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Reading recommendations for fiction, nonfiction, and audiobooks across all reading levels.
Author
Formats
Description
A fascinating and comprehensive look into the life of American fashion designer Ralph Lauren, now with an afterword.
"Deep-dish...sharp-clawed...honestly admiring."-New York Times
There are at least two Ralph Laurens.
To the public he's a gentle, modest, yet secure and purposeful man. Inside the walls of Polo Ralph Lauren, though, he was long seen by some as a narcissist, an insecure ditherer, and, at times, a rampaging tyrant.
Michael Gross,...
Author
Description
Ralph Lauren's designs vividly embody the American Dream, and he has risen to become one of the world's foremost fashion designers. His genius lies in his innate skill for interpreting key cultural elements of Americana-whether from folk art or the preppy world of Hamptons' socialites or Navajo motifs-and encapsulating them in appealing garments. Also a natural fit with Hollywood, he has designed costumes for films such as The Great Gatsby (1974)...
Author
Appears on list
Description
"Isaac Mizrahi is sui generis: designer, cabaret performer, talk-show host, TV celebrity. Yet ever since he shot to fame in the late 1980s, the private Isaac Mizrahi has remained under wraps. Until now. In [this book], Isaac Mizrahi offers a poignant, candid, and touching look back on his life so far. Growing up gay in a sheltered Syrian Jewish Orthodox family, Isaac had unique talents that ultimately drew him into fashion and later into celebrity...
Author
Formats
Description
"Empowering and encouraging, this picture book biography of the first nationally known African American fashion designer, who dressed millionaires and movie stars, details her creative process as well as the obstacles she overcame to become the best"-- Provided by publisher.
Author
Formats
Description
"Long before Amelia Earhart became a superstar, she was a girl who longed to touch the stars. But the dresses women had to wear at the time made those dreams seem almost impossible. Amelia didn't let that stop her. As a young aviator breaking records and expectations, she learned to fly her plane with flair. Later, she dared to create a trendsetting fashion line for active women like herself. Soaring in Style tells the groundbreaking story of how...
Author
Appears on list
Description
"Fashion and compassion make the man. In this heartfelt, funny, touching memoir, Tan France tells his origin story for the first time. With his trademark wit, humor, and radical compassion, Tan reveals what it was like to grow up gay in a traditional South Asian family, as one of the few people of color in South Yorkshire, England. He illuminates his winding path of coming of age, finding his voice (and style!), and marrying the love of his life--a...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
[2017]
Description
"The polo player with the raised mallet - everyone knows the Ralph Lauren logo. Now readers can learn the amazing story of the man who is a true American fashion icon. Born in the Bronx, even as a teenager Ralph Lauren was known for his distinctive fashion sense, having a taste for both classic preppy clothes and vintage looks like beat-up leather jackets. He got his start in the fashion business by selling ties that he designed. From ties he went...
Author
Publisher
Viking
Pub. Date
[2020]
Description
"A memoir by the internationally famous fashion designer and style icon Betsey Johnson. Mention the name "Betsey Johnson" and almost every woman from the age of 15 to 75 can rapturously recall a favorite dress or outfit; whether worn for a prom, a wedding, or just to stand out from the crowd in a colorful way. They may also know her as a renegade single mom who palled around with Edie Sedgwick, Twiggy, and The Velvet Underground, or even as a celebrity...
Author
Publisher
Sourcebooks
Pub. Date
[2016]
Description
"Since she was young, Tala Raassi knew her fate lay in fashion. But growing up in her beloved homeland of Iran, a woman can be punished for exposing her hair in public, let alone wearing the newest trends. Despite strict regulations, Tala developed a keen sense of style in backroom cafes and secret parties. She never imagined her behavior would land her in prison, or bring the cruel sting of a whip for the crime of wearing a mini-skirt. Tala's forty...
Author
Publisher
Omnibus Press
Pub. Date
[2015]
Description
Pharrell Williams is one of the biggest names on today's top 40 charts. He's won eleven Grammys (and immeasurable attention for his Grammys fashion choices), been nominated for an Oscar, and is about to begin writing a series of children's books. He's worked behind the scenes as a producer on hits like Kelis's "Milkshake," Britney Spears's "Slave 4 You," and has collaborated with every major hip hop artist in the business. Pharrell's music is inescapable,...
Author
Publisher
Simon & Schuster
Pub. Date
2014.
Description
"Von Furstenberg reflects on her extraordinary life from childhood in Brussels to her days as a young, jet-set princess, to creating the dress that came to symbolize independence and power for an entire generation of women, ... [mining] the rich territory of what it means to be a woman. She opens up about her family and career, overcoming cancer, building a global brand, and devoting herself to empowering other women, writing, 'I want every woman...
Author
Publisher
Portfolio/Penguin
Pub. Date
[2024]
Description
"From the fashion mogul and entrepreneur behind Babes, an empowering memoir about turning what makes you different into the foundation of your success Ciera Rogers is known for being an "Outsider"-and she likes it that way. As the founder and CEO of a multi-million-dollar brand that caters to curvy women of all shades, worn by the likes of Kim Kardashian and championed by Beyoncé, Ciera has rallied the very women the fashion industry is designed...
Author
Publisher
Little Bee Books
Pub. Date
[2017]
Description
"As soon as Ann Cole Lowe could walk, her momma and grandma taught her to sew. When her mom died, Ann continued sewing dresses. It wasn't easy, especially when she went to design school and had to learn alone, segregated from the rest of the class. But the work she did set her spirit soaring, as evidenced in the clothes she made. Rarely credited, Ann Cole Lowe became "society's best kept secret." This beautiful picture book shines the spotlight on...
17) Iris
Publisher
[Publisher not identified]
Pub. Date
2015.
Description
An in-depth look into the life of fashion icon Iris Apfel, and her husband of over 60 years: the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven with an outsized presence on the New York & Palm Beach fashion scenes. Despite the abundance of glamour in her current life, Iris continues to embrace the values and work ethic established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great Depression.
Publisher
Grand Central Life & Style
Pub. Date
2017.
Description
"Schelter curates a collection of more than 150 iconic, essential classics--clothes, accessories, beauty products, objects, and travel items--that exemplify great design, simplicity, and timeless style. Balancing the trend toward minimalism with a dose of charm and personality, Kate shows you how to develop (and celebrate) your own style by following an easy mantra: buy less, buy better, reinvent what you already have, and own your look"--Amazon.com....
Author
Publisher
Rizzoli
Pub. Date
2018.
Description
"Universal experiences come together with vibrant examples and exclusive photos of Roehm's work in fashion, flowers, table design, and interiors to create a unique celebration of the power of beauty. Carolyne Roehm's bestselling books have been a source of inspiration, pleasure, and education for thousands of readers. Now for the first time she shares her life in style, from her small-town Missouri childhood to her New York fashion career and her...
20) Fashion climbing
Author
Publisher
Penguin Press
Pub. Date
2018.
Description
The iconic "New York Times" photographer presents a sophisticated, visual account of his early education in New York City's high-fashion circles.