Men’s Fashion Book Guide – 100 Books For Your Menswear Library

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We often get asked: what books do you recommend for someone like me? As you can imagine, it all depends on you: your needs, your taste, your budget, your preference…

Table of Contents
  1. Gentlemen of The Golden Age by Sven Raphael Schneider
  2. Get it here
  3. A Gentleman’s Wardrobe  by Paul Keers
  4. A History of Men’s Fashion by Farid Chenoune
  5. A Man’s Book by Jane Waller
  6. A Style Is Born by Anderson & Sheppard
  7. A Well-Dressed Gentleman’s Pocket Guide by Oscar Lenius
  8. ABCs of Men’s Fashion by Hardy Amies
  9. Accessoires by F. Volker Feyerabend
  10. Antique Cufflinks 1860 – 1960 by Guy-David Lambrechts
  11. Apparel Arts: Fashion is the News by Giannino Malossi & A. Shugaar
  12. Bert Bacharach’s Book For Men by Bert Bacharach
  13. Bespoke by Anderson Richard Anderson
  14. Bespoke James Sherwood
  15. The manufacture of Boots and Shoes F.Y. Golding
  16. British Military Uniforms by James Laver
  17. Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style Richard Torregrossa
  18. Churchill Style by Barry Singer
  19. Classic Tailoring Techniques by Cabrera Roberto Cabrera
  20. Clothes And The Man Sidney by D. Barney
  21.  
  22. Clothes And The Man by Alan Flusser
  23. Brioni by Farid Chenoune
  24. Buttons & Sundries by Vittoria De Buzzaccarini
  25. Clothes Cleaning and Renovating Allen and Vincent
  26. Collars, Stocks, Cravats: A history and costume dating guide to civilian men’s neckpieces by Doriece Colle
  27. Colored Gemstones: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide byAntoinette Matlins
  28. Cowboys & Hatters by Debbie Henderson
  29. Cuff Jewelry Howard Bell Jr.
  30. Cuff Links Susan Jonas and Marilyn Nissenson
  31. Cuff Links Bertrand Pizzin and Jean-Noel Liaut
  32. Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide by Antoinette Matlins
  33. Divinely Elegant: The world of Ernst Dryden by Anthony Lipmann
  34. Dressing in the Dark by Marion Maneker
  35. Dressing The Man by Alan Flusser
  36. Elegance: A Guide to Quality in Menswear
  37. ELEGANCE AND STYLE TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF MEN’S FASHION by Vittoria De Buzzaccarini
  38. Eminently Suitable by Bruce Boyer
  39. Esquire’s Encyclopedia of 20th Century Men’s Fashions Oscar E. Schoeffler
  40. Fashion by F. Volker Feyerabend
  41. Fashion Dictionary by Guido Vergani
  42. Fashion For Men Diana De Marly
  43. Fred Astaire Style Bruce Boyer
  44. Fashion in Film by Regine Engelmeier and Peter W. Engelmeier
  45. Fashion at Royal Ascot by James Sherwood
  46. Furs for Men by Anna Municchi
  47. Gary Cooper Enduring Style by Bruce Boyer & Maria Cooper Janis
  48. Handbook of English Costume in the Nineteenth Century by C. Willett Cunnington
  49. Handbook of English Costume in the 20th Century, 1900 – 1950 by Alan Mansfield & Phillis Cunnington
  50. Handmade Shoes for Men Laszlo Vass
  51. Harris Tweed by Platman by Lara Platman
  52. Hat Talk Debbie Henderson
  53. History of Men’s Fashion Nicholas Storey
  54. History of Men’s Accessories Nicholas Storey
  55. Icons of Film: The 20th Century by Peter W. Engelmeier
  56. Icons of Men’s Style by Josh Sims
  57. In Vanity Fair by Roy T. Matthews and Peter Mellini
  58. Ivy Style: Radical Conformists by Patricia Mears, Christopher Breward, Christian Chensvold, Masafumi Monden, Peter McNeil, Bruce Boyer
  59. Le Snob:Tailoring by Simon Crompton
  60. Making Trousers for Men & Women by David Page Coffin
  61. Men in Style by Woody Hochswender & Kim Johnson Gross
  62. Men’s Coats by Buzzaccarni Vittoria De Buzzaccarini
  63. Men’s Fashion The Complete Sourcebook by John Peacock
  64. Men’s Fashion Illustrations from the Turn of the Century by Jno. J. Mitchell Co.
  65. Men’s Fashion in the Twentieth Century by Maria Costantino
  66. Men’s Hats by Giuliano Folledore
  67. Mr Lock Of St James’s Street by Frank Whitbourn
  68. Mr. Classic by Jeremy Hackett
  69. One Hundred Years of Menswear by Cally Blackman
  70. Panama, a legendary hat by Martine Buchet
  71. Psychology of Clothes by J.C. Flugel
  72. Savile Row Story: An Illustrated History by Richard Walker
  73. Scottish Estate Tweeds by Johnstons of Elgin
  74. Sharp Suits by Eric Musgrave
  75. Shirtmaking by David Page Coffin
  76. Sleevehead’s Guide To Sicilian Tailors by Juhn Maing
  77. Textiles for Tailors by Ernest Ostick
  78. Style And The Man by Alan Flusser
  79. Take Ivy by Teruyoshi Hayashida
  80. Textbook on Footwear Manufacture by J.H. Thorton
  81. The Abruzzi Tailor’s Workshop Yesterday and Today by Guido Vergani
  82. The Allure of Men by François Baudot
  83. The Art of Fitting Gentlemen’s Garments by Reuben Sytner
  84. The Book of Ties by François Chaille
  85. The Boutonniere: Style in One’s Lapel by Umberto Angeloni
  86. The Duke & Duchess of Windsor Sotheby’s
  87. The Duke of Windsor: A Family Album Duke of Windsor
  88. The Elegant Man by Riccardo Villarosa and Giuliano Angeli
  89. The Englishman’s Suit by Hardy Amies
  90. The Executive Look by Mortimer Levitt
  91. The Fairchild: Encyclopedia of Menswear by Mary Lisa Gavenas
  92. The Gentleman’s Guide to Timeless Fashion by Bernhard Roetzel
  93. The Gentleman’s Slipper by Fiona Dreesmann
  94. The Glitter and The Gold by Ulysses G. Dietz and Newark Museum
  95. The Gentry Man by Hal Rubinstein
  96. The Handmade Felt Hat by Debbie Henderson
  97. The Handkerchief by Paolo Peri
  98. The Male Image by Penelope Byrde
  99. The Savile Row Cutter Michael Skinner – Hormazd Narielwalla
  100. The Suit by Michael Anton aka Nicholas Antongiavanni
  101. The Tie: Trends and Traditions by Sarah Gibbings
  102. The Top Hat by Debbie Henderson
  103. Vintage Ties of the Forties & Early Fifties by Rod Dyer, Ron Spark and Steve Sakai

