Careers in Fashion Library

You can’t build a successful career without understanding how money works. This book is like taking a class on personal finance, taught by one of the world’s best financial advisors. It teaches you how to build good credit, how to pay off debt and how to save, how to understand and invest in the stock market, and so much more. The Money Book will educate and empower you to take control of your finances. It’s one of the books I’ve reread the most.

It’s more than a stylish coffee table book. It’s a visual timeline of one of the fashion industry’s greatest creative directors. Tom has a unique talent of being equal parts creative and business savvy; as a result, he famously rebranded Gucci in the ’90s and early ’00s. This hardcover book highlights his work across runway, print, and celebrities. Tom has exquisite taste and this book is a wonderful reference for creative directors, designers, marketers, stylists, models, and more.

If I could send every fashion publicist this book their press releases would be more comprehensible and impactful. Whether you’re in PR, communications, marketing, journalism, social media, sales, or anything that requires writing, you need to know how to write well. My first boss required our team to read this, and I’m glad he did. This book teaches you the fundamentals of writing that are required for many professions in and out of the industry.

As one of the most influential people in fashion, Talley gives readers access to the upper echelons of the industry—the good, the bad, and the ugly. In this heartfelt memoir, he shares his career arc and recalls fabulous moments in the industry. He also talks about his personal struggles, from racism to relationships and more. As a POC-, LGBTQ-identifying person in fashion, I have a deep admiration for Andre who was the first to break barriers in a problematic industry. 

As the founder of Dress for Success and the CEO of Do Something, Lublin draws from her experience in the nonprofit world (known for having few resources) to show how for-profit businesses can achieve success no matter their size, budget, and network. I’ve implemented some of her strategies throughout my career to add value to organizations, often as an army of one. Published in 2011, her advice couldn’t be more relevant in today’s tough economy and shrinking job market.

I might be biased because I worked at Highsnobiety for three years and know the author, but I still recommend this book. It explores how streetwear, sneakers, and youth culture infiltrated luxury fashion and reimagined it. The hardcover book delves into the key people and brands (Rhuigi Villasenor, Aleali May, Kim Jones, Stone Island, and more) responsible for redefining what high fashion looks like and who it’s for.

Alec and I worked together at Highsnobiety and it’s largely thanks to him that I have a better understanding of greenwashing and how unregulated sustainability is in the fashion industry. His self-published, pocket-sized book looks at why we love to shop so much, consumerism, hype culture, how the industry covers up its impact on sustainability, and more. This is a great reference for people working in the industry as well as everyday consumers.

In this hardcover book, photographer Jamal Shabazz captures NYC’s emerging hip-hop scene from 1980 to 1989. His subjects are everyday people shot in Harlem, Queens, and Brooklyn—this was street style before “street style.” His photographs are placed within a historical and social context, as explained by an accompanying essay. This was one of the first photography books I purchased and I had the privilege of interviewing Shabazz years later.

High sensitivity is a trait that’s present in about 20% of the population. It refers to the nervous system and how sensory data is processed. This can result in a greater awareness of subtleties, deeper emotional responses, and being overstimulated by loud noises, bright lights, or crowded environments. If this sounds like you, this is the go-to for learning about high sensitivity and how to live with it—including in the workplace.