Great Places to Start any Fashion Research (click on the image to go to the listed resource)

Fashion is often differentiated from apparel in that it centers on haute couture and caters to an aristocratic and rarefied clientele, while the apparel industry is mainly dedicated to mass production and more attuned to practicality and salability than to fashion trends. There are numerous Research Starter articles related to fashion.
Fashion: A Very Short Introduction - Fashion is a dynamic global industry that plays an important role in the economic, political, cultural, and social lives of an international audience. It spans high art and popular culture, and plays a significant role in material and visual culture. This book introduces fashion's myriad influences and manifestations. Fashion is explored as a creative force, a business, and a means of communication. From Karl Lagerfeld's creative reinventions of Chanel's iconic style to the multicultural reference points of Indian designer Manish Arora, from the spectacular fashion shows held in nineteenth cent.
2014-2015 Occupational Outlook Handbook, Fashion Designer - A guide to information on duties, education/training, pay and outlook.