A designer fashion book is one of the best gifts you can give someone who loves clothes. Pick a designer or fashion house they already wear or talk about, decide whether they'd enjoy a big picture-led coffee-table book or a deeper read, and if you're buying pre-loved, check the cover, spine and pages. You'll find our current pre-loved fashion books in Collectibles & Memorabilia.
Most of us have given a candle to someone we'd like to know better. It smells nice for a few weeks, then it's gone. A good fashion monograph goes the other way. It sits on the coffee table, gets picked up by visitors and still gets opened years later. It also shows you've noticed whose clothes they love.
Why give a fashion book instead of another candle?
A monograph is a book about one designer or one house. The good ones are heavy, image-led and made to be looked at slowly. For a style lover, that turns the gift into something they can keep coming back to rather than something they use up.
- It lasts, and it looks good on a shelf or table.
- It's personal: a book about a designer they wear says you've paid attention.
- It suits people who already have plenty of clothes, bags and scent.
- Pre-loved copies can cost less than a new hardback and may be harder to find in shops.
How do you choose the right designer?
Start with what they wear. Look at the labels they reach for, the brands they follow and the shows or exhibitions they've mentioned. A book about a designer they already admire will land better than a famous name they've never cared about.
If you're stuck, think about the mood of their wardrobe. Someone who loves romantic, crafted eveningwear may enjoy a book about a couture house. Someone who loves street style, grunge or a bit of mischief may enjoy behind-the-scenes photography from the catwalk.
Coffee-table book or deep dive?
Fashion books tend to fall into two camps, and it helps to know which one you're buying.
- Picture-led coffee-table books: big, glossy and made for browsing. Good for someone who loves images and wants something beautiful to leave out.
- Histories and archive books: more text, more detail about the designer's life, the house and its archive. Good for the person who reads every exhibition label.
Many monographs sit in between. Flick through the listing photos or the description to see how much of the book is images and how much is text.
What's on our shelves right now?
Our books are one-offs, so these are examples of the kind of thing you'll find rather than a reading list. At the time of writing, our Collectibles & Memorabilia collection includes pre-loved copies of:
- Lanvin by Dean L. Merceron (Rizzoli, 2007), a book on one of the oldest Paris fashion houses.
- Valentino: Objects of Couture (Rizzoli, 2013), for the person who loves detail and eveningwear.
- Marc Jacobs: Unseen by Robert Fairer (Thames & Hudson), backstage photography from Marc Jacobs shows.
Rizzoli and Thames & Hudson are both well-known publishers of illustrated art and fashion books, which gives you a good idea of the format. The publisher's name doesn't tell you about the condition of a particular copy, though, so always read the listing.
New or pre-loved: what should you check?
Big hardbacks are heavy, and heavy books get knocked. When you buy a pre-loved copy, look for:
- Corners and spine: small bumps are common. Look for splits or a leaning spine.
- Dust jacket or slipcase: note any tears, fading or missing pieces.
- Pages: marks, inscriptions, creases or loose binding should be described in the listing.
- Edition details: if a first edition matters to them, check the copyright page. Our guide to how to identify a first edition book explains what to look for.
We describe the condition of every pre-owned piece; see how we grade our items for what each grade means.
How do you make a book feel like a proper present?
Wrap it flat in tissue first so the corners don't catch on the paper. Tuck a note inside the front cover saying why you chose that designer. If the book will live on a shelf, our guide on how to store collectible books without damaging them is a useful thing to pass on.
Buying for someone who collects more widely, from teddy bears to film cells? Our gifts for collectors guide has more ideas, and Gifts Worth Discovering brings together new and pre-loved finds picked with gifting in mind.
Standard UK delivery is £4.99 on orders under £40 and free from £40. Our books are one-offs, so if the right designer is there, it may not be there for long.