ARTES

Christian Dior fundó la maison que lleva su nombre en 1946, en la Francia de posguerra, E impulsado por la idea de devolver a la moda la elegancia y el poder de seducción que creía perdidos. Su primera colección, que introdujo el icónico New Look, fue revolucionaria y restauró el orgullo de la haute couture francesa. Con los años, y gracias a la labor de sus directores creativos: Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, Maria Grazia Chiuri y Jonathan W. Anderson, la maison Dior se ha mantenido en lo más alto del panteóndela y - moda y el estilo en todo el mundo.

En 1913, Fratelli Prada abrió sus puertas en Milán, convirtiéndose en la marroquinería favorita de la burguesía italiana. Décadas más tarde, cuando Miuccia Prada heredó la empresa familiar comenzó a desafiar las convenciones ¿que rodeaban la moda del momento: hizo del nailon un material lujoso, despojó a las mujeres de adornos superfluos y hasta se atrevió a jugar con lo que socialmente se consideraba feo. La diseñadora se alió con artistas contemporáneos y a través de sus desfiles habló de feminismo, de problemáticas sociales o del uso de la tecnología. Es una firma ligada indisolublemente a la cultura contemporánea.

Fresh perspectives on how good design can create stylish yet ecologically sound living spaces in small-scale homes. Anyone who has faced the challenges of limited living space will find inspiration in this survey of the latest trends in environmentally sensitive, small-scale residential designs. More than fifty residential spaces are profiled—from woodsy houses and repurposed barns to cool apartments and urban lofts—both inside and out. Most of the projects were designed by up-and-coming architects, and each design proves that small-scale efficiency as well as beautiful, thoughtful design can overcome the apparent constraints of a small setting. Environmental impact is a growing concern, so each project was chosen because of its ecological sensitivity. Each case history describes the challenges confronting the designer and the solutions. Creating color schemes to enhance the feeling of openness, taking advantage of high ceilings to make multiple levels, and using collapsible furniture and sliding doors to maximize space are some of the design solutions that can be applied in any situation. Filled with beautiful color photographs and helpful floorplans, this book is a remarkable showcase of how good design can transform any small space into a comfortable, modern—and environmentally sensitive—home.

From grand formal French gardens with meticulously sculpted topiaries to the poetry of a bohemian country estate, and from a botanical kitchen garden to an exotic tropical oasis on the Mediterranean coast, French gardening expert and television presenter Stéphane Marie invites readers on a tour of his favorite gardens across France. His encounters with passionate gardeners who have cultivated their plots with creativity highlight France’s incredibly varied microclimates and offer inspiration for nature lovers everywhere. This beautifully curated volume brings together twenty-seven stunning gardens spanning ten French regions, selected both for their originality and the richness of their flora. Marie's accounts of the design history and creation of each garden are accompanied by detailed sections on the plants, flowers, and trees that make them unique. Visitors are welcome at each of these gardens, and the chapters are completed with practical information and tips on how to plan your visit.

George W. Vanderbilt created one of the greatest self-sustaining American country estates of the late nineteenth century—at its center, Richard Morris Hunt’s splendid 250-room French Renaissance château. Beyond the acres of gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and the imposing castle exterior lies one of the most notable private collections of fine and decorative art in the nation. Discover the wealth of treasures assembled in the historic rooms: paintings by Monet, Renoir, Sargent, and Whistler; Renaissance tapestries; rare books; and exquisite French and English furniture.

Alaïa was not only a renowned couturier but also a passionate fashion historian and an insatiable collector, an interest he cultivated starting in the 1960s. He gathered over 20,000 garments in his lifetime, from the birth of haute couture to pieces by contemporaries he admired. This book showcases for the first time the priceless personal collection of Dior designs that Alaïa assembled over decades—pieces by Christian Dior as well as the artistic directors that followed him at the helm of the House. The collection is analyzed through chapters dedicated to the elements that awakened the curiosity of Alaïa’s collector genius: the construction of the dresses—their “architecture”; the enchanting multitude of the color tones and textures of the fabrics and materials; and the poetry of the names of Dior’s creations revealing the diversity of his sources of inspiration, such as Accacias, Astarté, Caracas, Chérie, Jardin anglais, Madrid, Marcel Pagnol, Rose des vents, or Tourbillon.. Illustrated by beautiful photographs of the dresses, historical archival images, drawings by Christian Dior, and collection charts detailing fabric samples and sketches, this book offers a fresh view of Alaïa’s influences and Dior’s history and will appeal to fashion lovers everywhere.

Book nooks—miniature dioramas of charming spaces designed for display as a bookshelf insert or as a bookend for a book collection—have taken social media by storm. They have been widely embraced with great enthusiasm in the world of crafting and creative hobbies as they blend a love of coziness, a celebration of storytelling, and an interest in decor. Fun to make and to collect, these miniature worlds are endearing and contemplative, drawing inspiration from scale modeling to create imagined universes, settings, and characters inspired by daily life, nature, favorite books, or movies. This volume blends how-to advice with inspirational imagery showcasing twenty approachable, easy-to-do, small-scale projects full of charm and enchantment.

The kind of fame and success The Rolling Stones have achieved in their 60-plus year career is without parallel; their most famous riffs and catchiest lyrics are indelibly engraved in our collective memory. With their mesmerizing on- and off-stage presence, the Stones set the standard for how a rock band should sound, pose, pout, and behave. They were the first to instinctively understand that what you looked like was as important as the music, and that photography had a vital role in promoting that image. “The clothes and the hair are always impeccable,” describes author Lucy Sante. “They were playing themselves, but with such consistent finesse you knew they were instinctively aware of the camera and how good they will look in the photos.” Unsurprisingly many of the greatest photographers in the history of the medium wanted to take their picture. Produced in close collaboration with the band, this edition charts the Stones’ remarkable history and outrageously cool lifestyle in over 500 pages of photographs and illustrations, gathered from archives all over the world. Unprecedented access to the Rolling Stones’ own archives in New York and London adds an equally extraordinary, more private side to their story. For Mick, Keith, Charlie, and Ronnie this is and was their official photographic record.

Since opening her eponymous firm a decade ago, Okin has established herself as a powerhouse in the design industry. Her interiors are both approachable and sophisticated and have helped her garner an ever-growing social media following, as well as a place on House Beautiful’s Next Wave list and Luxe and House & Garden’s Gold Lists. Okin’s first book is an exploration of her belief that the best homes reflect the stories of their inhabitants. The houses featured include projects from across the country—from Southampton to New Canaan, Palm Beach to Park Slope—as well as Okin’s own house in New York. As a design journalist in addition to her interiors work, Okin has written the book herself, and it’s rich with advice and inspiration for creating spaces that are as welcoming and personal as they are functional. Whether it’s a young family who just purchased their first home or a design connoisseur with an extensive library, this book will appeal to everyone seeking to transform their house into a warm and inviting home.