Be like Bowie!!!
David Bowie Style / Danny Lewis.
“The first book in more than ten years to focus on Bowie’s unique style, this volume pays homage to the man of Ziggy Stardust fame in a fashion retrospective.” (Syndetics summary)
Tag: The Style Catalogue Page 1 of 4
Alexander McQueen’s show ‘Dante’ from Autumn / Winter 1996 went down as “possibly the greatest fashion show on Earth” and left McQueen’s mark on fashion forever, becoming a collection which was constantly referenced by McQueen as well as other designers. Inferno: Alexander McQueen: an intimate portrait of his seminal show Dante features amazing photography from the ground-breaking show, including previously unseen pictures of the designer, models and clothes. It’s so glossy and beautiful. You can watch the show here (it’s 25 minutes of your life but totally worth it imo) and if you want Dante’s Inferno, we have that too.
Inferno : Alexander McQueen : an intimate portrait of his seminal show Dante, autumn/winter 1996-97 / Kent Baker.
“London 1996: Alexander McQueen took over the Hawksmoor masterpiece Christ Church in London’s East End for what was quite possibly the greatest fashion show on Earth. A candle-lit, cruciform catwalk with a backdrop of stained-glass windows set the tone for an extraordinary collection. Lace sat against chiffon and rubbed shoulders with couture and club-culture clothing and digital print. Dante was the seminal collection that would resonate throughout Alexander McQueen’s career. This book features unique photographs shot behind the scenes, with raw, unseen pictures of the designer, models and clothes. The fashion creatives who worked with McQueen to make the show such a success recall this pivotal time in the designer’s career and reflect on what made Dante truly groundbreaking. Newly created imagery of clothes shown on the catwalk gives an insight into why this collection was so special.” (Syndetics summary)
I’m a little bit in love with this fashion book. Icons of Women’s Style is about, you guessed it, iconic women’s style! Let this pretty little book whisk you away into the feminine glamour of days gone by. Ooh la la.
Icons of women’s style / Josh Sims.
“Behind nearly every item in the feminine wardrobe there is a first of its kind that has spawned countless others. Take Coco Chanel’s short, simple black dress first published in American Vogue in 1926, for instance. Vogue predicted that the LBD would become ‘a sort of uniform for all women of taste’ and, indeed, it proved to be one of Chanel’s greatest contributions to fashion. 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.” (adapted from syndetics summary)
This week is Fashion Revolution Week; which commemorates the 24th of April 2013 when 1,134 people were killed and over 2,500 were injured when the Rana Plaza complex collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Fashion Revolution Week and their #whomademyclothes? campaign is setting out to “change the story for the people who make the world’s clothes and accessories” by insisting on greater transparency within the fashion industry and asking brands to reveal where their clothing is made and by who. There are different ways you can help contribute to this, and following is a selection of our latest and greatest books on ethical fashion. Read on and conquer!
Magnifeco : your head-to-toe guide to ethical fashion and non-toxic beauty / Kate Black.
“In the wake of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh–the worst garment industry accident in recorded history–the phrase “fashion disaster” acquired a new and much more sinister meaning. Commentators suggested that the tragedy was completely predictable in a sector with a shocking track record of rampant environmental damage, use of toxic chemicals, and chronic human rights abuse. Now the industry is undergoing a shift, and many of us are questioning our buying habits. The rise of socially and environmentally responsible retailers like Patagonia and The Body Shop has led to dramatic changes in the eco and ethical fashion landscape. Magnifeco is the Fast Food Nation of the fashion world–your guide to making a difference too.” (adapted from syndetics summary)
A teen guide to eco-fashion / Liz Gogerly.
“This series features stylish books that give school-age readers realistic and practical advice on how they can live an eco-conscious life, right now. That action can be taken by themselves, with their family, or as part of a school or community group.” (Syndetics summary)
Wear no evil : how to change the world with your wardrobe / Greta Eagan.
