Fashion Design

Books on American Fashion Designers

American Fashion Designers

Read about your favorite American fashion designers: Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and greats from the past that still influence style today.

General Reference

These are great basic books on fashion design. Good for students or general interest. Books on specific American designers are included below.

American Designers to Watch:

Michael Kors

Michael Kors. Clean lined traditional sportswear. He creates by brainstorming with his team of muses and listening carefully to his clients. He is inspired by the places he visits and what is current in the culture around him. He is popular and recognizable--even behind the sunglasses he wears every day. Studying first at The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, he soon left to work and design clothes at Lothar's. In 1981 he created his own label which was launched at Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. In 1999 he received the CFDA Award for Womenswear Designer of the Year. He added a full men's line in 2002 and in 2003 he won the CFDA Award for Menswear Designer of the Year. In order to concentrate on expanding his label, he has given up his position at Celine, and has gotten financial support by selling a majority share of his line in 2003 to Sportswear Holdings Limited, which also owns part of Tommy Hilfiger and Polo Ralph Lauren Europe. He designs Michael Kors, his high end collection, as well as the newly launched Michael, a more approachable line of men's and women's sportswear with the same fashion sense, but reinterpreted in other fabrics, giving his customers a chance to experiment with more styles and color options.

Vera Wang

Vera Wang creates elegant, understated formal dresses and luxury sleepwear in the finest fabrics. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and the Sorbonne before working as fashion editor at Vogue and design director for Ralph Lauren. She opened her bridal gown salon in 1990.

Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs offers bright colors, oversized prints and layered looks. He attended Parsons School of Design, working for Perry Ellis before launching his own label in the 1980's. He also creates for Louis Vuitton. His handbags are quality and classic.

Zac Posen

Zac Posen had a varied and impressive background before launching his own line in 2004. Timeless dresses and separates.

Yigal Azrouel

Devastatingly feminine. "First and foremost as a draper, Azrouel's collection holds a natural fluidity and contouring aspect that truly enhances the female form. Working with the highest quality fabrics, he incorporates both day and evening elements, identifying with a woman who is strong, independent, and confident in her taste and knowledge, because to know and appreciate quality is to fall in love with signature Yigal Azrouel elements.

Betsey Johnson

New York designer known for her over-the-top fashions and exuberance having entered the scene in the 1960's. Betsey was born in Connecticut. She won the CFDA Timeless Talent Award in 1999. See fashions by Betsey Johnson.

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren launched his design business in 1967 with Polo ties. Known for glamorous and classic tailoring, he has expanded this into a an empire that encompasses fashion for men, women and children, plus home furnishings including Ralph Lauren bedding and bath.

Derek Lam

After working under Michael Kors for 12 years, Derek Lam launched his own collection in 2002. He has already won new designer awards for his easy to wear reinterpretations of classic American designer sportswear.