Assouline
“All that is beautiful in the world ought to be in an Assouline book.”
A book is a beautiful thing. An Assouline book? That is work of art—and you should decorate with art. I am deliberately piecing together a coffee table solely of Assouline books. Each new (used) title boosting the height at which I can prop up my feet. In the Spirit of Aspen and Happy Times serve equally as coasters, leaving room on my book shelves for family pictures and my collection of loving cup trophies.
A master of style, Prosper Assouline is known for merging the modern and the classical in publishing and creative design. As the former artistic director of several French fashion magazines, Prosper’s experiences include creating and launching his own magazine, and the founding of a creative agency specializing in branding and advertising in the late 1980s. In 1995, he founded Assouline Publishing with his wife, Martine Assouline, in Paris. Under the direction of Prosper, Assouline has conceived a visual language that is internationally recognized for its excellence. In the past fifteen years, they have published shelves of titles documenting, in spectacular fashion, the WASP lifestyle—A Privileged Life, The Kennedys, In the Spirit of the Hamptons, Vintage Cocktails, and Polo, The Nomadic Tribe to name a few. Books for people with taste.
Photographed in New York, NY (click to enlarge)
You have inherited loads of books from both sides of the family. But every library can stand to benefit from adding one more to the collection. I have curated a selection of titles that could be at home in any preppy’s study. Visit Assouline.com to brush up on the synopses of the following titles and then simply write in the comments below which book you would like.
• Lacoste (any color)
• The Trench Book
• Vintage Cocktails
• Tennis Fashion
One reader will be chosen at random Friday October 8th, 2010 and the winner will be announced subsequently via Twitter (and notified by email).
left a comment on 10/7/2010 at 4:02 PM:
Considering I used to spend my summers as a ball girl at the Newport Casino…Tennis Fashion.
left a comment on 10/7/2010 at 2:36 PM:
This is a great contest idea! Vintage Cocktails would make me a very, very happy girl. Thank you!
left a comment on 10/7/2010 at 7:39 AM:
The Trench book! Nick Foulkes writes and dresses like a dandy.
left a comment on 10/6/2010 at 7:16 PM:
Lacoste in green, as it would go nicely with the color palate of the room it would be in.
left a comment on 10/6/2010 at 6:47 PM:
I’ve opted to ask you kindly for the Lacoste book in Royal Blue please.
left a comment on 10/6/2010 at 5:39 PM:
Vintage Cocktails would be fantastic. Your giveaways have been great, by the way.
left a comment on 10/6/2010 at 2:53 PM:
love the lacoste in green, please :) the cover art is so great.
left a comment on 10/6/2010 at 11:13 AM:
vintage cocktails please! or perhaps lacoste. both are the foundations of my weekends.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 8:52 PM:
Many amazing titles at assouline.com (I could spend hours just perusing) but, from your offering: Vintage Coctails. Love it!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 8:15 PM:
Tough indeed, however my request is for Lacoste in the color of your choosing, sir.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 8:08 PM:
Do I have to choose??! The Trench Book or Vintage Cocktails, please!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 7:40 PM:
I’d have to go with Vintage Cocktails all the way. Good drinks seem to be a lost art in many circles nowadays.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 7:31 PM:
This was definatly a hard choice, but I will choose a white lacoste.
Best to all
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 6:05 PM:
A vote for “The Trench Book”. Thank you for this great website Mr Castleberry!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 5:55 PM:
No coffee table is complete without a classic cocktail book! Vintage Cocktails fits the bill just nicely.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 4:32 PM:
Vintage Cocktails! I used to stare at it every time I went in to a bookstore but they refused to take it out of the plastic!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 3:54 PM:
Lacoste is one of my favorite brands!
