Fashion moves fast. With constant technological shifts and an ever-accelerating global trend cycle, industry leaders are always trying to predict what’s coming next—no easy task in 2026. August offers a bit of a breather, a chance to pause and reset before September ramps things up again. That might mean relaxing with a good book, but there’s plenty to gain from these quieter moments, especially if what you’re reading gets to the heart of fashion’s biggest challenges.
The Vogue Business fashion executives’ reading list brings together books on algorithms, attention, taste, art, identity, and ecological responsibility. The selection spans hard-hitting nonfiction, thoughtful memoirs, and gripping fashion biographies, offering a closer look at the forces shaping fashion and society today—from how algorithmic recommendations influence taste to how to earn attention in a fragmented media landscape.
This list brings together global leaders from fashion, luxury, and retail to share the essential reads that have changed their perspectives, shaped their worldviews, and influenced their leadership.
Divya Mathur, chief merchandising officer and fashion director at Revolve Group
Cork Dork, by Bianca Bosker
Bosker quit her job as a tech editor to train as a sommelier. Cork Dork is a funny account of her year and a half spent among people who smell everything twice and eat blocks of parmesan to sharpen their palates. Is refined taste genuine perception, or just elaborate theater? It made me think about how we define taste in fashion and how much of it can actually be learned.
Mame Annan-Brown, chief communications officer at Gap Inc.
Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner
As someone with an international background, Crying in H Mart resonated with me on a deeply personal level. Michelle Zauner beautifully captures what it means to navigate multiple cultures, hold onto family traditions, and stay connected to the people we love through food, language, and memory. While her story is rooted in the Korean American experience, the emotions at its core—identity, belonging, grief, and love—are universal.
What moved me most was how she brings culture to life through everyday moments: the meals we share, the traditions we carry forward, and the relationships that shape us. It’s a powerful reminder that our individual stories are what make diversity meaningful, and that taking the time to understand one another can bridge the gaps between us, fostering greater empathy, connection, and appreciation for experiences different from our own.
Caroline Cochin de Billy, VP of supply partnerships at Farfetch
Air, by Bertil Scali & Raphaël de Andréis
Air is a French dystopian novel set against ecological catastrophe. It follows Peter, who is dealing with the fallout of an eco-dictatorship, where society judges people based on their environmental responsibility and places them on a “carbon list.” The theme I found most interesting is the trade-off between individual accountability for one’s carbon footprint versus economic and personal freedom. It reminds us to recognize what people have to give up for the good of the planet, while also making the case for regulations that people can realistically live with.
Katie Rudik, SVP at Purple PR
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, by Shoshana Zuboff
When I picked up this book, what struck me wasn’t just a warning about privacy, but a framework for understanding power. Zuboff argues that our clicks, searches, scrolls, and seemingly insignificant digital behaviors have become a commodity, feeding what she calls “behavioral futures markets,” where companies aren’t just predicting what we’ll do next, but actually shaping those decisions. Suddenly, “my phone is definitely listening to me” felt eerily accurate. Product recommendations and new features looked less like neutral design and more like carefully engineered systems.
This book examines the very mechanics those of us working in fashion, beauty, andMedia rely on every day. It’s about recognizing that recommendation engines don’t just reflect our tastes—they help shape them. That left me wondering: where does real cultural influence end and algorithmic influence begin?
Meridith Webster, Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer at Estée Lauder Companies
We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America, by Norah O’Donnell
We the Women tells the stories of 35 women whose courage and leadership helped shape America, yet whose impact has been overlooked or left out of history. It’s striking how many of these women I had never heard of, like Mary Katharine Goddard, the only woman whose name appears on the Declaration of Independence.
By bringing these overlooked voices to light, O’Donnell doesn’t just deepen our understanding of history. She makes us think about whose stories get told, who gets remembered, and how that shapes what future generations believe is possible. It’s a perspective I carry into my own work—in an industry largely shaped by women, and at a company where a remarkable female founder remains central to our story.
