Up Your Fashion IQ This Summer With These Stylish Coffee-Table Books
Yves Saint Laurent, the Bata Shoe Museum, and Adidas are some of the subjects of this summer's must-own coffee-table books.
Whether they’re sitting pretty on a table or adorning your bookshelves, coffee-table books can be counted on to perk up just about any space. With their glossy covers, arresting imagery and exploration of niche subjects, these tomes—part book, part objet d’art—are a vital part of any design enthusiast’s home. Read on for five coffee-table books about fashion and style coming out this summer that would make for an excellent addition to one’s collection.
Yves Saint Laurent: The Impossible Collection
Written by fashion journalist and Yves Saint Laurent expert Laurence Benaïm, this highly collectible coffee-table book spans 40 years of the couturier’s career. From Saint Laurent’s debut collection in 1962 to his final couture presentation in 2002, the Assouline book highlights 100 iconic pieces, such as his Mondrian shift dress, his legendary Ballets Russes textiles and his “coup de crayon” draped gowns.
$1,275, assouline.com
The Fashion Book
Showcasing more than 500 of fashion’s most influential names from A to Z—including Harlem-based designer Dapper Dan, supermodel Kate Moss, photographer Richard Avedon, blogger Bryanboy and Canadians like photographer and filmmaker Petra Collins and designer Erdem Moralioglu—this updated edition of Phaidon’s bestseller is a must-have for any fashion-focused personal library. $60, ca.phaidon.com
The Women Who Revolutionized Fashion: 250 Years of Design
This offering from Rizzoli Electa highlights the innovative female creatives who made bold strides in the fashion industry. Featuring trailblazers like Jeanne Lanvin, Elsa Schiaparelli and Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, the book also shines a light on the lesser-known names who revolutionized fashion dating back to the mid-1700s.
$60, rizzoliusa.com
The Adidas Archive
A must-read for sneakerheads, this Taschen tome lays out the history of Adidas with illustrations of over 350 pairs of shoes from the “Adidas Archive,” including one-of-a-kind originals, vintage models and never-before-seen prototypes. Offering a snapshot into sports and design history, the book outlines the journey of the brand from its founding in the early 1900s to today. $212, taschen.com
The World at Your Feet: Bata Shoe Museum
It’s been 25 years since Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum opened its doors. To celebrate, the museum worked with Rizzoli Electa on a book that highlights its collection of international footwear. Written by Elizabeth Semmelhack, the museum’s creative director and senior curator, the book offers a peek at over 100 of the museum’s most treasured pieces. $68, batashoemuseum.ca