“Have you ever wondered, “How can I inherently do good while looking good?” Wear No Evil has the answer, and is the timely handbook for navigating both fashion and ethics. Featuring the Integrity Index (a simplified way of identifying the ethics behind any piece of fashion) and an easy to use rating system, you’ll learn to shop anywhere while building your personal style and supporting your values- all without sacrifice. Part 1 presents the hard-hitting facts on why the fashion industry and our shopping habits need a reboot. Part 2 moves you into a closet-cleansing exercise to assess your current wardrobe for eco-friendliness and how to shop green. Part 3 showcases eco-fashion makeovers and a directory of natural beauty recommendations for face, body, hair, nails, and makeup. Wear No Evil gives new meaning–and the best answers–to an age-old question: “What should I wear today?”” (adapted from syndetics summary)
Overdressed : the shockingly high cost of cheap fashion / Elizabeth L. Cline.
“Fast fashion and disposable clothing have become our new norms. Elizabeth Cline argues that this rapid cycle of consumption isn’t just erasing our sense of style and causing massive harm to the environment and human rights-it’s also bad for our souls. Cline looks at the impact here and abroad of America’s drastic increase in inexpensive clothing imports, visiting cheap-chic factories in Bangladesh and China and exploring the problems caused by all those castoffs we donate to the Salvation Army. She also shows how consumers can vote with their dollars to grow the sustainable clothing industry, reign in the conventional apparel market, and wear their clothes with pride.” (adapted from syndetics summary)
We have some very lovely new fashion books and I’ve noticed a bit of a theme going on – illustrated biographies on the legendary Coco Chanel! They are really pretty and also whimsical, so I am totally down with this theme. The only difference is that one of these books is pitched at 5 year olds! Ha!! But honestly, it is such a sweet and pretty (and informative!) book that you won’t even care.
Coco Chanel (Little People, Big Dreams) [hardback]
“This book follows Coco Chanel, from her early life in an orphanage – where she is a genius with needle and thread – to her time as a cabaret singer, hat maker and, eventually, international fashion designer. This inspiring and informative little biography comes with extra facts about Coco’s life at the back. Ages 5+” (Syndetics)
Our other new Chanel book is by fashion artist Megan Hess and is très chic; you can have a gander at her other art here (she also published this book, of which I am a huge fan.).
Coco Chanel : the illustrated world of a fashion icon / Megan Hess.
“Coco Chanel is a compilation of Megan Hess’ stunning illustrations and of the 100 most quintessential moments through Chanel’s history, from Coco’s incredible life, to the impact of Karl Lagerfeld on the company and the incredible items that have become iconic of the brand. Interspersed with historical anecdotes and famous quotes from Coco herself, Karl Lagerfeld and other key fashion icons of the era, this book is an elegant and immersive introduction to the moments that shaped Coco and the iconic Chanel brand – and how fashion, in turn, shaped their lives.” (Syndetics)
Aaaaalso, you should check out this video. It shows the crazy intricate detail that went in to two individual dresses in the latest Chanel couture show. Honestly you should watch it; these dresses were hand beaded and one was also coloured by hand!! Insane. (The soundtrack is kinda nice too.)
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Get your talons ready! We have a brand new book that is going to make them very happy indeed. This book will fill the gap in your life that Pinterest leaves behind… you know when you see those a-may-zing nail art photos, then have the crushing realisation that you def can’t do it yourself? Yeah? Well now you can.
Nail it! / Sophie Harris-Greenslade.
“Glitter, jewels, and 3D effects: there’s no limit to the magic you can make when you NAIL IT! Beginning with the basics, celebrity nail stylist Sophie Harris-Greenslade covers everything from creating a flat base and working with color and pattern to using stencils, wraps, and stick-ons, and mastering more complicated techniques. One hundred stunning designs, all illustrated in striking close-ups, include Diva, Pop Art, Rock Star, Dark Side, and the runway-ready Haute Coat.” (Syndetics summary)
September is BIG in the fashion world. It’s when the new year and new season of fashion starts; all the biggest fashion weeks happen all over the world and September fashion magazine issues are always super fat – crammed with all the looks and collections for the upcoming season. As Candy Pratts Price of Vogue fame claims: “September is the January in fashion”.
If you haven’t seen The September Issue, then you need to get it out now. It’s all about the preparation that went into the publication of Vogue’s September 2007 issue. A bit of an oldie (released 2009) but such a goodie – it gives an amazing insight into the making of the world’s most famous fashion magazine, as well as a front row seat to watch the politics play out between editor Anna Wintour and style guru Grace Coddington. It also features cameo appearances by the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Oscar de la Renta and always hilarious Andre Leon Talley. A must-watch!
