Fashion reading for your wish list: The new releases for 2023

The cold season invites you to linger in the warm, there is more time for reading. Books are therefore particularly popular gifts around the holidays, but are also often on your own Christmas wish list. Whether biographies or works that shed light on certain aspects of the fashion industry, overview volumes of brands or illustrated books to browse through – FashionUnited presents a series of carefully selected new releases this year that should not be missing from any Christmas tree.

Thom Browne

This debut work about the American designer Thom Browne celebrates the 20th anniversary of his brand. Curation greats such as the Brit Andrew Bolton and the Chinese Wendy Yu contributed texts to the work. The over 200 looks from previous seasons were captured by photographer Johnny Dufort. A copy autographed by Browne is available to pre-order now.

Thom Browne. Language: English. Publisher: Phaidon. ISBN: 9781838667047. Price: 150 euros

The book ‘Thom Browne’. Image: Thom Browne.

Fantasies: Carine Roitfeld Fashion Book

As the former editor-in-chief of the French magazine Vogue, Carine Roitfeld proved herself with her provocative editorials. This publication serves as a source of inspiration and information for all fashion and photography lovers.

Fantasies: Carine Roitfeld Fashion Book. Language: English. Publisher: Rizzoli. ISBN: 9780847873739. Price: 100 euros

Fluid: A Fashion Revolution

The British-American fashion designer Harris Reed breaks the traditional boundaries between masculinity and femininity with his creations. The pre-order book explores the vastness of the fashion world through to art, philosophy and history and predicts a fluid future of clothing between the genders. Photographs and sketches complete the book.

Fluid: A Fashion Revolution. Author: Harris Reed. Language: English. Publisher: Abrams. ISBN: 9798887070025. Price: 40 euros

The book 'Fluid: A Fashion Revolution'.
The book ‘Fluid: A Fashion Revolution’. Image: Harris Reed

Barbie

As the blockbuster ‘Barbie’ already showed, 2023 will be all about “girly trends”. However, behind the pink facade there are important sociological developments: Created by Mattel founder Ruth Handler, Barbie was intended to break the traditional role of women as housewives and mothers. This illustrated book tells the 65-year history of the world’s most popular doll.

Barbie. Author: Susan Shapiro. Language: English. Publisher: Assouline. ISBN: 9781649803214. Price: 105 euros

It’s Been 30 Years

An anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on the past – and this is also the case for Filippa K. The Swedish fashion house is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023 and is releasing the book ‘It’s Been 30 Years’ on November 16th to mark the occasion. It contains previously unpublished photos of important archive pieces from the brand’s history. Since the edition of the book is limited, it is advisable to grab it quickly.

It’s Been 30 Years. Language: English. The book is only available in Filippa K stores and via the website.

The book 'It's been 30 years'.
The book ‘It’s been 30 years’. Image: Filippa K.

Pharrell: Carbon, Pressure and Time

With his debut as creative director for men’s fashion at Louis Vuitton, the American all-round artist has become With his debut as creative director for men’s fashion at Louis Vuitton, the American all-round artist has become Pharrell Williams also in the fashion world proven. Due to his roots in the music scene, his new creations feature strong streetwear influences. This also includes the magnificent pieces of jewelry that are offered space in this work.

Pharrell: Carbon, Pressure and Time. Author: Pharrell Williams. Language: English. Publisher: Rizzoli. ISBN: 9780847899173. Price: 70 euros

Doing It All Wrong Since 2011

Swiss designer Julian Zigerli summarizes twelve years of experience in the national and international fashion business in his first publication. Expressionist 3D print collections from his twelve-year career are complemented by stories and texts from numerous contributors.

Doing It All Wrong Since 2011. Publisher: Distance. ISBN: 9783954765409. Price: 54 euros

'Doing it all Wrong Since 2011' by Julian Zigerli.
‘Doing it all Wrong Since 2011’ by Julian Zigerli. Image: distance

Fashion Before Plus Size

While the fashion industry is increasingly embracing body inclusivity, there is a complicated story behind the recent success of plus-size fashion. This book examines this as well as the tension between fashion, obesity and weight prejudice in US culture.

