BATTERIES NOT REQUIRED

Over the last five days Blogger, the platform that hosts this blog, experienced system-wide outages and data corruption that made it sometimes impossible to post or comment--and made some posts and comments disappear. Supposedly the issue has been resolved and data restored (although many comments are missing form recent posts on Style Maniac).  The incident reminded me that much as we all love this online medium, sometimes there's nothing better than holding a tangible thing in your hands.  Like a book.  Books have long been and probably always will be one of my top choices for a gift.  Coffee table books, cookbooks, mysteries, manuals, romance, fiction, faction, biography, travel, humor, art--whether you're buying a gift for a birthday or a backyard barbecue you can choose a book that will transport, educate, entertain, delight; not just once but over and over again ... no batteries (or blogging platforms) required.

Need specific book gift ideas?  Check out the Fabulous Finds previously featured on Style Maniac in my Amazon Boutique.  You'll also find Reader's Choice selections for cozy fall reads, pretty coffee table titles and summer books for lazy days by the lake, pool or beach.

Photo from flickr.com via Alison on Pinterest

LIGHT X DESIGN: The Magic of Bentley Meeker

From the moment I glimpsed an advance cover of Bentley Meeker’s Light X Design: 20 Years of Lighting I not only wanted to review the book, but to develop a series of stories around it.  Light has such a profound effect on our surroundings, our moods, our memories-- our lives.  And yet it's so often an afterthought, or not thought of at all.  But for decades it has been thought about, played with, produced by Bentley Meeker.  He and his firm, Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging Inc., have created the ambiances for celebrity weddings (Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta Jones, Billy Joel & Katie Lee), luxury brand launches (Christian Dior's J’Adore perfume, Blackberry Bold), superstar charity fundraisers (with Elton John at the piano), extravagant bar mitzvahs (one recreated the Las Vegas strip), and much more.

When my review copy of Light X Design arrived, it delivered, at first glance, just what I expected: page after oversized page of lavish photos, a kaleidoscope of eye candy.  At second glance, I noticed that someone had wisely arranged the book not by event type or chronology but by venue.  And so you realize that the electric blue fairy tale forest of Melissa Rivers’ wedding existed in the same Terrace Room of the Plaza Hotel as a wedding that seems to float on clouds of soft candlelight.  Or that a dizzying two-page spread features 36 shots of the exact same space lit 36 completely different ways.  And yet despite the technical complexity that must go into these projects, according to Meeker the heart of every design--no matter what the occasion, the budget, the client—is to achieve one goal: Make the space and the people in it look and feel incredible.

Frankly, I had not expected to find such straight talk in a coffee table book.  And so I decided to head to New York City for the Light X Design book launch and see for myself just how this mix of simplicity and spectacle worked in real life.  And perhaps see if  Bentley would have a chat. How fabulous would it be to glimpse into the mind of this star lighting designer and translate some of his magic for our everyday lives?

Turns out, pretty fabulous.  

(to be continued ...)

Light X Design: 20 Years of Lighting by Bentley Meeker.  Published by Glitterati Incorporated.   Cover photo of a Cynthia Rowley fashion show by Roger Dong.

THE RED LIST: From Cute to Clever to Couture

From couture to clever to cute, here are a few more delights on my hot list this month:  

The Spring 2011 collection from Christian Dior.  Inspired by the drawings of Rene Gruau, stunning, sublime and yet wearable, too.  The New Look in a whole New Way.  (See the runway show, here.) .... Someone at Swanson Vineyards has a delightful sense of humor, adding clever names and bold, witty packaging to tasty wines.  The series includes choices for various holidays, but the "Expensive" Christmas Wine remains my fave .... When my 10-year-old niece, who devours books like candy, spied Henley: A New York Tail by Julie Muszynski amongst a stack of review titles in my office she immediately snatched it up.  We both agreed:  thumbs up for the cute tale of a prince of a pup living the good life in New York City.  With charming illustrations and interactive elements.  Yes, you could call it Puppy Love.

Christian Dior collection first spied on Nicolette Mason.  "Expensive" wine bottle image by John McJunkin courtesy Swanson Vineyards.  Henley: A New York Tail available through Glitterati Incorporated and Amazon.

WHAT WILL SHE CHOOSE? {giveaway winner}

Thanks to all of you who entered our first ever, blog birthday celebration giveaway.  It was wonderful to meet new subscribers and discover some new blogs.  And of course, I so appreciate that you've joined the conversation here at the Style Maniac blog, on the Facebook Page and Twitter.

And now for the winner of the $50 Amazon Gift Card, as chosen by the nifty Random Number Generator:

Congratulations to Cara!

(p.s. Cara authors a lovely blog, Lilac & Grey)

Cara didn't mention what she might choose with her gift card, so hopefully she'll share that with us.  Have fun shopping, Cara!

Photo by Kristen Angelo as seen on Kelly Marshburn's Pinterest. 

