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Lifestyle

Book Review Exclusive Interviews with Incredibly Eccentric People
Lifestyle

Book Review: Exclusive Interviews with Eccentric People

Book Review: Exclusive Interviews with Eccentric People – Published in collaboration with Dallas-based luxury boutique Forty Five Ten, The Eccentrics features exclusive interviews with such icons as Iris Apfel, Edward Bess, and Dita Von Teese. Coupled with original photography by internationally renowned photographer Ruven Afanador that captures the idiosyncrasies, characteristics, and personas of each subject, legendary journalist Hal Rubenstein defines what sets these individuals apart, and, most importantly, what makes them eccentrics. See also: Book Review: Nendo – Interior Design Book from Japan Hal Rubenstein is a journalist, restaurant critic, designer, philanthropist and author of five books including his most recent The Looks of Love: 50 Moments in Fashion that Inspired Romance and the best-selling 100 Unforgettable Dresses. Perhaps best known as one of the founding editors at InStyle magazine, he served as its Fashion Director for fifteen years, following five years as Men’s Style Director for The New York Times Magazine, and after creating the now-cult classic Egg Magazine. Rubenstein is co-founder and director of the non-profit Fund in the Sun Foundation, and serves on the boards of Live Out Loud and the Paul Taylor Dance Company. See also: Contemporary Residential Architecture and Interiors by James Silverman The recipient of numerous…

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Interior Design

Book Review: Coffee Table Books to Offer this Christmas

Book Review: Coffee Table Books to Offer this Christmas – AD Style Director Jane Keltner de Valle rounds up her favorite art books to add to your list this holiday season. Grace, The American Vogue Years (Phaidon, $175) If you’re someone who judges a book by its cover, this one’s a no-brainer. The slipcased tome is beautifully oversized and dressed in Bordeaux red with a charming illustration of its heroine splashed across the cover. John Derian Picture Book ($75) Walking into a John Derian store is like entering a cabinet of curiosities. His decoupage collectibles sourced from 19th-century artwork illustrate flora, fauna, landscapes, and all manner of exotica—and are so vast you could get lost in them for days. Wanderlust: Interiors That Bring the World Home (Rizzoli, $50) Designer Michelle Nussbaumer fills her homes with exotic objets from around the world, and now her richly layered approach to decorating has been memorialized in this beautiful picture book. The Coveteur: Private Spaces, Personal Style (Abrams, $35) Voyeurism is nothing new, but the Coveteur is largely to thank for bringing it into the 21st century. The popular website gives us entrée into the closets and personal spaces of the fashion elite. Domus: A…

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FASHION

Must-See Photos of Audrey Hepburn in New Book: Audrey The 50’s

Must-See Photos of Audrey Hepburn in New Book: Audrey The 50’s  – Step Inside The 50s with Audrey Hepburn – A stunning photographic compilation showcasing Audrey Hepburn s iconic career in the 1950s the decade that solidified her place as one of the world s greatest stars in film and fashion. Devoted to her most influential decade, Audrey: The 50s brings together in one volume the allure and elegance that made Audrey Hepburn the most iconic figure in modern fashion history. Photographed during the early days of her career, both on the sets of Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Funny Face, and other classic films, and in fashion photo shoots by top photographers who adored and immortalized her, these beautiful black-and-white and color images radiate with Audrey s waifish charm, ethereal beauty, and effortless style. See also: Stylish Reading Nooks that will Inspire You Renowned author, curator and photographic preservationist David Wills has carefully selected this collection of two hundred museum-quality photos that capture Audrey in her prime as never before. Audrey: The 50s displays this star at her brightest, and brings her legacy into perfect focus. Among the highlights: Rare and classic images digitally restored from vintage photographic prints, original studio negatives…

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Art

Book Review: Fernando Botero, Assouline Special Edition

Book Review: Fernando Botero, Assouline Special Edition – Few artists have created a world as distinctive as that of Botero, who enjoys an exceptional position as one of the most successful contemporary artists. This spectacular hand-bound Ultimate Collection volume includes previously unpublished works and was curated in collaboration with the renowned artist himself from among Botero’s most important works from each period of his singular oeuvre. A special numbered limited edition of 100 copies, printed on cotton paper, features a tip-on illustration and hand-signed ex libris plate drawn by Botero especially for this publication. You may also like: Take a Tour of the World’s Most Beautiful Hotels with Chic Stays Cristina Carrillo de Albornoz Fisac is an author, curator, and critic whose work has been featured in publications including Vogue, The Art Newspaper, The European, The Observer, Beaux-Arts, Architectural Digest Spain, and La Reppublica. She has curated exhibitions on Balthus, Fernando Botero, and Frank Stella, and she has written books on Balthus, Botero, Mahatma Gandhi, and Satyajit Ray. In 2012 she curated a retrospective exhibition on Santiago Calatrava at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, and she wrote the text for Assouline’s book on the architect in 2013. You…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: Unexpected Creations Lotus Arts De Vivre