At the Gentleman’s Gazette, we have hundreds of books related to men’s clothing and it is always difficult to pinpoint what book works best for one person.

Therefore, we curated a list of 100+ books from my collection that we recommend for various reasons. Not every book is good for everybody, except our must-haves. For nice to have or niche books, we try to explain who the book is for.

Some of you may be interested in creating a library of your own, while others want to learn more about men’s clothing or maybe just investigate a specific detail. To facilitate the process of finding the right book for you, I created a table with the 100 titles that contains just the basic information. In addition, I added the following functions:

1. Search: Just type in a keyword at the top right, hit enter and see what comes up

2. Sorting: You can sort the books by title, author, genre or importance, so you can quickly find what’s right for you

3. Pages: You can choose on the top left, whether you want to see 10, 25, 50 or all 100 books at once, so it’s up to you whether you want to scroll or not. If you display less than 100, you can still sort or just click through the various pages on the bottom right.

This list only contains English language books, and it is by no means definitive. I simply selected the ones that I thought are most useful to you, and as such I omitted all dissertations since they are often very focused on just one particular matter and too academic for most people to enjoy. Moreover, I dismissed a few titles that I don’t think are worth reading and sorted out others that were too specialized. However, if you think we must have missed something, please let me know, and we might add it if I think it makes sense.

To order the book you like from amazon simply click on the link or the cover picture.