Fashion Before Plus Size. Author: Lauren Downing Peters. Language: English. Publisher: Bloomsbury. ISBN: 9781350172548. Price: 98 euros

The Burberry Book

A simple title, but there is a lot behind it: This book, with texts by Alexander Fury, tells the 165-year, traditional history of the British fashion house using illustrations, photos and information from the archives.

The Burberry Book. Author: Alexander Fury. Language: English. Publisher: Assouline. ISBN: 9781649801609. Price: 195 euros

The 'Burberry Book'.  Image: Burberry
The ‘Burberry Book’. Image: Burberry

Africa in Fashion: Luxury, Craftsmanship and Textile Heritage

Ghanaian researcher and author Ken Kweku Nimo shines a spotlight on African designers and the continent’s textile heritage through this in-depth and comprehensive work. Whether it’s traditional materials science, historical origins or the hard-won fashion self-determination of the youngest African designers – fashion and culture lovers will get their money’s worth here.

Africa in fashion. Author: Ken Kweku Nimo. Language: German. Publisher: Midas Collection. ISBN: 9783038762447. Price: 39 euros

The book 'Africa in Fashion'.
The book ‘Africa in Fashion’. Image: Midas Collection

Fashion Eye: Vienna

Louis Vuitton’s ‘Fashion Eye’ series presents the work of visual artist Stefanie Moshammer in its Vienna edition. After graduating in textile design from the Vienna Fashion School Hetzendorf, the Austrian studied graphic design and photography. In this book she presents a symbiosis of fashion motifs, street photography and snapshots of Vienna as a homage to the Austrian capital.

The illustrated book 'Fashion Eye: Vienna' with photographs by the Viennese artist Stefanie Moshammer.
The illustrated book ‘Fashion Eye: Vienna’ with photographs by the Viennese artist Stefanie Moshammer. Image: Louis Vuitton

Linda Evangelista Photographed by Steven Meisel

Whether Dior, Chanel or Fendi, Linda Evangelista, a supermodel of the 90s, walked the catwalk for all fashion houses. Her face has also graced over 700 magazine covers. With the photographs of the US cult photographer Steven Meisel, this illustrated book creates a wonderful connection between artist and muse.

Linda Evangelista Photographed by Steven Meisel. Language: English. Publisher: Phaidon. ISBN: 9781838667030. Price: 125 euros

Puma – The Graphic Heritage

As the title suggests, this publication from the German sporting goods manufacturer focuses on the graphic evolution of the brand: from the first letterhead in the early post-war years to global campaigns, designs for sports shoes with cult status and the font design of football jerseys. A significant bridge is built here between sport and design.

Dior by Raf Simons. Authors: Katharina Sussek, Jens Müller. Language: English. Publisher: Optik Books. ISBN: 9783982254258. Price: 38 euros

The book 'Puma – The Graphic Heritage'.
The book ‘Puma – The Graphic Heritage’. Image: Optic Books

The anti-capitalist book of fashion

As fascinating and glamorous as the world of fashion may be, there are also dark sides. There are rarely reports about corporations that exploit their employees, about the tragic consequences of fast fashion for the environment and about the constant need to follow the latest trends. Tansy Hoskins addresses these grievances and suggests changes to remedy them. However, in summary, she emphasizes her love for fashion.

The anti-capitalist book of fashion. Author: Tansy E. Hoskins. Language: German. Publisher: Rotpunktverlag. ISBN: 9783039730049. Price: 28 euros

'The anti-capitalist book of fashion'.
‘The anti-capitalist book of fashion’. Image: Rotpunktverlag

Dior by Raf Simons

Although the Belgian designer Raf Simons no longer works for Dior, his creations for the French fashion house are still cult. As a tribute to his years at Dior, this volume was published in the spring as part of a series dedicated to the fashion house’s former creative directors.

Dior by Raf Simons. Author: Tim Blanks. Language: English. Publisher: Assouline. ISBN: 9781649800213. Price: 195 euros

This post was created in collaboration with Caitlyn Terra.

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