Alison Bringé, CMO of Launchmetrics
The Sirens’ Call, by Chris Hayes
The Sirens’ Call by Chris Hayes offers an interesting take on the attention economy and how our focus has become one of the world’s most valuable and contested resources. It pushes us to think beyond just grabbing attention and instead consider what it truly means to earn it. Working in fashion, luxury, and beauty, where brands compete in an increasingly fragmented media landscape, it’s a timely reminder that lasting influence isn’t built by being the loudest voice, but by creating relevance that’s genuinely earned. It’s changed how I think about brand performance and the future of marketing.
Simon Longland, Director of Fashion Buying at Harrods
The Beautiful Fall, by Alicia Drake
For summer reading, I’d recommend The Beautiful Fall by Alicia Drake. It tells the parallel and intertwined stories of Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld, and how their vision, ambition, and determination shaped modern fashion. What stayed with me is the reminder that there’s no single path to success in a creative industry. Their careers were driven by very different personalities and perspectives, yet both changed fashion forever. It’s an insightful, inspiring, immersive, and utterly compelling read for anyone with a genuine interest in the industry.
Jenny Cossons, Chief Partnerships Officer at Lyst
When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion, by Julie Satow
This book tells the story of the women behind iconic New York department stores—Bonwit Teller, Lord & Taylor, and Henri Bendel—from the 1930s to the 1960s. I’m very interested in fashion and culture from the 1950s, as well as the evolution of shopping and retail. This book reminded me that powerful women making an impact in the fashion world has been happening for a hundred years. We just don’t always hear about the less famous examples.
Ewan Venters, Executive Chair of Paul Smith
Art Cure, by Daisy Fancourt
At its core, Art Cure presents a rather radical idea: that art deserves to be treated as an essential part of a person’s health routine. As someone who has worked in the art sector, I was greatly uplifted by the thought that spending an afternoon at Tate Modern is as good for me as a 5K run.
Art isn’t a luxury, Fancourt suggests, but a necessity for achieving spiritual, mental, and physical balance in life. As a professor herself, she backs this up with compelling research from University College London. I’ve always shared her belief in the transformational power of art to help people heal emotionally and mentally, and how the creative process can reduce stress, express feelings, and improve well-being. It’s not a book that will necessarily change your life, but her argument is persuasive, and it will certainly make you feel less guilty about skipping that gym session to immerse yourself in art.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the summer reading list for fashion executives along with clear and concise answers
1 What is the main theme of the books on this summers reading list for fashion executives
The list focuses on two main pillars business strategy and creative inspiration The goal is to help leaders balance commercial success with artistic vision
2 Why should a fashion executive read business books during their summer break
Summer is a great time for highlevel reflective thinking without the daily pressure of meetings Reading about case studies leadership styles and market shifts helps executives return to work with fresh strategies and a broader perspective on the industry
3 Are these books only for CEOs and toplevel managers
No While the books are chosen with leadership in mind they are highly valuable for midlevel managers product developers marketing leads and even aspiring fashion entrepreneurs Anyone looking to understand the bigger picture of how a fashion house operates will benefit
4 Can you give an example of a business insight book they might be reading
While the specific list changes yearly common picks include books on supply chain resilience or brand strategy such as analyzing how heritage houses like Gucci or Chanel stay relevant These books often use realworld data and interviews to explain what works
5 What does a creative book on this list look like
It could be a biography of a legendary designer a coffeetable book on textile history or a deep dive into street style and subcultures The point is to feed the visual and emotional side of fashion which drives innovation
6 How do executives choose which book to read first
They usually match the book to their current business challenge If a company is struggling with overproduction they might pick a book on sustainable manufacturing If they are launching a new label they might choose a book on brand storytelling
7 Are there any practical tips for actually finishing these books during a busy summer
Yes Most executives dont read covertocover They