SO I was browsing through this Fashionista’s Guide to Shopping in Melbourne (ahem) and I saw that someone left a handy post-it note inside!
Negl, it was kinda exciting finding something like this; I had aaaaaall sorts of amazing discovery situations going on in my head – namely this one. It wasn’t quite as exciting as that, but it was pretty thoughtful I guess:
“This book has flown to Melbourne and back! [We do not recommend taking our library books on holiday with you, btw] Note – some of the places listed no longer exist, eg – Anonymous Posh. New places have sprung up eg COS. Gertrude St well worth a visit.”
Good to know, mysterious and helpful library patron! Good to know.
Image: Juicy Couture Instagram
I’m a massive fan of Juicy Couture. It’s such a bright and fun brand. I especially love their jewellery – those charms are so freakin’ adorable! And ADDICTIVE.
So imagine my delight when I found their new book here at the library:
The glitter plan : how we started Juicy Couture for $200 and turned it into a global brand / Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor with Booth Moore.The Glitter Plan: How We Started Juicy Couture for $200 and Turned It into a Global Brand
“While working together at a LA boutique, Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor became friends over the impossibility of finding the perfect T-shirt. Following their vision of comfortable, fitted T-shirts, they set up shop in Gela’s one-bedroom Hollywood apartment with $200 and one rule: Whatever they did, they both had to be obsessed by it. The best friends’ project became Juicy Couture. Pam and Gela eventually sold their company to Liz Claiborne for $50 million, but not before they created a whole new genre of casual clothing that came to define California cool.” (Syndetics summary)
This week I am loving this – the top twelve fashion books for the fashionista’s coffee table.
Check out my picks here:
Always pack a party dress : and other lessons learned from a (half) life in fashion / Amanda Brooks.
“An authentic voice in the world of style and how- to books, Amanda Brooks’ I Love Your Style (It Books) has been a fan-favourite since publication in 2009. Her unique and enviable yet accessible style has inspired thousands of women to find a personal look of their own. In Always Pack a Party Dress, Brooks recalls her early career aspirations and explores the evolution of her own personal style along with stories of successes and failures alike, as well as fashion and beauty tips and inspiring photographs. A must-read for high fashion or street style aficionados.” (Syndetics summary)
kate spade new york : things we love : twenty years of inspiration, intriguing bits and other curiosities / [editors, Deborah Aaronson, Rebecca Kaplan].
“Long before the days of pinboards and social sharing, the brand’s in-house creative team began amassing a collection of things we love on their website: a crayon ring, a cocktail doodle, a particularly dreamy photograph. Each of the book’s 20 chapters is filled with things we love –from the color red to a well-placed bow to a sense of humor and handwritten notes. Part visual diary, part inspirational reference and sprinkled throughout with playful tips and practical advice, things we love is a beautiful compilation that visually represents the spirit of kate spade new york.”– Harper’s Bazaar.com” (adapted from syndetics summary)
Advanced style / Ari Seth Cohen ; foreword by Maira Kalman ; interview by Dita von Teese.
“Advanced Style is Ari Seth Cohen’s blog-based-ode to the confidence, beauty and fashion that can only be achieved through the experience of a life lived glamourously. It is a collection of street fashion unlike any seen before – focused on the over-60 set in the world’s most stylish locales. Inspired by his own grandmother’s unique personal style and his own interest in put-together fashion of vibrant seniors, this collection of timeless images and words of wisdom provide fashion inspiration for all ages and prove that age is nothing but a state of mind.” (Syndetics summary)
Images via the National Media Museum
The styles in today’s Fashion Friday are 100 years old… true story!!
These images were taken in Dorset, England in 1913 by Mervyn O’Gorman, an author and electrical engineer whose hobby was photography. He had the cunning idea of using potato starch to create colour prints, at a time when prints were only in black and white, which has given us this amazingly colourful peek into the fashion of 1913. His daughter Christina is his model in the shots and quite frankly, they are beautiful! Check them all out here.
