10 Beautiful Books to Give as Gifts This Holiday Season
Fashion Bibles, arty boxes, inspiring portfolios ... Here are 10 beautiful books to give as gifts this holiday season to fulfill all desires.
Dior, for the love of Flowers
Whether they are reminiscences of an enchanted childhood, the stars of the catwalks or the queens of fragrances, flowers and gardens have always made the heart of Maison Dior beat faster. Entirely devoted to the passionate love of flowers at Dior , the new book "Dior, for love of flowers" is a richly illustrated invitation to discover the affinities of Christian Dior and his heirs with the floral world. The introduction reveals the testimonies of the Maison's five artistic directors: Maria Grazia Chiuri, François Demachy, Victoire de Castillane, Kim Jones and Peter Philips. It is followed by five enlightened chapters by expert authors and artists such as Nick Knight, Alain Stella, Naomi A. Sachs, Jérôme Hanover and Justine Picardie.
"Dior, for the love of Flowers", Éditions Flammarion , € 95.
Naomi. Updated Edition
Supermodel, business owner, activist, provocateur: retrace the electrifying career of the one and only Naomi Campbell . Updated and published in collaboration with Naomi , this book is both an intimate encounter with a cultural icon and a dazzling panorama of great fashion moments. Photos, magazine covers and images taken from video media, each equally unforgettable, and a text specially written by Naomi make up this collector's book.
"Naomi. Updated Edition" at Taschen , 100 €.
Versailles: From Louis XIV to Jeff Koons
From the first great constructions under Louis XIV, to its reimagining by Louis-Philippe in 1837 as a museum dedicated to all the glories of France, Versailles has truly seen many momentous occasions, including diplomatic summits, scientific advancements, and renowned visitors over the centuries, from Mozart, Benjamin Franklin and Queen Victoria to Fred Astaire and the Kennedys, not to mention exhibitions of today’s great artists, beginning with Jeff Koons in 2008.
Lavishly illustrated with archival images and beautiful photography, Versailles: From Louis XIV to Jeff Koons features insightful texts by Catherine Pégard, president of the Château de Versailles, with the collaboration of Mathieu da Vinha, scientific director of the Château de Versailles Research Center, revealing all the stories that have unfolded within this glorious monument.
Signed by the author Catherine Pegard, this very exclusive version is presented in a velvet clamshell with a sculpted medallion of Louis XIV placed in the front of its case. The book will be limited to 100 copies and will include with each purchase, a private tour of Versailles led by a palace curator, including rooms not open to the general public
“Versailles: From Louis XIV to Jeff Koons” at Assouline, € 4.500
Sevan Biçakçi: The Timekeeper
Sevan Biçakçi is a jeweler fit for an Ottoman emperor, encompassing a mastery of traditional techniques largely unseen in contemporary metalsmithing and gem cutting. An Istanbul native, Sevan is a visionary jeweler, fusing diverse elements of nature, ancient mythology, and Ottoman history, literature, and architecture into his award-winning creations. His imaginative designs and singular craftsmanship have intrigued and impressed fellow jewelers and connoisseurs for years, and his awe-inspiring jewels, unique in their storytelling artistry, are avidly sought by the world’s most discerning and sophisticated collectors.
Now, in a study and celebration of the essence of time itself, Sevan has explored the Ottoman tradition of timekeeping and clockmaking, which he discovered through an exhibition of timepieces at the world-famous Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul. For nine years, Sevan has channeled his imagination to create a collection of dramatic jewels that not only tell the time, but also recount the story of time, fusing the rational and the emotional. This evolving collection of extraordinary timepieces, featuring high-tech Swiss-made movements, have all the allure and grace of Sevan’s original jewelry, bringing his artistic refinement and technical expertise to the centuries-old craft of watchmaking.
“ Sevan Biçakçi: The Timekeeper”, Assouline , € 175.
Astrology
Facing the sky, the second volume of the Esoteric Library of Taschen delves into the hectic visual history of Western astrology. From its birth as a little sister of astronomical science to our Age of Aquarius, the evolution of this ancestral practice is told through more than 400 images, from Egyptian temples to contemporary art, organized to reflect the revolution of the planets. and the zodiac wheel.
“Astrology” at Taschen, € 30.
Life Meets Art
An inspiring collection of the extraordinary private spaces of 250 of the world's most creative people, past and present
Life Meets Art is an unparalleled behind-the-scenes tour of some of the most fascinating, inspirational and unique home interiors in the world. The living spaces of hundreds of the globe's most talented people in the spheres of art, design, fashion, literature, music, and film, here provide inspiration for anyone fascinated by stylish living, creative interior design and the myriad possibilities for home decor. It's a fascinating glimpse into the homes of some of the greatest creatives in history — painters, sculptors, novelists, poets, fashion designers, composers, musicians, architects, and more.
