Fashion

Fashion Icons Who Need to Write Memoirs, Now

by Jodie Layne

This year I managed to both read and be hopelessly intrigued by more fashion books than I can ever remember. I picked up Worn Stories by Emily Spivack, Sophia Amuroso's #GIRLBOSS , and Leandra Medine's The Man Repeller. All the while, Kate Spade, Refinery 29, and Diane von Furstenberg were publishing books as well. And let's not forget that Women in Clothes had ladies not only snapping it up, but attending readings that also functioned as clothing swaps. So the moral of the story: 2014 was a big year for fashionable books, from memoirs to coffee table behemoths — and I don't think our appetite for the juicy details and gorgeous, glossy photos is going to dissipate. Personally, I'm voting for a certain few fashion icons to take to their pen and paper (or, more realistically, to their keyboards) in the year to come.

There was once a time when a tell-all or an autobiography was a pretty big deal. (Think Carrie White's Upper Cut — the hairstylist was behind the scenes of every major Hollywood photo shoot and TV set from the 60s to the 80s, don't ya know.) Such a novel or memoir was one of the few ways that adoring and curious fans could gather the dirt directly from the public figures they admired (or from someone who worked for/with the public figures they admired, anyway). It also used to be one of the only ways that said public figures could really get their sides of the story out there in a controlled manner. Now, of course, we have social media — and celebrities are sharing their lives on nearly a minute-by-minute basis. With that, one would think that the "need" for them to release tell-all books would have all but diminished. However, it appears things have worked almost in reverse. We now have more access to our idols and icons than we've ever had, yet we only want more!

There are so many "origin" stories in existence, but so many still to be told: tales of rising through the ranks; harrowing retellings of all-nighters made trying to finish a collection or issue; and, of course, there's gossip that we've yet to hear from the people who experienced it firsthand. So here are the books by current fashionistas that we would totally drop everything for to read right now.

1. ANNA WINTOUR

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Anna Wintour is perhaps the most notorious, storied, and tight-lipped fashion icon of our century. This long-time editor has starred in a documentary about Vogue, helped several designers pen their own books, and had what is supposedly a fictionalized version of her life turned into a book/film franchise. We want to finally hear all about her professional and personal life in her own words!

2. SOLANGE

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I have absolutely zero doubts that we'll look back on this decade, maybe even century, and see Solange as a fashion icon. She's just beginning her foray into working with designers and entering the fashion world from that angle, but I'm dying for her to put together a style guide already.

3. PATRICIA FIELD

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She's dressed and styled some of the biggest stars in some of the most fashionable films and TV shows — and we really want her to tell us what it was like working on set! Now in her 70s, we can only imagine the life that Patricia Field has led in those years. Spill it, Pat!

4. MARY DUFFY

Mary Duffy was not only a plus-size model in the 70s; she also started the first plus-specific agency in the same decade. We would love to hear her take on the current state of things in the plus-size fashion world and, as a pioneer, how much progress she thinks we've really seen.

5. ISSEY MIYAKE

One of the truly masterful designers (who probably sees fashion as the only form of art), Issey Miyake has been an innovative figure in the industry since the 1960s. And he moved to Paris from Japan after surviving the Hiroshima bombing, which sounds like a story in and of itself.

6. PATRICK ROBINSON

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Originally getting into fashion because of an interest in surfing culture via his first beachwear line, Robinson has upped his game and worked for some of the biggest designers and brands on the planet. He would bring with him stories from Armani, Anne Klein, Perry Ellis, and Gap — and we want to hear them all.

7. VERA WANG

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Wang is perhaps one of the most recognized household names out there — especially when it comes to bridal gowns. Making a name for herself and her modern feminine silhouettes after designing her own wedding dress in the 80s, Wang has created gowns for some of the most famous women to ever walk down the wedding aisle. We can only imagine the lavish affairs she's seen!

8. MEREDITH KOOP

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At just 29 years old, Meredith Koop took over stylist duties for one of the most stylish first ladies, Michelle Obama. Her client is frequently featured on best-dressed lists, and we've seen how Obama's hair stylist lives — so we imagine Koop's got some stories and iPhone photos herself.

9. BETSEY JOHNSON

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Betsey Johnson's never been afraid to add glitter or a cute animal to anything, and her ethos seems to be more, more, more. She maintains a tropical estate called Betseyville, finishes her runway shows with a cartwheel, and she essentially started her brand over from scratch last year — at 71. This woman has tales to tell.

Images: Getty; Issey Miyake/howtospendit; Mary Duffy/Dan Demetriad