The giving and receiving of books at Christmas is a no-brainer - usually everyone in my family gets at least one each and every year and for me, nothing beats curling up on the sofa at the end of Christmas Day and losing oneself in a new book. Here are there that should come top of the list for any fashion fan this year…
American Style and Spirit: Fashions and Lives of the Roddis Family, 1850–1995 (by Jane Bradbury and Edward Maeder, £30 published by V&A Publishing) is a fascinating insight into the wardrobes of the Roddis family from Marshfield, Wisconsin, featuring over 300 perfectly preserved garments and accessories that were stored in the attic for generations. Accompanied by archival objects, family photographs, and letters, the book is packed with titbits about the original owners, where the clothes came from or who made them. Imagine the astonishment of the co-author, Jane Bradbury, when her aunt, Augusta Denton Roddis, shared the collection? From corseted crinolines, to beaded 20s masterpieces, refined wartime fashions and fun fifties pieces, it’s an incredible collection. It’s a completely fascinating tome, unlike any other and a must have for any fan of fashion history.
Sticking with the V&A (they undoubtedly produce the best fashion books…) The Wedding Dress - 300 Years of Bridal Fashion (£25 by Edwina Ehrman) looks at the traditions and trends of
the what is arguably the most important dress a woman will ever wear. From the eighteenth century origins of wearing white to elaborate recent creations from some of the worlds biggest designer names, this has it all. Packed with drool-inducing photography, from the very first gown - a 1933 creation with incredible fluted tulle sleeves and covered in beaded stars - you will be poring over every page.
Vogue editor Alexandra Schulman put pen to paper at last for this year’s centenary, resulting in Inside Vogue: A Diary of my 100th Year (Fig Tree, £16.99). If you’ve ever wondered what goes on inside Vogue House this should serve as something of an insight. Schulman is a candid writer and the book delves into both sides of her; the megastar editor attending celebrity packed parties and jetting around the world for fashion week and the working London mother. I won’t give too much away, suffice to say it’s worth picking up a copy.
Love Laurel x
