These are the fashion books to add to your summer reading list

The world of fashion publishing has become increasingly rich in recent years, with encyclopaedic tomes (like Thames & Hudson’s superlative ‘Catwalk’ series) meeting the limited-edition and the self-published, alongside those conceived by the fashion world’s biggest brands (case in point: a new Valentino book photographed by Mark Borthwick, the type of brand ephemera which is sure to become a collector’s item).

And, while these summer releases might not all be suitable to cart to the beach (though a paperback edition of Robin Givhan’s brilliant Virgil Abloh biography definitely is), this line-up of books will provide plenty of material to while away lazy warm-weather days (and perhaps, more importantly, divert your eyes – if momentarily – from screens). And they also might provide some style inspiration: Ralph Lauren Catwalk, which collates the American designer’s runway shows, provides a lesson in the kind of preppy dressing currently having a comeback, while The Antwerp Six, telling the story of the renegade Belgian designers who changed the fashion landscape in the 1980s, is a perennial resource.

Here, as selected by the Wallpaper* Style Team, the fashion books to add to your summer reading list.

Ralph Lauren Catwalk: The Complete Collections (Thames & Hudson)

It is safe to say that Ralph Lauren is having a moment: its Polo Ralph Lauren caps and shirts, recognisable for their leaping ‘Pony’ insignia, are as ubiquitous now as they were during their 1990s heyday (a revival of Ivy League dress codes at Jonathan Anderson’s Dior and Michael Rider’s Celine has helped). A new book from the American powerhouse, published by Thames & Hudson, provides a comprehensive mood board for how to construct the Ralph Lauren look by collating over 1,300 runway photographs from across the legendary designer’s career. Authored by Bridget Foley, it is part of Thames & Hudson's Catwalk series, which serves as a comprehensive ‘reference library’ on the runway shows of the world’s best-known brands, with previous iterations exploring the work of Dior, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Vivienne Westwood and Versace, among others. ‘Each book is definitive and official,’ says the publisher’s editorial director for fashion, Adélia Sabatini. ‘A tome of accessible yet thorough research developed with unprecedented access to the houses’ archives.’

Ralph Lauren Catwalk: The Complete Collections by Bridget Foley, Thames & Hudson, available now.

The Antwerp Six (Hannibal Books)

The Antwerp Six, a radical group of designers who studied at the Belgian city’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts, are the subject of an ongoing exhibition at MoMu in Antwerp that charts their impact on fashion. ‘The Six did their own thing alongside these huge fashion groups of the 1990s,’ Kaat Debo, one of the exhibition’s curators, told Wallpaper*. ‘They showed how creative people can lift the reputation of an entire city and present it as a place for experimentation, innovation and connection.’ An accompanying book, edited by Debo, Geert Bruloot and Romy Cockx, and featuring contributions from Tim Blanks, Angelo Flaccavento and Eugene Rabkin, documents the early careers of the six designers – Walter Van Beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Dirk Van Saene, Dirk Bikkembergs and Marina Yee – and their propulsion into the spotlight. 40 years since they first travelled to London as a group and got the moniker, it is the deepest dive yet into the group – spanning over 400 pages, it is a definitive resource on one of fashion’s watershed moments.

The Antwerp Six, by Kaat Debo, Geert Bruloot and Romy Cockx Hannibal Books, available now.

Acne Paper Issue 21, Autoportrait (Acne Studios)

In 2001, after a seven-year hiatus, Acne Paper – the Acne Studios-published magazine – relaunched in a new book format. The latest issue, number 21, arrives this month and turns its lens on the Swedish brand as it marks its 30th anniversary: ‘We thought it would be interesting to turn our gaze towards Acne Studios for the first time [with this issue]. Historically, since we launched Acne Paper, the magazine has never been about the brand itself; rather, it became a cultural extension of the company,’ founding editor-in-chief Thomas Persson tells Wallpaper*. ‘Instead of simply looking back, we found it more exciting to reflect on the brand through an exploration of its creative identity as something alive, fluid, and continually reinventing itself. The idea of a self-portrait – or Autoportrait – seemed like a fitting title for the issue.’ As such, the book features a number of ‘self-portrait stories’ from those in Acne Studios’ creative community – including Jordan Hemingway, Guinevere van Seenus, Malick Bodian and Katerina Jebb – as well as a series of essays and a playful look inside the brand’s archive by photographer Casper Sejersen and stylist George Krakowiak.

Acne Paper Issue 21, Autoportrait, out 17 June 2026. Sign up to be notified here.

Make It Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture (Penguin)

In June of last year, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robin Givhan – the former Washington Post senior critic-at-large – released her definitive biography of the late Off-White and Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh (we extracted a chapter exploring the influence of architecture on his work). A gripping exploration of his pioneering influence (he was the first Black designer to head up a major fashion house) and proudly multi-hyphenate approach, which would reshape the industry, Givhan paints a beguiling portrait of a visionary in constant evolution. ‘Unlike many of his peers in the fashion industry, Abloh was at peace with the fact that everything he produced was not in its perfect form. It was, after all, a practice. Everything was a work in progress,’ she writes. This July, ‘Make it Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture ’ is released in a paperback edition, making for a handier companion for summer escapes.

Make It Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture, by Robin Givhan, out in paperback

Making Faces Carlijn Jacobs (Carlijn Jacobs)

The Dutch photographer Carlijn Jacobs has become one of contemporary fashion’s most sought-after image-makers, capturing campaigns for the likes of Acne Studios, Giorgio Armani and Givenchy, and shooting for publications including Dazed, Vogue and M Le Magazine du Monde, among others (outside of fashion, she memorably photographed Beyoncé for the cover of the musician’s 2022 album, Renaissance). A recently released book sees Jacobs turn her lens to an altogether personal project: titled ‘Making Faces’, it captures a series of children with vividly painted faces, inspired by childhood memories of having her own face painted in her local pancake house. A collaborative project, the joyful images – which capture the transformative power of make-up – were created alongside stylist Robbie Spencer and make-up artist Yvonne Zonnenberg, while Christopher Simmonds oversaw the book’s design.

Making Faces Carlijn Jacobs, is available now.

Specula Mundi (Valentino)

A limited-edition book from Valentino, available only through the house’s stores, rather than a wider release, allows viewers a transporting glimpse behind-the-scenes of Alessandro Michele’s latest haute couture show in January (the memorable show saw guests view the extravagant looks through peep show-like booths reminiscent of the 18th-century Kaiserpanorama). The book is photographed by British photographer Mark Borthwick in his spare but saturated style (he rose to fame in the 1990s shooting avant-garde brands like Maison Martin Margiela, Hussein Chalayan and Comme des Garçons), capturing the various looks in motion. It makes for a transporting, visually rich tome, available in an edition of just 1,500 copies.

Specula Mundi, published by Valentino, is out now in selected Valentino stores.