100 Menswear Books You Should Have in Your Library

Book TitleAuthorTopicImportance
Gentlemen Of The Golden AgeSven Raphael SchneiderFashion Illustrations & Clothing Guidemust have
Clothes and the ManAlan FlusserClothing Guidemust have
Dressing The ManAlan FlusserClothing Guidemust have
The Gentleman's Guide to Timeless FashionBernhard RoetzelClothing Guidemust have
A History of Men's FashionFarid ChenouneMen's Clothing Historymust have
Esquire's Encyclopedia of 20th Century Men's FashionsOscar E. SchoefflerMen's Clothing Historymust have
The Englishman's SuitHardy AmiesMen's Clothing Historymust have
Bespoke Menswear: Tailoring for GentlemanBernhard RoetzelMen's Stylenice to have
I am DandyRose Callahan, Nathaniel AdamsMen's Stylenice to have
True StyleG. Bruce BoyerMen's Stylenice to have
A Gentleman's WardrobePaul KeersClothing Guidenice to have
A Man's BookJane WallerMen's Clothing Historynice to have
A Style is BornAnderson and SheppardStyle Iconsnice to have
A Well-Dressed Gentleman's Pocket GuideOscar LeniusClothing Guidenice to have
ABC of Men's FashionHardy AmiesEncyclopedianice to have
AccessoiresF. Volker FeyerabendFashion Illustrationsnice to have
Antique Cufflinks 1860-1960Guy-David LambrechtsAccessories - Cuff Linksnice to have
Apparel Arts: Fashion is the NewsGiannino Malossi - A. ShugaarFashion Illustrationsnice to have
Bert Bacharach's Book for MenBert BacharachClothing Guidenice to have
Bespoke by AndersonRichard AndersonBespokenice to have
Bespoke: The Men's Style of Savile RowJames SherwoodBespokenice to have
The Manufacture of Boots and ShoesF.Y. GoldingShoesnice to have
Cary Grant: A Celebration of StyleRichard TorregrossaFilmnice to have
Churchill Style Book ReviewBarry SingerBiographynice to have
Clothes And The ManSidney D. BarneyClothing Guidenice to have
Cowboys & HattersDebbie HendersonAccessories - Hatsnice to have
Cuff JewelryHoward Bell Jr.Accessories - Cuff Linksnice to have
Cuff LinksSusan Jonas and Marilyn NissensonAccessories - Cuff Linksnice to have
Cuff LinksBertrand Pizzin and Jean-Noel LiautAccessories - Cuff Linksnice to have
Divinely Elegant: The world of Ernst DrydenAnthony LipmannBiographynice to have
Dressing in the DarkMarion ManekerFilmnice to have
Elegance: A Guide to Quality in MenswearBruce BoyerMen's Stylenice to have
ELEGANCE AND STYLE TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF MEN'S FASHIONVittoria De BuzzaccariniMen's Clothing Historynice to have
Eminently SuitableBruce BoyerMen's Stylenice to have
Fashion in FilmRegine Engelmeier and Peter W. EngelmeierFilmnice to have
FashionF. Volker FeyerabendFashion Illustrationsnice to have
Fashion DictionaryGuido VerganiEncyclopedianice to have
Fred Astaire StyleBruce BoyerBiographynice to have
Gary Cooper Enduring StyleBruce Boyer & Maria Cooper JanisBiographynice to have
Handbook of English Costume in the 19th CenturyC. Willett CunningtonMen's Clothing Historynice to have
Handbook of English Costume in the 20th Century 1900 - 1950Alan Mansfield & Phillis CunningtonMen's Clothing Historynice to have
Handmade Shoes for MenLaszlo VassShoesnice to have
Hat TalkDebbie HendersonAccessories - Hatsnice to have
History of Men's AccessoiresNicholas StoreyAccessoriesnice to have
History of Men's FashionNicholas StoreyMen's Clothing Historynice to have
Icons of Film: The 20th CenturyPeter W. EngelmeierFilmnice to have
Icons of Men's StyleJosh SimsStyle Iconsnice to have
Le Snob:TailoringSimon CromptonBespokenice to have
Making Trousers for Men & WomenDavid Page CoffinTailoring Booknice to have
Men in StyleWoody Hochswender & Kim Johnson GrossFashion Illustrationsnice to have
Men's CoatsVittoria De BuzzaccariniMen's Clothing Historynice to have
Men's Fashion: The Complete SourcebookJohn PeacockFashion Illustrationsnice to have
Men's Fashion In the Twentieth CenturyMaria CostantinoMen's Clothing Historynice to have
Men's HatsGiuliano FolledoreAccessories - Hatsnice to have
Mr. ClassicJeremy HackettClothing Guidenice to have
One Hundred Years of MenswearCally BlackmanMen's Clothing Historynice to have
Sharp SuitsEric MusgraveMen's Clothing Historynice to have
