Leningrado, 1941. In una tranquilla sera d'estate Tatiana e Dasha, sorelle ma soprattutto grandi amiche, si stanno confidando i segreti del cuore, quando alla radio il generale Molotov annuncia che la Germania ha invaso la Russia. Uscita per fare scorta di cibo, Tatiana incontra Alexander, un giovane ufficiale dell'Armata Rossa che parla russo con un lieve accento. Tra loro scatta suvbito un'attrazione reciproca e irresistibile. Ma è un amore impossibile, che potrebbe distruggerli entrambi. Mentre un implacabile inverno e l'assedio nazista stringono la città in una morsa, riducendola allo stremo, Tatiana e Alexander trarranno la forza per affrontare mille avversità e sacrifici proprio dal legame segreto che li unisce.

In questo volume, destinato a suscitare dibattito e a rilanciare la discussione teologica, l'Autore analizza i testi dei Vangeli e invita il lettore a porsi domande cruciali: È vero ciò che è stato detto? Riguarda proprio me? E, se mi riguarda, in che modo?. Sono le domande con le quali si apre il libro, che rimandano a quella di Pilato: Tu, da dove vieni?. La domanda che accompagna la storia dell'uomo di ogni generazione, la stessa che si fecero i sapienti d'oriente, i Magi filosofi e scrutatori di stelle, che tanta parte hanno nel rappresentare l'inquietudine del cuore umano in cerca di quella verità che sola conduce alla gioia profonda. Nei Vangeli dell'infanzia, Joseph Ratzinger-Benedetto XVI individua, descrivendola mirabilmente, la radice teologica della gioia e ci porta a scoprire come il Vangelo non è una storia del passato, ma appartiene al presente e all'uomo contemporaneo. E mentre l'Autore introduce il lettore alle pagine evangeliche dell'Annuncio a Maria, della Nascita o della visita dei Magi che contemplano il Bambino e sua madre, ecco che si arriva al presente: l'esegesi di quelle pagine porta all'oggi. Oggi ci troviamo con i Magi davanti al Bambino e a sua madre, oggi ci interroghiamo sul senso di quell'incontro e ci chiediamo come una donna possa dire di sì a Dio fidandosi totalmente di Lui. Nell'imminenza del Natale, questo libro è il racconto della gioia che, con la Natività, si rivela nella povertà di una grotta. È, per chi crede, uno stimolo a conoscere in profondità le ragioni della fede. Nello stesso tempo, Joseph Ratzinger-Benedetto XVI parla con amicizia a tutti coloro che, come i Magi, sono nell'inquietudine della ricerca e si domandano: Gesù da dove viene?.

The seminal volume on body painting and adornment by the world's preeminent photographers of African culture. Following the international masterpiece Africa Adorned, Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher have focused on the traditions of body painting spanning the vastly unique cultures of the African continent. In a contemporary world so fascinated with tattoos and piercings, Beckwith and Fisher document the origins of these fashionable adornments as passed down through African tribal culture. Featured are portraits of the richly colored, detailed, and exquisite body paintings of the Surma, Karo, Maasai, Himba, and Hamar peoples, among others. Drawing from expeditions in the field and firsthand experiences with African peoples and cultures over the past thirty years and with more than 250 spectacular photographs, this is the definitive work on the expressiveness and imagination of African cultural painting of the human body.

A luxurious, graphically compelling vision for contemporary domestic living, as observed and artfully presented by the Oscar-winning film star. House is Diane Keaton's stunning portrayal of the way we may and do live now, in rusticated, reimagined, or repurposed spaces across the country. Inventive designers, including Annabelle Selldorf, Roy McMakin, Rick Joy, and Tom Kundig, have brought their talents to bear upon the structurally old, the disused, and the antiquated, finding in these buildings the hidden beauty that lies beneath the surface of neglect and decay, and through their work revealing to us the many possibilities we might bring to our own domestic spaces.Through innovative design and repurposing, industrial structures and farm buildings, crumbling commercial lofts and rusting hangars are transformed and vividly revealed as thoroughly engaging spaces for living. House presents a graphically striking vision, frequently marked by strong geometries and primal coloration, that ignites the imagination of those intent upon redefining the possible as it pertains to one's space — work that is joyous and rooted in our most basic understandings of home.