“Life Meets ArtSam Lubell” by Sam Lubell at Phaidon, € 49.95.
Zuhair Murad
A glittering world of delicate details and romantic drama, Zuhair Murad's couture collections instantly invite you to escape; each expression of the designer's work reveals an enchanting story of striking elegance and modern sophistication. In this book published by Assouline, we discover that a piece of sewing by Zuhair Murad requires hundreds of hours of beading, embroidery and artisanal finishing in his workshops in Paris and Beirut. Her attention to detail has helped define some of the most iconic red carpet moments of the past decade. With a loyal following made up of fashion's most influential stylists, editors and celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sofía Vergara, Céline Dion , Kylie Minogue and Rita Ora, Zuhair Murad creates couture confections of unparalleled glamor.
"Zuhair Murad", Assouline, € 195.
Chanel 3-Book Slipcase (New Edition)
This newly updated trilogy celebrats the timeless spirit, signatures, and heritage of the house of Chanel. The slipcase set includes three Mémoire volumes: Chanel Fashion, Chanel Jewelry And Watches, and Chanel Fragrance And Beauty.
Chanel Fashion by Anne Berest:
A visionary self-inventor, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel shaped her own destiny to become the most influential fashion designer of the 20th century. Rejecting the restrictive styles of the time, she introduced a new silhouette both sophisticated and natural. This spirit of modern luxury and Parisian savoir faire, elaborated over the decades thanks to the myriad innovations of Karl Lagerfeld, continues today with Virginie Viard, the new artistic director.
Chanel Jewelry And Watches by Fabienne Reybaud:
Eternally inspired and visionary, just like Mademoiselle Chanel’s one and only “Bijoux de Diamants” High Jewelry collection, the Chanel Jewelry Creation Studio expresses the unique spirit that characterizes Chanel’s High Jewelry, from 1932 to today. Similarly, the Chanel Watchmaking Creation Studio, in more than thirty years only into the watchmaking adventure, it will have touched on every métier contributing to the art of Haute Horlogerie. Watches conceived as objects of pleasure, without any concession to the technical and artisanal expertise required to create precious objects. Watches ready to withstand the test of time.
Chanel Fragrance And Beauty by Marion Vignal:
With the creation of her revolutionary N°5 in 1921, then the launch of her first makeup line in 1924, and soon-after the release of her skincare products in 1927 - Gabrielle Chanel has always been ahead of her time. Faithful to this unique heritage, Chanel’s fragrances, skincare and makeup lines have always exemplified excellence in creativity, research and technique. Simple and effective, while always remaining elegant, these beauty products are true expressions of the holistic vision of the house of Chanel.
"Chanel 3-Book Slipcase (New Edition)" at Assouline, € 75.
Peter Lindbergh. On Fashion Photography. 40th Anniversary Edition
Peter Lindbergh's pioneering collection is now available in a special anniversary edition. Over countless collaborations with the biggest names in the fashion industry, the German photographer has brought new modes of storytelling with his humanist approach. This book brings together more than 300 images, many of them never before published, as well as an exclusive interview.
"Peter Lindbergh. On Fashion Photography. 40th Anniversary Edition" at Taschen, € 20.
Missoni Family Cookbook
The Missoni family lives life in color. They didn’t just revolutionize knitwear; they forged a lifestyle that, like their fashion, blends elegance with enthusiasm and spontaneity with sophistication. Missoni style is recognized and admired all over the world and is collected by fashionistas and museums alike. This same streak of easy glamour also inspires Missoni family’s entertaining, and their dinner parties have become one of the most coveted invitations of fashion week. Lush and informal at the same time, a Missoni feast is not just a kaleidoscope of style with four generations of family wearing Missoni — it’s a kaleidoscope of tastes, scents, and colors.
And whether the meal is for twenty or two hundred, it always features family recipes curated for the season and for the occasion, recipes which have now become legendary. And just as Missoni fans around the world collect the brand’s iconic zigzags, Francesco Maccapani Missoni, the son of Missoni’s creative director, Angela Missoni, collects family recipes — and as it turns out, their cuisine is just as singular as their style. Francesco has a healthy respect for tradition, and with The Missoni Family Cookbook, he chronicles the Missoni culinary tradition, making these delicious, well-guarded family recipes available to the home cook for the first time. This book invites you right into the home of the family known so well through fashion so that you can join the Missonis a tavola.
"The Missoni Family Cookbook" at Assouline, € 50.
Assembled by Tanja Beljanski
