For looks or reading?
Are you searching for a sophisticated gift to infuse your friend’s new space with jaw-dropping, bookish charm? Designer Tom Ford’s $52 million purchase of Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ Hamptons, NY summer home sparks curiosity! Will his signature double-volume coffee table books grace its decor?
Whether for décor or book lovers, #BookTok has amassed over 171 billion views on TikTok. The movement, originating as pandemic entertainment, attracts fans seeking escapism and mental wellness. The book community finds a connection in recommendations and collections. Check out YouTuber Jack Edward’s 50+ Huge Book Haul video. Where fashion hauls were the go-to, Jack focuses on visually impactful home organization centered around his favorite books.
With the holidays upon us, consider all the interesting new releases for gifting and coffee table curation. How to organize? Coffee table books come in small, medium, and large sizes, perfect for stacking. Tara Dennis, a noted residential interior and architecture design expert with A-list clientele, offers some advice. Dennis says, “I tend to group all of my coffee table books according to size, and I like to do them in stacks of two or three and then put some kind of object on the top.” Read on for our list of the best and newest releases to gift and arrange!
A fashionable holiday indeed
Actor and Dior spokesperson Rosamund Pike did a tour of Hatchard’s in Piccadilly Circus, London, for The Dior Book Tote Club. Authored by Marylou Luther, Be-Spoke: Revelations from the World’s Most Important Fashion Designers showcases a Luther interview with Christian Dior in 1957 and a visit to Coco Chanel. The Ruben Toledo beautifully illustrated tome also features a Forward by Stan Herman and Afterward by Rick Owens. Speaking of Chanel, the gorgeous release Chanel: High Jewelry explores Coco’s inspirations and features photography by some of the most noteworthy fashion photographers. Many eagerly awaited Linda Evangelista, Photographed by Steven Meisel, a stunning 25-year tribute to fashion’s iconic and enduring collaborations.
Star crossed readings
With the Hollywood actors’ strike, Trophy Lives: On the Celebrity as an Art Object has perfect timing to fill our muse fantasies. Sofia Coppola, celebrity and filmmaker, shows her talent for capturing images in the gorgeous pink covers of Sofia Coppola Archive: 1999-2023. Multihyphenate musician, producer, artist, and designer Pharrell Williams has released Pharrell-isms, an inspiring collection of quotations about creativity and social justice. For the Harry Styles fan in your life, consider Harry Styles, dedicated to his current cultural significance. Can we ever get enough, Harry?!
A year ahead of self-exploration, travel, and cooking
Have you considered some self-improvement resolutions for the new year? To aid in feelings of empowerment, Emma Lucy Knowles, known for clients like Victoria Beckham and The Ritz-Carlton, shares empowering wisdom in Crystals to Manifest. If you or loved ones plan travels, consider Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel. Written from a witty Third World-raised woman of color’s perspective, the book ponders joyful travel amidst colonialism, capitalism, and climate change. Another travel-related note, In Search of Perfumes by Dominique Roques, offers an immersive nature travelog about the ingredients for our favorite fragrances.
Regarding ingredients, Alicia Kennedy’s No Meat Required contributes to the conversation on shifting meat from the center of our plates. For the Culture: Phenomenal Black Women & Femmes in Food celebrates Black women in food and wine with a collective cookbook of recipes and interviews. The collective family centers at the heart of Lidia’s From Our Family Table to Yours: More Than 100 Recipes Made with Love for All Occasions: A Cookbook.
Food and books bring together a family in an inspiring way! Let us know which coffee table entries have become your favorites and how you plan to gift and display them.
