Hopefully after the rellies are gone and the turkey has settled, many of us will have time to sit down and relax and read that big pile of books and notes we've put aside - before the New Year hits us back into reality.

While we take stock and make plans for 2010, some of these books might just help get our state of mind and wardrobe sorted. I know I always struggle with 'what's my fashion scene?'. I like to think it's sophisticated and 'expensive' looking, when in reality I always go for super comfy -with a twist. And everything is black and white!

Next year, my fashion goal is to sort out what my scene really is, and plan my wardrobe to suit. That will involve a major wardrobe workout using the tips we have already discussed on this site - such as tossing clones, getting rif of 'it's not really me', and the 'moment has passed' items. Putting aside and properly storing (more 'how to' on this later) sentimental fave's (eg wedding frock) and replacing the out of shape/discoloured basics at the stock take sales.

Once this has happened there is a great chance to cash in your quality, but no longer worn designer gear to put towards your new shopping list. Of course that is right here on Miss Money Penny's second-hand fashion emporium where other girls (who have hopefully sorted out there scene are are ready to hunt for new classics) will come and snap up designer bargains.

To help with getting the mind set right, here are some of the latest fashion books to inspire - they also make great gifts as I have actually received many of these as pressies!

1. In Vogue - 50 years of Australian Style - edited by Kirstie (Aust Vogue ed) and Lee Tulloch (fashion maven from way back)

Personally, this was a fantastic walk down memory lane for me. Leafing through the quintessentially Australian images by helmut Newton and Graeme Shearer were highlights. Actually remembering covers and fashion spreads from the 80's long forgotten was amazing. Like reminiscing with an old friend you grew up with - it was fantastic looking back on familiar Aussie faces we have also grown with and watched bloom - the celebs, Sarah O'Hare (Murdoch), Kylie, the models - Maggie T, Isobel Cowen, Elle, Emma Blafour, Annalise Scheubert, Kristy Hinze and so on right up to the fashion stars of today.

Actually - I also wonder what ever happened to that divine male model Jules Revelle? My girlfriends and I had such a huge crush on him and he adorned many a teen bedroom wall.

Publisher Harper Collins describe this book as follows;

"In this lavish, beautiful book, editors Kirstie Clements and Lee Tulloch showcase the best of Australia′s leading fashion magazine: photography by Helmut Newton, Norman Parkinson, Deborah de Turbeville, Monty Coles, Graham Shearer and Richard Bailey, and the images of the women who inspired them: Maggie Tabberer, Elle MacPherson, Emma Balfour, Gemma Ward and Catherine McNeil among others; fashion icons from Norma Tullo and Jenny Kee to Collette Dinnigan; artistic collaborations, including the guest editorships of Baz Luhrmann, Karl Lagerfeld and Kylie Minogue, and a spectrum of Australian artists, musicians, actors, writers and thinkers.

A gorgeous document of a magazine′s confident coming of age, this stunning book is a must for anyone who loves fashion."

2. Vintage Handbags - collecting and wearing designer classics. Marnie Fogg (with foreword by Anya Hindmarch)

As reviewed by Amazon.com,  "Decade by decade, the lavishly illustrated "Vintage Handbags" recounts over 100 years of shoe history, from Elsa Schiaparelli's mesh bags for Whiting & Davis in the 1920s through the Hermes Kelly bag in the 1950s to the Fendi Baguette of the 1990s. Accompanied by archive images, fashion photography and specially commissioned photographs of period pieces, the most collectible and beautiful handbags are showcased. An invaluable reference as well as a visual delight of times past, the book explores the key designers, technical developments and cultural influences that shaped handbag design, revealing exquisite and groundbreaking work from such luminaries as Salvatore Ferragamo, Coco Chanel, Hermes, Fendi, Bonnie Cashin and Judith Leiber."

And guess what? If you keep your eyes peeled, you might just find one of these treasures on Miss Money Penny's Designer Fashion Emporium!

3. The Sartorialist

by Scott Schuman

4. Dreaming Of Dior

by Charlotte M. Smith

5. Fashion Makers Fashion Shapers - Anne-Celine Jaeger

More than pretty pictures, this book takes a behind the scenes look at how fashion is created and what it takes to make it tick. For those who take their fashion seriously and want to know more this release  is described by publishedartbookshop.com.au as;

"A book of two halves, Fashion Shapers Fashion Makers is an up close and personal exploration of the fashion world which gives as much attention to the work of editors, stylists, buyers, PR specialists, trend forecasters and educators as it does to fashion creatives.