HAUTE LEGS

When it comes to stockings I'm spectacularly boring: it's black, nude or nothing.  But after peeking at an advance copy of the new book Emilio Cavallini, I'm thinking of legwear in a whole new way.  Since his start with Mary Quant in the 1960s to this very moment, Cavallini has produced decades of stunning designs--daring die-cuts, complex prints, sweet polka-dots, fluorescent florals, vivid color mixes--that can only be described as haute couture hosiery.  It's wearable art.  And then it's actual art as well:  Cavallini uses his stockings as though strings to weave complex spiralgrams and geometrics you can hang on your wall.  (Those are stockings in photos 3 and 4, above.)  And then there's the art of the book itself, with its lavish photos and silver foil cover sheathed in sexy black cut-out tights.  It's all an over-the-top treat--with prices to match (stockings in the Emilio Cavallini online boutique average about $25, the book lists for $100, although Amazon offers pre-orders for under $60).  A splurge for a book or pair of pantyhose; not so much for art to put on your coffee table and couture to sheathe your legs. Before indulging in the latter, though, I'd have to learn the art of putting on a pair of hose ... without getting a run in them.

Photos by Nicola Ciona from Emilio Cavallini.  Edited by Benedetta Barzini. With 250 photos of both the stocking collections and the artwork created from them.  Coming March 2011 from Skira, distributed by Rizzoli.

IT's A GIVEAWAY!

We've had fun celebrating Style Maniac's recent Blog Birthday -- and now it's time for (one of) you to get a gift!  And what could be better than choosing your own?  So, as a thank you for your support over the past two years, I'm offering one lucky subscriber a chance to choose something you love ... books, movies, music, whatever! ... with a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card.

Yes, that's right:   Fifty bucks to spend as you like at www.amazon.com. Here's how: 

(1) Follow or Subscribe Via Email to Style Maniac (options in sidebar).

(2) Leave a comment about what you might choose if you win.

That's it! 

For EXTRA ENTRIES leave additional comments if you:

"Like" the Style Maniac Facebook Page  | Follow @thestylemaniac on Twitter

Enter by midnight EST on 2/14/11. If you Subscribe Via Email make sure you activate the confirmation link sent to you.  One winner will be chosen at random and announced 2/16/11.  Gift card sent in email format and valid only on www.amazon.com; other Amazon restrictions may apply.  Note: Amazon did not sponsor this giveaway.  It's solely my gift to one of you.  Good luck!

Image via LensEnvy on Flickr

BEAUTIFUL BOOKS: What's On Your Coffee Table?

"The best decoration in the world is a roomful of books." 

-- Billy Baldwin

Sometimes, I admit, I do judge a book by a cover.  Whether art, photography, fashion, food, design, "coffee table" books can add spectacular color, life and interest to your home, for a smidgen of what real art would cost. In keeping with this month's theme, and continuing our seasonal series of reader's favorites, please share in the Comments section some of the beautiful books you display in your home. I'll then list your pretty picks, along with your blog link if you have one, in the Style Maniac Amazon Boutique (if offered direct by Amazon).  Looking forward to meeting some gorgeous new selections.

Currently on my table: Degas by Robert Gordon & Andrew Forge

GIVE A GIFT ... of sweet simplicity

A jar of kisses,
A charming little tree,

Something homemade wrapped up beautifully.

No trips to the mall. No hassles at all. Not a lot of cash ...

Just simple sweet presents given with love and panache.

Oh my, she's rhyming! Yes, the Christmas tunes have gone to my head ... or maybe it's my head cold, just in time for the holidays? In any case, here's some final tips from Style Maniac's mall-free, hassle-free, pour a glass of bubbly and enjoy the spirit of the season Gift Guide. Hope you've found it helpful. If you have a suggestion for a chic and charming gift that doesn't cost a mint, please share with us in the comments, below. And may we all enjoy a merry, happy and healthy week before Christmas!

1. Festooning the simplest of gifts with lovely embellishments makes them even more special. TIP: when it comes to wrapping, wired ribbon is your friend.  It stays in place and makes bow-tying a cinch.  For my own presentation inspiration, I've just ordered  Ribbons: The Art of Adornment.
2. Stylist Summer Watkins created the Jar of Kisses as a gift for her boyfriend, but it could just as easily be filled with pledges to babysit for a friend or promises to do chores for your sister.  Best of all, it requires no special skills to assemble--just your own sweet sentiments, a pretty jar and lovely buttons.  For more of Summer's magic, visit her blog Grey Likes Weddings.  {Photograph by Caroline Tran.  Originally seen on 100 Layer Cake}
3. That charming little tree, discovered on Design Elements (one of my daily blog reads), truly captures the spirit of the season:  sometimes the tiniest touch of Christmas Cheer is all you need. Perfect for a small apartment, or perhaps to give a friend who's not up for holiday decorating. NOTE: Many grocery stores offer mini trees for sale.  For ornaments, you could seek out unique pieces from craft shows or home decor shops, or adorn with vintage brooch ornaments you create yourself.