Cross Purpose, Assouline, 175 USD
You don't need to be particularly religious to appreciate jewelry designer and artist Adria de Haume's pop art-inspired cross sculptures, panels, and prints. Originally created over three decades ago to aid in the recovery of a terminally ill good friend, de Haume's crosses incorporate a variety of media—everything from pills, feathers, tassels, confetti, newspaper clippings, and ornate jewels—that harmoniously coincide with the complexity and depth of each piece's respective story. Case and point? One green and blue cross sculpture bears a pear, moss, glitter, and an "As If" sticker.
Marcel Duchamp, Gagosian / Rizzoli, 80 USD
If you weren't born early enough to see Marcel Duchamp's American debut and seminal exhibition at Cordier & Ekstrom in 1965, or if you didn't get a chance to attend Gagosian's replication of the exhibit in 2014, this catalogue is the next best thing. Readers learn that many of Duchamp's original readymades had been lost or destroyed prior to the 1965 exhibit, forcing the famed avant-gardist to supplant original works with 14 well-executed multiples. In the book, everything from the new-and-improved Fountain, Bicycle Wheel, and Bottle Dryer are portrayed in beautiful detail within Gagosian's space, but there are also plenty of photos depicting Duchamp in the gallery during the original installation process.
Elliott Erwitt: New York / Paris Box Set, teNeues, 85 USD
Two beautiful cities, one beautiful box set. The Parisian-born photographer Elliott Erwitt quickly developed a penchant for capturing cities in their natural element-gritty, elegant, and vivacious-without imposing repetitive tourist clichés. Featuring dozens of striking monochromatic photographs of New York City and Paris taken throughout his career, Erwitt captures the true flavors of the Big Apple and la metropole with his sight set on the "real city." Readers beware: his photographs might have you longing for an overseas plane ticket by the time you're done.
Gloss: The Work of Chris von Wangenheim, Rizzoli, 85 USD
Despite being one of the most notorious and prolific photographers of the '70s, Chris von Wangenheim hasn't had a monograph showcasing his vast body of provocative work—until now. Using high fashion editorials as a basis to explore taboos such a sex, violence, and death, von Wangenheim gained notoriety for injecting suggestive and often disturbing narratives into his photographs. However, this didn't hinder his commercial success. His images appeared consistently in the world's top fashion publications, including here at Interview, and he also snapped notable campaigns for Dior and Valentino. With over 200 photographs, this monograph explores the entirety of his career, all the way up until his untimely death in 1981.
Manolo Blahnik: Fleeting Gestures and Obsessions, Rizzoli, 150 USD
Manolo Blahnik is arguably the most influential and popular shoe designer of the past century (who can forget Carrie Bradshaw's memorable Blahnik mugging on Sex and the City?), with women eagerly shelling out hundreds and thousands of dollars for the London-based Spaniard's artistic and innovative footwear. As a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated volume of the designer's life and work, this book grants an exclusive behind-the-scenes look to Blahnik's many inspirations, influences, and relationships throughout the past 40 years. Personal essays and never-before-scene photographs also pay homage to the "man behind the shoes," making this a must-read definitive monograph.
Valentino: Mirabilia Romae, Assouline, 250 USD
When Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli became the creative directors of Valentino in 2008, they were quick to change the esteemed Italian fashion house's overall aesthetic. Drawing inspiration from the vast history surrounding their headquarters in Rome on the famed Piazza Mignanelli, the dynamic duo blended their unique personalities into one vision that favored clean simplicity and sophistication for contemporary clientele. This massive volume provides a glimpse into their tenure thus far at Valentino, which emphasizes a keen interest in the ancient and the modern, and the pagan and the baroque, through an abundance of vibrant photographs.
