coffee table books fashion

 Stylelikeu, created by mother-daughter team Elisa Goodkind and Lily Mandelbaum, goes way beyond the now ubiquitous and static poses of street-fashion bloggers The Sartorialist, Face Hunter, and all the rest, and instead, brings us into the homes—and more importantly the closets—of the most stylish people on the streets of New York, Los Angeles, London, and more.

Not interested in celebrities and the stylists who dress them, Elisa and Lily have an uncanny knack for finding and gaining the trust of people who march to the beat of their own, very chic, drummer. Often spending up to three hours with the most daring and original dressers they can find, Stylelikeu photographs each fashionable person in several different looks of the subject’s choosing.

To probe deeper into each subject’s personal style, they conduct intimate interviews on their ambitions, influences, and dreams, making each portrait so much more than yet another street photograph. From the most personal pieces in their subjects’ wardrobes, to the favorite books on their shelves, to the most precious objects in their houses, Stylelikeu goes far beyond mere appearances to showcase how creativity is fostered and manifested by living in the most stylish way of all:true to oneself. 

Trumpeted in the press for Elisa and Lily’s departure from the top-down nature of mass-market fashion, where the editors of popular fashion magazines tell consumers what is stylish, Stylelikeu represents the vanguard of a new, DIY, fashion-media paradigm. It is a bold and inspirational experiment, documenting fashion at its source—the individual.

A few of the 1000+ comments left by fans of the Stylelikeu website: “Was just talking about how he NEEDED to be on this site. So amazing.” “I find her absolutely mesmerizing. She is so full of life and charm. She has a wonderfully contagious spirit. She is such an inspiration and I would love to be like her someday.” “I love that you guys feature such a diverse group of people—all ages, races, sizes, budgets. It shows how everyone can have style.” “I don’t have any words to describe how amazing those two girls are! They are the true inspiration for all the girls in this entire universe!”

CHECK PRICE NOW!
Read Full Review >>

Veteran New York photographer

Roxanne Lowit has chronicled

John GallianoÂ’s fashion shows for

over a decade. With a rough-hewn,

up-close approach she delves into

the fascinating details behind the

scenes. Her collection of snapshotstyle

photographs convey the buzz

of fashionÂ’s consistently most inspiring

spectacle. A bold mixture of

color and black-and-white, these

images are by turns whimsical and

awe-inspiring. As much a star as the

celebrities she profiles, Lowit brings

an insider perspective to this world

of high glamour.

CHECK PRICE NOW!
Read Full Review >>

In many ways the world has never seen a First Lady like Michelle Obama. From the precedent of her race to the singularity of her style, she has been the object of immense fascination. What she says, what she does, and not least, what she wears, is scrutinized around the world.

Writing at the crossroads of politics and fashion, Kate Betts explains why Michelle Obama’s style matters, and how she has helped liberate a generation of women from the false idea that style and substance are mutually exclusive. Following the transformation of Mrs. Obama from her early days on the campaign trail to her first state dinner at the White House, Betts, a longtime fashion journalist and former editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar, reminds us that while style can be expressed in what you wear, it is inextricably bound up in who you are and what you believe in. In a smart, breezy voice backed by extensive interviews and historical research, Betts shows how Michelle Obama’s  bold confidence and self-possession have made her into an icon and transformed the way women see themselves, their roles, and their own style.

With two hundred color photographs, original designer sketches, and historical images, Everyday Icon is not only a lavish tour of our First Lady’s style statements, but also a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of how she created her image and, more important, what that image says about American style today. Much has been written about Michelle Obama, but Kate Betts places her in a broader cultural and historical context; Everyday Icon is the definitive book on how a working mother of two became an unforgettable, global style icon.

CHECK PRICE NOW!
Read Full Review >>

An absolute delight for Audrey Hepburn fans, this unique book collects a treasure trove of more than 600 international magazine covers featuring Hepburn, one of the most enduring icons of both film and fashion. Spanning the course of her life and career, many of these incredible photographs of the star havent been seen since they were first published. A substantial biographical text accompanies the gorgeous images, providing fresh context for and insights into Hepburn’slifeboth on and off the screenand tracing the evolution of her image, style, and influence. Assembled here for the first time, these covers and select interior spreads offer a rare contemporary glimpse into her life and unfolding legacy.

