INprint:
101 Things I Learned in Fashion School
by: Alfredo Cabrera with Matthew Frederick
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
The cover notes state “It’s like getting a fashion school degree in 202 pages!” If it were only that easy, but regardless, if every student left school with even half the little tidbits of wisdom contained within the stated 202 pages, we’d be in better shape as an industry.
Written by designer, teacher & illustrator, Alfredo Cabrera, & charmingly illustrated by architect, teacher & author, Matthew Frederick, this book is not only a quick & fun read, but a delight to the eye. Packed full of information dispensed in postcard sized pages never more than 100 or so words long & sometimes as short as 26 characters (30 including punctuation!), this is a book that will leave even the most experienced (aka “jaded”) fashionista anxiously turning the page to see what lies beyond. My personal favorites are #4 (“Fashion is born from ideas”), #13 (“Cotton is a fiber, not a fabric”), #16 (“Details aren’t add-ons to a design concept; they’re essential to formulating a design concept.”), #27, #34, #44… you get the point.
At only $15.00 (U.S.), it’s a delightful hostess gift no matter what their individual interest of the recipient may be. Those in the know will have their knowledge reaffirmed & those not so will be so. I’ve got to get my order in for 10 just to have on hand.
Available at most book stores in New York or on amazon.com.
-Scott French
The Big-Ass Book of Home Décor
by: Mark Montano
Publisher: Abrams Books
For the DIY craftsman in all of us…
Designer, author and television personality, Mark Montano, launched his latest in the Big Ass Book series, The Big Ass Book of Home Décor. Specializing in turning the “mundane into the insane” on any budget, Montano starts the book by saying “Perfection is overrated!”
Translating this mantra of “perfectly imperfect” into range of customized home makeover possibilities. From colorful walls to decorative dinnerware this book is a do-it-yourself treasure tome of design projects, complete with easy to follow instructions, images and personalized tips.
Personal favorites include an Embellished Iron-on-Image Pillow (an easy & cheeky idea for creative accents), a Geisha Fringe Pendant Lamp (a romantic lighting accessory) & a Paint Chip Artwork (a creative & colorful way to spice up any wall).
The author who ends his Introduction with his personal email for questions or comments on the book also says, “You don’t have to break the bank or search endlessly for the perfect piece for your home; doing it yourself is fun and inspiring,” says Mark Montano. “This Big Ass book has 300 pages of ideas to be as creative as you want--use it as a jumping point to spring yourself into the master of your own house.”
Buy this book if you have time & some creative will!
-Meredith Garcia
LACOSTE: The Element of Style
Introduction by: Olivier Margot
Publisher: ASSOULINE
Few fashion logos can truly claim to be iconic. Those that are iconic share the ability define a lifestyle of inspiration & aspiration. By wearing logos of this ilk, the wearer is granted access if you will to the lifestyle in question through the simple act of getting dressed. The “alligator” logo of the Lacoste brand is just such a logo & is arguable the standard bearer against which logos must measure in order to be granted entry into this rare set.
“LACOSTE: The Element of Style” with introduction by Olivier Margot chronicles the life of tennis great, now legend, Rene Lacoste, who was the greatest tennis player in the world in the 1920’s. It then follows him as he then went on to launch a fashion lifestyle brand, born out of Monsieur Lacoste’s personal flair as well as his innate knowledge of the lifestyle he was designing for. What makes this brand different from all the other lifestyle brands nearly synonymous with 7th Avenue is that Lacoste was the real deal & was the embodiment of the lifestyle for which he was creating. He was the real thing. The other lifestyle brands of today cannot share this DNA, as they are nothing more than creations dreamt up by marketing firms & advertising agencies.
This book is the story (or one story) of a culture that gives voice to many personal stories—the story of a transgenerational and transcultural cult brand; of a laughing crocodile beloved by children; of a breath, an emotion, a moment to be savored; of well-being; of vitality. The story of everything we’ve done and of everything we have yet to do, all thanks to a single pensée, a single thought, that inspires expression in every form.
The publisher’s notes continue, this is a book about savoir vivre and savoir faire, about how to live (in Lacoste) and how to be. It is a catalogue that has never been more deserving of the name, a catalogue raisonné in which everything is modestly and elegantly on display.
Lacoste designer Christophe Lemaire calls the story of “democratic luxuriousness,” perhaps a luxuriousness of detail. A story about a sensation, a light, a color, a texture, a pattern, the freedom of a body in motion and at rest. A story about the Club collection, the Sport collection, the women’s collections; about windowpane check, contrast piping, stretch knit polo shirts: “a world of design with a human dimension.”
“LACOSTE: The Element of Style” is in (hardcover release, 176 pages with 150 color plates, $50.00) can be purchased locally at Barney’s New York’s Chelsea Passage Bookstore on Madison & 61st Street, or directly from the publisher.
-Scott French
The Luxury Collection Destination Guides
Photography by Andrea Fazzari
Publisher: ASSOULINE
For the traveler in all of us…This series is just another reason why we love Assouline.
This collection of six soft cover books is perfectly packaged in a vintage-inspired travel box & perfect for coffee tables world-wide. A passport to the prestigious Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, this limited edition set unlocks the charms of six destinations – Italy, Greece, Argentina, India, Spain, and the United States. World-renowned Luxury Collection concierges act as your personal guide, offering an insider view of each locale’s most unique restaurants, boutiques, and cultural sites.
Each book features a passage and recipe from a celebrated chef including Mario Batali for Italy, Francis Mallmann for Argentina, José Andrés for Spain, and Charlie Palmer for the US. From the finest and most authentic local restaurants to the most memorable and rewarding cultural experiences, The Luxury Collection Destination Guides provide the key that unlocks all that is truly distinctive and unique in each of these destinations, delivering authentic and unforgettable experiences that only locals and the most seasoned travelers enjoy.
Buy this book today @ www.shopassouline.com and other major retail stores for $140.
-Meredith Garcia
