“The Hamptons” is synonymous with luxury. Simply mentioning the name conjures images of poolside soirées, grandiose waterfront estates and endless days on the beach socializing with the upper echelon. But before this famed peninsula became the summer haunt of the glitterati, its forty miles of rolling sand dunes provided the perfect landscape for English settlers. Once New York high society caught wind of the charming hamlets and salty air, its members—from the Fords to the Vanderbilts—soon turned The Hamptons into a summer oasis. Next came the creatives seeking solitude, a place to write and sketch, away from the urban cacophony. John Steinbeck in Sag Harbor. Jackson Pollock in the Springs. And Andy Warhol in Montauk. Now, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Calvin Klein, Madonna, Alec Baldwin and Martha Stewart all enjoy Hamptons homes. They may come from different realms, but what’s one thing all Hamptonites, honorary or official, can agree on? The locale boasts a unique allure—one that morphs to meet the desires of its next seasonal guest or lifelong dweller.
Large Palazzo Centauro designer scented candle, with a pure porcelain body and a burning time of about 50 hours.
A cedarwood chest; a crumbling palace on the Grand Canal. Italian bergamot, patchouli, a whisper of smoke.
Rajathra Palace designer scented candle, with a pure porcelain body and a burning time of about 30 hours.
A maharaja’s retreat in the hills of Rajasthan. Rose and patchouli, sensual spices and a sultry animalic scent.
Designer squared vide poche ( 5,31 in ) in pure porcelain.
Melancholy ripples on the Grand Canal. The cupola of the Salute Basilica floats above the cloud, imbued with the scent of the open sea. The candlewax runs onto the high altar, and the vaults are obscured by incense. Faded velvet and flashes of crystal. Confined to the attics of her palace, the Contessa opens a cedar-wood trunk. Inside is a strip of shining silk.
Pure porcelain box ( 3,14 in ) with lid.
Melancholy ripples on the Grand Canal. The cupola of the Salute Basilica floats above the cloud, imbued with the scent of the open sea. The candlewax runs onto the high altar, and the vaults are obscured by incense. Faded velvet and flashes of crystal. Confined to the attics of her palace, the Contessa opens a cedar-wood trunk. Inside is a strip of shining silk.
An endless expanse of shimmering waters paired with unmatched Greek hospitality awaits visitors to the islands of the Aegean Sea. Each island is home to a unique spirit and mythology. From Patmos (a favorite of Aga Khan) to Hydra (which captivated Henry Miller, Leonard Cohen and Sophia Loren), the islands are imbued with a seductive sense of history, tradition and adventure. Several films over the decades have been filmed on them, including Boy on a Dolphin (1957) on Hydra, The Big Blue (1988) on Amorgos and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) on Santorini. Sources of inspiration for millennia, the ancient ruins, cliffside monasteries and volcanic rims are all can’t-miss sights.
As fashion editor and friend André Leon Talley writes in the introduction, “Valentino Garavani designs his luncheons and dinners, in all of his homes, the way he has created crescendos and allegros vivace throughout his forty-plus-year career as one of the greatest haute couture designers and high-fashion leaders in the world.”
Beauty and entertaining have long been passions of Valentino. “I am in love with beauty,” he admits in the book’s opening. “I have always loved beautiful objects.” Though beyond the tangible objets d’art housed in each of his residences, Valentino’s excellence as a host is defined by the warmth and joy he creates for his guests.
During his time as a student at London’s Central Saint Martins, Gibraltar-born British fashion designer John Galliano worked as a dresser at the National Theatre, learning the art of costume and the power of illusion. As a regular in London nightclubs, Galliano met a coterie of artists and colorful personalities, forging strong ties with kindred spirits who would play a decisive role in his career – among which Stephen Jones, who would become Dior’s milliner.
For more than seventy-five years, Brioni has remained the go-to tailor for the world’s most iconic men. Founded in 1945 by visionary tailors Nazareno Fonticoli and Gaetano Savini, the label’s bold designs have made it a sartorial destination for Hollywood movie stars, musicians, artists and heads of state. Transforming the landscape of menswear with impeccable standards, the Brioni name quickly became synonymous with the best in masculine style. The brand sealed its reputation as an industry leader in 1952 by presenting the first ever men’s fashion show in Florence’s Palazzo Pitti. This groundbreaking collection became the benchmark for Roman tailoring and established the modern notion of elegance in menswear.
In celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the house of Dior, Assouline
introduces an unprecedented series of books devoted to each designer of the couture house, the
ultimate compendium of the most memorable haute couture creations conceived and handcrafted
by the renowned house of Dior since its inception. Featuring a wealth of beautiful photographs,
these seven impressive volumes encompass a curated selection of the house’s most iconic haute
couture designs by each of its renowned creative directors, from Christian Dior himself to the
latest, Maria Grazia Chiuri
In the age when Savile Row was synonymous with men’s style, an innovative Italian, Gaetano Savini, put his country on the map, forever reinventing menswear. From the first men’s fashion show at Florence’s Palazzo Pitti in 1952 to his craftsmanship influences still evident in today’s styles, Savini was truly a creator on the cutting edge. His legacy as the visionary and designer extraordinaire behind the Brioni luxury brand is celebrated in this spectacular illustrated edition. Highlighting examples of Savini’s innovative cuts, bold colors, and the psychedelic patterns that led the Peacock Revolution of the 1960s, The Man Who Was Brioni includes sketches and newspaper articles illustrating how the man became the legend. Replete with letters, photographs, and personal anecdotes from Savini’s daughter and Brioni heir, this volume details the brand’s far-reaching influence, and how it came to be known as “the Dior of menswear.”