CHECK PRICE NOW!
Read Full Review >>

CHECK PRICE NOW!
Read Full Review >>

The glamorous life and work of Valentino Garavani. Unlimited popular edition.

Think Valentino: think luxury. Think elegance. Think red carpet. Fashion s most beloved upholder of refined decadence and the most exciting couturier in business is known around the globe simply by his first name. Only a few years after opening his fashion house in Rome in 1959, Valentino was already at the height of success, counting Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, and Audrey Hepburn among his devotees. Over forty years later, not much has changed he s still dressing the top celebrities, from Gwyneth Paltrow to J.Lo, though now his business is a major economic force in Italy and his fashion house is among the most famous in the world. Valentino has always designed clothes for glamorous and sophisticated women, never wavering from his signature style even when grunge, deconstruction, and other passing fads were all the rage. Though his couture division almost never makes a profit (his ready-to-wear lines are what fuel the business), his heart is most solidly devoted to the magnificent haute couture gowns that earned him his reputation as fashion s most talented dressmaker.

This publication renders homage to Valentino s illustrious career via a copious selection of images from his archives, including drawings, magazine shoots, advertisements, portraits of Valentino, and documentary photographs; presented chronologically, the visual material is accompanied by a vast array of newspaper and magazine articles about Valentino throughout the years. Text also includes Vanity Fair writer Matt Tyrnauer s interviews with twenty of Valentino s closest collaborators and friends as well as an appreciation of Valentino by International Herald Tribune s fashion writer Suzy Menkes. All of these elements add up to an in-depth look at the man, his lifestyle, and his genius a book more comprehensive and stunning than one could hardly dare to dream of.

This unlimited popular edition is for readers on a budget or who were unable to get their hands on the original limited Collector’s and Art Edition.

CHECK PRICE NOW!
Read Full Review >>

“Balenciaga is fashion’s Picasso.”—Cecil Beaton

More than three decades after his death, the Spanish couturier Cristobal Balenciaga (1895–1972) has become a legendary figure in the history of 20th-century fashion. His name is now synonymous with clothes made to the highest standards and characterized by their sculptural quality, deft manipulation of textiles, and dramatic use of color. This absorbing new book, with breathtaking illustrations, examines Balenciaga’s design and business and places him firmly in the context of the time and country in which he learned his trade—and the international fashion scene in which he subsequently matured and triumphed.

This stunning book is published to accompany The Golden Age of Couture, a major exhibition opening at the V&A in September 2007.

CHECK PRICE NOW!
Read Full Review >>

CHECK PRICE NOW!
Read Full Review >>

CHECK PRICE NOW!
Read Full Review >>

Pucci, the pioneering Italian fashion brand

The prince of prints, his vision and legacy

Emilio Pucci (1914-1992) had a passion for women, a visionary sense of style, and an eye for color and design. With these talents he created a fashion house unlike any other. By the early 50s his boutique on the isle of Capri was catering to wealthy sophisticates, heiresses and movie stars buying his Capri pants , silk scarves and lightweight separates. By the end of the decade, Jacqueline Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe were wearing his dresses, and by the mid-60s the label was synonymous with the gilded lifestyle of an international jetset. Today, the house remains as vibrant as ever Victoria Beckham, Elizabeth Hurley, and Kylie Minogue are adherents and recently celebrated its 60th anniversary.

The Pucci story is a modern epic with its roots in renaissance Italy: the brand s founder, the Marchese Emilio Pucci di Barsento, was a charismatic aristocrat whose lineage extends back to the 14th century. It is a story of evolution: how a family company grew from one tiny store to an international brand with 47 boutiques worldwide (and a presence in 250 more). And finally, it is a tale of innovation: Pucci was one of the first brands to bear a logo, and a pioneer of diversification into interiors, athletic wear and accessories. It introduced free-moving, lightweight fabrics, pop art prints, and a new color palette into womenswear, and constantly pushed fabric and printing technologies.

Featuring hundreds of photographs, drawings, and candid shots from the family archive, this XL tome captures the breathtaking elegance and drama of a unique brand. Vanessa Friedman s text places Emilio s achievements in the context of fashion history, and provides insight into the remarkable Pucci dynasty.

Limited and numbered edition of 10.000 copies; each copy is bound with an original Pucci fabric, offering a choice of dozens of different covers.
CHECK PRICE NOW!
Read Full Review >>