To be entirely honest, I've always had a love for fairy tales. There was just something about those Disney princesses that inspired imagination and brought life to otherwise basic words. And, if we're talking favourites, the story of Sleeping Beauty was always my first choice, and I even went through a phase where I wanted to name one of my children Aurora (I was five, deal with it).

When I heard that one of my favourite fashion writers, Camilla Morton, was working alongside some iconic designers to blend fairy tale with biography, I was absolutely elated. Morton's voice is quirky and often humourous, and she has a way of writing that really appeals to me (have you ever read A Girl for all Seasons or How to Walk in High Heels?). Mix that with the brilliant talent of famed fashion designer Christian Lacroix (Lacroix illustrated the book), and you've got a magical treasure that you'll read over and over again.

Morton puts a contemporary spin on the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty in Christian Lacroix and The Tale of Sleeping Beauty: A Fashion Fairy Tale. The story strays slightly from the original, as it's actually an imaginative version of Lacroix's own life and career in fashion. One part actual and one part eccentric, this book is entirely electrifying.

Buy it today: Christian Lacroix and The Tale of Sleepign Beauty: A Fashion Fairy Tale, $17.32 CAD, Amazon.ca

When I was a child, probably one of my most quirky habits was reading the dictionary. It was such a thrill for me to learn definitions and indulge my love for word history. Fast-forward almost twenty years, and now I'm a fashion aficionado and a young woman who LOVES to learn about style and how it's evolved over the years. When I came across this gem of a book, The Dictionary of Fashion History by Valerie Cumming (you may be familiar with her work as the Chairman of The Costume Society, and as the former Deputy Director at the Museum of London), and historians C.W. Cunnington and P.E. Cunnington, I knew it would become an instant favourite of mine as well as a worthy resource for all things fashion.

The Dictionary of Fashion History is a concise catalogue of fashion terms from a to z. Covering everything from the 16th to the 20th century, this is one book to which historians and fashionistas alike will relate. Complete with fundamental facts and random fashion facts, this book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in fashion history, style evolution, theatre, and costume design (in fact, this book acts as a primer for costume historians).

Available in both paperback and hardcover versions, I'd suggest you opt for hardcover if you plan to use this book as a consistent resource.

The Dictionary of Fashion History by Valerie Cumming, C.W. Cunnington, and P.E. Cunnington, $22.65 CDN paperback or $112.98 CDN hardcover, Amazon

She did it!

Lara Stone has landed Carine Roitfeld's penultimate French Vogue cover. The February 2011 issue of French Vogue looks rather ready for Spring, doesn't it?

I can't help but find inspiration in the beautiful blue sky and floral backdrop, complemented so perfectly with the contrasting clothing of the cover girl. The cheerful combination of colours is so appropriate for a time of year when so many suffer from seasonal affective disorder.

The parts of the whole are nothing new; but together they compose a cover to be remembered.

What do you think of Lara Stone's February 2011 French Vogue cover? Love it or leave it? Vote in the poll at the side of your screen!

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Let's just talk for a minute about Janie Bryant. She's a style genius, right? Studying at Georgia State University, and starting out as designer for two David Milch shows, Big Apple and HBO's Deadwood, Janie Bryant most recently took up residence as the costume designer for Mad Men. And what a designer she is! Inspiring real-life runway collections from Michael Kors and Prada, Janie Bryant has put classic clothing back on the map. The Mad Men costume designer is so sought-after that she's written her own book, entitled The Fashion File: Advice, Tips, and Inspiration from the Costume Designer of Mad Men, in which she delves deep into the dressing room from the style-setting AMC show Mad Men, and reveals her in-depth design process behind female characters' looks.

In Fashion File, Janie Bryant offers practical advice to assist real women in their quest to dress with style, but also personality. Bryant covers topic ranging from bra sizes to boys (yes, ladies, there is a section to help you style your guy like Don Draper). And — a woman after my own heart — Bryant's got her own list of ten essentials that every woman should have in her wardrobe.

This book is a must-have for any fashionista. Whether or not you're a fan of Mad Men, the clothes worn by the characters on the hit AMC show are classic, and this book will show you how to find your own timeless style.

The Fashion File: Advice, Tips, and Inspiration from the Costume Designer of Mad Men ($18.80 CDN, Amazon)