With holiday vacation time around the corner, I've picked the latest books to persue while lounging around in my pj's. The first choice is
The Secret of Chanel No. 5: The Intimate History of the World's Most Famous Perfume by Tilar J. Mazzeo. The infamous perfume was created in the early 1900's and made from synthetic rose and jasmine oils in Grasse, France (the perfume capital of the world and on my list of places to revisit). But, as times have changed, so have the prices of synthetic oils - so, perfumers have had to be very keen on staying true to the original while meeting the price point. I love Coco Chanel's quote about perfume: "A woman should smell like a woman and not like a flower." If only she could see how her perfume has risen to be the most recognizable perfume available.
My second choice is
Encyclopedia of the Exquisite: An Anecdotal History of Elegant Delights by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins. I'm really looking forward to diving into this one to learn all about extravagant things and how they were created. She showcases fashion, travel, food and lifestyle over the years. What a delight!
I am always looking for great coffee table books and I think I have found the jackpot,
Emilio Pucci by Vanessa Friedman and Alessandra Arezzi Boza. It's no surprise that I am in love with vintage Pucci (it's still taking me time to get to know the new Pucci line by Peter Dundas), so what a fabulous book to display on my table. I'm obsessed with the colors and patterns of Pucci and will forever be drawn to them. This book highlights Pucci's achievements and features drawings, photographs and photos from the family archive. So colorful!
