There is absolutely no shame in admitting that you own a coffee table book or two that you have barely skimmed through, because if we are being honest, the main reason people buy said books is for decorative purposes. Due to their rather large size and stunning imagery, though, coffee table books can be quite an investment, so wouldn't you want to buy one that will actually entice you and your guests to open it up and read it?
As a fashion-coffee-table-book connoisseur myself, I love discovering a stunning new book to put on display in my home, and this season, whether you're looking to treat yourself or others, a coffee table book is always a great idea. Naturally, all the ones listed below are fashion-focused, covering everything from the history of sneakers to rare Polaroids captured by Andy Warhol. Out of the 21 fashion coffee table books ahead, there is not one you won't want to open up and read over and over again.
"The first published collection of photographs by the icon of street style, bringing together favorites published in The New York Times alongside never-before-seen work across five decades." — Penguin Random House
"Andy Warhol was a relentless chronicler of life and its encounters. Carrying a Polaroid camera from the late 1950s until his death in 1987, he amassed a huge collection of instant pictures of friends, lovers, patrons, the famous, the obscure, the scenic, the fashionable, and himself. Created in collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation, this book features hundreds of these instant photos." — Taschen
"Selected by fashion journalist Alexander Fury, Chanel: The Impossible Collection showcases the best images from the world’s foremost editorial photographers, specialist museums, and private collections, including rarely seen archival photos, this handcrafted Ultimate Collection volume is the quintessential compendium for fashion aficionados." — Assouline
"Drawing from Susan Sontag's seminal 1964 essay 'Notes on Camp,' this multifaceted publication presents the sartorial manifestations of the camp sensibility while contributing new theoretical and conceptual insights to the camp canon through texts and images." — The Metropolitan Musem of Art
"An inspirational journey through black fashion in America from the twentieth century to the present, featuring the most celebrated icons of Black style and taste. One of the few surveys of Black style and fashion ever published, How to Slay offers a lavishly illustrated overview of African American style through the twentieth century, focusing on the last thirty-five years. " — Rizzoli
"Prabal Gurung offers a window into Gurung’s design process, and it is filled with inspiration, mood boards, sketches, runway shots, and photographs of the clothing from the last 10 years." — Abrams
"In 1969, Andy Warhol launched Interview, an underground film journal that quickly transformed into an iconic symbol of New York City culture and style. The monthly’s expansive conversations and irreverent approach opened doors to the intimate circles of society and became a launchpad for creative talents such as André Leon Talley and Fran Lebowitz. With a vibrant mix of rising celebrities including Madonna and Leonardo DiCaprio, alongside the legendary presence of Elizabeth Taylor and Steven Spielberg, the magazine became known as 'The Crystal Ball of Pop.' Now, fifty years since its inception, dive into the extraordinary archives of Interview and rediscover the columns, photography and voices that collectively tell the history of American culture decade by decade." — Assouline
"This exquisite book takes the reader on a kaleidoscopic journey through the history of makeup, style, and color at the revered fashion house of Dior." — Rizzoli
"Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005-2016 is the photographer's follow-up to her two landmark books, Annie Leibovitz: Photographs, 1970-1990 and A Photographer's Life, 1990-2005. In this new collection, Leibovitz has captured the most influential and compelling figures of the last decade in the style that has made her one of the most beloved talents of our time. Each of the photographs documents contemporary culture with an artist's eye, wit, and an uncanny ability to personalize even the most recognizable and distinguished figures." — Phaidon
"In The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion, curator and critic Antwaun Sargent addresses a radical transformation taking place in fashion and art today. The presentation of black figures and black runway and cover models in the media and art has been one marker of increasingly inclusive fashion and art communities. More critically, however, the contemporary visual vocabulary around beauty and the body has been reinfused with new vitality and substance thanks to an increase in powerful images authored by an international community of black photographers." — Aperture
