If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission. Learn more about our policies and reviews.
One of the best ways to preserve an iconic fashion designer, brand, or celebrity style is through a grandiose book. Usually reserved for coffee or cocktail tables, these books are large in scale and feature behind-the-scenes and minimally seen, if at all, photos that tell the stories of their fabulous lives.
Below are some of the best celebrity fashion books available that memorialize style icons such as supermodel Kate Moss who is known for her impeccable vintage taste, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel who needs no introduction, and the brilliant, late designer, Alexander McQueen.
We have also included books that delve into lesser-known tales about a coveted best-dressed list, a famous costume designer famed for his red ruby slippers, and a beautiful book about the history of all your favorite fashions.
Comparing the Top Celebrity Fashion Book
The International Best Dressed List — Best Overall
This incredible book of style presents the complete history of the much-lauded International Best-Dressed List launched by the so-called godmother of fashion, Eleanor Lambert. The list itself has become a barometer of style, was the highest honor anyone could receive, and today, it’s an ongoing record of the world’s most glamorous women and men from all walks of life. This book is also a mix of beautiful photographs and backstories of this ubiquitous list.
Pros
- This book chronicles each era beginning with the 1940s when the list was launched
Cons
- You should be a fan of fashion to thoroughly enjoy this book
Musings on Fashion and Style — Runner Up
Edited by iconic fashion model and stylist Kate Moss, and the premier South American Fashion Museum, Museo de la Moda, this stylish book celebrates iconic vintage fashion moments throughout history. This book features a selection of one hundred archival pieces housed in the museum, each charting different fashion trends that have inspired Moss’s personal style.
Pros
- This book includes text contributions from a fashion curator
Cons
- Being passionate about style, fashion, history, design, and culture is helpful to enjoy the book
Adrian: A Lifetime of Movie Glamour, Art and High Fashion — Honorable Mention
This visual look at the fashion, art, and homes is of the same man who created the famous ruby slippers worn in The Wizard of Oz and is also a celebration of his life and work. Adrian designed costumes for over 150 Hollywood productions and their iconic actresses of Hollywood’s iconic golden age and each is chronicled via a treasure trove of never before seen images and anecdotes taken from an unpublished manuscript.
Pros
- This book was published with the cooperation of the designer’s family
Cons
- In addition to fashion, this book is heavy on personal effects such as paintings and art collections
Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style — Most Robust
This updated definitive visual guide of fashion, in collaboration with the Smithsonian museum, is a reference guide packed with illustrations of 1500 costumes from around the globe. It celebrates famous trendsetters, designers, and fashion icons and gives some background on why different looks caught on in different centuries. This book can be considered a fashion bible and makes a great decorative piece in any living area.
Pros
- This book celebrates everyone from Queen Henrietta Maria to Jackie-O and Jean-Paul Gautier
Cons
- If you don’t like heavy books, another option might be better
Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour By Dita Von Teese — Best for Makeup Fanatics
This glamourous book takes you through every step of Ms. Von Teese’s makeup, hair, medicine, and exercise routines to provide some of her unique and authoritative advice. This 400-page book is large, has high-definition glossy pages, and is also packed with her nutrition and exercise guidance, skincare, and scent insight. Use this book as a resource for inspiring future makeup looks while also learning the skills, history, and lessons you need to enhance your inner and outer beauty.
Pros
- This book is filled with illustrations and photographs
Cons
- If you are not into makeup, another option might be better
Alexander McQueen: Unseen — Best for High-Fashion Fans
In this tribute to the brilliant fashion designer Alexander McQueen, the author has put together an intimate and vibrant photo book of the designer’s collections, taken backstage and on the catwalk when few photographers were allowed access. This behind-the-scenes book also offers a unique insight into McQueen’s life and work with previously unpublished photos of his fashion shows.
Pros
- The author is a famous backstage fashion photographer for Vogue
Cons
- This book does not feature all of his work
Chanel: The Vocabulary of Style — Also Consider
This luxe coffee table book tells the story of legendary designer Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel and her iconic style through hundreds of images taken by the best fashion photographers. This book pairs both classic and contemporary photos showcasing fashion from Chanel’s time alongside those by the late designer in chief, Karl Lagerfeld.
Pros
- The photographers who took the photos in this book are iconic themselves
Cons
- If you prefer a small book, another option might be better
Buying Guide: Celebrity Fashion Books
Do you happen to like a designer by any chance? All of us do have some style icons that we try to follow in our daily lives. These style icons can be fashion designers, movie stars, supermodels, or any other person related to the fashion industry. How will you feel if all of the latest designs and fashion outfits of some designer or a movie star are compiled in a single book? It will feel like having the latest fashion sense lying by your bed on the side table all the time.
Whenever you want to know a thing or two about the latest trends, you can pick up the book and take notes. The highest-rated celebrity fashion books in 2024 will include all the style ideas, supermodel photoshoots, makeup routines, and dressing sense of that particular celebrity. To make things easier for you, we have put together a comprehensive buying guide.
What is the Origin of Celebrity Fashion Books?
Fashion books have been making a huge noise in the industry for all the right reasons for quite a long time now. It all started from the fashion weeks in Paris and New York in the late 1960s when the designers and models from all over the world made regular visits. Since then, different designers, makeup artists, hairstylists, celebrities, and supermodels are coming up with their own fashion books for their fans and followers.
What Points Are Critical to Consider When Buying a Celebrity Fashion Book?
Pick a category
Fashion books are available in different categories and types. Some books revolve around hairstyles. You can get to know about all the trending hair styling options from the book of top hairstylists and celebrities. If getting a good hairstyle is your obsession, then you should be looking for a fashion book that offers exactly that.
Just like the hairstyling options, you will also come across a number of fashion books that deal with dresses and outfits of different types. These can be the top-rated collections from your favorite designers or dresses from the daily life of your favorite actresses. In any case, if you want to add more variety, style, and elegance to your wardrobe, then this type of fashion book is a must-have for you.
Some women are very passionate about makeup and beauty. You may have all the latest and most expensive makeup essentials, but what if you are unaware of how to get the perfect makeup look? For this reason, you can look for fashion books that talk solely about makeup tips. Moreover, the celebrity makeup books will take you through the daily makeup routines of some top-ranked celebrities from all over the world.
Check customer reviews
Whenever you plan to buy something online, you should go through the reviews section of that particular product. Although some companies might get paid reviews, still you will get an idea about the product if you go through a lot of them. The same practice should be followed whenever you plan to buy a fashion book. It will help you to get an idea about what the book is offering and how helpful it will be for you. Make sure you go through both the positive and negative reviews to get an idea about the pros and cons.
Your budget
The price tag of your fashion book also matters a lot as people from different backgrounds have different budgets. You should set your budget before heading to the market or scouring the internet to know from where you should start your research. The price range varies widely and the difference in price is mainly due to the reputation of the celebrities that own such books. The more popular a celebrity is, the more expensive the fashion book will be. You should search for the books that fit your budget and choose the best one amongst them.
Are Celebrity Fashion Books Worth Buying?
Certainly, they are. It all depends on your interest and taste for the fashion trends of today. If you like following up on the daily routines of your favorite celebrities from around the world, these books are a must-have for you. You might come across images and blogs on the internet, too, but a celebrity fashion book offers much more than that and is way more authentic.
You are more likely to learn from the personal experiences and lifestyles of the designers and other celebrities. In short, these books are worth buying and can be a perfect addition to your little home-based library.
