Azzaro design. Photo by Tony Kent for Vogue Paris

Since the 1960′s, Azzaro has been synonymous with the yacht lifestyle and jet-set luxury. Founded by Loris Azzaro, the aesthetic of seductive glamor was based on the lifestyle of the Tunisian born Sicilian. Very shortly after launch, the fashion house became known for fluid form, ultra-glamor and high octane embellishment.

In this book, Fashion historian, Jéromine Savignon who is also author of Cacharel, Le Liberty and Jacques Fath (also published by Assouline) and L’Esprit Vionnet (Universite de la Mode de Lyon) uncovers the man behind the Azzaro brand.

Her 80 page, illustrated book, marks the the anniversary of the house with a retrospective look at his life and legacy.

Loris Azzaro by Jéromine Savignon is published by Assouline, retails for $25.00 and is available in Assouline boutiques and online here.

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Photo Credit: Book Cover of New African Fashion by Helen Jennings. Published by Prestel Publishing, 31st October 2011, £19.99/$35.00.

Africa has long served as inspiration for high fashion designers. In the sixties, designers like Paco Rabanne and Yves Saint Laurent referenced the continent in the texture, palette, print and form of their work. The international catwalks in present day, suggest that the vast continent continues to act as a reference point for high fashion designers.

With foreword by artist Ike Ude, New African Fashion is the coffee table must-have, by Helen Jennings. The editor of award-winning, contemporary African magazine, ARISE has written issue-specific text for publications such as i-D and The Face etc.

Opening with a brief history of African fashion, Jennings’ New African Fashion goes on to show how this past has influenced an emerging generation of African high fashion designer. The author also explores why Africa is in the current design spotlight.

New African Fashion goes beyond the stereotypes. The 240 page tome sees Jennings profile an interesting cross section of high fashion design talent, models and photographers from Africa and the diaspora.

African Fashion is having a moment and this book by Jennings’ delves into the makings of it.

New African Fashion by Helen Jennings is £19.99/$35.00 and is available in the UK here and in the US here.

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Photo Credit: © Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent, Rizzoli New York, 2011.

Renowned art critic, art director, curator and editor in chief of Purple Fashion, Olivier Zahm joins forces with Alex Wiederin of Vogue Hommes International in editing this retrospective on Carine Roitfeld.

Roitfeld is perhaps known best for her tenure as editor in chief at Vogue Paris. During her time at the publication she was known for pushing the limits by paring the bourgeois with the subversive.

The 386 page book opens with an introduction by Cathy Horyn. Featuring 250 magazine tear outs, influential covers and contributions by likes of Azzedine Alaia, Anna Wintour, Sofia Coppola, Mario Testino (who has partnered with Roitfeld on many legendary collaborations), Stefano Pilati, Martin Margiela, Miuccia Prada, Alexander Wang etc.

Anna Wintour is quoted as saying – “Carine, and her vision of French Vogue, embodies all that the world likes to think of as Parisian style: a sense of chic that’s impeccable—and sometimes idiosyncratic—and which forever lives on a moonlit street as seen through the lens of Helmut Newton.”

Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent is a visual look at Roitfeld’s influential work since the early 1990′s to date.

© Carine Roitfekd: irreverent, Rizzoli New York, 2011. It retails for £60 at all good bookshops from October 2011.

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Photo Credit: Book Cover of Mulberry edited by Mulberry Brand Director Georgia Fendley. Published by Mulberry Company Limited, £55/$90. Cover image by Richard Foster.

‘Mulberry’ the book is a ‘fly on the wall’ heart felt celebration of English luxury fashion brand, Mulberry. Created to mark the 40th anniversary of the brand, this heavy 480 page tome takes you into the very heart of the fashion and leather goods house.

Edited by Mulberry Brand Director Georgia Fendley, it starts with an anecdote filled introduction (written in consultation with Roger Saul) about the creation of the quintessentially English brand, as founded by Roger Saul in 1971.

Through revealing documentary style photographs by Venetia Dearden (captured over the course of two years, it also includes photography by Alice Whitby and Carlo Draisci) the reader is given an in depth glimpse into all things Mulberry. This book is a candid access to the world of Mulberry (behind the scenes at fashion week shows, parties, campaign shoots, models, collaborations, hard working team, the Mulberry factory based in Someset and boutiques) no holds barred.

The book has intimate shots of Mulberry Creative Director Emma Hill and beautiful natural photographs of the brand’s regular creative contributors; Tim Walker, Pat McGrath, Sam McKnight and Edward Enninful.

Taking nearly three years to be created, ‘Mulberry’ the book is a loving and honest insider look at a brand that has admirably stayed quintessentially English for forty years.

Mulberry edited by Mulberry Brand Director Georgia Fendley retails for £55/$90 is available at select Mulberry boutiques, national bookstores and international sellers.

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Photo Credit: Book Cover of StyleLikeU by Elisa Goodkind And Lily Mandelbaum. Published by Powerhouse Books, $29.95.