In depth interviews with Fashion Makers - from famous designers, founders of fashion labels and other key creative figures - unveil the processes of creative alluring designs, collections and brands. But the distinctive roles of the Fashion Shapers are also discussed, answering questions like how Jane Rapley, head of Central Saint Martins, decides who will be the next McQueen, or how Alexandre de Betak gets inspiration for the spectacular fashion shows that he creates for the biggest designers.

This book is a window into the world of fashion, uniquely offering an exploration of all aspects of the industry, and is a must have for anyone who wants to know what makes fashion function."

6. The Towering World on Jimmy Choo : A Glamorous Story of Power, Profits and Pursuit of the Perfect Shoe.”

Essential summer juicey beach reading! What girl doesn't want to low down on what goes on behind their faveourite super shoes brand?

http://www.businessoffashion.com reported back in March this year;

"We love leaks.

Lauren Goldstein Crowe, a fashion and business journalist, and Sagra Maceira de Rosen, head of the Luxury & Retail division of Reig Capital Group, have teamed up to write the first fashion book to cover both the design side and the business side with equal vigour and rigour.

The book tells the story of how one Tamara Yeardye (now known as Tamara Mellon), an accessories editor at British Vogue meets one Jimmy Choo, and turns him from couture shoe designer into £185m brand. Today, Jimmy Choo (the brand) kicks it heels with Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik in the triumvirate of high-potential luxury shoe businesses, but Jimmy Choo (the man) is no longer involved in the business that bears his own name.

Along with Robert Bensoussan, Jimmy Choo’s former CEO (Gucci Group-trained Josh Schulman has now replaced him), Ms. Mellon created one of the most famous new fashion brands to emerge in the past 10 years. Can you think of another name that has become so recognisable in such a short period of time?

Through some savvy marketing (Sex and the City style), a design partnership with Choo’s niece Sandra Choi (who broke ranks with her uncle to work with Mellon), and apparently a good deal of coy manoeuvring (this book has drama and intrigue too), Mellon and Bensoussan sold 83% of the business to Towerbrook Capital and its affiliates for £185m in 2007 (versus only £20m in 2001), at a rumoured EBITDA multiple of 13x, which is very high by industry standards.

This book is sure to cause a frenzy when it is published, as fervent fashion business executives, private equity gurus, admiring entrepreneurs, brand managers and, of course, the brand’s fans will all have reason to find out just exactly how Mellon and Bensoussan did it.

Stay tuned.

But don't just take our word for it, there are no better testimonials than those from within the bowels of the fashion industry itself;

""Fun and powerful...like a great pair of heels!!!”
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

7. Like I Give a Frock: Fashion Forecasts and Meaningless Misguidance - Michi Girl  

Melbourne Girls have relied on Michi's daily online weather updates and fashion tips for years. Finally we can all take Michi onto the couch or the beach this summer to get a more substantial chunk of her fashion musings and pick up some handy must and must-nots - in case you were wondering.

Penguin books introduces Mishi as follows;

Meet Michi. She's sometimes stylish and sometimes tragic, but she always knows best. She's sharp and funny. (And maybe just a tiny bit opinionated.) She's just a shopping queen, weather-watcher and quite possibly the best advice-giver you've ever met.

Do you ever wonder when a baguette became a bag and and not just a piece of bread? (Fendi, 1998.) Or when it became acceptable to wear a tracksuit to the supermarket? (It didn't.) Fishnets at work? Evil sales assistants? The plague of the fat ankle? Michi has all the answers. And if you were thinking of buying a playsuit, just don't.

8. Fashion by Jennifer Craik

 

For a more philosophical read, look into fashion and its meaning in our culture and world today.  Jennifer Craik talks global fashion politics and meanings.

Borders.com.au give the following synopsis;

"Fashion is everywhere. It is now one of the main ways in which we present ourselves to others, signaling what we want to communicate about our sexuality, wealth, professionalism, subcultural and political allegiances, social status, even our mood. It is also a global industry with huge economic, political and cultural impact, from the impact of the catwalk on mainstream retail to sweatshop production to celebrity branding.nbsp; Fashion: The Key Concepts presents a concise overview of this complex phenomenon--the meanings of clothes, the different cultural and fashion systems around the world, how fashion uses the media to reach its markets, how fashion shapes global culture and is replicated or challenged in various subcultures, how fashion operates as a political system of its own and also serves as a tool of politics, how the fashion industry is structured and how it "thinks" and behaves. Illustrated with a wide range of images and case studies, the aim throughout is to present a comprehensive, but also accessible and provocative, analysis of fashion."

Good thought starter material for the new year!

9. The New Secrets Of Style

by In Style Magazine Editors

For a more realistic and approachable view of fashion and how to use it, In Style mag is a fashion bible for those who want to look great but don't want to take themselves too seriously.

