What's on Our Shelves: The 18 Fashion Books You'll Want to Read Immediately

When it comes to classic and effortless style, there's no denying that Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was an icon. The imagery will leave you itching to re-create her tasteful ensembles, and anecdotes from luminaries such as Tory Burch, Samira Nasr, and Wes Gordon will give you further insight into the impact she left behind.

This is one of the coffee table books that you and your guests will definitely be flipping through. It's no secret that J.Crew's seen a boom in popularity this past year, but the brand's influence spans decades, and this book takes you through the brand's highs of American sportswear.

Allison Bornstein's videos and coveted "Three Word Method" have helped many on their personal style journeys, and Wear It Well takes the joy of getting dressed even further. If you're in a wardrobe rut or want to start the New Year getting the most out of your clothes, this book is for you.

When Emily Weiss launched Glossier after finding success with a beauty blog, there was a surge in "Millennial Pink" packaging in everyone's makeup bags. This book delves into how exactly the start-up built a cult following and became one of the most disruptive brands in the beauty industry.

The Oxford button-down shirt, hand-stitched loafer, and three-button jacket are all things we'd call wardrobe staples or pieces of polished style. But Black Ivy explores how the classic "Ivy Look" was redefined by stylish men who were fighting for racial equality and civil rights and how that change influences today's menswear.

We know that Anna Wintour is the editor in chief of American Vogue (and has been since 1988), but Amy Odell's biography of Wintour shares the story of how she rose to become one of the most powerful figures in fashion media. With extensive interviews with her friends, collaborators and media insiders, this book tells not only the story of Wintour but also the hierarchal dynamics of the fashion industry and Condé Nast.

If your shoe racks are lined with sneakers, and you're constantly waiting for the next coveted shoe to drop, this book will pique your interest. Going through 100 years of sneaker history, it gives you a deeper look into the evolution of brands like Nike, Converse, and Adidas, and how every new sneaker brought out another level of hype.

You may already own the catwalk books of Prada and Chanel, so this new release should be on your radar. Givenchy: The Complete Collections (Catwalk) celebrates the house's history and features designs from Hubert de Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, and Matthew M. Williams.

Virgil Abloh and Nike first came together to create a collection in 2016, and this book documents how exactly the two brought ideas to the table. The book highlights Abloh's work with lettering, ironic labels, and sculpting techniques, and also explores the culture of sneakers and collaborative work within fashion and design history.

If you already zipped right through the first part of Netflix's The Crown season six, this book might satisfy you until the next part comes out. The Crown in Vogue is a tribute to the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II and her family. From beginning to end, you'll see the royal family through the lens of British Vogue.

The New York City Ballet celebrated its 75th anniversary this year and has been collaborating with prominent designers since its inception. The most recent collaborators? Wes Gordon of Carolina Herrera and Christopher John Rogers stand out. New York City Ballet Choreography & Couture features more than 30 designers and their work for the ballet and how their designs are adapted to work with the dancer's performances. 

André Leon Talley is not a name one forgets, and his memoir, The Chiffon Trenches, offers a candid look into his career and how he survived the industry while facing racism, rumors, and general challenges of the cutthroat fashion world. 

While we all watched J.Crew's journey back to the heights of the industry this year, many wondered how the brand flew under the radar for so long when it was once the peak of American fashion. Fashion journalist Maggie Bullock tells the story of J.Crew, how it rose to its legacy of preppy style and how it was hit by the unfortunate "retailer apocalypse."

We like to think the industry has come far in setting more realistic beauty standards, but the harsh reality is that it's still affecting the emotional and physical health of girls and women. Many of them know they need to fight a way against their beauty-sick culture but can't figure out where to begin. Beauty Sick provides workable solutions to help those struggling embrace their whole selves and transform their lives—and inspires them to redefine what "beauty" means away from those who aim to belittle and manipulate them.

In 1973, five top American designers faced off against five top French designers in front of an audience filled with notable people such as Princess Grace of Monaco, the Duchess of Windsor, Paloma Picasso, and Andy Warhol. This one night altered fashion history, and journalist Robin Givhan offers a lively and well-researched account of this event. 

If you're looking for a broader scope of the fashion industry as a whole, Dress Code is an essay collection that covers everything from the French archetype that remains popular to how our clothes send signals to those around us. 

Edward Enninful's issues of British Vogue are unlike anything we've ever seen before. From constantly championing designers and photographers of color to putting first responders and activists on his covers, Enninful wants nothing more but to change the way we view the exclusive industry that is fashion.

Patricia Field's memoir details her time as a costume designer for Sex and the City, so those who still want more intel from the wardrobes of Carrie Bradshaw will be pleased. It also covers the beginning of her fashion career as a store owner in Downtown NYC and her most recent gig creating the conversation-stirring outfits on Emily in Paris.