Category Archives: Books

January 31, 2013 · 9:05 am

Things We Love

If you’ve been here before, my weakness for kate spade New York should come as no surprise to you. I’ve been a little bit in love with the brand since I was about 9 years old, visiting Canal Street in New York City for the first time (so yes, fine, the first Kate Spade bags I fell in love with did happen to be well-designed knockoffs… minor detail). Over the last twenty years, the brand has seen some changes, specifically in creative direction, with Deborah Lloyd replacing Kate herself as the new Chief Creative Officer after Fifth and Pacific Companies bought the brand in 2007. Yet they have remained true to their colorful roots. Things We Love commemorates the 20th anniversary of Kate Spade, showcasing all of the little elements that inspire the company’s persona and designs.

From polka dots to cocktails, each chapter is dedicated to a single love of the brand and team. The book is absolutely beautiful, and I think I could flip through it a dozen more times and still find new pieces of vibrant inspiration.

kate spade New York: Things We Love
Foreword by Glenda Bailey, Introduction by Deborah Lloyd
Edited by Deborah Aaronson & Rebecca Kaplan
ABRAMS Books, 2013
$40

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Tagged as book reviews, books, kate spade

January 24, 2013 · 9:11 am

Vogue on My Mind

Last week, I attended an event at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts in which I got to hear Hamish Bowles, International Editor at Large of Vogue, speak about his many years of experience working with fashion photographer Mario Testino, whose work is currently on display at the MFA [see my review of the exhibit here]. Mr. Bowles joined American Vogue in 1992 as a style editor, and it was so interesting to get a glimpse of the magazine over his last 20 years of working there– through his stories and Testino’s photos. What’s more amazing than that though, is the 120+ years of history Vogue has.

I’ve had such fun browsing through the 100 iconic covers featured in the card set I received around the holidays, Postcards from Vogue. In addition to Mario Testino, the postcards also feature covers done by Annie Leibovitz, Irving Penn, Salvador Dali, and more. You’ll spy many leading ladies from over the years, from Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy all the way to Lady Gaga. Since the event at the MFA, it’s been even more fascinating looking at the covers from 1992 on, knowing a little more about the styling and photography behind them. My only problem now is finding enough wall space to display them all!

Postcards from Vogue: 100 Iconic Covers
By Vogue Editors
Penguin Books, 2012
$25

Photos from the MFA event, featuring my darling friends Zoe of Fashion is Freedom and Courtney of Those Graces. Read Zoe’s recap of the event here.

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Tagged as book reviews, books, Boston, Boston Bloggers, fashion, fashion events, gifts, Hamish Bowles, Mario Testino, MFA, Museum of Fine Arts, photography, postcards, Vogue

January 17, 2013 · 9:13 am

A Tally of Two Cities

Despite my lack of coffee table, I am all for stocking up on fun coffee table books. Right now, I am loving Vahram Muratyan’s Paris versus New York: The Complete Series of Two Cities, inspired by his blog of the same name. You all know how much I adore Boston and London, yet NYC and Pari will always have special places in my heart as well. Muratyan’s charming prints depicting the two most loved cities are so simple, yet so clever. This new Penguin deluxe edition featured 35 brand new illustrations, and I don’t think I will ever get sick of flipping through it.