Book Review: Unexpected Creations Lotus Arts De Vivre – Celebrate the exceptional style of Thai jeweler Lotus Arts de Vivre, beloved the world over for its daring, nature-inspired pieces, with Unexpected Creations.   Journey into a realm of finely wrought bracelets, necklaces, and rings whose magnificent details are inspired by Asian folklore and culture. Lotus’s artisans pay homage not only to the brand’s Thai heritage, but also to Indian moguls, Indonesian rulers, and Chinese emperors. See also: Take a Tour of the World’s Most Beautiful Hotels with Chic Stays Seamlessly melding precious metals and jewels with organic materials such as ebony, seeds, nuts, seashells, bamboo, scarab wings, and ostrich eggs, these pieces are one of a kind, bringing to life mythical beasts and ancient tales from Asian folklore. Lotus also goes beyond jewelry, creating all aspects of an elegant lifestyle, including home decor, travel accessories, furniture, and paintings. The stunning original photography in this volume will whisk readers away to another time. Rolf von Bueren founded Lotus Arts de Vivre along with his wife, Helen. Growing up in Frankfurt, Germany, in an artisan environment, an appreciation for skilled craftsmanship was instilled in him from an early age. In 1962, von Bueren…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: 70 Years of Innovation and Play with Mattel

Book Review: 70 Years of Innovation and Play with Mattel – “Innovation became a hallmark of Mattel operations,” said Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler in 1968. “We were unorthodox, venturesome—our people were willing to try new things. This quality, more than any other, has been the key to the company’s progress.” From its humble beginnings producing picture frames for portrait studios to icons including Barbie and Hot Wheels, Mattel has been a master of imagination and innovation for seventy years. In 1938, Handler began crafting art objects from Lucite in the LA garage of Harold “Matt” Matson. Soon he was in business as Elzac Jewelry, with Hollywood starlets modeling his designs. When Handler and Matson left Elzac and went into business as Mattel, the year was 1945 and with the nation at war, plastics were restricted for military use. Innovators as they were, they began selling wooden picture frames and quickly branched out into dollhouse furniture, before changing their emphasis to toys. Barbie was born in 1959 and one year later Mattel became a publicly owned company. In the following years, Mattel launched other iconic toys, including Hot Wheels and He-Man; began incorporating other brands, such as Fisher-Price, Pleasant Company (including…

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Lifestyle

The Mythic Orient Express in a Book

The Mythic Orient Express in a Book – The illustrious Orient Express, “the king of trains and the train of kings,” could carry passengers from Paris to Constantinople in 76 hours, thanks to Belgian engineer Georges Lambert Nagelmackers’s perfect combination of long-distance travel and refinement. Orient Express: The Legend of Travel is a photographic guide to the history and culture surrounding this fabled train and all that took place within, from its notable passengers including Tolstoy and Grace Kelly to the tales crafted by Hemingway and Agatha Christie. In 2016, a presentation in Paris will highlight the key elements of a trip on the famed rail line through an initiatory journey created by the Design Studio Orient Express.   See also: Book Review: Once Upon a Chair… French journalist Sixtine Dubly has interviewed the greatest artists, designers, and creative stars of the international scene for the last fifteen years. Wherever she travels, she tracks emerging trends and handpicks talents, keeping in touch with modern design and lifestyle around the world. She has contributed to Architectural Digest, Ideat Magazine, Marie Claire Maison, and Le Nouvel Observateur, among others, and currently writes for the lifestyle section of Paris Match magazine, where she covers…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: Sunday Sketching for Design Lovers

