Biographies / Style Icons

Robertson's Reads - Biographies / Style Icons

Remember the Eames chair from Frasier?

Sit back in your own and have a read through Charles & Ray Eames: Pioneers of Mid-Century Modernism. It covers the lives of the dynamic design duo from their earliest designs through to their contribution to film.

What I love about Charles and Ray wasn't just their tale of true love. I also love the fact that this power couple had such an intense, explosive spark for architecture and design - these two made MAGIC together! From the Eames house and the Eames chair, to their work in such films as Banana Leaf and Powers of Ten, Charles and Ray Eames were two gifted individuals.

The book includes a detailed history as well as drawings and exclusive photos.

A worthy read.

Charles & Ray Eames: 1907-1978, 1912-1988 Pioneers of Mid-Century Modernism, about $15, Amazon

Robertson's Reads - Biographies / Style Icons

While I've not yet read either, I'm eager to turn the pages of Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom and What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell. These books come in at nine and ten (respectively) on my Christmas wish list this year.

Have a Little Faith is Albom's first nonfiction work since his first big bestseller Tuesdays With Morrie. I'll let you know exactly how it reads, but so far I've heard only amazing things about it.

What the Dog Saw is a compilation of Gladwell's best writing from his days at The New Yorker. He says in the preface that "good writing does not succeed or fail on the strength of its ability to persuade. It succeeds or fails on the strength of its ability to engage you, to make you think, to give you a glimpse into someone else's head." And the stories in this book are supposed to just that.

Check back in the new year for my reviews of these and more Robertson's Reads...

_{Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom, $16.49, Chapters}

_{What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell, $19.24, Chapters}

Robertson's Reads - Biographies / Style Icons

She is perhaps my favourite example of a fashion icon: Diana.

She exuded effortless elegance in every ensemble she wore, and that elegance is examined thoroughly in Diana Style through photos, commentary, and interviews with designers and her closest confidantes.

A beautiful follow-up to Audrey Style by Pamela Clarke, author Colin McDowell has created a delightful chronological history of Diana’s style evolution. His commentary — as well as the contributions of several designers — are both helpful and informative.

My favourite features in the book include the detailed drawings — straight from the designers of some of Diana’s famous and most-loved gowns — and intimate photographs. They’re inspirational, to the say the least, just like the woman was herself.

Diana Style by Colin McDowell, $25.17, Amazon.ca

Robertson's Reads - Biographies / Style Icons

Kate Spade’s designs are about as classic as a rope of Coco Chanel’s pearls, Manolo Blahnik’s high heels, or an Etro square scarf; so I love her book called Style for its simple tips that seem so obvious, but are missed everyday by so many women.

Within the pages of Style, Spade details how she came into her own, and what — movies, music, books — inspired her variating tastes. She also writes about other women who impacted her individuality, thus impacting her personal tastes.

The first chapters of the book focus closely on colour (which other books on style fail to do). Spade gives lessons on what shades work with what and how to wear them. She also narrows in on accessories — not just what’s “in”, but what’s classic — and how to pair certain accoutrements together without looking overdone.

Perhaps my favourite part of this book is the extreme vision Spade has for current wardrobe maintenance — learning to work with what you have. I love her idea that creating and carrying out your own personal style doesn’t have to mean spending absurd amounts of $$$$$.

This book for women of all ages, complete with 230 watercolour illustrations is a must for your collection, along with Spade’s companion books, Manners and Occasions.

Style, by Kate Spade, $18.90, Amazon.ca