Does your reading list need a makeover? Spruce it up with some of the latest books to crack open the magic and mystery of fashion through vibrant photographs and insider stories.
• “ALEXANDER McQUEEN: UNSEEN” — It’s been six years since the untimely death of British designer Alexander McQueen, and there’s still so much the fashion world doesn’t know about the breadth and depth of his talents. His longtime photographer Robert Fairer, Vogue’s Sally Singer and McQueen expert Claire Wilcox fill in some of those gaps in “Alexander McQueen: Unseen” (Yale University Press, $65). Never-before-seen photos of his designs on and off the catwalk along with essays about him offer a rare glimpse into his artistry and aura.
• “AMERICAN DREAMER: MY LIFE IN FASHION & BUSINESS” — It sometimes seems there’s nothing Tommy Hilfiger can’t do. He’s transformed football fields into fashion shows, thrown a carnival to launch a new collection and built a brand that’s known worldwide for its preppy-cool Americana vibe. Now he’s added author to his list of accomplishments with the release of “American Dreamer: My Life in Fashion & Business” ($30, Ballantine Books), which he penned with Peter Knobler. The memoir is a raw and touching account of the designer’s humble upbringing, the development of his namesake label and how he turned it into a global fashion powerhouse.
• “VERSACE” — “Versace” (Rizzoli, $95), a visual history of the renowned Italian fashion house, is sure to dress up any coffee table with its exquisite collection of exclusive contemporary and archival photos, backstage imagery and behind-the-scenes shots. In particular, the photography chronicles the brand’s evolution under the leadership of Donatella Versace, who took over as creative artistic director in 1997 and is the book’s lead author. Curator/critic Maria Luisa Frisa, W magazine editor Stefano Tonchi, Business of Fashion editor-at-large Tim Blanks and the late writer Ingrid Sischy are among the book’s other key contributors.