Book Review: Sunday Sketching for Design Lovers – From award-winning artist and author Christoph Niemann comes a collection of witty illustrations and whimsical views on working creatively. Taking its cue from his New York Times column Abstract Sunday, this book covers Niemann’s entire career and showcases brilliant observations of contemporary life through sketches, travel journals, and popular newspaper features. The narrative guides readers through Christoph’s creative process, how he built his career, and how he overcomes the internal and external obstacles that creative people face—all presented with disarming wit and intellect. Enhanced with nearly 350 original images, this book is a tremendous inspirational and aspirational resource. See also: Book Review: Once Upon a Chair… Christoph Niemann is an illustrator, artist, and author. His work has appeared on the covers of The New Yorker, WIRED and The New York Times Magazine and has won awards from AIGA, the Art Directors Club and The Lead Awards. His corporate clients include Google, St. Moritz, Herman Miller and The Museum of Modern Art. He is a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale. He has drawn live from the Venice Art Biennale, the Olympic Games in London, and he has sketched the New York City Marathon — while actually…

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Lifestyle

New Book: The Irresistible Pearl Necklace

New Book: The Irresistible Pearl Necklace – The pearl necklace is an iconic classic, which has offered an irresistible invitation to subversive reinterpretation through the centuries. Renaissance queens, maharajas, First Ladies, and starlets from the Golden Age of Hollywood to the present have all made the pearl necklace part of their wardrobes, each wearing it after the fashion of the times or their own fancy. In The Pearl Necklace, Assouline and Mikimoto explore the legacy of these lustrous strands through fine art and fashion in a luxurious volume that reminds us why the pearl necklace has long been the ultimate object of fascination and fantasy. See also: Book Review: Once Upon a Chair… Jewelry historian Vivienne Becker is an award-winning journalist and author of several books on the history of jewelry design. Based in London, Becker is a contributing editor to Financial Times’s How to Spend It magazine, writes for newspapers and magazines around the world, and lectures and broadcasts on her subject. She organized and wrote the catalog for the first major exhibition of the jewelry of René Lalique, and curated Jewels of Fantasy, a traveling exhibition of twentieth-century costume jewelry. Becker’s previous books for Assouline include De Beers Jewellery…

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Art

Book Reviews: Coloring Books for Design Lovers

Book Reviews: Coloring Books for Design Lovers – If you are a design lover you’ll want these amazing coloring books! Paris Coloring Book by Min Heo The first in our new city series of children’s titles celebrates everyone’s favorite city in the world: Paris, the city of lights. The hardcover story book, memory game, and coloring book are all illustrated in a hand-drawn, colorful, graphic, and vintage style by California-based illustrator Min Heo. All three titles highlight well-loved landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Sacré-Coeur, the Luxembourg Garden, the Louvre, and more. They also celebrate important cultural aspects of Paris such as art, architecture, fashion, ballet, and epicurean delights. This new series is both educational and visually appealing to little kids and design-savvy adults. All three titles together make a perfect gift for would-be travelers of all ages. See also: Book Review: The Hinterland – Cabins, Love Shacks Fantastic Cities: A Coloring Book of Amazing Places Real and Imagined Paperback by Steve McDonald This unique coloring book features immersive aerial views of real cities from around the world alongside gorgeously illustrated, Inception-like architectural mandalas. Artist Steve McDonald’s beautifully rendered and detailed line work offers bird’s-eye perspectives of visually…

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Lifestyle

Book Review: Evergreen – Living with Plants

Book Review: Evergreen – Living with Plants – From rooftop gardens to flora-laden balconies, flowers and plants bestow a warm grace to unconventional and indoor spaces. See also: Interior Design Books: Kaleidoscope, Living in Color and Patterns Private paradises nestled in the backyards of homes. Rooftops that act as community gardens. Edible patches of beauty hidden within city blocks. Evergreen shows the verdant aesthetic statement that allows city dwellers to bring nature back into the every day and quenches urban gardening desires. Living with plants is mutually beneficial; beyond the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen, leaves, flowers, and stems bring a warm and individual charisma to any space. Throughout this engaging collection of projects, urban gardening is complimented by a softer side: balconies that add an extra relaxing touch to a morning cup of coffee, flowers that provide calming fragrances throughout the home, or romantic blooms that feed the soul rather than fill a plate. Evergreen also inspires those who already live in the midst of lush horticultural and sustainable oases. Straightforward plans and examples illustrate how to transform unused spaces, both indoors and out, into flourishing and functional patches. Sketched floorplans visually detail a myriad of projects including which…

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Hospitality Interior Design Ideas