ASSOULINE NEW YORK

TUCKED AWAY ON THE MEZZANINE LEVEL OF NEW YORK'S PLAZA HOTEL IS A BEAUTY OF A BOUTIQUE. ASSOULINE, BEST-KNOWN FOR STUNNING COFFEE TABLE BOOKS THAT YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO READ NOT JUST ADMIRE OR USE AS AN ACCENT TO YOUR DECOR, IS A TREASURE TROVE OF ART, DESIGN, FASHION AND PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS. IF YOU EVER WONDERED HOW RALPH LAUREN, DONNA KAREN, AND SOME 100 OTHER TOP AMERICAN DESIGNERS LIVE, NEW THIS FALL FROM ASSOULINE IS AMERICAN DESIGNERS AT HOME BY RIMA SUGI. ANOTHER STELLAR PUBLICATION FOR FASHIONISTAS WHO YEARN OR OWN ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC OF SWISS TIMEPIECES IS PIAGET BY FRANCO COLOGNI. HE DOCUMENTS WHY THE WATCH COMPANY HAS MAINTAINED ITS PRE-EMINENCE SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1874. BEYOND BOOKS, THE ASOULINE BOUTIQUE HAS SOME OF THE MOST EXQUISITELY TURNED OUT GIFTS YOU WILL FIND IN THE CITY. CONSIDER THE GOYARD TRUNK, $20,000, WITH 100 MEMOIRS OF ART, ARCHITECTURE AND FASHION TREND SETTERS. ANOTHER RARITY IS THE MOST UNUSUAL PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE. THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS ABOUT PERSONALITY THAT THE FRENCH WRITER ANSWERED AT DIFFERANT TIMES IN HIS LIFE, THEY HAVE BEEN USED ON TV AND IN MAGAZINES TO FERRET OUT WHAT VARIOUS CELEBS WERE THINKING. PROUST'S ANSWER TO 'YOUR FAVORITE VIRTUE?' WAS 'THE NEED TO BE LOVED; MORE PRECISELY THE NEED TO BE CARESSED AND SPOILED MUCH MORE THAN THE NEED TO BE ADMIRED.' THE KEEPSAKE BOOK OF QUESTIONS INCLUDES PROUST'S ANSWERS, BLANK PAGES FOR YOU OR YOUR GUESTS TO FILL IN THEIR ANSWERS, AS WELL AS THE ANSWERS FROM DANIEL BOULUD AND RICHARD MEIER AMONG OTHERS. BOUND IN A BRIGHT LEATHER, $295, IT'S A POPULAR HOUSE AND WEDDING GIFT. ASSOULINE HAS ALSO VENTURED INTO FURNITURE WITH AN EXCLUSIVE RENDITION OF ARCHITECT OSCAR NIEMEYER'S ROSEWOOD BOOKSTAND, $8,500.
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