
Catherine Ormen This one-of-a-kind tome documents the life of Yves Saint Laurent from his childhood to the seminal moments of this great designer’s career, up until his death in 2008. The book includes unseen sketches and photographs of Saint Laurent’s key collections, as well as fascinating removable documents that include handwritten letters, paper dolls, contact sheets, magazines and invitations.

Isabel Sanchez Vegara The first of a series of books designed to inspire young children, Isabel Sanchez Vergara’s beautifully illustrated story of legendary style icon Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel makes wonderful reading for adults too. The book follows Coco’s life from her early years in an orphanage — where she was a genius with needle and thread — to her time as a cabaret singer, milliner and, eventually, international fashion designer. This inspiring and informative little biography comes with extra facts about Coco’s life.

Robert Fairer Unfolding chronologically, John Galliano: Unseen captures the designer’s mesmerising creations for his eponymous label (including rich and idiosyncratic details) and the intense backstage work of Galliano’s trusted collaborators. Robert Fairer’s long stint as backstage photographer for Vogue gives him a unique perspective, and his exquisite photographs of Galliano’s collections, many of which are published here for the first time, offer insights into the extravagance and playfulness of one of the world’s most flamboyant, innovative and controversial fashion designers at the zenith of his career.

Peter Lindbergh In this book, influential fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh redefines beauty standards with awe-inspiring, never-before-seen images taken at his iconic Pirelli shoots. Beautiful women with beautiful minds are portrayed simply, accessibly and in breathtaking fashion — unapologetic pores, fine lines, freckles and all.

Giovanna Battaglia Dubbed “cyber icon” and “fashion heroine” by The New York Times, Italian fashion editor and stylist Giovanna Battaglia is known for her colourful street style and fun-loving personality. In her first book, she has written an irreverent how-to guide to dressing for every occasion, finding fashion inspiration, living stylishly and having fun while doing it. This witty guide to living the glam life from an international style star features hilarious anecdotes, fashion advice and much more.

Maria Morris Hambourg

Tim Blanks This colourful book looks at Anna Sui’s eclectic career as a designer and artist, through both her clothing and studio. Fashion journalist Tim Blanks writes about Sui’s lifelong engagement with fashion archetypes — the rocker, the schoolgirl, the punk, the goth, the bohemian — and reveals their inspiration and influence. Complete with detailed photographs of garments, sketches, moodboards, runway shots and cultural ephemera, The World of Anna Sui is an inside look at this iconic New York designer with a worldwide cult following.

Philip Hopman This delightful picture book offers a stylish and compelling story about fashion and friendship that fit like a glove. When beautiful actress Audrey Hepburn has to figure what to wear for her next movie, she approaches designer Hubert de Givenchy, but he is too busy to design something just for her. When he encourages her to try on clothing from his collection, they are stunned by what they discover.
Anandhi Gopinath is an assistant editor of the Options desk at The Edge Malaysia