Required Reading: 5 Books That Shaped British Attire

Required Reading: 5 Books That Shaped British Attire

At British Attire, we’re not just hawking coats and calling it culture. We’ve always said we’re more of a lens than a label... a Brit-ish perspective on quality, craft, and character.

But a lens still needs polishing. And ours was sharpened, squinted through, and occasionally steamed up by a stack of very good books. Books that made us rethink what a brand could be, what style means, and why a £50,000 overcoat might actually be worth it.

So here, in no particular order and with just the right amount of passive-aggressive Britishness, are five titles that helped stitch together the identity of British Attire.

1. The Coat Route – Meg Lukens Noonan

A journey of one coat, ten thousand miles, and at least twenty bespoke obsessions.This book follows the creation of a single made-to-measure coat, the kind of garment that makes you question every fast-fashion purchase you’ve ever made. Tailors, superfine wool, secret mills, and the sort of clients who use “bespoke” as a verb. Essential reading if you think style starts with the cut, not the logo.

The Coat Route – Meg Lukens Noonan

2. Very British Problems – Rob Temple

The national handbook for apologising to inanimate objects.No book better captures the Brit-ish psyche... the awkward pauses, the weather-based small talk, the ability to queue for 40 minutes without revolt. It’s helped us inject humour into our brand voice without losing the seriousness of our purpose. Also, made us feel better about saying “sorry” when someone else bumps into us.

Very British Problems – Rob Temple

3. Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits – Debbie Millman

Less “how to make a logo”, more “why should anyone care?”This one goes deep. Conversations with the world’s sharpest brand thinkers on what it means to build something meaningful. It's less about colours and fonts and more about emotional resonance. It made us ask: what’s British Attire really about? (Answer: heritage, quality, wit, and maybe the odd cup of builder’s tea.)

Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits – Debbie Millman

4. LOOK: Adventures in Rock & Pop Fashion – Paul Gorman

The quiet geniuses behind the loudest outfits in British music.From Vivienne Westwood to Peter Saville, this book explores the creatives who shaped the visual legacy of British music. It’s a style guide, a history lesson, and a reminder that fashion without attitude is just fabric.

THE LOOK: Adventures in Rock & Pop Fashion – Paul Gorman

5. Ametora – W. David Marx

Proof that cultural exchange is the best kind of tailoring.If you ever thought heritage menswear was just for dusty British gents in stiff collars, this book will change your mind. It tells the story of how Japan fell in love with Americana and Savile Row style and made it better, sharper, and cooler. A book that reminds us how influence flows both ways, and that being Brit-ish isn’t about where you’re from, it’s about how well you reinterpret the rules.

Ametora – W. David Marx

Final Thought

You can learn a lot about a brand by the clothes it sells. But you can learn a lot more by the books on its shelf.

Got a recommendation? Our next chapter’s always open.

Explore our latest arrivals for Men and for Women - all curated with as much care as our reading list..!