The French are known for their joie de vivre-celebrating the simple things-a philosophy that tastemaker Ajiri Aki embraced all of her American life. As a child, she frequently tried to convince her Nigerian-Jamaican mother to pull out the fine china for everyday meals or when hosting friends. Her mother always said she was waiting for a special occasion, which sadly never came before she passed away when Ajiri was only twelve. Ajiri promised herself she would never hesitate to use her treasured pieces. When she moved to Paris, France, as an adult, she learned how central that idea is to French life, andshe also began to absorb other essential lessons from her new friends- treat yourself to fresh flowers just because, take time to source the best baguette, and perhaps most importantly, enjoy atre-just being.

In this beautifully photographed volume of everything French, Ajiri shares what she's learned about living in Paris-from hosting the perfectapero(happy hour) to lingering around town like afl neur(loafer) to thrifting for antiques at the market. While exploring the prettiest cafes and shops, you'll be inspired to reclaim your right to leisure as the French have, so you, too, can savor the spontaneous, joyful moments that happen every day. Lire la suite Fermer

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER This Where's Waldo -style character search is at once an activity book and a stylish coffee table book. Always on the go, Karl Lagerfeld is everywhere and nowhere all at once. Now you can roll up your Alexander McQueen skull sleeves and bust out your vintage Chanel monocle as you travel around the world's hottest fashion scenes searching for Karl. Is he at The Met Gala in New York City? Strolling Coqui Coqui Beach in Tulum? On the slopes in St. Moritz? Directing a photo shoot in Dubai? In these stunning, full-color illustrations, you'll spot all of the industry's finest glitterati along the way, turning this book into a full-on game of who's who from Anna Wintour to Beyonce to Woody Allen to Kim Kardashian to Suri Cruise to Prince William, and many, many more.
Lire la suite Fermer

Footwear design has become the new dream career, and this book is the first guide to show the key skills and tips behind the trade, for both budding designers and anyone interested in shoes. Since Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik became household names, footwear design is now one of the most lucrative strands of any fashion brand. Aki Choklat explores the footwear design process, explaining the differences between the anatomy of the foot and the anatomy of a shoe, showing how one constrains the other, before moving onto the research and design development processes and the art of creating a complete collection. The all-important presentation is then discussed, including illustrative techniques, before the book ends with advice for those wishing to pursue a career in footwear design. Illustrated throughout with inspirational sketchbooks detailing the design process and specially commissioned images of cutting-edge shoe design, the book also contains case studies featuring an array of international shoe designers.
Lire la suite Fermer

Spiraling snail shells form the basis for Sasamoto's latest performance and installation works

Published on the occasion of her standout solo exhibition at the Queens Museum, Point Reflection is the first major volume devoted to the work of New York-based artist Aki Sasamoto (born 1980). Conceived as an artist's book, Point Reflection centers on Sasamoto's major installation Sink or Float, first presented at the 2022 Venice Biennale. Building on the artist's idiosyncratic research into snail shell chirality?the direction in which the shell coils?as a cypher for thinking through questions of change, aging, (non)normativity, vulnerability and natural processes, Point Reflection brings together the diagrammatic visions, narrative experimentation, structured improvisations and stream-of-consciousness monologues characteristic of her performances and installations. The book features writing and drawings by Sasamoto, a critical essay by Lumi Tan, interviews with biologists conducted by the artist and an afterword by Queens Museum curator Hitomi Iwasaki.
Lire la suite Fermer