Fashion Babylon — a Fashion Exposé
Everything You Wanted to Know About Fashion in One Easy Read
Written by Imogen Edwards-Jones, this is a novel that will change the way you shop, whether it be at Marc Jacobs or Top Shop.
From high fashion to high street, this book takes you through six months in the life of a British designer and up-and-coming-fashion house, around 2006. From London Fashion Week in September to New York Fashion Week the following February, follow every stressful day from the inspiration, development of ideas, to final runway shows.
The Scandals Behind the Catwalk
This behind-the-scenes-exposé is written as a novel and spills the beans on who really wealds the power in the industry and whose butt you have to kiss. It takes the lid off some of the scandals, when it comes to the cut-throat business of having a successful runway show.
Although some characters in the industry are identified, part of the fun is guessing who the likely identity of the model, designer or critic is, that are included in the authors anecdotes. Some personalities remain anonymous, for obvious reasons. Learn the tricks of the trade of many designers when it comes to developing their mood boards and producing garments, and how they obtain there “inspiration” for new collections whether it be from other designer’s vintage clothing, or from local market stalls.
Fashion Babylon also reveals heaps of fashion-industry secrets that some designers would prefer to be left unsaid. Examples include a preference (with some designers) for using children’s cotton when it comes to budget cuts, or cutting the label off of a vintage piece and sending it down the runway, calling it your own.
The Glamorous World of the Runway Model
One of the most fascinating insights in the book is into the world of the runway model. Popping pills and laxatives to make them thin, and the stress and strains of a photoshoot; their life is not so glamorous after all. There are some revealing stories regarding the antics of supermodels, and some revelations regarding a pile cream that is used by some, to tighten the skin around the eyes, rather than the nether regions! It also touches on the size-zero debate and the health risks involved for those who have to diet hard, to keep ahead of their profession.
The Power of Perfume and Fashion Accessories
If you have a passion for purses, learn why the humble handbag is so important in the world of fashion. How the mark up on perfumes is phenomenal on every bottle, but that the initial outlay can cost up to hundreds of thousands of dollars and take years to develop.
Fashion Babylon gives some eye-opening facts and figures when it comes to cost and profit ratios between clothing, accessories and perfumes. After reading this you will no longer wonder why so many fashion houses have launched their own designer fragrances and why fashion accessories are so important to a label.
A Changing Market
It highlights how the fickle world of fashion has been overturned since the onset of the internet, where now the monthly glossies (with their longer lead-in times) have to battle with the likes of key fashion sites like style.com, who are able to turn-round images of the latest runway collections simply by uploading them (and their much-awaited reviews) the day after each runway show.
Celebrity Culture
The book also lifts the lid on some of the reasons why we are obsessed with celebrities and gives the lowdown on the top 10 women A-listers who can sell dresses and are a designers dream ticket. There is also a witty look as to how certain fashion houses distainfully view some celebrities and their WAGS (wives and girlfriends) and the lengths (and lies) some designers will go to, in order to prevent them from wearing their label, if a certain celebrity does not represent the right image!
A Lighthearted but Insightful Read
Fashion Babylon is a must-read for any fashionista. The New York Times hails it as "the fashionista's trashy read of choice," supplanting The Devil Wears Prada. British women’s magazine Heat calls it “ a real must-read for anyone interested in fashion or obsessed by celebrity,” and the Daily Telegraph says its revelations “will leave you rubbing your hands with glee.”
This is a summer read that is both witty and insightful. With whiffs of scandal, sexual references and cocaine habits, Fashion Babylon is slightly Jackie Collinsesque in places, but none-the-less is a good, lighthearted read.
Above all Fashion Babylon will influence the way you think when go shopping for next season’s wardrobe. It gives an insight into to the blood, sweat and tears that goes into making both high fashion and high street, and all those who are involved in the industry, from designer to model to critic, to make a collection a success.
Fashion Babylon is written by Imogen Edwards-Jones (and anonymous) and is available in paperback version from Corgi books. ISBN 978-0-552-15554-0.
