10 Best Young Adult Books Set in the Fashion Industry
Diving into the world of high-stakes fashion drama, young adult books set in the fashion industry are an absolute must for those who adore style, passion, and a touch of glamour. These titles will transport you to the glitzy world of haute couture, where aspiring designers, models, stylists, and fashion journalists navigate their way through professional rivalries, personal relationships, and seasonal styles. Threaded with themes of ambition, creativity, and identity, these novels masterfully combine riveting storytelling with the exhilarating dynamics of fashion houses, runways, and atelier studios. You'll be served a fabulous blend of drama, romance, suspense, fun, and tons of fashion-forward inspiration. These books are not just about fashion; they delve into the personal growth of the characters as they pursue their dreams, face challenges, and learn major life lessons. Whether you're a die-hard fashion aficionada or simply a young adult novel enthusiast, these fashion-centric reads will captivate and inspire you. The style may be ever-changing, but the evergreen stories of love, ambition, competition and resilience remain at the heart of these page-turners. Lace up your combat boots, or slip on your Jimmy Choos, and let's explore the top ten young adult books set in the enrapturing world of fashion.
『The Prince and the Dressmaker』
A fairy tale for any age, Jen Wang's The Prince and the Dressmaker will steal your heart. Paris, at the dawn of the modern age: Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride—or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia—the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion! Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances—one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend? Jen Wang weaves an exuberantly romantic tale of identity, young love, art, and family. This title has Common Core connections.
Author | Jen Wang |
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Price | $11.99 |
Publisher | First Second |
Release Date | Feb 13, 2018 |
Source | Google Books |
『Tahira in Bloom』
Life is full of surprises in a winning novel about a girl dreaming big during one unexpected small-town summer. When seventeen-year-old aspiring designer Tahira Janmohammad's coveted fashion internship falls through, her parents have a Plan B. Tahira will work in her aunt's boutique in the small town of Bakewell, the flower capital of Ontario. It's only for the summer, and she'll get the experience she needs for her college application. Plus her best friend is coming along. It won't be that bad. But she just can't deal with Rowan Johnston, the rude, totally obsessive garden-nerd next door with frayed cutoffs and terrible shoes. Not to mention his sharp jawline, smoldering eyes, and soft lips. So irritating. Rowan is also just the plant-boy Tahira needs to help win the Bakewell flower-arranging contest--an event that carries clout in New York City, of all places. And with designers, of all people. Connections that she needs! No one is more surprised than Tahira to learn that floral design is almost as great as fashion design. And Rowan? Turns out he's more than ironic shirts and soil under the fingernails. Tahira's about to find out what she's really made of--and made for. Because here in the middle of nowhere, Tahira is just beginning to bloom.
Author | Farah Heron |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Skyscape |
Release Date | Nov 01, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Academy』
The Devil Wears Prada meets Private Benjamin in this funny and charming story of a fashionista teen blogger who gets sent to military school, perfect for fans of Sarah Mlynowski and Kasie West. Frankie Brooks knows what she wants in life: to become the world’s next great fashion editor. All she needs to do is get into the elite American Fashion Academy in New York City. If she gets in, her life plans will be going right on schedule. Anna Wintour, watch out. But after Frankie messes up one too many times—hey, it’s hard not to prioritize her acclaimed fashion blog above all else—her parents come up with entirely different plans for her future: military school. How is Frankie, the least athletic person in the world, who knows absolutely nothing about the military, going to survive a whole semester at the famed—and feared—Academy? With classmates who seem to be totally uninterested in her, a course load that’s even more difficult than her old school’s, and the weird War Games competition she has to join, Frankie finds that her life is way tougher than it used to be. And no one, including her roommate Joni, seems to understand Frankie at all. As she learns how to cope with impossible military drills and intimidating specialized classes and is maybe even falling for super-hot and super-smart cadet Jack Wattson, can Frankie prove to everyone that being a fashionista doesn’t mean she can’t succeed?
