Coffee-table Couture
When Donatella Versace’s book simply entitled Versace was released in November 2016, she posted this quote on the brand’s official Instagram account: “For me fashion cannot just be confined to one enclosed space. Fashion is part of pop culture, speaks the language of rock and is closely related to art and technology. It is thanks to clothing that contemporary icons create their unforgettable image.”
Without a doubt, the images within this 336-page hardcover book written by Donatella, Maria Luisa Frisa (a professor at IUAV University of Venice and fashion curator) and Stefano Tonchi (editor-in-chief of W magazine) are unforgettable. Featuring 250 colour and black-and-white works by fashion’s most eminent photographers including Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel and Mario Testino, the tome – available here – chronicles Donatella’s interpretation of Versace in the 21st century, since taking over the helm in 1997 after the tragic death of her brother Gianni.
It was a good move on Loewe Creative Director Jonathan Anderson‘s part to give fashion and magazine expert Luis Venegas full creative freedom for this project. We let Venegas tell you the story from this post on his Instagram account: “In May 2015, Jonathan Anderson asked me to do my own Loewe book. I worked closely with Jonathan and the Loewe team during the next 18 months… and voilà: this 592 pages book published now is the result of that collaboration. Editing and Creatively Directing this book has been a very pleasurable challenge, an exercise of subjective freedom and a total joy. Only 2,000 numbered copies published.”
The self-published phonebook-sized book features a multitude of photographs that span 170 years of the brand’s history. The pictures aren’t presented in a chronological way, a design decision that creates interesting associations and thought-provoking juxtapositions between past and present. Priced at SGD195, the book is available at 25 Loewe stores around the world as well as a selection of 10 independent book- and concept stores in key cities.
What an appropriate item this collector’s item is for that festive time of year. The picture-filled volume, laid out to look like the most exquisite scrapbook, celebrates the iconic American luxury brand’s 75th anniversary in 2016. Divided into chapters by the decade, this richly and beautifully illustrated book, chock-full of images and handwritten captions, chronicles the evolution of “New York cool”. The SGD122 coffee table book is available in limited quantities at Coach Wisma Atria and Takashimaya Department Store.