Style And The ManAlan FlusserClothing Guidenice to have
Textbook on Footwear ManufactureJ.H. ThortonShoesnice to have
The Book of TiesFrançois ChailleAccessories - Tiesnice to have
The Boutonniere: Style in One's LapelUmberto AngeloniAccessories - Boutonnierenice to have
The Duke & Duchess of WindsorSotheby'sAuction Catalognice to have
The Duke of Windsor: A Family Album Duke of WindsorBiographynice to have
The Elegant ManRiccardo and Giuliano Angeli VillarosaClothing Guidenice to have
The Executive LookMortimer LevittClothing Guidenice to have
The Fairchild: Encyclopedia of MenswearMary Lisa GavenasEncyclopedianice to have
The Gentleman’s Slipper by Fiona Dreesmann – Book ReviewFiona DreesmannShoesnice to have
The Glitter and The GoldUlysses G. Dietz and Newark MuseumAccessories - Jewelrynice to have
The Gentry ManHal RubinsteinMen's Stylenice to have
The Handmade Felt HatDebbie HendersonAccessories - Hatsnice to have
Book Review – The Savile Row Cutter: Michael Skinner Master TailorMichael Skinner - Hormazd NarielwallaBespokenice to have
The SuitMichael Anton - Nicholas AntongiavanniClothing Guidenice to have
The Tie: Trends and TraditionsSarah GibbingsAccessories - Tiesnice to have
Vintage Ties of the Forties & Early FiftiesRod Dyer, Ron Spark and Steve SakaiAccessories - Tiesnice to have
The Perfect Gentleman: The Pursuit of Timeless Elegance and Style in LondonJames SherwoodAccessoriesniche book
The Parisian GentlemanHugo JacometMen's Styleniche book
A Dandy Guide to Dating Vintage Menswear: WW1 Through the 1960sSue NightingaleMen's Styleniche book
Best of British: The Stories Behind Britain's Iconic BrandsSimon Crompton, Horst A. FriedrichsMen's Styleniche book
Rowing BlazersJack CarlsonMen's Styleniche book
Henry Poole: Founders of Savile Row: The Making of a LegendStephen HowarthMen's Styleniche book
The Gentry Man: A Guide for the Civilized MaleHal RubinsteinMen's Styleniche book
One Savile Row: Gieves & Hawkes: The Invention of the English GentlemanManyBespokeniche book
Best of British: The Stories Behind Britain's Iconic BrandsSimon Crompton, Horst A. FriedrichsMen's Styleniche book
British Military Uniforms 1742-1895James LaverMen's Clothing Historyniche book
Classic Tailoring TechniquesRoberto CabreraTailoring Bookniche book
BrioniFarid ChenouneBespokeniche book
Buttons & SundriesVittoria De BuzzaccariniAccessories - Buttonsniche book
Clothes Cleaning and RenovatingAllen and VincentClothes Cleaningniche book
Collars, Stocks, CravatsDoriece ColleAccessoriesniche book
Colored Gemstones: The Buying GuideAntoinette MatlinsAccessories - Jewelryniche book
Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying GuideAntoinette MatlinsAccessories - Jewelryniche book
Fashion at Royal AscotJames SherwoodMorning Dressniche book
Fashion For MenDiana De MarlyMen's Clothing Historyniche book
Furs for MenAnna MunicchiMen's Clothing Historyniche book
Harris Tweed by PlatmanLara PlatmanFabricniche book
In Vanity FairRoy T. Matthews and Peter MelliniFashion Illustrationsniche book
Ivy Style: Radical ConformistsPatricia Mears (Editor)Men's Clothing Historyniche book
Mr Lock Of St James's StreetFrank WhitbournAccessories - Hatsniche book
Panama, a legendary hatMartine BuchetAccessories - Hatsniche book
Psychology of ClothesJ.C. FlugelPsychology of Clothesniche book
Savile Row Story: An Illustrated HistoryRichard WalkerBespokeniche book
Scottish Estate TweedsJohnstons of ElginFabricniche book
ShirtmakingDavid Page CoffinTailoring Bookniche book
Sleevehead's Guide To Sicilian TailorsJuhn MaingBespokeniche book
Textiles for TailorsErnest OstickFabricniche book
Take IvyTeruyoshi HayashidaMen's Clothing Historyniche book
The Abruzzi Tailor's Workshop Yesterday and TodayGuido VerganiBespokeniche book
The Allure of Men François BaudotMen's Styleniche book
The Art of Fitting Gentlemen's GarmentsReuben SytnerTailoring Bookniche book
The HandkerchiefPaolo PeriAccessories - Handkerchiefniche book
The Male ImagePenelope ByrdeMen's Clothing Historyniche book
The Top HatDebbie HendersonAccessories - Hatsniche book
iPad with ebook Gentlemen of the Golden Age
Gentlemen Of The Golden Age – Introduction

