Best fashion books: Christmas 2019

​Marc Jacobs Illustrated by Marc Jacobs, illustrated by Grace Coddington

Marc Jacobs is celebrating 30 years of his eponymous company this year, and as part of the celebration has launched a new brand The Marc Jacobs.

Jacobs also asked long-time friend, former creative director of American Vogue and breakout star of The September Issue, Grace Coddington to illustrate her pick of designs from his archive.

The resulting sketches have been beautifully bound with commentary from Jacobs and a foreword by another of his good friends, Sofia Coppola.

(Phiadon, £39.95)

​Issues: A History of Photography in Fashion Magazines by Vince Aletti

Anyone looking to feel better about the stack of glossies they just can't bare to part with will be heartened by Issues.

The oversized tome spans almost a century of fashion magazine publishing, via 100 significant issues taken from photography critic Vince Aletti's extensive personal archive.

Understandably given the subject matter, rich illustrations and beautiful reproductions are the focus here, as Aletti retells a history of photography from a new angle.

With inclusion of images from American, British and French Vogue, W, The Face, Harper's Bazaar and more this is a chronicle of fashion, technology and social changes from 1920-2018.

(Phaidon, £75)

​Thierry Mugler: Couturissme by Thierry-Maxime Loriot and Nathalie Bondil

Thierry Mugler has been back in the spotlight in a big way in 2019 - from Cardi B rocking an archive couture 'Venus' creation at the Grammy's to a retrospective at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

For those who can't make it over to Canada (or borrow vintage couture), the monograph that accompanies the exhibition is the next best thing.

Featuring 450 images the lavishly-designed book follows Mugler's career from the creation of his label in 1974 and showcases never-before-seen work by Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon and David LaChapelle.

(Phaidon, £110)

​Fashion in LA by Tania Fares and Krista Smith

From the magic of the red carpet to the dominance of denim, the influence of LA on modern fashion is impossible to ignore. Looking beyond the Hollywood hype, this hardback book profiles more than 40 designers instrumental to the style success of the city.

From Tania Fares, the co-editor of London Uprising: Fifty Fashion Designers, One City and Krista Smith a former executive west coast editor for Vanity Fair.

(Phaidon, £65)

​Fabien Baron: Works 1983-2019 by Fabien Baron

As one of the most in demand art directors working today, you'll know Fabien Baron's work if not his name. The creative mind behind some of the most influential fragrance and fashion campaigns of all time, Baron's work across photography, print, film, furniture design and typography has changed the visual landscape - and shows no signs of stopping.

Chronicling the first three decades of his career, this retrospective is a must for anyone with an interest in visual language. A foreword by Kate Moss - a long-time collaborator - and text by New Yorker staff writer Adam Gopnik bring further substance to all that style.

(Phaidon, £150)

Avedon Advertising by Richard Avedon, by The Richard Avedon Foundation, Laura Avedon

American photographer Richard Avedon was one of the greats, not least for his influential advertising work from the Forties to the turn of the milennium.

This reproduction of some of his most celebrated, famous or ground-breaking campaigns charts the changing face of advertising, and its reflection of consumer appetites.

Featuring memorable ads from the likes of Revlon, Chanel, Calvin Klein, Dior and Versace, this tome documents the journey from post-war prosperity to the dominance of celebrity culture and global brand awareness.

(Abrams, £95)

Dream Baby Dream by Jimmy Marble

From the pure romance of prairie dresses to the upcoming Tim Walker exhibition at the V&A, it's fair to say that fashion is having a dreamy moment.

So this vivid and tactile edition is a fitting chronicle of the times. Featuring fashion and lifestyle photographs of models and celebrities by LA-based photographer Jimmy Marble the sunny So-Cal aesthetic positively beams from the page.

(Chronicle Chroma, £21.99)

Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion by Marcellas Reynolds

When you think about the impact that black models have made on the industry it's amazing that there hasn't been a celebration of their beauty in book form before.

But, celebrity stylist and journalist Marcellas Reynolds is the first to focus on this amazing lineage tracing it from ground breakers such as Iman and Beverly Johnson via Nineties supers Naomi and Tyra to some of the biggest, and most vocal, names of today including Adwoa Aboah, Jourdan Dunn and Joan Smalls

With images of catwalk shows, covers, campaigns and editorials this book is a visual feast, featuring more than 70 women from the last 60 years. Going beneath the surface glamour, there are revealing essays and interviews too which are testament to the way these women have shaped fashion, pop culture and even society.

(Abrams, £40)

Chanel: The Making of a Collection by Laetitia Cenac, Jean-Philippe Delhomme, Karl Lagerfeld

Long time creative director of Chanel Karl Lagerfeld sadly died earlier this year, but as perhaps the fashion world's most industrious figure his work continues to live on. Such as in this new illustrated book, which features not only Lagerfeld's process but an interview with the great man himself.

A journalist for Madame Figaro, Laetitia Cénac, discovers how a collection is born in the studio, following its journey through the ateliers which brought Lagerfeld's vision to life right through to the brand's famously immersive runway shows.

Hundreds of illustrations from artist Jean-Philippe Delhomme bring this unprecedented look behind the scenes to life.

(Abrams, £26.99)

Christian Dior by Oriolle Cullen

Published to accompany the breathtaking Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition at the V&A, this very special catalogue documents the House of Dior from its 1947 inception to the present day.

Beautiful large scale photographs by Laziz Hamani are a lasting souvenir of haute-couture gowns by of each of the house's creative directors including Yves Saint Laurent, John Galliano, Raf Simons, Maria Grazia Chiuri and, of course, Dior himself.

The exhibitions curator Oriole Cullen provides an introductory chapter as well as detailed descriptions of each gown to supplement the imagery. A worthy souvenir from one of the best fashion exhibitions London has seen in years.

The sold-out exhibition is now in its final weeks and hardback and paperback copies of this volume are currently on offer at the V&A Shop.

(V&A Publishing, £40)

Peter Lindbergh: A Different Vision of Fashion Photography

Discover four decades of unique fashion storytelling from Peter Lindbergh. This stunning photographic collection includes more than 400 Lindbergh pictures, many previously unpublished, to showcase his seductive, cinematic aesthetics and the new narrative vision he brought to art and fashion. The images are accompanied by personal tributes from Jean Paul Gaultier, Cindy Crawford, Anna Wintour, and other front-row royalty.

Pirelli - The Calendar. 50 Years And More

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legendary Pirelli calendar, this retrospective volume brings together all calendar images from 1964-2014 from such greats as Richard Avedon, Peter Beard, Annie Leibovitz, Peter Lindbergh, and Mario Testino, as well as behind-the-shoots insights from art directors Derek Forsyth and Martyn Walsh, and many exclusive unpublished images.

£ 50

Looking for more inspiration?

Check out this round up of the best fashion coffee table books from years gone by.