Mother-daughter team Elisa Goodkind (seasoned fashion stylist and former Fashion Editor at Glamour and Self magazines) and Lily Mandelbaum (undergraduate filmmaking and anthropology major at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study) were on a good thing when they created StyleLikeU

Taking its viewer into the very bones of the style of those profiled, theirs has always been an innate personal style experience.

The site that celebrates the intrinsic and often over looked style of carefully scouted people. Goodkind and Mandelbaum have had an uncanny way of profiling the style and homes of those who march to their own beat through intimate interviews, video and photo shoots.

It was only a matter time till these personal style musings championed and examined by the site was available as a book. Published by Power House, now you can take the images and the makings of those profiled; their closets and homes into your home.

StyleLikeU by Elisa Goodkind and Lily Mandebaum. Published by Power House, £29.95/$49.50 and stocked online at Amazon

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Photo Credit: Book Cover of My Favorite Dress by Gity Monsef, Samantha Erin Safer & Robert de Niet. Published by ACC Editions, £29.95/$49.50.

With foreword by Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune, ‘My Favorite Dress’ is in every way, the celebration of the dress.

Written by Gity Monsef, Samantha Erin Safer & Robert de Niet explores the symbolism and influence a dress can have.

In the exquisitely bound book, contributions have been sourced from 75 fashion designers, arbiters of style, accessory designers, photographers, models, stylists etc.

Some of the many contributors include, Manolo Blahnik, Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Jasper Conran, Cindy Crawford, Tom Ford, Dolce & Gabbana, John Galliano, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Betty Jackson, Calvin Klein, Heidi Klum, Christian Lacroix, Alexander McQueen, Kylie Minogue, Issey Miyake, Kate Moss, Mary Quant, Oscar de la Renta, Zandra Rhodes, Clements Ribeiro, Paul Smith, Gwen Stefani, Anna Sui, Valentino and Vivienne Westwood etc.

Each contributor takes the reader into the memories, thought processes and emotional attachment their favorite dress holds for them.

The lavish tome that is ‘My Favorite Dress’ is a befitting celebration of the dress in a compilation of original designer sketches, fabric samples, photographs, text, illustration, patterns etc.

My Favorite Dress by Gity Monsef, Samantha Erin Safer & Robert de Niet. Published by ACC Editions, £29.95/$49.50 and stocked at the all book stores and online at www.accpublishinggroup.com

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Photo Credit: Book Cover of Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style by Kate Betts. Published by Clarkson N Potter Publishers, £24.99/$35.00.

Former journalist and former editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar, Kate Betts is the next to offer a book on the style of Michelle Obama.

In ‘Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style’, Betts examines the style of the American First Lady in relation to politics and how it has transformed the way the women see themselves.

Bound in a luxurious hard cover, this definitive book compiles original designer sketches, two hundred color photographs and historical images.

Both the visuals and cover employ a vivid use of color. The latter features Michelle Obama in a printed neon dress by American designer, Thakoon Panichgul.

The power of ‘Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style’ is its ability to take its reader behind Michelle Obama’s style in relation to the politics of
of our time and American style.

Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style by Kate Betts. Published by Clarkson N Potter Publishers is £24.99/$35.00 and stocked at all good book stores and online at Amazon UK and Amazon US

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Photo Credit: Book Cover of Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration: Featuring the Very Best in Ethical Fashion Design edited by Amelia Gregory published by Amelia’s House, £25.00. Cover illustration by Ute Decker and jewellery by Andrea Peterson.

Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration also known as ACFI is a lovingly complied book featuring the work of 30 emerging wold class illustrators and nearly 50 profiles of ethical designers.

Edited by Amelia Gregory (her background includes being a stylist and photographer for publications such as The Face, iD, Sleaze Nation, Time Out, The Guardian etc) who is well known for creating Amelia’s magazine in 2004, which showcased the best in art, illustration, independent design, music, ethical fashion and craft. After five years of being in print she took magazine online also published her first book, Amelia’s Anthology of Illustration through her publishing house, Amelia’s House.

Gregory who is also a graphic designer, art director, artist, lecturer has been known for her avid support of undiscovered and emerging design and ethical talent. ACFI is Gregory’s second book is one of the first books to support independent and ethical designers. Many of the illustrations in the book were originally created by the illustrations for Amelia’s Magazine online.

Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration: Featuring the Very Best in Ethical Fashion Design edited by Amelia Gregory published by Amelia’s House is £25.00 and stocked at the Tate, Colette, Design Museum, Magma and online at Amazon UK

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Photo Credit: Book Cover of Harper’s Bazaar Fashion: Your Guide to Personal Style by Lisa Armstrong published by Hearst, £12.99 ($16.47)

Since its launch, Harper’s Bazaar has been known for its sophistication. This new tome is a guide aimed at helping its reader examine and define their personal style. It also is aimed at helping its owner pick the right wardrobe pieces to develop their look. This purveyor of style does this by sharing galleries of inspiring photos including relevant celebrity style photographs. It also delves into iconic style moments over the course of history.

Harper’s Bazaar Fashion: Your Guide to Personal Style by Lisa Armstron is published by Hearts, £12.99 ($16.47) and is available from all good bookshops and online at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

More in the On the coffee table series here.