What are you reading?

[deadboy]

Yeah. I've been wanting to get a more holistic knowledge of the industry including the parts of it I personally don't care for, so I decided to read some of the books that are at the top of people's lists.

I figured that after reading The Beautiful Fall a while back, I could handle all the opulence etc. And it's entertaining at times... but it's hard to take all the, "My, don't the colorful negroes just look lovely? Isn't the Empire wonderful?" stuff.

On that note, if anyone has suggestions for great fashion books that aren't a) about individual designers usually discussed here, b) general overviews and c) boring as hell, I'd love to hear them. Much appreciated.

[galia]

Paul Morand's book on Coco Chanel is really fun

[Faust]

Yeah. I've been wanting to get a more holistic knowledge of the industry including the parts of it I personally don't care for, so I decided to read some of the books that are at the top of people's lists.

I figured that after reading The Beautiful Fall a while back, I could handle all the opulence etc. And it's entertaining at times... but it's hard to take all the, "My, don't the colorful negroes just look lovely? Isn't the Empire wonderful?" stuff.

On that note, if anyone has suggestions for great fashion books that aren't a) about individual designers usually discussed here, b) general overviews and c) boring as hell, I'd love to hear them. Much appreciated.

Here is a whole thread. Mixed with coffee books, but some text based.

If it's too much to go through, this was fantastic - both a coffee table book and great analysis/history.

[zamb]

you can read:
The End of Fashion by Teri Agins

http://www.amazon.com/The-End-Fashion-Marketing-Clothing/dp/0060958200

Also "The Designer Scam" by Colin McDowell

this os also a good read:

Last of the Dandies by Nick Foulkes. Its about the life and times of Count D'Orsay

my Library is in storage now so there is more i cant remember

[deadboy]

Thanks very much for the suggestions zamb, Faust and galia. And of course there's a thread already, should have checked.

[GucciAmen]

About halfway through Les Fleurs Du Mal by Charles Baudelaire - loving it - and wondering if anyone can recommend me some similar collections of poetry -- of course having dark, cynical traits and focusing on beauty/anomie?

Thanks!

[Faust]

Arthur Rimbaud, maybe?

[Arkady]

Interesting selections, guys. Currently reading this excellent piece:

An expansion of the already excellent article: http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/1755...rs_in_africa_/

[GucciAmen]

Arthur Rimbaud, maybe?

Just gave him a quick look, he sounds perfect so I think I'll pick up "Illuminations" this week.

Thanks!

[Faust]

Haha, dude, I think I've asked you before, but are you auto-didacting? I mean no offense, and it's really heartening to see a young man take interest in serious literature these days when our culture has largely gone to shit, but this is 101 stuff (which, of course, you must read and I encourage you by all means!).

[Arkady]

Faust 101 stuff for people around my age is Lollipop by Lil Wayne when it comes to poetry.

[GucciAmen]

Haha, dude, I think I've asked you before, but are you auto-didacting? I mean no offense, and it's really heartening to see a young man take interest in serious literature these days when our culture has largely gone to shit, but this is 101 stuff (which, of course, you must read and I encourage you by all means!).

Haha, yes I am. There is sadly no external influence - aside from this thread and some recommendations between a few of my friends - for me in this culturally barren wasteland -- the amount of top 40's/mall culture is staggering in my - albeit small - city.

I take it as a compliment, no worries. It is unfortunate though how personally alienating it is to take an interest in what has become such a neglected area of literature - or generally speaking, for any of my other interests: music, film, fashion, art - but I keep at it because I'd rather not homogenize myself with the rest of society.

[Faust]

Well, keep at it!

[gawkrodger]

Finally getting round to reading more than just snippets of Walter Benjamin


and some Italian post-autonomia

[bukka]