Must Read Best Books for Fashion Design Aspirants: Top Books for Fashion Design Students

Must Read Best Books for Fashion Design Aspirants: Top Books for Fashion Design Students

Team Careers360Updated on 07 Sep 2023, 12:44 AM IST

Must-read books for fashion design aspirants: There are different factors that must be considered by fashion students in the journey to becoming successful fashion designers. There are different glorious details that should be acquainted by fashion students to excel in their chosen field and entrance examination. Reading books for fashion designing and acing the fashion design entrance examinations is the most important aspect of a successful career.

This Story also Contains

  1. Must-Read Books for Fashion Design Aspirants
  2. Best Book for Fashion Designing Entrance Exam Preparation
  3. Must have books for aspiring design students
  4. What are the top 3 skills that fashion designers need to have?
  5. Tip to Prepare for fashion design Entrance Examinations
Must Read Best Books for Fashion Design Aspirants: Top Books for Fashion Design Students
Must Read Books for Fashion Design Aspirants

Must-Read Books for Fashion Design Aspirants

“To create something exceptional, your mindset must be relentlessly focused on the smallest detail”- Giorgio Armani

The students of fashion can grow in their profession with the absorption of the different information and knowledge related to fashion and the fashion industry. There are many different sets of best fashion books for students. Students can even opt for fashion design books for beginners. These fashion designing course books will entice fashion students to cultivate the habit of reading.

This article will be providing the best fashion books for students who are preparing and willing to qualify for the different fashion design entrance examinations. Good preparation will pave the path for success in the different entrance exams for fashion design courses.

Also Read: Top 10 Fashion Schools in the World

Top Design Entrance exams

There are a number of entrance tests conducted at the national as well as university levels for offering admission to the different design programs in some of the best design institutes in India. The top design entrance exam in India are listed below:

Best Book for Fashion Designing Entrance Exam Preparation

Here is a list of the best fashion design books that must be considered by fashion design students preparing for fashion entrance exams.

Name of the BookName of the Author

NIFT, NID, and IIFT Entrance Exam Guidelines 01

Dharmendra Mittal

Design Drawing

Francis Ching

Cracking CEED & UCEED (with Previous Years' Papers and Mock Tests)

Ashok Goel and Arjun Kamal

Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

RS Aggarwal

Perspective Drawing Handbook

Joseph D'Amelio

Analytical Reasoning, Mental Aptitude, Verbal Aptitude (UCEED Guide)

Institute Of Creative Sciences

Cracking CEED & UCEED (with Previous Years' Papers and Mock Tests)

Ashok Goel and Arjun Kamal

Art perception

David Cycleback

Guide for NIFT/NID/IIFT

Arihant Publications

Also Read: Top 10 Best Design Books for Design Students

Must have books for aspiring design students

All the candidates for fashion design entrance will be focusing on the above-mentioned textbooks. However, there are other must-read fashion designing books for fashion design aspirants as well. The textbooks can assist in learning how to become a fashion designer to a great extent. Although, one must be highly creative and talented to achieve new heights in the profession of fashion design.

Reading habit is the most common trait for fashion designer students as well as professionals. Aspiring fashion students must go through the below-mentioned books to understand the aspects of fashion and the fashion industry. These fashion designing books will open the path to understanding the intricacies of the fashion and fashion industry for aspiring design students.

1. Fashion Sketchbook by Roland Barthes

This book is providing drawing techniques for fashion design aspirants. The author has focused on significant colour illustrations along with updated instructions for the proper understanding and development of the fashion sketch including the different accessories and garments detail. The book is divided into different easy-to-follow lessons with clear diagrams and photographs for enhancing the drawing skills of the reader.

2. The End of Fashion by Tri Agins

This book is providing an uncompromising and hard-hitting journalist look over the fashion industry. The author has investigated and analyzed the different aspects of the fashion Industries straight from retailing manufacturing and financing to the channelization of mass-marketing clothes. This book is depicting the impact of marketing on the clothing business.

3. The Fashion Designer Survival Guide by Mary Gehlhar

This book is a must for fashion design aspirants who are looking to have a successful career as independent designers in the fashion industry. The essentials and insights on the creation of business in this industry have been discussed in this book along with the different pieces of advice provided by eminent personalities in this industry.

4. Fashion Design Essentials: 100 Principles of Fashion Design by Jay Calderin

This book is providing challenges for fashion designers to consistently expand their horizons and practice their skills along with experimentation with their own strategies. The book is flooded with inspiring fashion design details from around the globe and is supplying a section of initial points that must be considered by the fashion designer of different levels in the designing process.

5. The little dictionary of Fashion: A Guide to dressing sense for Every Woman by Christian Dior

This book is written by the founder of one of the biggest fashion houses which is even multiplying the significance of the content of this book for fashion design students and professionals. The book is about the various fashion rules and tips which has framed the fashion industry as it appears today. The book is even supplemented with different tips for dressing differently for vacations and other occasions.

