The Wendistry Wish List – Fashion Books

It’s less than 20 days until Christmas! How is that possible?!?! I was just brushing sand out of my flip flops, like, YESTERDAY!

We’ve all got to get to tackling our lists. So, for those, hard-to-please, already-have-everything-under-the-sun ladies in your life, I recommend…

BOOKS!

How about a few best new releases and some old favorites to put under the tree for those fashionable friends and family?

Christian Dior The Little Dictionary of Fashion ($15)

Before there were sites like Who What Wear, there was this book, which provides timeless style tips on everything from wedding to travel attire.

Teri Agins The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever ($12)

If have a fashion designer in your life, this book is a MUST! After hearing Ms. Agins talk at a Fashion Group International of Dallas event last spring, I came home and immediately ordered “The End of Fashion.” Agins explores how fashion went from being an elitest industry to one that caters to the mass market, and shares plenty of juicy industry anecdotes along the way.

Manolo Blahnik Manolo Blahnik Fleeting Gestures and Obsessions ($36)

Featuring more than forty years of shoe design, this is the definitive monograph of the work of Manolo Blahnik, one of the titans of contemporary fashion. Drawing inspiration from the worlds of architecture, art, film, and literature, Blahnik is a master of the art of the shoe. His exciting use of color, unprecedented designs, and exquisitely sculpted heels make his shoes some of the most coveted in the world.

Dana Thomas Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano ($22)

Thomas traces how two of fashion’s anti-establishment critical darlings fell from grace due to the extreme pressures of the industry.

Josh Sims Icons of Womens Style ($25)

Behind nearly every item in the feminine wardrobe there is a first of its kind that has spawned countless others. While the definitive example—often created by a single—has achieved icon status, its various reinterpretations, season after season, have become fashion staples. Icons of Women’s Fashion examines, item by item, the most influential and legendary garments and accessories – their provenance and history, the stories of their design, the celebrities who made them famous, and the various ways they have shaped how women dress today.

Maureen Callahan Champagne Supernovas: Kate Moss, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, and the ‘90s Renegades Who Remade Fashion ($18)

Callahan unpacks the alternative fashion era that was the ’90s by focusing on the most iconic personalities from that time. You’ll never see any of them the same way!

Grace Coddington Grace: A Memoir ($20)

The renowned Vogue editor Grace Coddington gives a witty glimpse into her world, from her early career as a model to working with Anna Wintour today.

Diane Von Furstenberg The Woman I Wanted to Be ($18)

Learn how the inimitable DVF went from life as a globetrotting princess to singlehandedly changing the way women dress (and empowering them, to boot).

Massimiliano Capella Barbie: The Icon ($65)

Since her creation in 1959, Barbie has broken cultural, social, and linguistic barriers, all while showcasing a fabulous fashion sense. Organized into five sections: Barbie Is Fashion; Barbie’s Family; Dolls of the World; Barbie’s Careers; and Queen, Diva and Celebrity, Barbie as Global Icon, Barbie: The Icon celebrates the impact Barbie has had in culture for three generations in everything from style, to fashion, to careers, that makes her the voice of the contemporary woman, the voice of pop culture, and the image of a genuine living legend.

Jennifer L. Scott The Madame Chic Collection: Lessons from Madame Chic, At Home with Madame Chic, and Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic ($36)

As an American student living abroad, Jennifer L. Scott found a Parisian mentor in her host mother, Madame Chic, who instructed her in the fine art of living. Now, Jennifer shares her lessons based on what she learned from Madame Chic. From how to cultivate old-fashioned sophistication while living an active, modern life, to teaching us to take pleasure in everyday routines, to dressing presentably, performing household tasks with cheer, and how to conduct oneself both in public and in private.

Conde Nast Vogue: The Editor’s Eye ($39)

Discover just how important the role of editor has been in fashion with this tome that studies the work of 8 of Vogue’s legendary editors, including Polly Mellen and Grace Coddington.

And, lastly… If you’re considering a gift for ME… 😉

Enid Nemy The Artful Handbag ($10+ for excellent condition)

Renowned as the worlds foremost contemporary designer of fine handbags, Judith Leiber brings together the realms of art and fashion in her astonishing creations. Coveted by many, collected by celebrities and socialites, affordable by only a few, Judith Leiber bags are a wearable art form, appearing in the permanent collections of some of America’s top museums and galleries.

Do you have any favorite fashion books? Let me know in the comments below!