Lacoste- Navy blue for sure.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 3:11 PM:
They all sound like marvelous books, but I really like the sound of Vintage Cocktails. My mouth was watering just looking at the previews on my computer screen!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 3:06 PM:
Another vote for Vintage Cocktails—stirred, up, with a twist!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 2:11 PM:
I would request Vintage Cocktails since this is such a timeless book to have and would go great besides Take Ivy on my coffee table.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 1:39 PM:
hmmmm spent 15 formative years on the court, but Vintage Cocktails are more important these days. I’ll take that one please.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 1:17 PM:
Vintage Cocktails. As long as the ice is new and the recipes are vintage.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 11:44 AM:
A prep without a proper cocktail is no prep at all! Vintage Cocktails!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 11:43 AM:
Tough choice, but I think The Trench Book would look best on the coffee table.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 11:30 AM:
Seeing as I wore my own beloved trench to work today, and the NYC rains show no signs of letting up, I think I’ll have to go with The Trench Book.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 11:25 AM:
@Sir—I have already made the disclaimer in earlier posts that for all intents and purposes “Unabashedly Prep” is inclusive of WASP, prep, Ivy League and trad (life)styles and in most cases refers to them as one in the same. Don’t get too hung up on it or strain at gnats.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 10:59 AM:
Thank you again for your great give-aways. Truly inspirational stuff. I would gladly take Vintage Cocktails off your hands.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 10:58 AM:
Vintage Cocktails! If I win, I predict a cocktail-centered dinner party in my future..
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 10:52 AM:
This is a very touch choice, but I think Vintage Cocktails has to be my choice for an entry!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 10:38 AM:
Lacoste has been my favorite brand since I discovered it at boarding school. I would love the Lacoste book in green, please.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 10:25 AM:
I collect these books as well and have stacks on my coffee table! I do not have the Vintage Cocktails yet though, and would chose that one!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 10:15 AM:
All of the books are lovely, but I would go with Vintage Cocktails.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 10:07 AM:
I tried to talk myself into another but I have to go with Vintage Cocktails, please.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 9:57 AM:
What else is more unabashedly prep than an enduring and lovingly cultivated drinking problem? Vintage Cocktails, please….
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 9:45 AM:
Seeing as though my grandfather’s vintage Lacoste sweaters are some of my absolute favorite possessions, i’ll have to go with the Lacoste book.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 9:38 AM:
A very difficult choice, but after thinking for a while I decided to choose Lacoste in the white cover. They have wonderful books there.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 9:25 AM:
oops, got lost in the site, and was choosing from there instead of your list. Lacoste.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 9:23 AM:
Tough choice, but the premise of the Polo book sounds fascinating to me.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 9:00 AM:
I think the Trench book is gorgeous, and as a side note, I’m totally fascinated with the Beaton book that’s releasing in Nov.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 8:55 AM:
I think I’d like Vintage Cocktails, Mad Men is still relevant!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 8:54 AM:
Being a University student I have always been curious about alcoholic beverages not consumed through a funnel, Vintage Cocktails please.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 8:53 AM:
Vintage Cocktails, a lot of them, are sitting on the brain after the triumphant weekend i just had in new orleans. so, i’ll go w/ that one. great idea FEC.
http://amatourist.blogspot.com/2010/10/gentlemens-weekend-pt-2-setting-anchor.html
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 8:49 AM:
If I were going to participate, I would naturally choose Lacoste. The Lacoste polo: the garment that started it all!
Vintage Cocktails is also quite attractive, but given the number I’ve consumed over the years it would seem like a nostalgic album of family photographs. Too painful to look at.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 8:28 AM:
I think JFK would be bemused, at best, to hear himself deemed part of the WASP set.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 8:02 AM:
I’d love to have the Vintage Cocktails book, if for no other reason than to prove to my friends (we’re mostly 23-24) that not all cocktails have redbull in them!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 7:32 AM:
liquor wins! Vintage Cocktails, please!
Assouline is indeed amazing.
May I also suggest Jean-Phillipe Delhomme’s book, “The Cultivated Life”? It’s from Rizzoli and it is very funny.
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 7:20 AM:
What an excellent idea for a give-away! I must say, the choice was not a difficult one - they’re all fine books, but I’ve been curious as to the history and anatomy of the trench coat for some time, so I think “The Trench Book” would make an excellent addition to my library. Thanks!
left a comment on 10/5/2010 at 6:26 AM:
Truly a difficult choice, but given the true class of a properly prepared, season and event appropriate cocktail, I wish to request Vintage Cocktails.
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Daniel C. left a comment on 10/7/2010 at 11:09 PM:
I’d love a copy of Vintage Cocktails! Assouline has such a fine eye for quality and style.