Graphic Arts

“Give me time and I’ll give you a revolution” – Alexander McQueen

Ever since its creation in 1992, the House of Alexander McQueen has been synonymous with drama, risk-taking and cutting-edge innovation. From iconic collaborations, like with Lady Gaga for her “Bad Romance” music video, to shockingly controversial runway shows like The Horn of Plenty, Alexander McQueen was beloved for his fantastical silhouettes and blurring of gender lines.

This exquisitely illustrated volume explores the story behind the House, from McQueen’s own early days to the current leadership of Sarah Burton. Through a carefully curated collection of finished designs, close-up details and sketches, this book pulls back the veil on the wonderful world of McQueen.

Read more

‘Haute couture is like an orchestra, whose conductor is Balenciaga. We other couturiers are the musicians and we follow the direction he gives’ – Christian Dior

The godfather of conceptual design, a master of shape, a true fashion game changer – all are accolades bestowed upon one of the most interesting, venerated and iconic couturiers of the twentieth century: Cristóbal Balenciaga. His pureness of line, the comfort of his garments and innovative work with textiles, colour and volume made a huge impact on twentieth-century fashion, with creations such as the babydoll, balloon and sack dresses still influencing fashion today.

Through stunning images and captivating text, Little Book of Balenciaga depicts the work and life of Balenciaga the couturier. Fashion historian Emmanuelle Dirix examines his legacy both through tracing the Maison’s artistic direction after his death, and the generations of designers influenced by the master himself.

Read more

From their heritage trenches and ubiquitous check to experimental red carpet looks, the House of Burberry is known worldwide for its covetable designs.

Sophisticated, simple, and quintessentially British, Burberry is beloved for its remarkable ability to straddle tradition and innovation. The allure of the ‘Burberry Girls’, like Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, epitomizes just what Burberry is about: aspiration, elegance and grace.

Featuring an exquisite range of photographs, from finished designs to close-up details and beautifully styled shots, this book pulls back the curtain on the story behind the brand. Touching on its humble beginnings in 1856, all the way up to its current designs, this invaluable reference is the definitive word on all things Burberry.

Read more

Little Book of Dior is the pocket-sized and beautifully illustrated story of 70 years of opulent fashion.

Christian Dior’s spectacular rise to the upper echelons of the Parisian fashion world is one of the most compelling stories of twentieth-century fashion. Dior’s debut collection in 1947 invented the New Look silhouette and revolutionized the way women dressed, shopped and saw themselves.

Recounting Christian Dior’s early life, the brand’s inception, the triumphs of the couture collections on the catwalk and the red carpet, and the fashion house’s evolution under Christian Dior’s creative direction successors – Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Bill Gaytten, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri – Little Book of Dior is a stylish gift for any lover of fashion.

Read more

“It’s a fabulous thing to give life to fabric, to make something move well, the harmony of colour” – Hubert de Givenchy

Ever since Audrey Hepburn stood outside Tiffany’s, croissant in hand, Givenchy has been the last word in elegant couture. The clean, sweeping lines and classic, feminine silhouettes have enthralled women from the Duchess of Sussex to Kendall Jenner, all of whom adore the romanticism and sophistication of a Givenchy ensemble. More sculptor than designer, Hubert de Givenchy created a house that is utterly timeless.

This exquisitely illustrated volume explores the story behind the brand, from its creation in 1952 to its current leadership and designs. Through a carefully curated collection of finished designs, close-up details and key moments, this book shines a light on the dazzling world of Givenchy.

Read more

From its founding in Florence in 1921 as luggage supplier to the elite to its modern standing as purveyor of cult accessories and couture, the house of Gucci is a titan of the luxury fashion world. Over the last century, Gucci’s signature leather goods and decadent garments have elegantly combined the understated with the opulent, united under the covetable double G logo.

Little Book of Gucci tells the story of the brand’s beginnings as a luxury luggage and equestrian outfitter, recounting how the family overcame rifts and wartime hardship to be reborn as a giant of 1990s haute couture and, under Alessandro Michele’s current stewardship, made its mark on streetwear and a new generation of fans. Over 100 gorgeously curated images showcase Gucci’s edgy yet sensual designs, confirming its place as the most influential label of our times.