Instyle mag was a proud sponsor of Miss Money Penny's recent Designer Sell & Shop Event in Melbourne so we feel a real synergy with her no nonsence approach to fashion. After reading this book you shouold have a great idea on what to keep, what to toss and, most importantly - what to cash in on Miss Money Penny!

Instyle The New Secrets Of Style synopsis by Borders.com.au

The latest edition ofInStyle's top-selling classic, TheNew Secrets of Stylefeatures even more expert guidance for looking fabulous. The editors who have madeInStyletoday's leading style publication take the mystery out of fashion with plenty of practical and simple strategies for building your best wardrobe. WithThe New Secrets of Style, you'll never again stand in front of a full closet and declare that you have nothing to wear! What you'll learn fromThe New Secrets of Style is that the key to dressing well and developing a personal style is surprisingly uncomplicated: Figure out what works best for you-and stick with it. The payoff? When your clothes work, life's a lot simpler. Inspired by Hollywood 's most fashionable,The New Secrets of Stylehelps you stock your closet with beautiful, flattering pieces you can just pull out, put on and go. It begins with the basics: choosing styles that work with your shape, finding the right fit for all your clothes, and focusing your choices-so you'll end up with a wardrobe that coordinates, complements and fits. The next step: adding creativity, allowing your clothes and accessories to express your personal style. The result is a confident look that's all your own. A clear, convenient reference guide,The New Secrets of Styleis highly organized and simple to read. Each chapter analyzes a different aspect of your wardrobe, from lingerie to coats, and features "flattery" charts arranged by body type. Throughout, informative, annotated overviews tell you how to select classic pieces and must-have items in every clothing category.

THE world of fashion is a busy place and it's growing ever more crowded. An increasing number of educational institutions are offering an increasing number of fashion-related courses, and even couture is moving into the mainstream, with major newspapers devoting more of their pages to covering fashion weeks.

No longer the preserve of heiresses and socialites, fashion publications such as Vogue, Elle and Harper's Bazaar are pulling in a wider audience, thanks in part to the use of pop culture icons such as Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham on their covers. The demand for fashion is so high that in the past few years weekly glossy fashion magazines have been launched in order to sate our appetites.

Quite simply, the fashion world is saturated, and the number of working designers continues to grow. So how exactly do you edit the thousands of designers working today down to an exclusive list of an elite 100, while still managing to include everyone from Parisian couturiers to edgy London designers living on baked beans?

It was a challenge that Terry Jones, the founder and creative director of i-D magazine, relished when he came to edit a new fashion tome from Taschen entitled 100 Contemporary Fashion Designers. For the two-volume compilation he picked out highlights from Taschen's Fashion Now! series to create the ultimate guide to the best fashion designers working across the globe today.

"This was a very tough one to work on and we were switching names up until the very last minute," he says. "The main criteria for us was to get a real cross-section of designers. We wanted to include younger designers and we were also keen to include people whom we felt would have longevity, who would be around for a while. Of course, there are some designers in there that I wear regularly – Yohji Yamamoto and Commes des Garçons – but from a creative point of view there were just so many to choose from."

Featuring the very best of fashion photography – from the beautiful to the quirky and even the downright odd – the book showcases the work of designers, photographers and stylists, all working hand in hand to create beautiful images. Following an A (Haider Ackermann) to Z (Italo Zucchelli) format, its success lies in the selection of designers, which range from fashion's big-hitters to smaller independent labels.

There are the ones you will have heard of, the ones that might ring a bell and the ones you should be watching in the future. Big cheeses Karl Lagerfeld and Alber Elbaz sit alongside smaller designers, including Scots Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders.

It may be a fashion bible that would buckle many a coffee table, but one of the book's most attractive selling points is its price: just £34.99 for two hefty hardback volumes that come in a hardcover slipcase. This was an important factor for Jones, who wanted it to appeal to everyone from the impoverished fashion student to a person with just a passing curiosity about fashion.

"I find the book very accessible; I love that people who don't know about fashion can be interested in it," he says. "The price is amazing, and perfect at the moment of course. You can't escape the recession and fashion is always very much a mirror of our time. It feeds our fantasies and it's interesting to see how designers respond to that.

"Despite the recession, there's still space for flamboyancy, and we always find space for fashion in our lives. It feels very democratic and it feels like it's the right time for this book."

Amen! Foir lovers of quality and well designed fashion - Miss Money Penny couldn't agree more!

Happy Holidays fashion Lovers and happy reading! Hoe you get to flick through even a few of these tomes. They can always go on the 'to read' list for 2010!

TTFN until next year.

MMP xx