ART & DESIGN

Best New Art Books


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Every fall, two things happen: Amazon.com is inundated with upcoming art and fashion tomes, and wallets everywhere get correspondingly lighter upon their release. Then there’s the pressure to build and “curate” an immaculate design library, like those seen in every shelter magazine each month. What’s the average bibliophile to do? Edit, of course. We’ve rounded up a small selection for your perusal, and perhaps, purchase.

1

The definitive tome on Kate the Great, created by the model herself in collaboration with Fabien Baron, Jess Hallett, and Jefferson Hack. Any book that features Ms. Moss is a must-have, no questions asked, and this features a well-edited selection of her shoots over the years.

2

When asked by a stylish friend who your favorite interior designer is, answering with “Miles Redd” would be a tasteful safe bet. The book serves as a compendium of Redd’s traditional-eclectic spaces with a more than soupcon of chic wisdom, as its title suggests.

3

In case your workspace is looking uninspired (and whose isn’t?) Habitually Chic blogger and designer Heather Clawson photographs the immaculately styled offices of creative types, including fashion designers Peter Som and Michael Bastian, landscape designer Miranda Brooks, and Jenna Lyons of J.Crew.

4

Even the most highbrow of fashion magazines isn’t above a shameless plug. To commemorate W’s 40th birthday, editor-in-chief Stefano Tonchi takes a look at some of the most groundbreaking images and stories from the past four decades.

5

To coincide with Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts exhibition of the same name, and the photographer’s first in the U.S., Taschen releases a grab-bag of Testino’s greatest hits. Kill two birds with one stone and grab the catalogue after seeing the show, which runs from October 21, 2012 through February 3, 2013.

Click here to see photos from the opening.

6

Fascinated by Tim Walker’s take on medieval fashions in W’s September Issue? Then it’s worth getting acquainted with the photographer’s other work. Bonus: an image from Walker’s October 2010 couture shoot for W graces the cover.

7

For the art fanatic, a delightful collection of art world insider Bill Powers’ interviews, along with conversations between everyone from Jay-Z and Damien Hirst to Dan Colen and Nate Lowman.

8

With the sixties influence on the spring runways, there’s no better time to revisit designer Pierre Cardin. Though his contributions to fashion are well-documented, Assouline takes a look at the whimsical Palais Bulles, which Cardin acquired and decorated to serve as a showroom for his collections.