Learn more about Gentlemen of The Golden Age

Gentlemen of The Golden Age by Sven Raphael Schneider

Learn from the men who wore Classic Clothing best.

How To…

Appear More Confident & Successful

Improve Your Style

Look & Feel Better

…and much more!

A Gentleman’s Wardrobe  by Paul Keers

A clothing guide from the late 1980’s on 120 pages – nothing revolutionary new but he mentions a few things that  you won’t find in Flusser’s must-haves.

A History of Men’s Fashion by Farid Chenoune

In my opinion, a must have, because Farid Chenoune really dives in deep to the matter of men’s clothing history and although not a dissertation, it is academically sound. He provides a wealth of helpful pictures and explains how menswear evolved, especially over the last 200 years from a French perspective.

A Man’s Book by Jane Waller

Great book about men’s fashion in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

A Style Is Born by Anderson & Sheppard

I would call this a vanity book by the bespoke tailor shop that prides itself on the drape cut. Apart from beautiful pictures and tidbits about the history, you will also find a large section on customers and how they wear A&S suits. For more information, take a look at my review.

A Well-Dressed Gentleman’s Pocket Guide by Oscar Lenius

A pocket guide by the German haberdasher SøR that will be helpful to the one who wants to learn about classic men’s clothing without becoming overwhelmed.

ABCs of Men’s Fashion by Hardy Amies

Encyclopedically structured book from with subjective focus on terms related to men’s fashion from A to Z with helpful advice.

Accessoires by F. Volker Feyerabend

Bilingual (English & German) book full of illustrations of accessories for men and women that will be interesting to designers.

Antique Cufflinks 1860-1960

Coffee table book with several thousand high-quality pictures of cuff links by the Belgian collector Guy-David Lambrechts. For more information, click here.

Apparel Arts: Fashion is the News by Giannino Malossi & A. Shugaar

Very rare book about the famous magazine Apparel Arts that I cite quite frequently. Although just a small fraction of the magazine’s illustrations are the subject matter of this book, it provides some commentary about the period and its style. If you can get your hand on one of these, grab it and if you don’t like it, you can always sell it to us. 

Bert Bacharach’s Book For Men by Bert Bacharach

A 159-page clothing guide from the 1950’s written by an American fashion editor. Interesting tidbits and rules in an easy to read format.

Bespoke by Anderson Richard Anderson

Autobiography / vanity book of a Savile Row establishment.

Bespoke James Sherwood

Picture-driven coffee table book about the tailoring houses on Savile Row.

The manufacture of Boots and Shoes F.Y. Golding

Interesting insights into how quality shoes used to be made. Considering it is free, there is no reason not to take a look at it.

British Military Uniforms by James Laver

Small book with illustrations about glorious British Military Uniforms – definitely only of interest to the advanced clothes enthusiast.

Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style Richard Torregrossa

Book about the stylish actor.

Churchill Style by Barry Singer

Analysis and biography about the style of Winston Churchill, for more information, take a look here.

Classic Tailoring Techniques by Cabrera Roberto Cabrera

A book for people interested in the tailoring aspect of men’s clothing.

Clothes And The Man Sidney by D. Barney

Small British clothing guide with interesting tidbits and tables about what to wear on what occasion. Take a look at my review.

 

Clothes And The Man by Alan Flusser

I consider it to be a must have because Alan Flusser probably sold the most books worldwide about men’s fashion, and although not his first book, this one is the foundation of his fame.

Brioni by Farid Chenoune

A little book with some insights to the famous Roman tailoring house.

Buttons & Sundries by Vittoria De Buzzaccarini

Niche book, just about buttons.

Clothes Cleaning and Renovating Allen and Vincent

Old British book about how to get rid of stains and dirt as well as how to rejuvenate fabrics. Very interesting to see what was used to clean clothes back in the day with quite a bit of advice on how to do it.

Collars, Stocks, Cravats: A history and costume dating guide to civilian men’s neckpieces by Doriece Colle

The title says it all.

Colored Gemstones: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide byAntoinette Matlins

Although gemstones are primarily the domain of the ladies, some men like rings and cuff links and this book gives you a good understanding of what to look for and how to spot fakes or inferior quality stones.

Cowboys & Hatters by Debbie Henderson

Well researched book by an academic about the origins and making of the cowboy hat, the Stetson myth and in depth interviews with old hatter personalities.

Cuff Jewelry Howard Bell Jr.

A self-published book from the 1990’s about cuff links, with quite a bit of photography.