Browse Top Fashion Design Colleges by Location


Read This: Best 10 Fashion Design Colleges in India

What are the top 3 skills that fashion designers need to have?

  • Creativity

Bennett University B.Design Admissions 2025

Merit Based Scholarships Available

Sanskriti University B.Des Admissions 2025

Best innovation and research-driven university of Uttar Pradesh

Fashion design students should have the skill of creativity to create and innovate new things and ideas for setting trends in the fashion industry.

  • Knowledge and understanding of fashion

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It is important that fashion designers, as well as fashion design aspirants, can not only create but also anticipate the new upcoming trends in their field. This allows the individual to excel in their industry.

  • Artistic Ability

DSU- Dayananda Sagar University B.Des 2025

60+ Years of Education Legacy | UGC & AICTE Approved | Prestigious Scholarship Worth 6 Crores

Hindustan University B.Des Admissions 2025

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The fashion decision aspirants must be equipped with artistic ability. With this ability, the designs and trends can be created and analyzed.

Also Read: Top 13 Skills Required for a Fashion Designer and How to Attain Them

Tip to Prepare for fashion design Entrance Examinations

The fashion design aspirants can have the books and resources but the most important question is how to prepare for the fashion design entrance exam.

Here is a list of tips to prepare for the fashion design entrance exam smartly and effectively.

  • Good Study Material

A good set of study materials including the above-mentioned fashion designing course books is a must for the preparation for the fashion design entrance exam. It will help in covering all the important syllabi and understanding the concepts frequently asked in the entrance examinations.

  • General Awareness

Fashion design aspirants must be aware of their surroundings, general knowledge, and study material. Fashion design aspirants must develop reading habits and upgrade their knowledge by reading newspapers, magazines, and others.

  • Practice sample papers

Solving the sample papers and previous papers will enhance the skill, accuracy, and speed of fashion design aspirants. It will also contribute to the analysis of the examination pattern and the level of difficulty in these exams.

  • Observation and Visualisation

The objective of all the fashion design entrance examinations is to test the imaginative and creative skills of the candidate. Hence, the candidates must practice sketching for enhancing their visualization and observation skills. Trying to challenge oneself with new sketch ideas and activities will also assist.

  • Revision

Revising the concepts and study material is equally important. The more the candidate revises, the more growth, and learning. It accelerates the chances of qualifying for the different fashion design entrance exams.

  • Healthy lifestyle

To prepare for the fashion design entrance examination, this is a must to build a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a good diet. The engagement of the candidate with meditation techniques will also allow them to focus on the study and relax the body and mind.

Also Read: How to Prepare for NIFT 2024: Preparation Tips & Strategy

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Questions related to NIFT Entrance Exam

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NIFT Entrance Exam ?

Hello Neharika

These are the topics which are most important in the Current affairs section in respect to NIFT Entrance Exam:

1. National and International Awards and Honors
2. Government Schemes and Initiatives
3. Sports
4. Appointments and Newsmakers
5. Science and Technology
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7. International Relations
8. Fashion Industry Updates
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To know more about NIFT Entrance Exam: NIFT Entrance Exam by CAREERS360

Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!


Hello,

According to the sources, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam for 2026 will be held in February 2026. Also, the registration period may open from November 2025.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello,
It’s completely understandable to feel disheartened after not getting a seat in the first and second rounds, especially when you’ve filled all the colleges and have your hopes set on a particular course like Fashion Communication . With an OBC rank of 1910 and CMR 7192, your chances can improve in the upcoming counselling rounds as more students withdraw or shift to other colleges.
So make sure to check the further rounds of counselling and don’t lose hope. Many students get seats in the 3rd, 4th, and mop-up rounds. You can also consider updating your preference list or keeping a wider range of courses and campuses open in case you're okay with related fields.
Keep checking the official NIFT website for updates on seat allotment and further counselling instructions.
Thank you

Dear Candidate ,
Yes , you are eligible for NIFT - UG 2026 . Based on your birthdate , you will be 19 years old as of August 1 , 2026 , which is well within the age limit .
NIFT requires applicants to be under 24 years of age on August 1 of the admission year , with a 5 year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD candidates .

Hello

The syllabus of NIFT 2026 will be released on October 2025 by Nift officials on their official website nift.ac.in . The syllabus comprises of topics General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT). The syllabus is different for UG and PG programmes. The GAT syllabus consists of :

  • Communication ability and English comprehension
  • Quantitative ability
  • Analytical and Reasoning
  • Case study
  • General knowledge and current affairs

The CAT syllabus consists important topics like

  • Creative ability
  • Observation power
  • Discernment ability
  • Design ability
  • Colour combination ability

To download the complete syllabus kindly refer this

https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-syllabus

Good luck !