This monograph explores the life and work of Antonio Lopez, a Warholian illustrator, designer, and 'connector' who worked in New York and Paris from the 1960s through the mid-80s. It features hundreds of never-before-seen photographs, polaroids, and fashion illustrations, as well as contributions by top names in fashion today.

The glamour and excitement of the world of haute jewelry is explored in Jewelry International. The world's most famous jewelers come together, presenting their most luscious pieces for your delectation. Jewelry International, the only book of its kind, features the world's most exquisite jewels and the companies that craft them.

«Nostalgia in Vogue» celebrates the popular and poignant coming-of-age memoir columns that have been enchanting Vogue readers since 2000. This elegant volume collects a wonderful selection of Vogue's famous «Nostalgia» columns and the stunning photographs that accompanied them. Writers, designers, models, and celebrities share coming-of-age stories based on a rich range of themes from fashion to art, Hollywood, music, childhood, work, and love, each triggered by an extraordinary photograph from Vogue's history. With a host of intriguing characters and stories, and images by legendary photographers such as Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Henry Clarke, Helmut Newton, Horst P. Horst, and Henri Cartier-Bresson, «Nostalgia in Vogue» is both a visual treat and a fascinating read. Whether told from the point of view of a budding movie star or a teenager straining to make sense of the sophisticated adult world, each entry offers a unique slice of life sharply evocative of time and place. «Nostalgia in Vogue» is a must for devotees of fashion, pop culture, photography, and literary memoir and reaches across a readership of all ages. Text by Eve Macsweeney with a Foreword by Anna Wintour and essays by Joan Didion, Margaret Atwood, Patti Smith, Edmund White, Karl Lagerfeld, Carly Simon, John Galliano, Ann Packer, Anjelica Huston, Nora Ephron, A. M. Homes, and others.»

«For those who love boldness in design, Los Angeles-based interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard demonstrates his mastery of dramatic environments for a clientele of celebrities. Drawn to glamour, Martyn Lawrence Bullard moved from London to Los Angeles to pursue acting but became a star decorator instead. His designs balance the contemporary with the traditional, the Occidental with the ethnic. His celebrity clients' homes are inspiring in their chic yet sumptuous styles, including Sir Elton John's disco-luxurious apartment with a python-skin bed, green lacquered walls, and mirrored cabinets; «Grey's Anatomy» star Ellen Pompeo's hip Mediterranean villa in the Hollywood Hills; Cher's residences-a Moorish palazzo in Malibu and a Beverly Hills Indian fantasy; and Tamara Mellon's New York City penthouse that dazzles with bold artwork and striking color. With a knack for beautiful and dramatic spaces that don't sacrifice comfort, Lawrence Bullard-who stars in the upcoming Bravo television show «Million Dollar Decorators»-reveals his know-how for creating a sensational home.»

Dior is one of the most revered names in fashion, the archetype of the Parisian couture house. Famous for launching the New Look, Christian Dior's landmark first collection that marked a sea change in women's dress after the Second World War, Dior is known today for its exquisite couture line of dramatic dresses. This book comprises a portfolio of portraits of over one hundred incredible gowns from the entire era of Christian Dior haute couture, including dresses designed by Dior himself. All of the images were shot by Patrick Demarchelier, known for his exquisite fashion portraits that grace the pages of Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, and many other magazines.

Philip Johnson designed some of America’s greatest modern architectural landmarks—most notably the Glass House. This new publication, with a foreword by Paul Goldberger and essay by Philip Johnson, presents an exclusive tour of the Glass House, its grounds, treasures, and patrons, and honors the legacy of one of modern architecture’s most famous creations. Johnson’s private residence on forty-seven acres in New Canaan, Connecticut, which opened to the public in 2007, preserves some of the most exciting innovations in the fields of architecture, art, and landscape design, executed under the tutelage of Johnson and partner David Whitney over the course of nearly fifty years. This book serves as a virtual visit to the modern masterpiece and its grounds. Included are photographs of the interiors and exterior facades, as well as snapshots of Johnson and guests on the premises. An introduction to the work of Philip Johnson, The Glass House appeals to visitors of the house and enthusiasts of modern architecture and design.