Designer candelabra in pure porcelain ( H 5,90 in ), crafted and decorated entirely by hand with oak leaves. A set of 6 Fox Thicket Folly scented candles is available for insertion in the candle holder, sold separately.
The candleholder is one of five precious Luchino's Souvenirs. A uniquely designed piece of art, it is a memory of the English designer Luke Edward Hall's imaginary journey to the Fox Thicket Folly: the fantasy palace in the Cotswolds, one of the artist's favourite destinations.
Designer plate in pure porcelain ( 10,62 in ), it can be used as a platter, a centrepiece and as a decorative object.
Alleys, arches, galleries, cul-de-sacs, narrow openings, flights of steps… a labyrinth of delights but forbidden pleasures where the soft pink and blue shadows are hallucinatory: this is the medina. And one has become lost in this maze. Its brightness has vanished. But we shall see it again later, at La Gazelle d’Or, while sipping mint tea with blue-tinted hands.
Designer plate in pure porcelain ( 10,62 in ), it can be used as a platter, a centrepiece and as a decorative object.
Melancholy ripples on the Grand Canal. The cupola of the Salute Basilica floats above the cloud, imbued with the scent of the open sea. The candlewax runs onto the high altar, and the vaults are obscured by incense. Faded velvet and flashes of crystal. Confined to the attics of her palace, the Contessa opens a cedar-wood trunk. Inside is a strip of shining silk.
Designer plate in pure porcelain ( 10,62 in ), it can be used as a platter, a centrepiece and as a decorative object.
When the Maharaja left for Monaco in 1948, the crumbling palace was closed. Its marble rooms were nonetheless cleaned and polished every day, and its legendary rose gardens watered and cared for. A guard is still posted on the ramparts, watching over the winding entrance avenue, at the same time hoping to see a cloud of dust, raised by a procession on horseback.
Designer plate in pure porcelain ( 10,62 in ), it can be used as a platter, a centrepiece and as a decorative object.
It is autumn. At the heart of a wood engulfed in mist stands the silhouette of a fantastic Gothic building, a “caprice”: it is Fox Thicket Folly. Inside, a large deserted room is illumined by the warm glow of the candles and the fire crackling in the hearth. There are piles and piles of books all around. Meanwhile, in the garden behind the house, the gardener has lit a bonfire. In this ancient woodland, something will happen tonight.
Designer plate in pure porcelain ( 10,62 in ), it can be used as a platter, a centrepiece and as a decorative object.
It is dawn. A ray of sunlight filters into the wooden bungalow, and lengthens on the floor. In the vast canyon outside, the dry leaves are scrunched underfoot. And in the distance, through the trees, you can just hear the crashing of the waves at the water’s edge – the deep blue of the Pacific.
Designer squared vide poche ( 5,31 in ) in pure porcelain.
Alleys, arches, galleries, cul-de-sacs, narrow openings, flights of steps… a labyrinth of delights but forbidden pleasures where the soft pink and blue shadows are hallucinatory: this is the medina. And one has become lost in this maze. Its brightness has vanished. But we shall see it again later, at La Gazelle d’Or, while sipping mint tea with blue-tinted hands.
Designer squared vide poche ( 5,31 in ) in pure porcelain.
It is autumn. At the heart of a wood engulfed in mist stands the silhouette of a fantastic Gothic building, a “caprice”: it is Fox Thicket Folly. Inside, a large deserted room is illumined by the warm glow of the candles and the fire crackling in the hearth. There are piles and piles of books all around. Meanwhile, in the garden behind the house, the gardener has lit a bonfire. In this ancient woodland, something will happen tonight.
Designer squared vide poche ( 5,31 in ) in pure porcelain.
It is dawn. A ray of sunlight filters into the wooden bungalow, and lengthens on the floor. In the vast canyon outside, the dry leaves are scrunched underfoot. And in the distance, through the trees, you can just hear the crashing of the waves at the water’s edge – the deep blue of the Pacific.
Pure porcelain box ( 3,14 in ) with lid.
Alleys, arches, galleries, cul-de-sacs, narrow openings, flights of steps… a labyrinth of delights but forbidden pleasures where the soft pink and blue shadows are hallucinatory: this is the medina. And one has become lost in this maze. Its brightness has vanished. But we shall see it again later, at La Gazelle d’Or, while sipping mint tea with blue-tinted hands.
Pure porcelain box ( 3,14 in ) with lid.
When the Maharaja left for Monaco in 1948, the crumbling palace was closed. Its marble rooms were nonetheless cleaned and polished every day, and its legendary rose gardens watered and cared for. A guard is still posted on the ramparts, watching over the winding entrance avenue, at the same time hoping to see a cloud of dust, raised by a procession on horseback.
Pure porcelain box ( 3,14 in ) with lid.
It is autumn. At the heart of a wood engulfed in mist stands the silhouette of a fantastic Gothic building, a “caprice”: it is Fox Thicket Folly. Inside, a large deserted room is illumined by the warm glow of the candles and the fire crackling in the hearth. There are piles and piles of books all around. Meanwhile, in the garden behind the house, the gardener has lit a bonfire. In this ancient woodland, something will happen tonight.