Read more

‘Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress…’ – Gianni Versace

From Elizabeth Hurley’s safety pin dress to Jennifer Lopez’s plunging green gown, Versace has always been a brand at the cutting edge of fashion. With a foot firmly placed in pop culture, Versace is beloved by fashionistas and celebrities alike, providing iconic moments like Lil Nas X’s gold armour at the 2021 Met Gala, many of Elton John’s eclectic tour outfits and the gown worn by Lady Diana in her posthumous tribute in Harper’s Bazaar.

Exquisitely illustrated and expertly written, this book explores the story of the brand, from its creation in 1978 by Gianni Versace to its iconic status today. Featuring images of red-carpet moments, key pieces and stunning catwalk shows, this is a fabulous collection of all things Versace.

Read more

Designer, punk, rebel, dame… Vivienne Westwood was all this and more. One of the main architects of the 1970s punk era, the inimitable Westwood refused to take fashion too seriously, finding unique and arresting ways to subvert tradition and challenge the status quo.

But her impact on the industry was more than ripped T-shirts. A master of tailoring and mistress of corsetry, she deconstructed street fashion and parodied English looks with tight waists, bustles and a zany take on tartan and Harris Tweed.

Clients include Dita Von Teese, FKA Twigs and Doja Cat, her signature designs have featured in Japanese manga, Nana, and having captivated the TikTok generation, her vintage pieces still go viral today.

Punk in both fashion and politics to the very end, Vivienne Westwood will remain an icon of fashion and feminism for generations to come.

Read more

The largest collection of the stunning pocket-sized fashion books in one luxury boxset.

Contains Little Book of Chanel, Little Book of Dior, Little Book of Prada, Little Book of Gucci, Little Book of Louis Vuitton, Little Book of Hermès, Little Book of Valentino, Little Book of Yves Saint Laurent.

Read more

Founded as a luxury leather goods house in 1854, Louis Vuitton was for many decades one of the world’s leading trunk and accessories makers. It was after launching its first fashion collections in 1998, however, that the house reached unprecedented global fame, and pioneered high-profile collaborations with artists such as Richard Prince, Takashi Murakami and Stephen Sprouse.

Louis Vuitton Catwalk is a complete and unrivalled overview of the world’s top fashion house. The book opens with a concise history of the house, followed by brief biographical profiles of Marc Jacobs, the first creative director 1998–2014, and Nicolas Ghesquière, who helms the brand today, before exploring the collections themselves, organized chronologically. Each collection is introduced by a short text unveiling its influences and highlights, and illustrated with carefully curated catwalk images. Showcasing hundreds of spectacular clothes, details, accessories, beauty looks and set designs – and, of course, the top fashion models who wore them on the runway, from Naomi Campbell and Gisele to Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne. A rich reference section, including an extensive index, concludes the book.

Read more

‘Chris Beetles’ book is a joy, an inspiration and as thorough a document into understanding the life and times of Louis Wain as one could hope to read’ – Benedict Cumberbatch

‘Louis Wain invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world’. Broadcast in 1925 by H.G. Wells, these words characteristically foretold the future of the Wain cat which has, once more, become the century’s most recognisable image in cat art. During their heyday, in the time before the First World War, Louis Wain’s cats, dressed as humans, portrayed that stylish Edwardian world having fun: at restaurants and tea parties, going to the Race and the Seaside, celebrating at Christmas and Birthdays, and disporting themselves with exuberant games of tennis, bowls, cricket and football. This is a titillating world of cats at play, uninhibited and slightly dangerous, with most group activities likely to turn into mishap, mayhem and catastrophe. This is Wain’s world, funny, edgy and animated: a whole cat world.

The first comprehensive exhibition of Wain’s work was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1972 and, since then, Louis Wain has steadily become more fashionable, and collected worldwide. This biography contains 300 plates of richness and variety, all of which are reproduced faithfully from the original artwork.

Read more

You no longer need to feel confined by the boundaries of a sewing pattern in order to make clothes that fit beautifully and represent your style in a way that store-bought clothes never can. Designer and founder of popular pattern brand By Hand London Elisalex Jewell is known for designing beautiful, fun garments that look fabulous on women of all sizes. In Made to Measure, she guides sewers to create stylish garments while empowering them to learn new skills, be creative, and feel confident. Following an overview of essential sewing tools, a primer on fabrics, and a guide to essential sewing techniques, you will learn how to:
 

• Draft simple patterns based on your measurements
• Take a pattern from an existing garment
• Identify and fix common fit issues

 
The sixteen pattern-free projects for dresses, skirts, tops, a pantsuit, and more are a springboard for creating a versatile, personalized wardrobe. The designs include:
 

• Sweet Shirred Top and Dress
• Faux-Cute Jumpsuit
• Paneled Wrap Skirt
• Prairie Dress
• Not Your Grandma’s Quilted Circle Skirt
• Siren Slip Dress
• Refashioned Sweater Dress

 
In today’s world of “fast fashion,” sewing your own clothes is a wonderful way to slow down and create garments that are sustainable and unique. While most sewing books show you how to create garments from specific patterns, Made to Measure takes sewing clothes to the next level by allowing you to customize the designs to fit you.