Author | Katie Sise |
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Price | $7.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | May 22, 2018 |
Source | Google Books |
『Private Label』
The Devil Wears Prada meets Far from the Tree in #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang’s powerful love story about two teens searching for their place in the world. Serene dreams of making couture dresses even more stunning than her mom’s, but for now she’s an intern at her mom’s fashion label. When her mom receives a sudden diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, all that changes. Serene has to take over her mother’s business overnight while trying to figure out what happened with her dad in Beijing. He left before she was born, and Serene wants to find him, even if it means going against her mom’s one request—never look back. Lian Chen moved from China to Serene’s mostly white Southern California beach town a year ago. He doesn’t fit in at school, where kids mispronounce his name. His parents don’t care about what he wants to do—comedy—and push him toward going to MIT engineering early. Lian thinks there’s nothing to stick around for until one day he starts a Chinese Club after school . . . and Serene walks in. Worlds apart in the high school hierarchy, Serene and Lian soon find refuge in each other, falling in love as they navigate life-changing storms. * Junior Library Guild Selection * A Common Sense Selection *
Author | Kelly Yang |
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Price | $13.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | May 31, 2022 |
Source | Google Books |
『Spin the Dawn』
Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping fantasy about a teenage girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars. And don’t miss Elizabeth Lim’s new novel, the instant New York Times bestseller, Six Crimson Cranes! “All the cutthroat competition of a runway fashion reality show and the thrilling exploits of an epic quest." —The Washington Post Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia makes the ultimate sacrifice and poses as a boy to take his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors in a cutthroat competition for the job. Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise. And nothing could have prepared her for the unthinkable final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the sun, the moon, and the stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined. Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this fantasy novel is not to be missed. "This is a white-knuckle read." —Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Tempests and Slaughter
Author | Elizabeth Lim |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Ember |
Release Date | Jun 02, 2020 |
Source | Google Books |
『A Dress for the Wicked』
“Set in an alternate Victorian London–like past, this blends competition and cooperation for compelling drama. A unique debut with plenty of flair.” — Booklist “Krause deftly handles the oft-belittled personal and political power of clothing, and fans of couture and fabulous fashion will enjoy the extravagant clothing and glamorous world that Emmy is determined to enter.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “No one expects Emmaline, a girl from the country, will have anything to offer. Forced to adapt to a ruthless environment, Emmaline will surprise them — and surprise herself, too. If you binge Project Runway and gobble down YA dystopias, then A Dress For the Wicked is for you.” — Refinery 29
Author | Autumn Krause |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release Date | Aug 06, 2019 |
Source | Google Books |
『Geek Girl』
Geek + runway = a runaway hit! Geek Girl is the first book in a hilarious, internationally bestselling series that's perfect for fans of Morgan Matson and Julie Buxbaum. Harriet Manners is a geek. She always has been, and she thought she always would be—but when she's discovered by a modeling agent, she leaps at the chance to reinvent herself. There's only one problem: Harriet is the definition of awkward. Can she transform from geek to chic? Includes a sneak peek at Geek Girl: Model Misfit!
Author | Holly Smale |
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Price | $9.99 |
Publisher | Harper Collins |
Release Date | Jan 27, 2015 |
Source | Google Books |
『Poseur #2: The Good, the Fab and the Ugly』
Fashion isn't everything. It's the only thing. Halloween comes to Winston Prep and the newly named teen fashion label POSEUR introduces this season's must-have accessory: a red-hot handbag called the Trick-or-Treater. But whose design is sweetest? Janie, Petra, Melissa, and Charlotte all insist: Mine. You see the problem? Good thing, then, for the sweetness of revenge. Time to dust off that costume and put your best mask forward. 'Tis the season for candy, conflict, and couture. The Good, the Fab, and the Ugly is the second juicy novel in the stylish and hilarious new series from the publisher of the national bestselling Gossip Girl, The Clique, The It Girl, and The A-List. Includes 5 do-it-yourself patterns by real-life fashion label Compai and fashion sketches throughout by the author!
Author | Rachel Maude |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Poppy |
Release Date | Oct 01, 2008 |
Source | Google Books |
『Airhead (The Airhead Trilogy, Book 1)』
Meg Cabot expands her huge fan base with this slightly darker, more mysterious novel - without losing any of her signature heart and humor.EM WATTS IS GONE. Emerson Watts didn't even want to go to the new SoHo Stark Megastore grand opening. But someone needed to look out for her sister, Frida, whose crush, British heartthrob Gabriel Luna, would be singing and signing autographs there-along with the newly appointed Face of Stark, teen supermodel sensation Nikki Howard. How was Em to know that disaster would strike, changing her,and life as she'd known it, forever?
Author | Meg Cabot |
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Price | $5.99 |
Publisher | Scholastic Inc. |
Release Date | Nov 01, 2009 |
Source | Google Books |
『Violet on the Runway』
Seventeen-year-old Violet Greenfield of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, believes herself too tall and skinny until a top modeling agent gives her the royal treatment in New York City, and Vi suddenly finds herself facing fame, popularity, and the jealousy of her best friends.
Author | Melissa Carol Walker |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Penguin |
Release Date | Jan 01, 2007 |
Source | Google Books |
In conclusion, these YA novels provide fashion-savvy teens with a sartorial adventure like no other. Each title promises not only fancy fabrics, outrageous designs, and intense runway drama but also delves into the highs, lows, glitz, and the non-glam side of the fashion industry. If you're craving a peek into the alluring world of fashion intertwined with gripping narratives, these titles should definitely make it to your reading list. They'll mentally garb you in haute couture as they whisk you to the dazzling runway in Paris, the bustling streets of New York, or the chic boutiques in Milan. As we close the book on this list - metaphorically, of course - remember that fashion isn't just about clothes, it's about attitude. So put on your trendiest pair of reading glasses, get comfortable, and step into these stylish stories that just might inspire you to chase your own fashion dreams. Until the next list, keep reading, keep dreaming, and keep strutting!
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