Books are a rich source of inspiration for a man looking for style. Here are three very different books published recently which I'd recommend.
Best of British: The Stories Behind Britain's Iconic Brands by Crompton, Egelnick & Friederichs (above) At a time when British menswear is undergoing increasing international success, this book celebrates some of the greatest names in British clothing manufacture. Many of them (Lock, James Smith and John Lobb for example) have remained in family ownership for centuries. When I started this blog, I was only dimly aware of the depth of this historic and valuable resource and, in general, our oldest and greatest brands are better known and appreciated outside Britain than they are within our shores.
This book is part of the effort to redress this balance. Simon Crompton is well-known for his blog Permanent Style and his writing captures the passion that underlies many of these brands, whose owners are all too aware of the value of the heritage they safeguard. Needless to say, the quality of what they produce is of the highest. The photographs complement the text, showing machinery ancient and modern, the products they make and those working the machinery with great affection and respect.
Of course, this book is selective and there are others that could have been included, but as a snapshot this book is an important record of the companies featured. Luckily most are seeing an upturn in fortunes as their skills and quality become appreciated around the world. Long may it continue. Buy this book if you have any interest in our great clothing and accessories industries. Published by Prestel. Buy Best of British: The Stories Behind Britain's Iconic Brands
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Best of British: The Stories Behind Britain's Iconic Brands by Crompton, Egelnick & Friederichs (above) At a time when British menswear is undergoing increasing international success, this book celebrates some of the greatest names in British clothing manufacture. Many of them (Lock, James Smith and John Lobb for example) have remained in family ownership for centuries. When I started this blog, I was only dimly aware of the depth of this historic and valuable resource and, in general, our oldest and greatest brands are better known and appreciated outside Britain than they are within our shores.
This book is part of the effort to redress this balance. Simon Crompton is well-known for his blog Permanent Style and his writing captures the passion that underlies many of these brands, whose owners are all too aware of the value of the heritage they safeguard. Needless to say, the quality of what they produce is of the highest. The photographs complement the text, showing machinery ancient and modern, the products they make and those working the machinery with great affection and respect.
Of course, this book is selective and there are others that could have been included, but as a snapshot this book is an important record of the companies featured. Luckily most are seeing an upturn in fortunes as their skills and quality become appreciated around the world. Long may it continue. Buy this book if you have any interest in our great clothing and accessories industries. Published by Prestel. Buy Best of British: The Stories Behind Britain's Iconic Brands
.A life in Fashion: The Wardrobe of Cecil Beaton by Benjamin Wild (above). Cecil Beaton's creativity expressed itself in his sartorial flamboyance and he patronised many of the best tailors, shirtmakers and accessories companies in his search for style. Taking elements from international fashion, he developed his own distinctive look. This book looks in detail at his wardrobe, his choice of clothes and how he used them to emphasise his body shape. He worked closely with his tailors, using their skills to achieve what he was looking for.
As one man's search for style, enhanced by his special theatrical creativity, I found this book fascinating. Beaton's intense sensitivity about his appearance clearly fuelled his constant search for sartorial success. As a detailed account of a man's search for perfection, this is a fascinating book, but it's also a useful outline of menswear history during the twentieth century. Thames & Hudson. Buy A Life in Fashion: The Wardrobe of Cecil Beaton
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As one man's search for style, enhanced by his special theatrical creativity, I found this book fascinating. Beaton's intense sensitivity about his appearance clearly fuelled his constant search for sartorial success. As a detailed account of a man's search for perfection, this is a fascinating book, but it's also a useful outline of menswear history during the twentieth century. Thames & Hudson. Buy A Life in Fashion: The Wardrobe of Cecil Beaton
.The Vintage Fashion Bible by Wayne & Gerardine Hemingway (above) provides a different sort of inspiration, recording men's and women's styles from the 1920s to 1990s. Its design is a retro as its content; it doesn't have any of the modern minimalist appearance of the other books reviewed here, but its crowded look and clashing colours and fonts contain a treasure trove of information.
Written by the founders of the Red or Dead fashion label, the book also offers tips on how to select and buy vintage clothing. Worth a look for the richness of the inspiration it contains. Published by David & Charles. Buy The Vintage Fashion Bible: The style guide to vintage looks 1920s -1990s
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Note: If you choose to buy these books through the links above you will be supporting this blog through Amazon's Associates' Scheme.
Written by the founders of the Red or Dead fashion label, the book also offers tips on how to select and buy vintage clothing. Worth a look for the richness of the inspiration it contains. Published by David & Charles. Buy The Vintage Fashion Bible: The style guide to vintage looks 1920s -1990s
.Note: If you choose to buy these books through the links above you will be supporting this blog through Amazon's Associates' Scheme.
Grey Fox
ReplyDeleteTwo comments. First, I have heard this comment before: “in general, our oldest and greatest brands are better known and appreciated outside Britain than they are within our shores.” I have spoken to tailors who have told me that British bespoke woollen suiting and revered and respected throughout the world…except in Great Britain. Second, my favourite menswear book is called GENTLEMEN – A TIMELESS FASHION by Bernhard Roetzel (Köneman, Cologne, 1999) promoting British style and brands written by a German, published in Germany and printed in Germany which proves my first point.
Thanks Robert. I mentioned the Gentleman book in a recent post on source of style inspiration (see 5th January 2016).
ReplyDeleteGF
Some really interesting reading for these dark afternoons- thank you!. I used to be a huge Red or Dead fan (especially as it was under the Hemmingways)..
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