6 Inspirational books for Creative Directors
Written by Lord Shu
Welcome to Leo Season! We are focusing on creative direction in August
Are you struggling to communicate your vision on beauty, design, and art to specialists in many fields? Miscommunication can lead to delays in projects and frustration for everyone involved. As a creative director and designer, I understand the importance of clear communication. That’s why I recommend these 6 books that have helped me with the process of communication, inspiration, and sketching. I hope they can do the same for you. And as someone who approaches life as a minimalist, I only carry what I use often.
Lord Shu "Hybrid Manual" Magazine
Hybrid Manual is an excellent resource for both personal and business project management. The magazine is designed to help you develop highly productive habits and provides a wealth of online resources. I created this magazine to answer the questions people had for me. I show rather than tell, which I capture in writing. The articles are written in a way that even a child could understand. In this first issue, I’ve chronicled my seven-year entrepreneurial journey. The subject matter delves into global citizenship and self-healing.
Kevyn Aucoin “Making Faces”
Kevyn Aucoin was a make-up artist, photographer, and author responsible for the “sculpted” of many celebrities and models.
While I’m not a make-up artist and have no desire to be one, I have a deep appreciation for those who can apply make-up without looking like a clown. My favorite looks behind the camera are drag, editorial, and glam. This book helped me learn the basics of make-up, including tools, cosmetics, and how to properly use them. While there are skincare tips that benefitted me, it’s important to note that not all skin is created equal. “Making Faces” takes you on a journey through cosmetics and looks to create by using celebrities and models as reference points. Kevyn Aucoin was one of the best make-up artists ever, and this book reads very easily from such an advanced make-up artist.
Bobbi Brown “Makeup Manual”
Bobbi Brown is an American professional make-up artist, author, and the founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.
While I’m not a make-up artist, I deal with visuals regarding clothing. So, when I’m curating looks, the make-up must match the outfit. This book is great for inspiration and learning the basics of make-up artistry. It goes into the industry of make-up artistry and gives tips on how to navigate it. This type of information is key for someone who is interested in curating looks and creative direction.
Colette Wolff “The Art of Manipulating Fabric”
Colette Wolff was mentor to many Textile Study Group of New York members, a consummate artisan, a writer, and a teacher.
As a fashion designer, I don’t truly design. Instead, I direct through actions or communicate with specialists in the language they know best. I use pictures, books, and samples of my own work. I do sketches and create mock-ups with my sewing machine. This book is a classic because in 2023 most brands including my own can start with a t-shirt. It’s great for expanding your knowledge and truly understanding the art of manipulating fabric. This is what gives any budding fashion designer an edge over brands that aren’t already designing couture pieces. It has great instructions and supporting visuals. If you want to learn terms that can help you communicate with an Atelier then this book can help.
Patrick John Ireland “Encyclopedia of Fashion Details”
Patrick John Ireland is a member of Britain's Chartered Society of Designers and bestselling author of several books on fashion. He has been a fashion designer and illustrator and a lecturer, organizing fashion workshops for students and lecturers of fashion.
This book is an essential tool for me as I am not very good at illustrating looks. It provides me with starting points for drawing ideas and gives me the terminology I need. When I am illustrating, I can label parts of my looks properly and hand them over to a seamstress with no pushback.
James Laver “Costume & Fashion”
James Laver was an English author, critic, art historian, and museum curator who acted as Keeper of Prints, Drawings and Paintings for the Victoria and Albert Museum between 1938 and 1959. He was also an important and pioneering fashion historian described as "the man in England who made the study of costume respectable"
This book is one of my favorites in my collection. It provides an in-depth look at the history of clothing from ancient civilizations to modern American styles. It’s an excellent resource for understanding current trends and for designing collections. This book is like a secret gatekeeper to me, much like the Bible is to fashion. While fashion shouldn’t have rules, this book can help you design pieces that are popular and outside the box while also helping you stay away from trends or integrate them into a new style.
If you are looking to get more inspiration from Lord Shu watch this video about The Noticeable Pattern.