Whether you’re new to sewing clothes or want to add to your garment-making skills, Made to Measure guides you to create a dream wardrobe that is tailored just for you.

Read more

Making Videogames is an unprecedented snapshot of modern interactive entertainment, with insight from true pioneers about the most important games in the world. Illustrated with some of the most arresting in-game images ever seen in print, the book explores the unique alchemy of technical and artistic endeavour that constitutes the magic of videogames, striking a captivating balance between insight and accessibility.

Across eleven chapters, each focusing on a specific game from AAA blockbusters such as Control and Half-Life: Alyx to cult breakthrough games including No Man’s Sky and Return of the Obra Dinn, the book will document the incredible craft of videogame worldbuilding and visual storytelling via the world’s most popular, but seldom fully understood, entertainment medium. The book’s text orbits breathtaking, specially created imagery ‘photographed’ in-engine by the author, demonstrating the magic and method behind each studio’s work.

A book not only for die-hard videogame fanatics, but also for designer-creatives and the visually curious, Making Videogames is a thrilling showcase of the boundless creativity of this amazing industry.

Read more

Celebrate That Special Bond Between Men and Cars, and the Stories That Connect Them

Discover actor and director Ed Burns talking about his 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, a model he’d been dreaming about since his days pumping gas. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, whose favourite cars are trucks-he loves the wow factor of an International CV Series 6.6. Or Jay Leno on his 1955 Buick Roadmaster, big enough for him to sleep in while trying to make it as a comic.

Filled with stunning photographs of the whole cars and of the exquisite details that make car lovers’ hearts beat just a little faster, as well as more than 80 personal stories, it’s a joy for every reader who knows that a car is never just a car.

Read more

“I’ve paged through stacks of books on the history of watches. . . . But I hadn’t come across a book that actually moved me until I picked up A Man and His Watch. The volume is filled with heartfelt stories.”-T: The New York Times Style Magazine

“There are a bunch of beautifully illustrated watch books out there, but A Man & His Watch by Matt Hranek is more than that. It speaks to the nature of watches as deeply personal items.”-Gear Patrol, Coffee Table Books Our Staff Can’t Live Without

Paul Newman wore his Rolex Daytona every single day for 35 years until his death in 2008. The iconic timepiece, probably the single most sought-after watch in the world, is now in the possession of his daughter Clea, who wears it every day in his memory. Franklin Roosevelt wore an elegant gold Tiffany watch, gifted to him by a friend on his birthday, to the famous Yalta Conference where he shook the hands of Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. JFK’s Omega worn to his presidential inauguration, Ralph Lauren’s watch purchased from Andy Warhol’s personal collection, Sir Edmund Hillary’s Rolex worn during the first-ever summit of Mt. Everest . . . these and many more compose the stories of the world’s most coveted watches captured in A Man and His Watch.

Matthew Hranek, a watch collector and NYC men’s style fixture, has travelled the world conducting first-hand interviews and diving into exclusive collections to gather the never-before-told stories of 76 watches, completed with stunning original photography of every single piece.

Through these intimate accounts and Hranek’s storytelling, the watches become more than just timepieces and status symbols; they represent historical moments, pioneering achievements, heirlooms, family mementos, gifts of affection, and lifelong friendships.

Read more

Marketing Fashion, Second Edition is a practical guide to the fundamental principles of marketing and branding, from creating a customer profile to developing a brand identity. The book explains key theoretical concepts and illustrates how they are applied within the global fashion and retail industry, from haute couture to the mass market. All tools in the modern marketer’s kit are discussed, from attending fashion fairs to viral marketing and online strategies.

Using examples and case studies drawn from a broad range of fashion, textile, and retail businesses, students are led through the marketing process from initial consumer and market research to the creation of exciting marketing and branding campaigns. The book is designed to appeal to students at degree or foundation level as well as those contemplating a career within the fashion industry.

Read more