So You Want To Be A Fashion Designer (So You Want To Be A...)

"So You Want to Be a Fashion Designer by Linda Soules drops you into the real world of fashion. A designer isn’t only an artist. As one, you also have to think like a scientist, a problem-solver, and a storyteller, among others. Clothing is treated like a powerful, three-dimensional art form, a universal language for identity. The book shows the creativity and magic behind a runway show, and the impact of helping someone feel confident in their own skin. But it also makes you aware of the demanding side of the industry that involves deadlines, copycats, the push for sustainability, plus the fair treatment of workers. It’s also about creating something responsibly and making it under pressure. Soules also talks about forecasting trends, surprising fashion tidbits, and stories about well-known designers like Coco Chanel and Issey Miyake. The book provides a glossary of terms and some practical steps for aspiring designers on how to start right away, like keeping a sketchbook, draping fabric, and repairing garments. Fashion isn’t just glamor; it’s a way to help people feel noticed and valued, exactly the way they are.

Linda Soules’ So You Want to Be a Fashion Designer is an exceptional guide that covers important topics in modern fashion. It reframes everything as a craft that can help people feel noticed and valued. Soules has an encouraging and empathetic way of writing. She meets her readers eye-to-eye, and it never comes off like a lecture or a talking down. The language keeps the balance between the magical runway allure and the gritty technical realities of the work. The AI-assisted illustrations are vibrant, detailed, and full of energy. It makes the bustling fashion studios, or ateliers, and those colorful collages and mood boards feel almost touchable with texture and a lively atmosphere. This is a multi-dimensional and informative resource, not just a basic career overview. Recommended for creative young readers, aspiring young artists, and anyone curious about the overlap of art, engineering, and artistic expression in fashion and clothing."

"So You Want To Be A Fashion Designer by Linda Soules is an inspiring and highly engaging introduction to the world of fashion design for young readers. Written for kids ages 10 to 14, this illustrated guide follows the creative journey of a garment from the first rough sketch to the runway. Soules presents fashion as far more than glamorous clothes; she shows it as a form of communication, identity, problem-solving, and wearable art.

I loved how the book balances the excitement of fashion with the realities of the profession. Readers learn that designers must think like artists, engineers, storytellers, material scientists, and problem-solvers. The book explores trend forecasting, fabric choices, sketching, sewing, garment production, and the teamwork involved in bringing a collection to life. It also doesn’t ignore the more difficult parts of the industry, including tight deadlines, copied designs, sustainability concerns, waste, and the importance of fair treatment for workers.

Soules fills the book with fascinating history, memorable facts, and stories of creative visionaries such as Coco Chanel, Virgil Abloh, and Issey Miyake. Young readers will be surprised to learn details such as the origins of high heels and the extraordinary amount of handwork that can go into a single haute couture gown. The hands-on activities are especially valuable, encouraging readers to start a sketchbook, drape fabric, redesign or repair garments, and begin thinking like designers right away. The glossary and “The Most Important Qualities of a Fashion Designer” sections make the book feel practical.

This is much more than a simple career guide. Linda Soules writes with warmth, encouragement, and respect for her young audience, never talking down to them while still making complex ideas easy to understand. The vibrant illustrations and lively descriptions make studios, fabrics, and runways feel vivid and exciting. So You Want To Be A Fashion Designer is an excellent choice for creative kids, aspiring artists, and anyone curious about how clothing can help people feel seen, confident, and valued. It is educational, realistic, and wonderfully inspiring."

"Linda Soules' Fashion Designer is a career guide that earns its confidence. It treats clothing as skilled work with ethical weight, not runway gloss. For kids aged ten to twelve, and parents reading with them, it is a solid introduction that respects how much young people already care about dress.

The book covers fabric choices, studio tools, a full day on the job, and the tougher realities behind the glamour, including deadlines, clothing waste, and fair labor. Fun facts about denim, zippers, and couture keep the pace moving. Short profiles of Coco Chanel, Virgil Abloh, and Issey Miyake give the career a human face. The closing section on sketching, draping, and repair projects is where most will want to start. Parents will find plenty to discuss too, especially around empathy and body inclusivity, topics the text handles without flinching.