HOORAY! A new book combining two of my favourite things – fashion and Instagram.
Designers on Instagram takes the very best pics from the Instagram accounts of the fashion world’s most coveted brands and collates them into this one (delicious) volume – enjoy!
Designers on Instagram : #fashion / the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
“An original collection of photography from the biggest names in American fashion, Designers on Instagram culls the most interesting, stylish, and unique photographs on Instagram from the designers that comprise the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Handpicked by the designers themselves, the images include choices from CFDA members such as Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Rachel Zoe, and John Varvatos. Organized by content sections such as Behind the Scenes, Travel, and Parties, this glimpse through the lens of the designers themselves will provide photography fans and fashionistas alike with a brand-new take on their favorite tastemakers.” (Syndetics summary)
Yes, it’s true. There is now a library where you can borrow CLOTHES!!
At Lena Fashion Library in Amsterdam, you can subscribe and borrow clothing just as the same as you would books, starting from just $30NZD a month. It is stocked with a full range of designer and vintage items, and I think I would actually die of happiness.
The library was founded by fashionistas who felt we live in an “over-consuming society” and wanted to provide an alternative to cheap and nasty fast fashion, as well as all the social and environmental issues created by our insatiable desire for more and more clothing. There are all different membership levels depending on how much shopping borrowing you intend to do, and if you borrow an item you really love, you are even able to purchase it outright. eeeeeeee!!!
Time for WCL to branch out, perhaps?
I have a new viewing addiction, just in time for winter watching marathons. Yuss!! I recently got hooked on Dawn O’Porter’s This Old Thing; a show which flaunts the best of vintage fashion by inspiring young fashionistas to shop in vintage stores rather than on the high street. There’s a fair bit of DIY involved too, as some truly unusual ill-fitting vintage pieces are re-shaped and turned into fashion gems. I’ve been watching it in real time on the actual TV. So old school! (Sunday mornings on Choice TV at 10 or 11 ish if you want to tune in). I love it because it’s basically a show about shopping – swoon.
And, as luck would have it, we also have the book:
This old thing / Dawn O’Porter.
“Give your wardrobe a thoroughly modern vintage makeover with Dawn O’Porter and her team of style experts! Tying-in to her new prime-time six-part Channel 4 show of the same name, journalist Dawn O’Porter is a woman on a mission: to ignite Britain’s passion for vintage fashion! We’re a nation obsessed with cheap, disposable clothing – but Dawn and her team of vintage style experts are here to show you why hunting for one-of-a-kind fashion gems is more exciting, better value for money, and a lot more fun. Are you fed up of the same old high street shops? Are you bored of your wardrobe? Do you fear arriving at a party and seeing someone wearing the same thing as you? Yes? Then it sounds like you’re in need of a modern vintage makeover! THIS OLD THING is here to show you that vintage shopping doesn’t have to mean rummaging through old cardigans at a car boot sale – instead, let Dawn introduce you to a world of beautiful and unique fashion treasures, and show you how to create a glamorous personal style that is all your own. Packed full of insider vintage fashion know-how, THIS OLD THING will take you through the history behind your fashion favourites (including the classic Little Black Dress) advise you on how to find gorgeous vintage jewels of your own, and show you how a few simple tricks can turn an old item of clothing into a fabulous prized possession. Whether you’re a vintage virgin or a retro clothing addict, THIS OLD THING is an indispensable style handbook offering even more of the vintage hints, history and how-tos shared by Dawn in the new Channel 4 series.” (Syndetics summary)
Have you seen Cinderella yet? I haven’t and I’m SO behind!! I wasn’t that into it, tbh, but have been hearing so much about the fashion in the movie that I’m now super keen to see it!
To celebrate the new(ish) flick, nine designers have created the fairytale glass slipper for the modern day Cinderella. Which one’s your fave? I am in LOVE with these Jimmy Choos (worn by Lily James at the Cinderella premiere). Too bad they’re $4,595.
We have hoards of Cinderella materials here at the library but this is my fave:
Cinderella / [illustrated by K.Y. Craft].
Even if you’ve read the fairytale AND seen the movie, I recommend this book. The pictures (by Kinuko Y. Craft) are incredible and will add a definite dose of whimsy to your day.
