Beautiful books for Christmas

Here are the most beautiful books we’d like to receive under our Christmas tree! Fashion, home decor, photography, cinema – you name it, we’ve got it, for a Christmas that’s as sexy as it is cultural!

Coco Chanel: A legend unveiled

Justine Picardie unveils Coco Chanel, Une légende, une vie, a fascinating biography translated by Gabriel Boniecki. Through in-depth research and previously unpublished archives, the author explores Gabrielle Chanel’s childhood, marked by poverty and orphanhood, and reveals a darker reality than the designer’s glittering image. Conducted like an investigation, this work sheds light on her relationships with Jean Cocteau, Picasso and Dali, while tracing her controversial role during the war. From her little black dress to her legacy of freedom, Chanel remains a timeless icon, with a destiny as powerful as it is mysterious.

Women photographers, an art of resistance

In Les femmes photographes sont dangereuses, Laure Adler and Clara Bouveresse explore the often invisibilized role of women in the history of photography. The book reveals how, from its very origins, photography has been associated with a practice accessible to women, while at the same time silencing them. Laure Adler, historian and journalist, sheds light on the trajectory of women in the arts and feminist struggles. For her part, Clara Bouveresse, a specialist in the Magnum agency, contributes her historical expertise. An essential work for restoring women photographers to their rightful place in the art world.

French design 1950: The generation of young wolves

In Design français 1950, Pascal Cuisinier spotlights the “young wolves”, the first French designers born between 1925 and 1930. Long overshadowed by major figures such as Jean Prouvé and Le Corbusier, these designers, including Pierre Guariche, Pierre Paulin and Abraham et Rol, revolutionized design by combining modernity and functionality. Their work, elegant and rational, placed mass production at the forefront of design history, while emphasizing technical innovation and formal radicalism. Architect and gallery owner Pascal Cuisinier celebrates this visionary generation and its rigorously aesthetic pieces.

American Polychronic, a striking retrospective

American Polychronic is the first catalog raisonné devoted to Roe Ethridge, covering his photographic work from 2000 to 2021. This book presents a unique sequence that interweaves his personal artistic work with his commercial production. By playing with genres, Ethridge blurs the boundaries between art, advertising and everyday life, creating a distinctive visual language. Renowned for his subversive approach and humorous yet intimate compositions, his work is exhibited in prestigious museums such as MoMA and Tate Modern. Published in October 2022, this monumental 560-page work explores twenty years of photographic innovation.

Sofia Coppola Archive: An intimate look at her work

Sofia Coppola Archive is the first major retrospective devoted to the iconic director. The book brings together twenty years of her career, from Virgin Suicides (1999) to Priscilla (2023), including Lost in Translation and Marie-Antoinette. Richly illustrated, it reveals personal photographs, collages, annotated scripts and never-before-seen behind-the-scenes images. A true immersion in his creative process, this book traces a singular body of work, oscillating between artistic influences, emotions and visual elegance. Accompanied by an interview with journalist Lynn Hirschberg, this book offers an intimate and precious insight into Sofia Coppola’s career.

A thousand billion ribbons: Loïc Prigent traces the history of fashion

In Mille milliards de rubans (A Thousand Billion Ribbons), Loïc Prigent brilliantly retraces the evolution of fashion, from the first boutiques to the major couture houses. Blending piquant anecdotes with historical rigor, he explores the innovations that revolutionized couture, from Singer machines to department store windows. Prigent highlights iconic figures such as Empress Eugenie, while questioning the sometimes dark origins of luxury, notably cotton from slave plantations.

Dream, dare, create… and do it again! by Sarah Lavoine

In her book Rêvez, osez, créez… et recommencerz!, Sarah Poniatowski, founder of Maison Sarah Lavoine, shares her thoughts on entrepreneurship and creativity. Through 40 richly illustrated chapters, she reveals the essential steps and values for building a sincere and lasting brand. Curiosity, perseverance and personal vision are at the heart of this inspiring book. In it, Sarah encourages us to go beyond trends, take risks and reinvent our path. This authentic guide is an invaluable resource for entrepreneurs and creative minds in search of meaning and action.

Catherine Deneuve through the reflections of Marc-Antoine Coulon

On October 17, 2024, Marc-Antoine Coulon published Catherine Deneuve, Reflets, an artistic tribute to the icon of French cinema. Through 95 watercolors and paintings, the illustrator captures the actress’s magnetic beauty and sensitivity. Known for his glamorous, elegant style, Coulon blends light and delicate colors to celebrate the star of Belle de Jour and Les Demoiselles de Rochefort. With a foreword by Ines de la Fressange, this “kaleidoscope of love” offers an intimate, poetic vision of Deneuve, who Coulon believes embodies the grace and audacity of her art.

Italy, between design and history

Italy is more than just a postcard landscape. This book reveals fifty interiors where, from Venice to Milan to Puglia, design meets history. Author Laura May Todd delves deep into the Italian art of living, capturing Venetian palazzos steeped in memory, sun-drenched villas embodying casual elegance, and alpine wooden retreats. Every page exudes creativity, uniqueness and that indefinable charm that makes Italy unique. An invitation to savor beauty, as intense and timeless as a good espresso.

Superfacial: the intimate world of Audrey Tautou

In Superfacial, Audrey Tautou reveals a little-known facet of her personality: photography. The book brings together self-portraits and images captured during film shoots or in places dear to the actress, such as her apartment or her parents’ home. Mixing personal texts, fan letters and previously unpublished series, including over 500 portraits of journalists taken during her promotions, the book questions media coverage while revealing a poetic and funny sensibility. Published by Editions Fisheye, this intimate project opens a precious window on the artistic and human universe of the iconic Amélie Poulain.

Also read: 5 great gift sets to put under the tree