Good book about cuff links and its history but not as many pictures as antique cuff links.

Probably the weakest cuff link book of all the listed options, but since there is not much out there, I still put it on the list.

Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide by Antoinette Matlins

Diamond knowledge will never hurt, no matter whether you look for a precious piece for your sweetheart or for a nice set of dress studs.

Divinely Elegant: The world of Ernst Dryden by Anthony Lipmann

Biography about fashion illustrator and stylist Ernst Dryden-Deutsch, who helped brands like Knize to become famous.

Dressing in the Dark by Marion Maneker

Unlike the title may imply, this is not a book about what not to wear but rather an examination of men’s clothes worn in films.

Dressing The Man by Alan Flusser

Probably one of the most popular men’s clothing guide books out there. Full of beautiful pictures and advice, this book is a good start to the collection of a clothes enthusiast. However, I noticed many consider what Flusser says to like the holy standard, however I think it pays to also learn in the process that there are many exceptions to there ” rules”“. I have better books in German but I consider it nevertheless a must have because, all other English clothing guides are judged compared to Dressing the Man.

Elegance: A Guide to Quality in Menswear

Mr. Boyer is a better writer than Mr. Flusser in my humble opinion and so if you like well written essays, Boyer will never disappoint you. This guide focuses on the basics with humor and wit.

ELEGANCE AND STYLE TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF MEN’S FASHION by Vittoria De Buzzaccarini

Big Italian coffee table book about male elegance that provides an interesting Italian perspective that American / English speaking natives usually don’t have.

Eminently Suitable by Bruce Boyer

This 206-page guide from the 1990’s is aimed at businessmen who wish to dress for success. In eight chapters, Boyer touches history and advice on men’s clothing, provides a brief glossary of style terminology, and it contains a now outdated appendix on men’s clothing stores.

Esquire’s Encyclopedia of 20th Century Men’s Fashions Oscar E. Schoeffler

The most comprehensive book in English about men’s fashion of the 20th Century. Written by Esquire and Apparel Arts veterans, it contains a lot of information about every aspect of men’s clothing divided into chapters by subject, and time as well as a glossary at the end of the book. Of course, everything in this 1970’s book as a heavy American influence but  it is still a must have. At times, this book can cost over $1000 but sometimes you can find it for $100. Most are priced somewhere in between.

Fashion by F. Volker Feyerabend

German / English book about fashion styles and cuts using modern fashion illustrations only.

Fashion Dictionary by Guido Vergani

Fashion dictionary including designers, some tailors and garments but not complete and clearly inferior to the German fashion dictionary by Ingrid Loschek. Unfortunately, there is nothing better, which is why it is listed here.

Fashion For Men Diana De Marly

Good for you if you are interested in men’s fashion in the medieval times and subsequent centuries and how it developed over time.

Fred Astaire Style Bruce Boyer

Small book about Fred Astaire and his style.

Fashion in Film by Regine Engelmeier and Peter W. Engelmeier

Pictures of silver screen stars from a great archive.

Fashion at Royal Ascot by James Sherwood

All about this famous horse race and Mecca for morning dress.

Furs for Men by Anna Municchi

All about fur coats for men.

Gary Cooper Enduring Style by Bruce Boyer & Maria Cooper Janis

Biography by Bruce Boyer in collaboration with Cooper’s daughter. More about it here.

Handbook of English Costume in the Nineteenth Century by C. Willett Cunnington

Text heavy British guide about men’s and women’s clothing with black and white illustrations that serves as a valuable guide to help dating garments.

Handbook of English Costume in the 20th Century, 1900 – 1950 by Alan Mansfield & Phillis Cunnington

Same as above just for the time period of 1900 – 1950.

Handmade Shoes for Men Laszlo Vass

The  first book about quality shoes for consumers.

Harris Tweed by Platman by Lara Platman

Book about the craftsmen on the Isle of Harris and their process of creating the famous cloth but not much on the sheep.

Hat Talk Debbie Henderson

Great book about quality hat making. For mere see here.

History of Men’s Fashion Nicholas Storey

Title a bit misleading but still an interesting British read.

History of Men’s Accessories Nicholas Storey

The second part of the series about traditional accessories for the British gentleman. In depth review here.

Icons of Film: The 20th Century by Peter W. Engelmeier

Pictures of iconic male & female film characters from the largest private film archive in the world.

Icons of Men’s Style by Josh Sims

A take on style icons from various decades.