The newest book from acclaimed designer Michael S. Smith showcases his exceptional take on kitchens and baths, the busiest yet most personal rooms in a home. Legendary designer Michael S. Smith has stories to tell about kitchens and bathrooms-those he has designed himself, and those that inspire him. In this fascinating and inspirational book, Smith, who has his own line of kitchen and bath fixtures for Kohler, explains how these rooms define a house. Kitchens and bathrooms are among the most expensive and labor-intensive rooms to design. But they are also opposites, the most public and private zones of a house. In three in-depth case studies and dozens of supporting examples, Smith discusses his design process for these rooms, from big-picture issues such as the social engineering of the kitchen's layout to details large and small, including the importance of choosing the right cabinet, which can be a crystallization of the architecture of the house, as well as countertops, fixtures, floors, hardware, and more. Also including a sampling of dressing rooms and breakfast rooms, along with a comprehensive resource section, this is a uniquely sophisticated take on a subject of perennial interest.

Exuberant interior designer Muriel Brandolini presents the broad scope of her whimsical style, combining the contemporary with classic elegance. Muriel Brandolini's exceptional taste and unconventional aesthetic have made her a celebrated international interior designer. Her multicultural background-Vietnam, the Caribbean, and France-has influenced her unusual style, which is a mix of exoticism, elegance, and fantasy. Her interiors are marked by a dynamic color sense, bold textures and patterns, and an unusual combination of antique and contemporary furnishings. Beautifully photographed, this look into Brandolini's sophisticated world includes profiles of select residences-ranging from a seductive apartment marked by a dramatic draped Marie Antoinette-style bed and an entryway embellished with beaded song lyrics, to an airy beach house with a stairwell of hanging embroidered lanterns. Considered a design laboratory, her legendary townhouse is shown in several iterations. Included are such signature details as fabric walls, slipper chairs covered in hand-pieced antique fabrics, found treasures, and Asian-style split bamboo window shades. This avant-garde style setter shows that with an unfettered imagination one can create an alluring home environment.

In 1946, the tabloid photographer known as Weegee relocated from New York City to Los Angeles. Abandoning the grisly crime scenes for which he was best known, Weegee trained his camera instead on Hollywood celebrities, starlets, autograph seekers, and shop-window mannequins, sometimes distorted through trick lenses and multiple exposures. Now I could really photograph the subjects I liked, said Weegee of his newfound career in Los Angeles, I was free. Following the photographer's lead, the exhibition and accompanying catalog documents the lurid, irresistible undersides of stardom, fandom, commerce, and self-promotion in mid-century Los Angeles. In addition to presenting approximately 200 photographs, many of which have never before been shown, the book explores Weegee's related work as an author, filmmaker, and photo-essayist. Weegee's photo-book Naked Hollywood (published in hardcover in 1953 and released as a pulp paperback in 1955) provides the inspiration and departure point for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, exhibition and catalog, the latter of which reproduces the pulp paperback edition in its entirety.

Featuring some of the most important contemporary tattoo artists who are making cutting-edge graphics, typography, and customized artistic masterpieces. Tatt Book: Visionaries of Tattoo is a unique collection of the designs of the most creative contemporary tattoo artists from around the world. These contemporary tattooists are, first and foremost, artists creating tattoo designs inked on the human body as well as works for galleries and personal collections. Curated by the renowned artist JK5 and including work from over twenty distinguished artists, such as Stephanie Tamez, Mike Giant, and Scott Harrison, Tatt Book explores the intricate customized body art and also the artwork these inking geniuses do outside the tattoo studio. This will be an indispensable reference catalogue for type forms, illustration, fine art, and design in a time where tattoos are a mark of personal creativity and individuality.

