Equal parts conversation starter and objet d’art, there’s nothing quite like a luxury coffee table book to elevate your living space. Not only do they act as a great conversation starter, they also—quite literally—speak volumes about who you are, whether that’s a curious globe-trotter, fashion obsessive or lover of sublime design.
Ready to refresh your coffee table and/or bookshelf game? This year’s new crop of must-have glossy tomes will give you plenty to flip through and flip out about. Here’s what we have on our wishlist.
1. Costumes of Saudi Arabia: A Heritage of Fashion, $1,680 USD
When people think of the wealth of Saudi Arabia, chances are they’re immediately thinking of the monetary kind. But the country also has more to offer, especially when it comes to style and fashion. Rife with rich heritage that differs from province to province, the latest tome from go-to book publishers Assouline explores these five varied provinces and the unique taste and aesthetics that define each one. Curated by Her Highness Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud, this coffee table book will offer book-lovers and design enthusiasts endless hours of beauty to flip through.
2. AMBUSH® by YOON and VERBAL, $65 USD
Bursting onto the fashion scene in 2008 with their iconic “POW!” jewellery, AMBUSH is a conversation-setting collective out of Japan who bring a painfully cool POV to their directional apparel and jewellery (think manga-meets-hip-hop-via-pop-art). This book, written by the co-founders of the influential Tokyo-born company, is an essential choice for any lover of experimental fashion.
3. Art of Dancehall:Flyer and Poster Designs of Jamaican Dancehall Culture by Walshy Fire, $50 USD
Given the far-reaching cultural influence of Jamaican dancehall music, it’s no surprise that the concert posters and flyers created to promote the musical genre have a visual style and vibe that’s uniquely its own. Written by influential Jamaican-American musician and DJ Walshy Fire, this is a joyful, colourful celebration of the art and the music that inspired it.
4. Rainer W. Schlegelmilch. Porsche Racing Moments, $125 USD
Featuring photos shot between 1963 and 1988, racing photographer Rainer W. Schlegelmilch captures the grit, energy, and reality of the world of racing to the page in a way that allows readers to feel like they’re a part of the action. Simultaneously a piece of history and a glimpse of the mania surrounding the world of racing today. Schlegelmilch’s photos will live on long after the next F1 season.
5. Courtship: For the Love of Tennis by Laura Bailey, $65 USD
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Game, set and match: If tenniscore has you in a chokehold, this loving tribute to epic tennis courts around the world, through the eyes of model and photographer Laura Bailey, is guaranteed to be a Grand Slam winner. Focused on tennis enthusiasts’ relentless pursuit of “the dream court” (think exclusive Riviera clubs, one perched on the edge of a wild Scottish loch), consider this chic inspiration to work on your back hand.
6. Wonder Women: Art of the Asian Diaspora by Kathy Huang, $85 USD
Long overdue and deserving pride of place in your coffee tablescape, this is a first-of-its-kind celebration of the work of women and non-binary artists in the Asian diaspora. Featuring 40 artists, from painters and sculptors to illustrators, this is a work that’s as important as it is inspirational.