In Vanity Fair by Roy T. Matthews and Peter Mellini

A collection of satiric fashion illustrations of British Gentleman from way back in the day.

Ivy Style: Radical Conformists by Patricia Mears, Christopher Breward, Christian Chensvold, Masafumi Monden, Peter McNeil, Bruce Boyer

Analysis of the American Ivy Style and how it developed. More here.

Le Snob:Tailoring by Simon Crompton

Tiny pocket guide about the process of bespoke tailoring, by the creator of the blog permanent style.

Making Trousers for Men & Women by David Page Coffin

Tailoring book for novices about how to make trousers.

Men in Style by Woody Hochswender & Kim Johnson Gross

Popular book with fashion illustrations from Apparel Arts and a bit of commentary.

Men’s Coats by Buzzaccarni Vittoria De Buzzaccarini

All about men’s overcoats from an Italian point of view.

Men’s Fashion The Complete Sourcebook by John Peacock

Colorful fashion illustrations as seen by the British.

Men’s Fashion Illustrations from the Turn of the Century by Jno. J. Mitchell Co.

Reprint of vintage men’s fashion illustrations.

Men’s Fashion in the Twentieth Century by Maria Costantino

Often overlooked book with some interesting photographs and conclusions about classic men’s clothing

Men’s Hats by Giuliano Folledore

All about hats from an Italian point of view.

Mr Lock Of St James’s Street by Frank Whitbourn

Book about the famous hat store lock and the invention of the bowler hat.

Mr. Classic by Jeremy Hackett

Mr. Hacketts vanity book on classic men’s style reinterpreted.

One Hundred Years of Menswear by Cally Blackman

The title says it all.

Panama, a legendary hat by Martine Buchet

Great book about the artfully handwoven Panama hat from Ecuador.

Psychology of Clothes by J.C. Flugel

Classic about the psychology behind clothes.

Savile Row Story: An Illustrated History by Richard Walker

Introduction to the old tailoring houses on Savile Row with some insights but outdated pricing guide.

Scottish Estate Tweeds by Johnstons of Elgin

Informative book about the patterns of scottish estate tweeds.

Sharp Suits by Eric Musgrave

Great book about the history and development of the suit. More about the book here.

Shirtmaking by David Page Coffin

Tailoring book for novices about how to make shirts

Sleevehead’s Guide To Sicilian Tailors by Juhn Maing

Great guide about bespoke garments in Sicily. In depth review here.

Textiles for Tailors by Ernest Ostick

Vintage British book about cloth, different weaves and names of cloth.

Style And The Man by Alan Flusser

Another style book by Flusser with few pictures and a shopping guide. Not too long ago, it was republished without the guide but basically the same information.

Take Ivy by Teruyoshi Hayashida

Japanese book with lots of pictures about Ivy Style. You can find more information here.

Textbook on Footwear Manufacture by J.H. Thorton

The title says it all.

The Abruzzi Tailor’s Workshop Yesterday and Today by Guido Vergani

Great book about the history of Italian bespoke tailoring and discussion of Caraceni.

The Allure of Men by François Baudot

Huge coffee table book with all kinds of pictures including classic suits and African tribes.

The Art of Fitting Gentlemen’s Garments by Reuben Sytner

Informative tailoring book about how to properly fit suit, overcoat, trousers etc. Although written for tailors it can help to consumer to understand what to look for when order bespoke garments.

The Book of Ties by François Chaille

Great book about the history of the tie with many pictures.

The Boutonniere: Style in One’s Lapel by Umberto Angeloni

All about the flower in the buttonhole.

The Duke & Duchess of Windsor Sotheby’s

Boxed set of auction catalogs of the belongings of the Duke of Windsor and his wife, including pictures, of clothes, accessories, furniture etc.

The Duke of Windsor: A Family Album Duke of Windsor

Autobiography of the Duke of Windsor with many pictures and references to clothes, his tailors, and his style.

The Elegant Man by Riccardo Villarosa and Giuliano Angeli

Italian Clothing guide that is a great addition to Flusser and Roetzel.

The Englishman’s Suit by Hardy Amies

Excellent book about the development of men’s fashion.

The Executive Look by Mortimer Levitt

1980’s guide on how to dress for success.

