Le Forum

Made in France celebrates the innovative and experimental design, sophisticated style, and rich artistry of French popular culture. Reed Darmon has created a beautiful and inspiring collection of vintage French design from the past century. The hundreds of images packed into this delightfully compact book include movie, caf, and travel posters, book and magazine covers, advertisements, music albums, household product packaging, fashion items, toys, and other colorful and irresistible ephemera. A stylish object and graphic essay in one, Made in France is an extraordinary glimpse into the heart of French popular culture. Trs chic!

Yves Saint Laurent: Icons of Fashion Design, acclaimed by the critics as an "intoxicating book" remains the most attractive homage to the uncrowned king of haute couture. Pictures taken by the world's leading fashion photographers trace the success of Saint Laurent's designs, which, since conquering the fashion world five decades ago, have caused sensation after sensation each year. The book also constitutes

a high-quality review of fashion photography over a period of forty years, collecting 135 YSL dresses in images created by fashion photography's greatest 20th century heroes.

Yves Saint Laurent was equipped with an infallible instinct for reading the aesthetic signs of the times, and this enabled him to have a profound effect on fashion in the second half of the 20th century.

Charlotte Smith has had more than her fair share of fabulous dresses and adventures. Born in Hong Kong and raised in the United States, she lived in London, Paris and New York before falling in love with Australia and settling in the Blue Mountains. In between juggling school lunches, Charlotte discovered she had inherited a priceless vintage clothing collection from her American Quaker godmother, Doris Darnell. Then the boxes started arriving, with more than 3,000 treasures dating from 1790 to 1995, from originals by Dior, Chanel and Balenciaga to a pioneer woman's daintily mended best dress. But when Charlotte unearthed Doris's book of stories about the dresses and the women who wore them, the true value of what she had been bequeathed hit home. This wasn't a mere collection of beautiful things, it was a collection of life. Women's lives. Tiny snapshots of our joys and disappointments, our entrances and exits, triumphant and tragic.

This is a book for any woman who knows a dress can hold a lifetime of memories.

Inheriting a priceless vintage clothing collection sounds like every woman′s dream come true.But when Charlotte Smith discovered that her American godmother, Doris Darnell, had made her custodian of more than three thousand pieces dating from 1790 to 1995, including originals by Chanel and Dior, she was more than a little daunted.
From the moment Charlotte uncovered her first treasure, an exquisite 1920s evening dress, she was enchanted. But when she found her godmother′s book of stories, the true value of her inheritancehit home. This wasn′t a mere collection of beautiful things, it was a preciouscollection of women′s lives. Tiny glimpses of our joys and disappointments, our entrances and exits, triumphant and tragic.
In DREAMING OF DIOR, Charlotte shared some of her treasures and the stories of the women who wore them for the first time.
Now, in DREAMING OF CHANE;, with special appearances by Chanel, VivienneWestwood, Zandra Rhodes, Pucci and many more, Charlotte offers another unforgettable glimpse inside the magic wardrobe every woman would love to own.

Charlotte Smith is custodian of a priceless vintage clothing collection, The Darnell Collection, she inherited from her Quaker godmother, Doris Darnell. Born in Hong Kong and raised in the United States, Charlotte has a degree in art history and has lived and worked in the United States, England and France. She now lives in Australia.
After studying fashion design Grant Cowan moved to London to further his career and has worked as an illustrator on magazines like Harper′s Bazaar, Elle, Glamour and Red Magazine.

The rags-to-riches story of Coco Chanel plays out in a wonderful picture-book biography as full of style and spirit as its heroine.
Gabrielle Coco Chanel was always different. And she vowed to prove that being different was an advantage! Poor, skinny, and orphaned, Coco stubbornly believed that she was as good as the wealthier girls of Paris. Tapping into her creativity and her sewing skills, she began making clothes that suited her (and her pocketbook) -- and soon a new generation of independent working women craved her sleek, comfortable, and practical designs. Now an icon of fashion and culture, Coco Chanel continues to inspire young readers, showing just how far a person can come with spunk, determination, and flair.

Explored through the eyes of photographer Max Derhy in over 900 evocative images, and interspersed with apercus and anecdotes of those who have lived in and loved the city, this is a unique guide to Paris. Starting at Point Zero, at the foot of Notre Dame, and followed by a map of the metro and suburban train network, the book takes you on a virtual tour of the city and its environs, accompanied by commentaries by the likes of Paul Auster, Henry Miller, Michel Houellebecq, Baudelaire, Stendhal, Zoe Valdes and Sonia Rykiel. From traditional landmarks, through parks and gardens, markets, shops and restaurants, to quirky details and lesser known arrondissements, each photograph is clearly labelled with its exact location. A listings section at the end of the book gives details of major hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs, as well as flea markets, department stores, auction houses and museums. This is the Paris you know and love and the Paris still waiting to be discovered.

In this text, writer and journalist brigitte tilleray and photographer richard turpin take the reader on a tour of the spectacular hidden france. Brigitte's lively and evocative text and richard's photography attempt to capture the very essence of french village life.

Illuminating, engrossing and full of surprises, "The Discovery of France" is a literary exploration of a country few will recognize; from maps and migration to magic, language and landscape, it's a book that reveals the 'real' past of France to tell the whole story - and history - of this remarkable nation. 'With gloriously apposite facts and an abundance of quirky anecdotes and thumbnail sketches of people, places and customs, Robb, on brilliant form, takes us on a stunning journey through the historical landscape of France' - "Independent". 'Certain books strain the patience of those close to you. How many times can you demand: 'Look at this! Can you imagine? Did you know that?' without actually handing over the volume? This is such a book' - "Mail on Sunday". 'An extraordinary journey of discovery that will delight even the most indolent armchair traveller' - "Daily Telegraph".

A richly illustrated biography of Napoleon, this book sheds new light on one of the most written-about figures in history. Napoleon's epic life and deeds are recounted in rare depth that will enlighten both casual history buffs and dedicated scholars. This full-color illustrated book contains a wealth of high-quality reproductions, including historical paintings, battle scenes, and period documents.

120 pages - The book is based on over 50 years research by the author.

Leslie Marchant (1924–2004), a well known international scholar and author, combines a unique variety of talents and a wealth of experience and research to create the ultimate touring guide to the landfalls and landmarks along the South West coast that bear the names of the French explorers and scientists who dedicated years of their lives to mapping our coastline. Ex merchant navy, Leslie Marchant was a passionate surfer, sailor and modern day explorer who spent years trying to educate the general public about the largely ignored, yet extremely important, contribution made to the exploration of Australia and subsequent scientific discoveries by the French.