Best Design Books

GOLD & SILVER | NEW METALLIC GRAPHICS

June 9, 2013

Gold and silver always incite a peculiar curiosity in humans with mesmerising glares. Unlike colours perceivable under normal light, metallic colours add lustre to surfaces as they glare even in the dimmest light. Historical uses of precious metals such as gold, silver and bronze have endowed these shiny tones with ideas, such as deity, wealth and brilliance. Advanced techniques and cheaper production costs today however require designers use metallic tones with greater sensitivity. Coming after Black & White and Multicolour, Gold & Silver is the third of VIctionary’s colour-themed series PALETTE which singly focuses on the dynamic play of metallic ink and materials in graphical designs. Featuring a vast collection of direct mails, stationery, catalogues, events, corporate identities, etc., the title surveys how designers capture the essence of commitment, visions, valued traditions or simply the glittery appeal in the different guises of gold, silver andcopper tones. Techniques include gilding, pure gold plating, metallic coatings, anodising, etc. that are fascinating to touch and see. via Boca do Lobo

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FASHION

BALS: LEGENDARY COSTUME BALLS OF THE 20TH CENTURY

June 6, 2013

BALS: LEGENDARY COSTUME BALLS OF THE 20TH CENTURY – There’s nothing more that I love than a coffee table book full of captivating pictures and, of course, one that covers fashion. Renowned publisher, Assouline produces some of the most eye-catching books and they’ve recently released their latest work, BALS: Legendary Costume Balls of the Twentieth Century by Nicholas Foulkes. BY NICHOLAS FOULKES This book explores nine of the most exceptional private costume parties of the twentieth century, in the most beautiful book ever produced on the subject. From the twilight of the Romanov dynasty through les années folles of Art Deco Paris to the jet-set seventies,In addition to social commentary from (or about) colorful characters—including Paul Poiret, Truman Capote, and Cecil Beaton, who immortalized these extraordinary balls. Jacqueline de Ribes, Hélène David-Weill, and Marisa Berenson share their vivid souvenirs in first-person narratives.This is the ultimate book on such a unique and captivating theme. THE AUTHOR Nicholas Foulkes is a British historian, author, and journalist who has written books on subjects as diverse as James Bond, porcelain, and the trench coat. He is best known for his critically acclaimed trilogy of nineteenth-century histories: Scandalous Society, a biography of Count d’Orsay; Dancing Into Battle; and Gentlemen and Blackguards. In…

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Lifestyle

GYPSET STYLE BOOK by ASSOULINE

June 3, 2013

Gypsetters are artists, designers, and bon vivants who live and work around the globe. Wanderlust meets the height of sophistication as New York Times journalist Julia Chaplin explores the unconventional lives of these high-low cultural nomads and the bohemian enclaves they inhabit. In addition to Jade Jagger, Damien Hirst, and Alice Temperly, the Gypsetters’ counterculture forebears, including the Victorian explorers, the Lost Generation, the Beatniks, and the hippies, are all profiled. About the Author Julia Chaplin is a New York based journalist and editor who covers contemporary art, fashion, design, lifestyle, and travel. She is a frequent contributor to The New York Times, Elle, Vogue, Wallpaper, New York magazine, and Conde Nast Traveler. via Boca do Lobo

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Art

GRUAU: PORTRAITS OF MEN

May 30, 2013

GRUAU: PORTRAITS OF MEN, BY RÉJANE BARGIEL AND SYLVIE NISSEN Primarily known for his colorful and vivacious portrayals of women, René Gruau revolutionized the concept of masculinity in fashion imagery and advertising from the 1950s to the ’80s, depicting the modern casual, confident man with humor and sex appeal. See also: Interior Design Books: The Story of Eames Furniture Gruau became one of the best known and favorite artists of the haute couture world during the 1940s and 50s working with Femina, Marie-Claire, L’Officiel, L’Album Du Figaro and an assortment of “high-style” magazines. According to Alan Riding of the New York times, “everything he did, he evoked the glamour and style of the world of high fashion”. Because the technical age of the 20th century had yet to emerge, Gruau’s pictures were the advertisements of the time and gave marketing and presentation of clothing a new brilliant flare. Illustrations were intensely very important in the haute couture world. Gruau’s first position as artistic director for advertising was in 1947 with Christian Dior. Both together formed the “New Look” of the time, partially a result of Dior’s designs, and partially a result of Gruau’s combined interpretation and upgrading of old-style graphic illustration.Gruau formed a friendship with Dior that contributed…

