Your coffee table is one of the focal points of your living room and its design likely sets the tone for the placement of the rest of your décor too. Since it’s a prominent, yet modest piece of furniture, it most certainly deserves a stylish touch, and why not accessorize it with something that is both fashionable and interesting?
Coffee table books are the perfect way to style your space – and when your passions lie in glorious designs by the world’s most renowned designers, why not sit in their company? Paying homage to these famous designers are the covers of their books which make for stunning works of fashion and art and are the perfect conversation starters.
It was a tough choice but AboutHer.com have hand-picked 10 fabulous books to fashionably upgrade your coffee table.
Chanel
Coco Chanel is one of the most famous women in fashion history for her French, avant garde flair. The bold designer completely flipped the fashion game in her heyday and built an empire that is now deemed one of the world’s most luxurious maisons. Gabrielle Chanel revolutionized style and made pant suits for women, powerful and continued to set trends through her own style…
Manolo Blahnik: Fleeting, Gestures and Obsessions
Shoe designer, Manolo Blahnik’s book brings together his life and work through 250 rare photographs of his designs and inspirations. The publication tells of forty plus years dedicated to the art of the shoe by the designer, lover of history, cinema, architecture and literature.
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
The late, Alexander McQueen, is noted as one of the most influential, imaginative, and provocative designers of his generation. His radical, dark, and whimsical designs are highly respected by the fashion community for his merging of haute couture and technological innovation. Savage Beauty pays homage to the designer’s stunning anthology of work that's both provocative and captivating.
Oscar De La Renta: His Legendary World Of Style
Released in 2004, this brilliant book explores the life and career of Spanish couturier, Oscar De La Renta. Penned by Vogue’s Andre Leon Talley, the monograph pays tribute to De La Renta’s stunningly scrupulous work and highlights 70 of his most iconic dresses, which are now considered as masterpieces of haute couture.
Dior: The New Look Revolution
Dior is one of the most famous fashion maisons in the world and has consistently maintained it’s powerful aesthetic since it was established. Published by Rizzoli and headed by Pierre Cardin and Raf Simons, this book pays homage to the career of iconic couturier Christian Dior. It is a compilation of rare images and sketches by the designer, whose revolutionary designs continue to be reinterpreted by the fashion house’s creative directors since, from Yves Saint Laurent to Raf Simons.
Influence: Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen
Mary Kate and Ashley are not heard as much as they are seen. Renowned for their inimitable style and creativity, it was only a matter of time before Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen put their journeys into a book. This particular publication is a little different as the twins take on an interview approach whereby the twins document their conversations with the people who they admire, including Karl Lagerfeld, Diane von Furstenberg, John Galliano, Lauren Hutton, and Christian Louboutin.
Valentino: Themes And Variations
This captivating cover is enough for anyone to want to purchase this stunning book. Valentino Garavani is highly revered for creating visually arresting modern fashion without compromising its history.
The luxurious label is immersed in it’s history whilst maintaining a contemporary feel for every year in every collection. His designs are adored by everyone from Hollywood stars as well as society's elite. This book chronicles the dresses, the culture, and the art behind the brand.
Tom Ford
Iconic designer Tom Ford is known to have transformed Gucci into one of the sexiest fashion labels in the world. Tom Ford’s book tells of his reign and vision at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent from 1994 to 2004, including fashion, architecture, store design, and advertising.
It also includes more than 200 pages of his work as well as memorable images by renowned fashion photographers Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts, and Craig McDean.
Fendi By Karl Lagerfeld
In 2015, Fendi published an original volume of Fendi: By Karl Lagerfeld, to celebrate 50 years of his residency as creative director at the brand. The book comes in a wooden case and takes you back through 50 years of his designs through archives, interviews and illustrations. The volume also includes a selection of 200 sketches, including all of the Fendi logos designed by Karl, as well as a DVD in which the designer talks about his own life. A complete collector’s item.
Louis Vuitton: Windows
Brands are all about visual consumption as well as function. When we go to purchase anything, we are often chastised by visual displays which is why shop windows are so important to luxury brands. Louis Vuitton is well known for it’s window displays which is exactly why the brand compiled their exciting windows into a collectible book. The hand-bound work of art truly captures the spirit and inside world of Louis Vuitton.
