diva
Five fabulous books to entertain and inspire you. By Jennifer Burgess.
Alexander McQueen: Genius of a Generation by Kristin Knox, £19.99 Published by A&C Black ISBN 978-1-4081-3076-6
The late Alexander McQueen has long been one of my favourite fashion designers and consequently this was one book that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on. I remember attending London Fashion Week shortly after his sad death in 2010, and being moved by a wall of tributes covered in messages and memories. McQueen was a designer whose genius truly touched the lives of many. Kristin Knox is a journalist and fashion blogger at theclotheswhisperer.co.uk.Through Alexander McQueen: A Genius of a Generation, she has successfully created a beautiful keepsake filled with images of McQueen’s most memorable designs and show stopping catwalk shows. The comprehensive introduction charts the designer’s rise to fame, from his humble beginnings as the youngest of six siblings in Stepney East London, through his early career as a tailor at Anderson & Sheppard and later discovery by Isabella Blow, to the many (often controversial) collections that made him one of fashions brightest stars. McQueen was appointed CBE, named International Fashion Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designers Awards and named British Designer of the year four times. His name brings to mind, for many, images of his iconic skull print scarves and knuckle-duster clutches, but there was so much more to this multifaceted talent. This book will serve as a lasting reminder of the fabulous couture that captured the minds and hearts of women the world over.
Living Modern: The Sourcebook of Contemporary Interiors by Richard Powers, £24.95 Published by Thames & Hudson ISBN 978-0-500-51525-9
This is a real coffee table book, one that you will want to pick up and flick through whilst relaxing with a cup of tea. Filled with beautiful photography of a wide variety of homes and interiors, it is a great source of inspiration, whether you are looking for ideas for your own home or simply daydreaming about the fantasy home you would create if you won the lottery! Yes, we all do it…. Unfortunately the cover of the book doesn’t hold any clues as to what lies inside, so you’ll just have to believe me when I tell you that if you like to look at stunning photography of beautiful homes then this is a book that you will thoroughly enjoy. It is broken up into sections; materials, function, ambience, elements, furniture and outdoors, and each one provides some really useful insight into how you can make these things work for you. As Richard Powers explains, “Looking at each of these concepts separately gives us a better understanding of how they work together to produce beautiful spaces that are well suited to modern living.” Of course some of the interiors shown clearly have a higher budget than most of us, but as far as aspirational reading goes, if you love interiors then you will find something in here for you!
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my creative diva
www.my-creativediva.co.uk
November 2012