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BEST SELLERS

BEST LIBRARIES AROUND THE WORLD (CONT)

May 28, 2013

BEST LIBRARIES AROUND THE WORLD – I really love to discover and visit new libraries everyday. With that in mind, I have done hours of research trying to find the most interesting libraries in the world. As you can see this is the second-ranking I have created (read the first one here). I have tried to balance these two lists between architecturally interesting libraries and libraries with interesting collections, but most of these libraries are actually fascinating in both aspects. I’d love to spend a day in any of these libraries, and I hope you’ll agree. 1.SENDAI MEDIATHEQUE, JAPAN Toyo Ito, 2001 The Mediatheque is located on a tree-lined avenue in Sendai, its transparent facade allowing for the revelation of diverse activities that occur within the building. The interior of each level of the mediatheque is designed by a different designer. On the ground floor, Kazuyo Sejima places the administrative offices behind a translucent screen. The second and third levels house the Shimin Library and include a browsing lounge with internet access with furniture designed by K.T Architecture. The fourth and fifth levels contain gallery space; one level an exhibition space with moveable walls and the other…

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FASHION

The Little Black Jacket: Chanel’s Classic Revisited

May 27, 2013

The Little Black Jacket: Chanel’s Classic Revisited – Chanel celebrates its iconic black jacket in the form of a book The Little Black Jacket with photographs by designer Karl Lagerfeld and stylist Carine Roitfeld celebrating the classic garment with a traveling photography exhibition as well. by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld The book has been launched for Fall 2012 with images of 109 celebrities wearing the jacket in a unique and different style each time. Models, actors, singers, rappers,fashion editors, designers all can be seen in this book wearing the Chanel black jacket. Lagerfeld has redesigned the jacket, transforming it into a modern, adaptable garment to be worn by both sexes of all ages. See also: Book Review: New Book by Brazilian jeweler H.Stern Claudia Schiffer Uma Thurman Kanye West Kirsten Dunst Tilda Swinton Sarah Jessica Parker This book shows the astounding versatility of Chanel’s vision in Lagerfeld’s hands, and ensures the little black jacket’s future as a timeless classic. History of The Little Black Jacket The history of the jacket began in 1916 when it was designed, produced and even worn by its founder Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel. Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel was born in the nineteenth century and was an important figure of the…

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Lifestyle

Beyoncé on the cover of THE GENTLEWOMAN

May 24, 2013

Following her recent Super Bowl halftime show performance, here’s Beyoncé on the cover of The Gentlewoman, a completely different kind of platform. The biannual style publication has a singular reputation in the world of magazines: it’s known for its wit and impeccable sense of style — a magazine for women but not a women’s magazine in the conventional way. It offers a fresh and intelligent perspective on fashion that is focused on personal style – the way women actually look, think and dress. Featuring ambitious journalism and photography of the highest quality, The Gentlewoman celebrates inspirational women through the distinctive combination of glamour, personality and warmth in its collectable biannual magazine. In this seventh instalment of the magazine they bring together a group of accomplished, dynamic and inspiring women: the friendly Parisian fashion designer Isabel Marant, the superbly outspoken actress Susan Sarandon, enterprising herb farmer Jekka McVicar and, of course, our fantastic cover star, the incandescent singer and performer Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. For spring time glamour we offer a plethora of handsome bags, splendid watches, pointed shoes and a portfolio of delicious clothes, for your visual delectation. A new perspective on the topic of manners is also introduced this season, and as always, we…