The writing is warm and direct. It is clear enough to follow alone, yet rich enough for a good family conversation over a single page. The illustrations help children picture croquis, dress forms, and atelier work without getting lost in jargon. As part of the So You Want To Be A series, it matches the tone of other titles: generous with the wonder and never talking down.

If your child studies outfits, notices seams and hems, or asks why certain clothes feel right, this one belongs on the shelf. It will not make a designer overnight, but it can help them see creativity, discipline, and the people behind every stitch with fresh eyes."

"This series is consistently on point with describing different professions and what it takes to be part of it. Fashion design is so significant to our daily lives; I never really thought about the creators behind what I wear. I enjoyed learning the step-by-step process. I enjoyed learning how clothes come to life from one person's ideas. Another great read."

"As a first-grade teacher, I am always looking for books that introduce students to different careers in a way that is engaging, age-appropriate, and inspiring. So You Want to Be a Fashion Designer by Linda Soules does exactly that.

What I appreciated most about this book is how it takes a career that many children find exciting and breaks it down into understandable pieces. Fashion design is often seen as simply creating clothes, but this book helps young readers see the creativity, planning, hard work, and problem-solving that go into the profession. It encourages students to think beyond the finished product and appreciate the process behind it.

The writing is clear and easy for young readers to follow, while still providing meaningful information. I could easily see this book sparking conversations in the classroom about creativity, self-expression, and the many different paths people can take to turn their interests into careers.

I also enjoyed how the book encourages children to dream big while reminding them that success comes from practice, learning, and perseverance. Those are valuable lessons that extend far beyond fashion design.

Overall, So You Want to Be a Fashion Designer is an enjoyable and educational read that would be a wonderful addition to any classroom, school library, or home collection. Linda Soules has a talent for making career exploration both fun and accessible, and this book is sure to inspire young readers who love art, creativity, and design."

"This is a great book for any kid aspiring to be a fashion designer. It discusses all the aspects of what the job entails, from sketching to engineering fabrics to putting it all together into a cohesive piece that fits well on a person. It addresses the challenges but also inspires imaginations."

"This series never disappoints! Excellent overview with pros and cons and little known facts about being a fashion designer. Very informative."

"I found this book to be very inspirational! Not only did it share the highlight of being a fashion designer but also the opticals , opportunities, and history in the fashion industry! My favorite part was the schedule in the day in the life section. It gave an idea of how the work is done and what to expect. I also enjoyed learning about the famous people and how you can also help people through a job like fashion. This book was very detailed and educational."

"Certain artistic mediums can seem a bit esoteric, or out of reach for youth--but this book grounds the sometimes complicated concepts in fashion. It talks of the expectations of a fashion designer, the important terms one must know, and tackles more complex issues like: fast fashion, the incorrect beliefs about the industry, and the need to make sure workers who create the clothes are paid fairly and taken care of. The often exclusive nature of fashion design is made tangible and possible for young people who might not think this career is available to them. Very well done all around."

"I got this one because I read the So you want to be a scientist book. Just as good! I really hope they make more of them. I loved it. My 6 year old keeps returning to it as well because she loves fashion."

"I like how the book included the bad ugly side of designing. It’s good to be prepared for possible disappointments. To understand this will help a child understand that it’s not just them and to be motivated to continue to create and not to allow the expected disappointments stop them. I really enjoyed the glossary of common terms too. This will help my daughter out as fashion design is a dream of hers."

"This book was a nice surprise. It is the first time I've read a book by this author, and I didn't know what to expect. The book went into more depth than I had expected, and it didn't gloss over the difficult parts of the job. While this career can be trying, the book does encourage the reader to continue to work through the hard stuff. It discusses the highs and lows of the career; the excitement of creating something from nothing. The accolades may not always be there, but the creative designs often happen during the struggles. This book, as well as the other books that are related to career options, is a great way to introduce students to the variety of careers out there."

"Excellent book. Full of information, an enjoyable read, would highly recommend to kids of all ages and genders. I enjoyed the facts: not until 1930s was the zipper used in clothing!"