Sure, the Internet is a great resource to find out about men’s style. Blogs and sites like us help you find out about the latest gear, dopest brands, and how to put it all together. But before the advent of Take Ivy or cheeky guides like The Hipster Handbook either.

We took a look at some required reading that not only provides context to the current cycle of hype and

By: Josh Sims

The icons in this book aren’t men like Steve McQueen or Paul Newman, rather, they’re wardrobe staples like trenchcoats, penny loafers, and tweed jackets. Read up on the origins of deck shoes, penny loafers, M-65 jackets, and much, much more. Josh Sims is a deft writer, and his take on timeless menswear is a more interesting perusal than his other book, Cult Streetwear, which serves as simply a primer on brands like Neighborhood, X-Large, and Stussy, though there’s not much in here you can’t glean from a steady diet of forums and blog archives.

By: Steven Vogel

Published in 2007, this “insider’s guide” is essentially a collection of interviews with industry insiders during the formative years of the streetwear boom. Check out interviews with guys like jeffstaple and Hiroshi Fujiwara, and when compared with where their respective brands are today, you can really see how things have evolved over time.

By: Ralph Lauren

Originally released as a huge 14-pound book, it’s since been republished in a much, much lighter version. This book provides a sweeping look at the long career of the quintessential American designer, and is simply beautiful to flip through. The first part is a candid look at Lauren’s life, while the second part has the designer cull from his own archives to give his own perspective on the pieces and collections that he would prefer define his legacy.

By: Sir Hardy Amies

Originally published in 1964, this book is unique because it’s published like a dictionary, and serves as a glossary for obscure menswear terms like terylene, hopsack, and houndstooth. The late Hardy Amies was witty in his own right, and maintained an Esquire column while running his namesake fashion house. His most famous quote about menswear was: “A man should look as if he has bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care and then forgotten all about them.”

By: Hardy Blechman

Hands-down the most complete resource on anything and everything camouflage. It was an essential resource in putting together our own guide to camo. Gleaning its name from the UK term for the pattern, it’s a true passion project, and you can tell by how comprehensive it is. FInd out everything from which countries used which types of camo to how many different interations of BAPE camo exist, and the artist behind them. This is a book that won’t stay on the coffee table for long.

Authors: Thomas Fink and Yong Mao

Sure, the four-in-hand might be good enough for you, but this book, written by honest-to-god Cambridge physicists, shows you all the different ways you can knot up. The authors went the extra mile to trace the origins of the necktie all the way back to the 17th century, and equate the books title from the fact that they sat down and came up with a formula postulating that every tie knot consists of 6 possible moves—some of which can be switched up. However, out of all 85 possible ways to tie the tie, SPOILER ALERT: they confess that only 13 don’t look totally ridiculous.

By: Sir Paul Smith

The English fashion designer provides unique insight on his career and the fashion industry, combined with great layouts, a look at past collections, and keen observations from Smith. A menswear icon whose career spans decades, he is known for his unique takes on menswear and has fans in fashion and hip-hop, like self-professed “longtime fan” Yasiin Bey. This book provides a look on how he’s managed to build his colorful, unique, and wildly successful empire, and the overall vision behind it. It’s a perfect example of how to maintain brand integrity while growing your business.

By: Laszlo Vass and Magda Molnar

Pretty much a Where’d You Get Those? for people who prefer shell cordovan uppers and leather soles over canvas and rubber, Handmade Shoes For Men is all about the craft of shoemaking and an emphasis on artisan footwear. Laszlo Vass, the man behind Budapest shoemaker Vass, knows all about what makes a good shoe, and this book delves into the history of proper footwear, with insightful essays on the craft.

By: Lisa Birnbach

Originally published in 1980, this is a primer on how to dress like classic preps like John F. Kennedy or Carlton Banks. Forget the recently-published sequel and go with the original. From boat shoes to khakis, this is the book that teaches how you to rock a navy blazer correctly. It also serves a great guide on the sorts of stuff you can get from shops like L.L. Bean, Brooks Brothers, and Lacoste.

By: Alan Flusser

One of Flusser’s books on the basics of menswear, this serves as a fine primer for guys who can’t tell a four-in-hand from a Windsor knot, or a bengal stripe from a chalk stripe. It’s sort of like classical theory in music—you might not dig a lot of it at first, but you’ll learn to appreciate the modern stuff even more because you understand where it all came from. If you dig this, it’s also worth checking out his other book, Clothes and the Man: The Principles of Fine Men’s Dress.

via Complex