17 Books About Fashion Your Coffee Table Is Missing
The perfect low-key accent piece.

There are few accent pieces as easy to add to a living space as a dazzling, glossy coffee-table book about the fashion industry. These chic books add an edge to any room, whether they're sitting pretty on your coffee table or live on the bedside table in your bedroom, and they give guests the sense that you, the host, are as chic and up-to-date on trends (opens in new tab) as they come. And that's without mentioning how breathtaking these books are on the inside, providing you or your guest with a means to stop, relax, and lose yourself in the luxury world of high fashion for a few minutes. There are a ton of fashion coffee table books out there, and unlike other accent pieces, you don't have to spend the big bucks or pay someone on TaskRabbit to nail the pieces together after you lose the instruction manual. These editions are gorgeous on the inside and the outside, and easily the most affordable accent piece you'll find anywhere.
'Fashion History: From the 18th to the 20th Century' by Taschen Books
If you're obsessed with trends, you'll want this book. This 648-page work of fashion greatness takes a look back through centuries' worth of trends. From underwear to outerwear, it's all here.
'Sneakers x Culture: Collab' by Elizabeth Semmelhack
A world without sneakers would be...a very uncomfortable place. Dive into the world of everyone's favorite shoes and bask in awe of past collaborations by Nike, Reebok, Converse, and more.
'How to Slay: Inspiration From the Queens and Kings of Black Style' by Constance C. R. White
Discover the people who made black fashion what it is in America. How to Slay takes us through 35 years of fabric, patterns, and pop culture, complete with glossy photos of black fashion icons from Michelle Obama to Miles Davis.
'The Little Dictionary Of Fashion' by Christian Dior
The O.G. fashion manual by Christian Dior now comes in a more 2020-friendly style. Sure, some of the tips he writes about may be a touch outdated—we'll call them "vintage"—but there's nothing more chic than a Dior original on your coffee table.
'Bill Cunningham: On the Street' by Bill Cunningham
Bill Cunningham practically invented street style photography. The New York Times photographer made a name for himself in the '70s and continued to shoot day in and day out until his death in 2016. In this book, you'll find the best of the best of his years as a photographer.
'Ralph Lauren: In His Own Fashion' by Alan Flusser
If you're a Ralph Lauren woman, oh, do we have the book for your table! Behold, over 50 years of work from the man who made plaid and riding boots cool.
'The Gospel According to Coco Chanel' by Karen Karbo
Women's fashion wouldn't be where it is with Coco Chanel. She introduced tweed jackets to our wardrobes and created one of the best-selling scents of all-time (Hello, Chanel No.5). These life lessons from her are a must.
'Kate: The Kate Moss Book' by Kate Moss
A book made for the No.1 Kate Moss fan and curated by Moss herself. The '90s "It girl" took magazines by storm, with campaign after campaign featuring Moss' signature style. This book includes multiple never-before-seen photographs, as well as ones we'll never forget.
'GUCCI: The Making Of' by Frida Giannini
Owning the history of the world-renowned fashion house that we can't get enough of is almost better than the idea of owning a pair of Gucci slides. Almost.
'Yves Saint Laurent Catwalk' by Olivier Flaviano
Yves Saint Laurent started his brand alongside Pierre Bergé after he left his position at Dior. In these pages, you'll find all of his collections between 1962 and 2002. You may come for the history, but you'll definitely stay for the clothes.
'Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion' by Marcellas Reynolds
The first book of its kind highlights the work of African-American models from the past, present, and future. It features interviews and photos from household names, from Naomi Campbell to Jourdan Dunn.
'Grace: The American Vogue Years' by Grace Coddington
The second of two books captures the Vogue years of Grace Coddington, who was the creative director at the iconic fashion brand for over a quarter-century. Coddington's shoots are legendary, and this book highlights the images she created with famous American photographers, from Annie Leibovitz to Steven Meisel.
'Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech' by Michael Darling
This 3-in-1 book tells the photographic story of the household name that has been creating unforgettable menswear for Louis Vuitton since 2018. The almost 500-page book not only lets us see behind the curtain at LV but also at Off-White, where he serves as CEO.
'Tom Ford' by Tom Ford and Bridget Foley
Before he went on to create his brand, Tom Ford made a name for himself at both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. This book takes a deeper dive into the collections he produced between the years of 1994 to 2004, with over 200 images of his best work.
'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' by Andrew Bolton
Fans of the late, great London designer will drool over this book that spans his entire collection. You'll learn about how he mastered the art of Savile Row tailoring and the stories behind some of his most famous pieces.
'Sneaker Freaker: The Ultimate Sneaker Book' by Simon Wood
Calling all sneaker fanatics: This is your Bible. The founder of Sneaker Freaker, Simon Wood, has released a book filled to the brim with sneaker glory for footwear fanatics everywhere. These pages span 15 years of collaborations, limited editions, reissue, and whatever else filled the pages of the original magazine.
'Andy Warhol: Polaroids XL' by Richard B Woodward
While this does come in a regular size format, we say: go big or go home. This visual diary captures the essence of the man behind the camera and the work that made him world-famous.
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Bianca Rodriguez is the Fashion & Luxury Commerce Manager at Hearst Magazines, covering fashion, beauty, and more for Cosmopolitan, Elle, Esquire, Harper’s BAZAAR, and Town & Country. She likes lounging about with a good book and thinks a closet without platform sneakers is a travesty.
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