From acclaimed French interior designer and decorative arts historian Florence de Dampierre comes an inspiring collection of the best decorative wall treatments. Throughout history, there has been a desire to express the esprit of a period by decorating the walls of our homes. From Italianate murals in Renaissance villas and the whimsical painted panels of the Musee Carnavalet, to English Arts and Crafts wallpaper and Frederic Church's stenciled homestead Olana, noted connoisseur de Dampierre shows how decorating walls can transform an interior space to dramatic effect that harmoniously creates a rich, sophisticated look.Walls covers a sampling of premier decorative wall designs from around the world that have evolved over the centuries, including fresco, wood paneling, stenciling, and wallpaper. De Dampierre has chosen the best examples that have proven to be the most inspirational and relevant for today's home interior design. Sidebars will cover such topics as lacquering; chair moldings, pediments, and cornices; borders and friezes; hand-painted linen and cotton hangings; tooled leather, and toile. Each chapter will end with such practical advice as mixing pigments, application tips, maintenance, and restoration. Beautifully photographed, the book offers innumerable wall treatment ideas that can be seamlessly integrated with furnishings of modern interiors to create an original ambience.

These exceptional houses — distinguished by their classical style and artistic integrity — represent the highest level of design and craftsmanship, fashioned for historic taste. A return to classicism and traditional styles has been widely observed in the world of architecture and design, and the houses in this volume represent the finest examples of new design based on historical precedents. These stunning residences are graced with regional character, impeccable craftsmanship, and classic beauty. Collaborating with leading landscape designers, decorators, and artisans, architects Mark Ferguson and Oscar Shamamian have produced homes that — whether country estates, suburban houses, or city apartments — are exquisite examples of timeless design for those who are inspired by historic styles. With lush photography capturing the allure of these of exteriors, interiors, and details — as well as original drawings and plans — the book will appeal to architects, interior designers, and homeowners with an eye for fine design and anyone wishing to be inspired by the poetry of history. Recognized by Architectural Digest in 2010 as being among the most important and influential architecture firms at work today, this beautifully illustrated volume presents Ferguson & Shamamian's finest work, including new houses, apartments, alterations and additions, and unbuilt design plans. Each of the nineteen homes featured in the book will be presented in detail, with full color photography and project descriptions written by the architects themselves. Eleven unbuilt projects will be represented by drawings, and eleven alterations and additions will be included in an appendix.

An irreverent survey of surprisingly enduring icons of Soviet design. This knowing survey presents some of the more populist but nonetheless enduring work in graphic and industrial design that was a product of the Soviet era — a period that remains politically sensitive and underexplored, yet whose influence on the objects and aesthetics of Russian daily life has been profound. Made in Russia celebrates fifty such masterpieces, ranging from pioneers of Soviet technology such as the Lada car, the Sputnik rocket, and the Lomo camera, to icons of quotidian culture such as the fishnet shopping bag, the beveled twelve-sided glass, a Cold War-inspired arcade game, and Misha the Olympic bear. After an introduction from editor Michael Idov and an essay on the place of design in Soviet culture by Gary Shteyngart, the objects are presented with a short accompanying essay from one of today's best-known Russian writers giving a brief history of its creation, and each is illustrated with black-and-white archival images. Three color sections throughout the book include additional images of a selection of the objects. Designed by the creator of The Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopedia series, the book is as much an intelligent reading book on forgotten aspects of Soviet culture as a tongue-in-cheek illustrated survey of an under-acknowledged but prolific period in Russian design and creativity.

Preston Bailey, one of the world’s preeminent floral and event designers, presents dozens of his most memorable arrangements. From one of the most renowned floral couturiers and event planners working today comes a rich presentation on the art of flower arranging perfect for home decoration and inspiration and of interest to professionals. In his first single-topic book, Preston Bailey shares his philosophy about flower design, walking the reader through the creation of his highly original floral centerpieces and other arrangements with advice on how to achieve the same results. For each arrangement, Bailey discusses his inspiration and describes the type of flowers used, providing great detail on those he selects for the tables, both for the centerpieces and the place settings. He explains how the flowers influence the mood of each event, and illuminates the role that flowers play in the selection of lighting, table linens, and overall room decor. The arrangements vary from smaller groupings easily replicated at home, to the more elaborate works of art for which Bailey is renowned. Appealing to both the amateur and the professional, Preston Bailey Flowers is an essential and unforgettable addition to the flower-design canon.

Presents a pictorial look at and commentary on the history of the wedding dress, with emphasis on the works and reminiscences of Oleg Cassini, along with other notable designers.