Image used with permission from Denise at NZ Eco Fashion Week
Have you heard of it? I hadn’t either tbh, but this year’s NZ Eco Fashion Week is happening in June in Lower Hutt, and is set to go OFF!
Having started out in 2013, Eco Fashion Week has grown in popularity and has attracted attention from around the globe.
The event focuses on bringing “ethical products to the forefront of fashion” and has a full four-day schedule with two runway shows, styling events, and exclusive movie screening and pop-up shops. Local designers include Dane Dagger, Recreate and Heke Design, who ethically manufacture their pieces on Waiheke Island.
The full line up of designers and events is expected to be announced in early May, so stay tuned!
Here we have a new eco fashion book to keep you going in the meantime…
A teen guide to eco-fashion / Liz Gogerly.
This book is loaded with sweet tips to help you go green, whether you want to go all out or start small. Most importantly, it also has lots of ideas for making your wardrobe a little more eco friendly!
If I could be anywhere in the fashion world this week, I would choose London so I could check out the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition that started last week at the Victoria Albert Museum in London.
Celebrating the extraordinary creative talent of one of the most innovative designers of recent times, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty is the first and largest retrospective of McQueen’s work to be presented in Europe.
We have the utterly lush looking exhibition book on order, but you can place your reserve now! It’ll be just like visiting in person! Kinda!
We also have some other sweet new reads about Alexander McQueen…
Gods and kings : the rise and fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano / Dana Thomas.
“More than two decades ago, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen arrived on the fashions scene when the business was in an artistic and economic rut. Both struggled to get their businesses off the ground, despite early critical success. But by 1997, each had landed a job as creative director for couture houses owned by French tycoon Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH. Galliano’s and McQueen’s work for Dior and Givenchy and beyond not only influenced fashion; their distinct styles were also reflected across the media landscape. For both Galliano and McQueen, the pace was unsustainable. In her groundbreaking work Gods and Kings , acclaimed journalist Dana Thomas tells the true story of McQueen and Galliano. In so doing, she reveals the revolution in high fashion in the last two decades–and the price it demanded of the very ones who saved it.” (adapted from syndetics summary)
Alexander McQueen
“The definitive biography of Alexander McQueen which reveals the source of his genius and the links between his dark work and even darker life.” (Syndetics summary)
Did you know that Wellington City Libraries is on Pinterest? Yeah we are! And we have a brand new Fashion and Beauty board for your perusal… featuring the latest fashion books, fashion eBooks and eMagazines. Get in!
If you’ve been using Zinio, you’ll know exactly how easy it is to read the latest issue of your favourite magazine on your tablet, laptop or computer FOR FREE.
If you haven’t been using Zinio, you need to get onto it now!! We told you all about it when it first hit Wellington City Libraries back in 2012, and now there are sweet new titles to be had such as Marie Claire Australia, Cosmopolitan Australia and Renegade Collective (plus the existing titles, including Elle, Harpers Bazaar, Peppermint, Vogue… tempted yet?).
All you need is a device to read it on and your library card… get going! FREE!!
All images sourced from Orla Kiely on Instagram
As promised; the pics from Orla Kiely’s library inspired fashion show at London Fashion Week! The AW15 collection, titled ‘all quiet in the library’, is brimming with some of my very favourite fashion pieces… pinafores, prints, knits and, of course, collars. Too dreamy!!
Orla Kiely has written a few books too, including this one below on interior decorating. She also has two kids’ books – one on colours and one on numbers – if you’re that way inclined! Check out last week’s Fashion Friday post for her fashion reads.
Home / Orla Kiely.
“Internationally renowned designer Orla Kiely describes her career as ‘a journey in pattern and color’. Her distinctive palette and graphic and stylized motifs in clean repeat constructions, have won her devoted fans across the world, and have helped to turn what began as a small British business designing bags, into a global fashion, accessories and homeware brand. Following the success of her first book, Pattern, Home opens the door on Orla’s own house for the first time, and offers inspirational insights into using pattern and color, mixing old and new and turning a house into a liveable home. The book ends with series of beautifully photographed case studies of some of the mid-century modern homes she most admires.” (amazon.com)
