Most inspirational fashion books

by Claudia Joseph

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5 books

Ever since I was a child, growing up in Gloucestershire, England, I have been passionate about fashion and made and designed my own clothes. I originally wanted to be a fashion designer but feared my drawing wasn’t good enough, so I studied journalism at the London College of Fashion and went to work for Condé Nast Publications. I later became a newspaper reporter, but my love of fashion never went away - I did a millinery course with designer Edwina Ibbotson and a bag designing course at my alma mater. Since then, I have written many articles on fashion and the Royals, as well as a number of books.

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Parisian Chic Look Book

What Should I Wear Today?

Ines de la Fressange, Sophie Gachet, 2020

I have always wanted to dress like a Parisienne and there is no greater inspiration than Karl Lagerfeld’s in-house model. He chose the French supermodel, designer, and perfumer as his muse because she bore an uncanny resemblance to Coco Chanel. This book inspired me to write my book How to Dress Like a Princess and taught me that for the French, less is more.

Christian Dior

Oriole Cullen, 2019

I think Dior has been my favourite designer since I studied fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion and discovered his iconic 1947 New Look. I remember going to the Golden Age of Couture exhibition at the V&A in 2007 and being mesmerised by his designs - I now have one of the installations hanging on my dressing room wall. This book captures the highlights of the museum’s 2019 exhibition, Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, which celebrated the House of Dior from its foundation in 1947 to the present day. I went home determined to - one day - own a piece of Dior.

Chanel

Collections and Creations

Danièle Bott, 2007

Being a Francophile, no book list would be complete without the House of Chanel, which is as renowned for its camellias as it is for its little black dresses and tweed suits. Every page of this book, which has two achingly beautiful black and white camellias on the cover, is stunning and totally inspirational.

Alexander McQueen

Andrew Bolton, Alexander McQueen, 2011

After the death of Lee Alexander McQueen in 2010, I was fortunate to meet his sister Janet and do an interview with her for the Mail on Sunday. I was later invited to the launch of the V&A’s exhibition Savage Beauty alongside Lee’s brothers and sisters. This book reminds me of Lee’s extraordinary talent and a very special evening.

Vogue 100

A Century of Style

Robin Muir, 2016

As a former journalist for Tatler and Vogue magazines, I was desperate to go and see the 2016 exhibition Vogue 100 at the National Portrait Gallery. Not only was it a trip down memory lane but it included two photographs of the Princess of Wales in the exhibition - I was the first person to write a biography of the then Kate Middleton. This book is a reminder of a stunning exhibition and fun day out.