Books are making a comeback! More bookstores are becoming cultural experience centres along with art, which allow people to go on a slower pace in life and for those seeking deeper meaning from their purchases. One such address is Eslite Malaysia, the first Southeast Asian outpost of the renowned Taiwanese bookstore chain that offers a haven of carefully curated premium titles. Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant Bukit Bintang district at The Starhill shopping centre, bibliophiles will find fascinating volumes there, each filled with inspiring visuals and expert commentary.
Correspondingly, the world of fashion is also increasingly tapping into literature, with brands such as Miu Miu distributing free books and Louis Vuitton transforming local coffee shops in Shanghai to promote its printed collections. Home libraries have also become sophisticated symbols of luxury, which reflect the owner’s personality and bring a certain sense of warmth into the home.
Books are a necessity in any home, whether colourful and beautifully bound tomes act as a tool for knowledge, a conversation piece in your living room, or merely work to decorate a space with refined flair. Here is a list of titles to perfectly match your taste and style, whether you’re a voracious reader or a design aficionado.
1. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars: Making a Legend (RM320)
The authors were granted unique access by the company for a behind-the-scenes look at Rolls-Royce’s car manufacturing heritage and master craftsmen. It also offers glimpses of numerous unseen photos of Sir Henry Royce driving early versions of his iconic cars, and high-quality images of the process by which each car is constructed, such as the 2019 Ghost Zenith and the 1904 Original.
2. The Lamborghini Book (RM683)
Get up to speed on the Italian luxury sports car manufacturer with the official book tracing the year of its foundation to its 60th anniversary. Along with exclusive stunning images, there are also interviews with those who have made Lamborghini synonymous with innovation and little-known aspects of the legendary car make.
3. Taste and Place: The Design Hotels Book (RM357.90)
This work—revered by architects, designers and hoteliers around the world—contains exquisite images from leading photographers and expert commentary from the greatest food writers and culinary innovators. It allows the reader to explore some of the world’s most innovatively designed hotels from Italy to Kenya, along with a special focus on food.
4. Ikarus Invites the World’s Best Chefs: Exceptional Recipes and International Chefs in Portrait: Volume 8 (RM390)
Over in the birthplace city of Mozart, Salzburg, is the Ikarus restaurant, which takes guests on a culinary trip around the world by inviting different celebrity guest chefs every month. Through this book, the reader gains a front-row seat to how the team passionately created bespoke menus, along with a sizzling mix of personal commentaries and processes.
5. Patek Philippe: Investing in Wristwatches (RM543)
Created for all collectors, from amateurs to connoisseurs, the book offers insights into the world of authenticating and pricing high-value wristwatches. It explores valuable models handpicked by senior horological expert Osvaldo Patrizzi, their rich history, technical specifications, and market performance through auction data.
6. The World’s Most Expensive Watches (RM396)
Watches go beyond the science of measuring time; they are also carefully crafted masterpieces that have become statements of identity. This expanded and updated edition offers a larger-than-life look into breathtaking pieces created over the past decade. The beautifully constructed volume also goes beyond the face value to dive the into relevance of craftsmanship and complexity of design, as well as the importance of exclusivity, prestige and collectability.
7. Rings (Victoria and Albert Museum) (RM186)
The compendium from the V&A is illustrated with more than 170 rare and luxurious examples. It travels back through time to the story of their evolution from sculptural gem-set bands worn in medieval times to Art Deco masterpieces, dramatic gemstone ‘rocks’ of the 1950s, and, finally, innovative works of art created by contemporary jewellers.
8. Karl Lagerfeld: A Life in Houses (RM450)
Besides being the creative director of Chanel and Fendi, and the founder of his eponymous fashion label, Lagerfeld’s own homes were, in a sense, also fashion houses. The book features 13 properties of the late fashion designer, such as his Paris property on Rue de l’Universite and a weekend retreat in Biarritz, which reflect his mastery of interior design, renowned theatrical style, as well as his prodigious skill as a collector.
9. The Story of the Hermès Scarf (RM99.90)
The Hermès carré has become a hallmark of Queen Elizabeth II, Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and some designs have become Holy Grails for collectors. Untie the secrets of the Hermès scarf: history from its first designs in the early 20th century, artistry, and how to tie it like a style icon.
10. Sheer: Yves Saint Laurent: The Diaphanou (RM210)
The late French couturier was known for highlighting the sensual feminine figure through his pioneering work in lace and other sheer fabrics. First published to celebrate a major exhibition at the Museum of Lace and Fashion, Calais, and Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, the book takes fashion devotees through 60 beautifully photographed examples and drawings from the collection.
To peruse these books and plenty more, please visit Eslite Malaysia at The Starhill, Kuala Lumpur.
