Why Coffee Table Books are So Appealing – There is nothing quite like immersing yourself in a good book. Our friends at the international publishing house Gestalten collaborate with the world’s most interesting creatives in architecture and interiors, design and fashion, escape and mobility, travel, food, and beverage, as well as visual culture, offering an amazing selection of hardcovers.
We had the opportunity to browse through two stunning books The World’s Best Shop and The Rebel’s Wardrobe.
The World’s Best Shops – How they started, the people behind them, and how you can open one too.
This book gives you the chance to meet the innovators and entrepreneurs who run shops and learn how you can too. A new generation of founders and entrepreneurs is revolutionising brick-and-mortar retail with innovative sales strategies and hybrid shop designs that leave nothing to chance.
Curated by Courier magazine, The World’s Best Shops is a guide to the best of modern shops, featuring profiles of some of the world’s most diverse and inspiring retail spaces, briefings on big retail trends and opportunities, and more than 70 pages of practical advice and tips for anyone who’s ever dreamed of setting up their own shop.
It is a refreshing view of thriving businesses that makes one thing clear: retail is alive and kicking and reinventing itself in wonderful ways.
The Rebel’s Wardrobe – The Untold Story of Menswear’s Renegade Past
Immersing readers in the world of men’s fashion, The Rebels Wardrobe explores the surprising origins of our everyday staple items and how they became timeless classics. From the plain white T-shirt developing into the everyday hero to the leather jacket cementing its place as a global icon or the chino being originally produced for military purposes.
The book unpacks the modern menswear lexicon and reveals, for example, why the Carhartt jacket designed for railroad workers became synonymous with skaters and graffiti artists, and how polo shirts made the leap from middle-class tennis clubs to British Mods. Traversing genres and styles, this book goes back to the gestation period of iconic pieces and shows how they became timeless classics that transcended fashion.
Join Denim Hunters, the internet’s premier denim and heritage menswear experts as they take you through a beautiful archive and contemporary photography, showcasing the history of iconic men’s clothing.
Gestalten books are ideal to enhance one’s living space, provide inspiration, and offer a source of pride and enjoyment. We look at the appeal of these beautiful coffee table books and why have them in our homes.
Aesthetic Appeal: Coffee table books are often large, beautifully designed, and visually appealing. They are carefully curated with stunning photographs, illustrations, and layouts that make them visually captivating. Many people love having them as decorative elements in their homes, as they can add a touch of style and elegance to a living room, study, or any other space.
Conversation Starters: A well-placed book can spark conversations and be great icebreakers when guests come over. They often cover interesting topics such as art, fashion, travel, history, and culture, which can lead to discussions and exchanges of ideas. They can also serve as a source of inspiration for creative conversations and debates.
Exploration and Discovery: Beautiful books allow readers to immerse themselves in a particular subject, whether it’s nature, photography, architecture, or any other topic of interest. They can provide a window into different worlds and cultures, expanding one’s knowledge and understanding of the world.
Coffee Table Focal Point: Placed on coffee tables or other prominent surfaces in the home, making them easily accessible for browsing. They can serve as a focal point in a room, inviting guests and family members to flip through their pages and enjoy the contents. They can also be a form of personal expression, as the books chosen can reflect the interests, tastes, and personalities of the owner.
Tactile Experience: Unlike digital content, books offer a tangible and tactile experience. Readers can physically flip through the pages, feel the weight of the book, and appreciate the quality of the paper, printing, and binding. This multisensory experience can be enjoyable and satisfying, adding to the appeal of coffee table books.
Poppy Watt