7 books to give to fashion enthusiasts

1 A thousand billion ribbonsby Loïc Prigent

After sharing snippets of conversations captured on the fly on the sidelines of fashion shows, Loïc Prigent wrote his first essay telling his own fashion history for Editions Grasset. In fact, A thousand billion ribbons stands out as the first volume in a series of works where the world of couture is revealed through the relationship he himself maintains with it. The journalist starts here with a question that occurred to him one day: who invented ready-to-wear? Through a documented investigation, he attempts to answer them.

2 Little stories about our clothesby Denis Bruna

At the end of the year, Denis Bruna released a new work published by Textuel. As its title suggests, Little stories about our clothes is interested in the contents of our cupboards. Over the course of 352 pages, the fashion historian draws up an alphabet book in which anoraks, overalls, jellyfish and slippers are discovered through often surprising anecdotes. Small in size, this beautiful book is a fun way to learn more about the past of our clothes and other accessories.

3 Alexander McQueenthe Véronique Mons

Until this year, no French-language coffee table retraced the journey of Alexander McQueen. Having worked at Givenchy and then in his own house, this genius artistic director has nevertheless left his mark on the history of French fashion. Through the themes they addressed as well as their composition, his parades were at the forefront and left their mark.

In this eponymous work, the Belgian journalist and philosopher, Véronique Bergen, immerses us in the world of this enfant terrible by evoking his inspirations, his language, his references, but also the torments that never left him.

4 Mode durableby Sihem Dekhili, Valérie Guillard and Mohamed Akli Achabou

While many works celebrate the heritage of fashion, others also look toward its future. This is particularly the case of Mode durable which questions the ways of producing and consuming within our societies. Sihem Dekhili, Valérie Guillard and Mohamed Akli Achabou thus demonstrate a critical vision. This aims to evolve our designs in order to better respond to the economic, environmental and social challenges that arise from “fourth most destructive sector of life”.

5 History of fashion and clothingunder the direction of Denis Bruna and Chloé Demey

History of fashion and clothing will quickly establish itself as one of the reference works for those who are passionate about the subject. Under the direction of Denis Bruna and Chloé Demey, this thick pink volume stands out for its ambitious approach: telling a new history of fashions, ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day, by studying their sociological and economic circumstances.

In addition to covering a wide period and noting the uses, materials and know-how then in force, the authors are interested in the toilet of the elites as well as that of the people, in the clothes which parade on the catwalks as in the streets, to those worn by women as well as men, children, and even animals.

6 The Department Store Sagaunder the direction of Elvira Férault and Isabelle Marquette

“It was the cathedral of modern commerce, solid and light, made for a people of customers”wrote Émile Zola in To the Ladies' Happiness. Although this description remains relevant, since the opening of the first department store in the world, namely Aristide Boucicaut's Bon Marché, in 1852, they have constantly reinvented themselves.

On the occasion of the exhibition The Department Store Sagato be discovered until April 6, 2025, the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine has published a work of the same name. This highlights the composition and decorations of these infrastructures which have accompanied and continue to anticipate the metamorphoses of our societies.

7 High fashion murdersby Astrid Faguer and Maud Gabrielson

High fashion murders will delight fans of fashion and news. Throughout the pages, Astrid Faguer and Maud Gabrielson sketch a gallery of portraits which combine the precision of journalistic investigation with the rhythm of the detective novel.

“From the mysterious death of star model Katoucha to the kidnapping of the Guerlain family, including the kidnapping of Calvin Klein's daughter, without forgetting the tragic end of Ossie Clark and the assassination of Maurizio Gucci, [les autrices] reopen several key or lesser known files »says the back cover. Having taken place at different times and, consequently, in their own circumstances, these criminal cases thus retrace the history of fashion and its issues in a unique way.