The Fairchild: Encyclopedia of Menswear by Mary Lisa Gavenas

The attempt of creating a menswear encyclopedia with a slim bibliography, and often incomplete or non existant entries. Even in combination with Vergani’s fashion dictionary it is nothing to rave about but at the same time there is not much else in English, hence it made it on the list.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Timeless Fashion by Bernhard Roetzel

Translated in many languages, this German book with an Anglophile touch features some good pictures and is a basic guide for the clothes novice. I call it a must-have because many men use this as their first book along with Flusser’s. Of course, it is not definitive but it is now almost a golden standard. It was republished not too long ago with a few updates here and there, but overall there is nonoticeablele difference. So if you have the old version, don’t upgrade.

The Gentleman’s Slipper by Fiona Dreesmann

A book about Albert Slipper – for more information click here.

The Glitter and The Gold by Ulysses G. Dietz and Newark Museum

Book about the American jewelry and cuff link industry in New Jersey.

The Gentry Man by Hal Rubinstein

Analysis of the 1950’s men’s magazine Gentry.

The Handmade Felt Hat by Debbie Henderson

Great book on the felt hat and how it is / was made.

The Handkerchief by Paolo Peri

All about the handkerchief.

The Male Image by Penelope Byrde

Book for people interested in fashion development from the 14th – 20th century.

The Savile Row Cutter Michael Skinner – Hormazd Narielwalla

Biography and insights to bespoke tailoring on Savile Row. More about the book…

The Suit by Michael Anton aka Nicholas Antongiavanni

Clothes Guide written in the style of Machiavelli’s Il Principe.

Book about the history of the tie.

The Top Hat by Debbie Henderson

Book about the top hat, its history and the making as well as the difference to a chapeau claque.

Vintage Ties of the Forties & Early Fifties by Rod Dyer, Ron Spark and Steve Sakai

The titles says it all.

Reader Comments

  1. Mr. Schneider,
    The collection of mens wear books that you highlighted is certainly a cornucopia of mens fashion knowlegde, in fact I already own “Clothes and the Man” by Mr. Alan Flusser and have for many years and credit it for my fashion savvy…again I wish to applaud you for your fine effort in sharing this information.

    1. It was quite a bit of work to narrow it down to 100 and then create a sortable list that is actually useful. So, if it helps you, please share it, thanks.

    1. Ray, that really depends on the person. Am I recommending books to a novice, intermediate or advanced dresser? A vintage lover like you or a modern day man?
      That’s why I added some comments because otherwise my Top 10 are not really worth a whole lot, are they?
      For example, for you I would A Man’s Book by Jane Waller would be my top recommendation – do you have that?

  2. Everyone has a favorite book that may not be on another’s radar. My introduction was Dress for Success by J. T. Molloy. It is wonderful to see a collection. I shall read as many as I can.

  3. It;s off-putting that the first book on your list that’s rated “must have” is a) out of print and b) going for $350+ online… Just saying.

    1. Brian M.,
      The first book that pops up for me is A Gentleman’s Wardrobe by Paul Keers, which currently sells for $2.90 for the hardcover version and $0.99 for the paperback edition.
      You are probably referring to A History of Men’s Fashion and it has always been expensive because it is out of print, good and hence in demand.
      However, it is not for everybody and also available in libraries. Just check their online catalog before you go.

      I really tried to include titles for everybody. If you go through the list, you will find plenty of books that sell for under $10 used.

  4. Sven, thank you for the immense work you went through to share your references and enthusiam.

    1. You are most welcome! This is in fact only a fraction of the references I use since I also have a lot of men’s fashion magazines and books in German, French an Italian. But since these are not easily available in the US and most readers would not be able to understand what’s in them, I did not include any of those.

  5. Hello Mr. Schneider,
    just to say thank you for taking the time to present this information in a concise and easy to find manner. Your site and the content that you create and gather is first-class and speaks quality.
    Best.

  6. Great list. I have about ten of them which is probably enough for me particularly when the net provides such a trove of photo references to people like Luciano Barbera who is to me the doyenne of pattern mixing particularly sportscoats.

    1. Well, different people are happy with different things, though to master something, it requires a lot of time, passion and books ;).

  7. Very good list! Looks like I have some new reading material. I have always been intrigued with 1940’s fashion. Also I recommend anything on the subject of fitting for clothing. A great fit really makes a great look.

  8. Great resource! I think there are not enough men interested in fashion like there were in late 19th century into the early 20th century. I have only recently gotten into fashion and I will definitely be checking out these books. Thanks!

    1. Shawn, I think there are more men interested in classic clothing now then 30 years ago, so that’s a good sign.

  9. Already own the Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style.. Checking out Churchill Style by Barry Singer!!

  10. Great list… sad that it is limited to books available (also) in English… the books written by Baron von Eelking are actually a must-have, too, if you can understand the German language.

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