product was recommended by Eden Cheng from PeopleFinderFree

This is one of the most interesting pieces of fashion literature that you could possibly get your hands on, as Alicia Drake’s The Beautiful Fall transports you to Paris, France during the ’70’s and explores the careers of two of the most impactful and influential Fashion Designers of that era-Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent. The book tells the fascinating story of how these two titans started their careers as two friends who inevitably went on to become huge rivals as their fame & power grew. In fact, the story of these two friends turned rivals has been written down in such personal detail that Karl Lagerfeld ended up suing Alicia Drake back in 2006 for publishing so many intimate details about his life.


Fashion Drawing, Second Edition by Michele Wesen Bryant

This product was recommended by Nikki Webster from Brit on the Move

This book is a pragmatic guide on how to create fishing drawings for students. It teaches step-by-step techniques for creating in pose, presentation, and digital design, plus guidance on creating technical flats. It also teaches how to design for men and women alike and shares many different approaches for different material types. Easy to follow and apply the learning.


The Ultimate Book of Outfit Formulas by Alison Lumbatis

This product was recommended by Alison Lumbatis from Outfit Formulas

Alison’s book teaches women how to incorporate the latest trends in an affordable way, what closet staple pieces they need to build a functional wardrobe, and serves them by solving the problem so many women struggle with every day — what should I wear?


The Fashion Designer Survival Guide by Mary Gehlhar

This product was recommended by Hitesh Patel from RRP Jewellers

The finest design handbook for amateurs. This acts as a guide for budding artists all over the globe. It includes all inspiration from professionals and sound guidance. It’s written by Mary Gehlhar, who has worked with several well-known artists throughout the years, including Zac Posen. The book teaches learners how and where to start and maintain a profession as a freelancer. The book provides both behind-the-scenes and critical business insights.


The Fashion System By Roland Barthes

This product was recommended by Hitesh Patel from RRP Jewellers

The Fashion System is among the greatest books about fashion. It examines the economy through a modern perspective and offers a new viewpoint on how it operates. This French novel is audacious, inventive, and humorous. The writer performs a systematic examination of the vocabulary used in publications to depict women’s clothing. He goes on to explain that capitalism is to blame for the colourful language within these publications. For amateurs, it’s a must-read fashion design guide.


Fashion Design Essentials By Jay Calderin

This product was recommended by Hitesh Patel from RRP Jewellers

This work is required reading for anyone with queries concerning the sector. It has 100 perspectives that answer the much more frequently asked questions and explain essential themes. Everyone is accompanied by a lovely depiction of a true fashion creation. It is possible to learn about brand management, cloth selection and excellence, and far more.


Coco Chanel by Megan Hess

This product was recommended by Shiv Gupta from Incrementors

Fashion’s most well-known woman needs a book that depicts her in flair, and Megan Hess achieves just that with her illustrated book about Coco Chanel. Through historical narratives and sleek black and white sketch illustrations peppered throughout with insightful quotations from Chanel herself, Hess commemorates 100 of the designer’s most significant events.


The Little Dictionary of Fashion by Christian Dior

This product was recommended by Shiv Gupta from Incrementors

The Little Dictionary of Fashion is exactly what the title suggests: a guide to being your most stylish self. This book is a brief read yet packed with useful advice about how to dress. It contains timeless fashion advice as well as insights into how the renowned Christian Dior perceived the world. As previously said, reading is one of my favourite activities, albeit I tend to dip in and out of it. I’ve learnt so much about myself and the fashion business from these books, and I highly recommend you read them. These books have a lot to offer students who want to work in the fashion industry. Enjoy!


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