"Created by Kate Moss herself, in collaboration with creative director Fabien Baron, Jefferson Hack, and Jess Hallett, this book is a highly personal retrospective of Kate Moss’s career, tracing her evolution from 'new girl with potential' to one of the most iconic models of all time." — Rizzoli
"Hailed by Vogue as the fashion bible and by Elle as the ultimate fashion reference book, The Fashion Book takes a fresh look at the fashion world and the people who created it. Easy to use and filled with beautiful and memorable images, it is the perfect A-Z guide to 500 key clothes and accessory designers, photographers, models and iconic celebrities who make up the fashion industry." — Phaidon
"This book is a complete catalogue of Ford's design work for both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent from 1994 to 2004. It chronicles not only Ford's clothing and accessories designs for both houses, but also explores Ford's grand vision for the complete design of a brand, including architecture, store design, and advertising." — Rizzoli
"For Abloh, the museum catalogue is another opportunity to 'question everything.' This monograph, produced in close collaboration with the artist himself, explores his creative output in a three-books-in-one format." — Prestel
"Sneakers is a definitive exploration of the cultural phenomenon of sneakers, now an 85-billion-dollar-a-year industry. This gift-worthy book features 320 pages of photos and interviews with industry gurus, sports legends, and celebrities in a stunning package created by celebrated designer Rodrigo Corral." — Penguin Random House
"Decade by decade, Vogue 100 presents the greatest moments in the magazine’s history—the photography, illustrations, and essays that recorded the fashion and taste of the time. Complete with essays that detail the rich history of each decade, the book covers the artists, designers, photographers, and writers who shaped the cultural landscape of the 20th century and beyond. With more than 300 photographs of these pivotal figures—from Matisse to Bacon, Freud to Hirst, Dietrich to Paltrow, and Schiaparelli to McQueen—Vogue 100 offers an in-depth look at a century of Britain’s fashion, art, and culture." — Abrams
"In celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the house of Dior comes the first volume in a series devoted to each designer of the couture house. Dior by Christian Dior is the ultimate compendium of the most iconic haute couture designs conceived by Christian Dior. Carefully conserved in the world’s great museums and institutions, these fashion treasures have been photographed and exclusively compiled for this indispensable collection." — Assouline
"This volume is a deeply personal illustrated chronicle of the evolution of Sevigny’s unique style throughout her career: from a teenage skater girl to award-winning film actress and fashion designer." — Rizzoli
"This hand-bound oversize Ultimate Collection edition presents a well-curated tour of the intricately crafted displays that continue to serve as references of the zeitgeist, from the legendary designer Gene Moore’s Christmas and Valentine’s displays to the neon creations of the current Tiffany & Co. creative team. Along with never-before-seen concept sketches, historical manuscripts, behind the scenes imagery and insights by cultural influencers and devotees of the world’s global arbiter of design and style, Windows at Tiffany’s revisits the whimsy and spirit of one of the world’s most recognized brands, and elicits nostalgia for each reader’s first blue box moment." — Assouline
"A celebration of the work of legendary fashion stylist Grace Coddington during her first 30 years at Vogue UK and US. First published in 2002, the reissue of this 408-page monograph of work by the legendary fashion stylist Grace Coddington is also a showcase for some of the greatest photographs ever published in British and American Vogue." — Phaidon
"This gorgeous book designed by Arnell offers an in-depth look into Gucci’s origins, identity, influence, and innovation, including fabrication methods and appropriation of signature materials, past and present, and its influence among high society and Hollywood. The book is a heartfelt and personalized tribute to the heritage and influence of this iconic, multifaceted brand." — Rizzoli
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My Mom Somehow Always Finds the Best Items at Walmart—Here's What She Sent Me to BuyYes, I was surprised too.
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Aritzia Is a Fashion-Person Paradise—These 25 Standouts Are Now on Major SaleThe basics alone are worth checking out.
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These 31 Classic Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Finds Are the Key to a Rich-Looking Summer WardrobeImagine the chic outfits.
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Shop 29 of This Week's Best New ArrivalsBuckle up.
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I Went to Shop the Zara Sale But Got Distracted by These 27 New-In Buys and Never Looked BackThey are too good.
