Welcome to Rose Lepre #Style!
Hey there! I'm Rosemary Lepre Forman, a costume designer working in New York City and around the world.
I've worked on major films, TV commercials, theatre and fashion campaigns throughout my 30+ year career.
I hope you enjoy my new blog, a place to share the fashion tips, tricks and trends that inspire me every day.
"Fashion is what you buy, style is what you do with it." - Nicky Hilton
Please share in my comments any ideas for future posts or any topics you'd like me to provide more information on. Happy reading!
Summer Style Reading List
Good morning and happy Wednesday! Another common question I’m asked is “where do you get your inspiration for the haracters you design for film and tv?”
Aside from the obvious: people watching and my travels, a large source of my inspiration actually comes from looking through old magazines and books!
Fashion and design books, (even if some only feature images) have helped me to explore style across different eras while allowing me to continually broaden my perspective and education on various elements of style.
Having no formal fashion degree myself, it almost feels like I’m heading back to school, which I love!
Considering that a key element of costume design is storytelling, where we bring characters from a film script to life on screen - reading books allows me to see the ways that authors can create a visual journey on paper, blending together fashion insight and inspiration.
That being said, I wanted to share the books which have sparked my creativity and guided my own artistry lately, especially for some of my most recent projects..
I hope to continue making this a monthly feature, providing you with a treasure trove of titles on various elements of fashion! Today’s post is on style, wether street style or specific genres.
I hope you find these books equally as interesting and that you can enjoy them as either home decoration (coffee table books) or simply summer reading while you’re by the pool or lake this summer!
The Sartorialist: Closer by Scott Schuman
This book is a must have for anyone who loves fashion! The Sartorialist is a collection of photos from Scott Schuman, the man who turned photo blogging into an art form. it showcases different sartorial (a word relating to tailoring, clothing, or a style of dress) tastes of real people and not only those of the fashion industry…
This anthology features Scott's favourite shots from around the world, including photographs of not only your well-known fashion figures but also the anonymous passerby, whose imagination and taste provide a whole new source of inspiration.
A link to the Sartorialist is featured below, along with a few similar titles.
On the Street by Bill Cunningham
Another book from an industry icon, On the Street features iconic photos from the legendary photographer Bill Cunningham, who was known for wearing a blue work jacket and for riding a bicycle around New York City as he captured cutting-edge street style (before street style was even a thing).
A link to On the Street is featured below, along with a few similar titles.
Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style by Rizzoli
This stunning book explores the evolution of “preppiness,” from its pragmatic origins and presence on elite American campuses, to its profound influence both internationally and as depicted on fashion runways.
From Oxford shirts, khakis, and Shetland sweaters to Peter Pan collars, madras pants, and Lilly Pulitzer tropical blooms, Preppy explores the styles that inspire modern looks as well as the fashion labels who have infused prettiness into their seasonal designs!
A link to Preppy is featured below, along with a few similar titles.
Worn in New York by Emily Spivack
This book features well loved NYC clothing and the people who wore them. There’s over 60 + New York clothing inspired stories, each showcasing an article that reminds people of a significant moment of their New York lives.
My personal favourite was the jacket a taxi driver put on to feel safe as he worked the night shift.
I also found Worn in New York to be particularly touching, as I have a handful of items in my own closet that instantly transport me to a moment in my own NYC journey, such as XXXXX.
A link to Worn in New York is featured below, along with a few similar titles.
Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume & Style by DK Publishing
A link to XXXXX is featured below, along with a few similar titles.
Let me know in the comments any other suggestions for books that inspire you (of any genre)!
Xo,
Ro
*Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you.
Thank you as always for your continued support, any comments or suggestions for my content are welcomed in the comments! :)
