I can be heard shrieking about a designer’s new collection within minutes of entering a Bloomingdale’s. How can I instantly recognize the new Alice + Olivia, Marc Jacobs, and Diane Von Furstenberg collections?  Silhouettes, fabrics, and patterns! If you have always wanted to give designing a try (but, like me, have none of that pesky talent,) The Fashion Coloring Book is for you! All you need are your favorite colored pencils and some imagination, and you’ll instantly feel like you’re interning for Alexander McQueen.

The Fashion Coloring Book is exactly like the cartoon coloring books you grew up with, except the pages are filled with blank sketches from collections from the industry’s best and most iconic designers (including a few lesser-known greats.) You can add your own spin to Missoni’s classic zig zags, color yourself a dainty See by Chloe dress, or customize Miu Miu accessories: come on, you know you’ve always wanted to. Co-authors Carol and Lulu have done a great job mixing the designers you most want to see and giving us a huge assortment of items (bags, shoes, dresses, suits, jewelry, etc.) to color in. Carol’s illustrations are spot-on!

So far, my coloring book is completely blank. I’m itching to try it out, but it’s so beautiful as is that I don’t want to risk messing it up. Still, I know there wouldn’t be a fashion industry if designers didn’t do a little bit of trial and error in their sketchbooks, and I’ll sharpen up my Crayolas soon. To be an amateur textile designer (yes, that’s what I’m going to call myself, okay?), pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble. If you want to try something even more fun, consider getting a used copy on Half.com or Amazon: you can start your own designer collaboration with the previous owner(s)!