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Art

100 Contemporary Green Buildings by Taschen

May 21, 2013

100 Contemporary Green Buildings by Taschen – When it comes to environmental awareness, the world has changed a bit. Or better, it has changed radically. Almost every industry claims to be green, and architecture is not an exception. In fact, architecture may be one of the precursors in eco-friendly production. This 2-volume, 696 pages publication by Taschen is the living proof. Each of the 100 featured buildings are stunningly beautiful and built with sustainability in mind – as contemporary buildings should be. See also: Interior Design Books: The Story of Eames Furniture Come to think of it, can a contemporary building be anything but green? If it isn’t sustainable, it is old-fashioned, by definition. Fingers crossed we’re entering an era in which the term ‘green’ will be obsolete. The most exciting new buildings in the world are now almost all environmentally aware, sustainable, and conceived to consume far less energy than ever before. That architecture is one of the major sources of greenhouse gases in the world makes this new trend all the more significant. This book brings the best examples of green projects from the Architecture Now! series together with numerous new, never-seen-before projects. Well-known architects like Frank Gehry and…

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Interior Design

Marc Newson Works

May 20, 2013

Marc Newson Works – Marc Newson is one of the best product designers in the world. He has designed chairs, restaurants, boutiques, cars, planes, and even a spaceship. For him, the sky is no limit. From mass-produced objects to limited edition furniture, to fashion, Newson has blurred boundaries, mapped new territories, and made himself an international superstar. This comprehensive tome leaves no stone unturned in cataloguing all of Newson’s works to date, from early pieces such as Lockheed Lounge (which holds the world record for the highest price paid for a piece of design furniture, at over two million dollars) through designs of household objects and more recent, large scale projects such as the interior of Qantas’s A380 and the Aquariva boat. See also: Interior Design Books: 100 Interiors Around the World The artist: Born in Sydney, Australia, Marc Newson (*1963) studied jewelry and sculpture at Sydney College of the Arts before moving to Tokyo where he designed his first production works for Idée. Subsequently based in Paris and London, where he lives and works, Newson quickly became one of the world’s most accomplished and influential designers. Newson’s designs are present in most major permanent museum collections, including the Museum…

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FASHION

ELIE SAAB BOOK BY JANIE SAMET

May 18, 2013

ELIE SAAB BOOK BY JANIE SAMET – Elie Saab magnifies femininity, building his fairy-tale creations with simple designs, the finest materials, delicate hand-embroidery, intricate detail, and a sophisticated fusion of cultural influences. ELIE SAAB BOOK BY JANIE SAMET Elie Saab’s interest in dressmaking started at age 9, when he began making clothes for his sisters, and as an adolescent he was selling his creations to the women in his neighborhood. In 1982 he opened his couture atelier in Beirut, with a dozen employees; he soon presented his first collection and instantly won critical attention. See also: Book Review: La Collection Privée Christian Dior Saab’s specialty is the ultimate dress that highlights a woman’s silhouette, making him a go-to designer for international stars and royalty—including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Beyoncé, Aishwarya Rai, Emmanuelle Béart, Marion Cotillard, Bérénice Bejo, Princess Victoria of Sweden, and Queen Rania of Jordan. In 2002, Halle Berry was wearing one of his gowns when she accepted the Oscar for Best Actress, and Elie Saab became a household name. The Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture invited Saab to show in Paris in 2000, and six years later he became a member. In 2007 he set up a flagship in Paris, but…

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FASHION

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HAMPTONS BOOK

May 16, 2013

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HAMPTONS BOOK – From May to September every year, society’s elite migrates to a small strip of land on the South Fork of Long Island, the Hamptons, one of the most exclusive and chic spots in the country. From the glamorous parties and unparalleled beaches to the mega-estates and its storied history, the Hamptons are magnetic. IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HAMPTONS BY KELLY KILLOREN BENSIMON FOREWORD BY PAMELA FIORI This beautifully illustrated updated edition of “In the Spirit of the Hamptons” by Kelly Killoren Bensimon, including a new foreword by Pamela Fiori, Combines photo archives and beautiful shots from famous vacationers, catpuring the past and present, the mix of culture, stunning beaches, exclusive homes, day-to-day small-town life and the people who have made the Hamptons such a unique place. See also: Book Review: La Collection Privée Christian Dior “You can see many celebrities enjoying themselves, like Paul McCartney going sailing or Stella McCartney on the bike. Ralph Lauren drives his extensive vintage car collection around the area while Donna Karan raised her family here and brought a shop and a restaurant to Sag Harbour. Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller even spent their honeymoon in the…

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