10 Respected Luxury Brands

Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)

"Gucci by Gucci opens the fabled house's archives for the first time, bringing together-in the form of bags, clothes, accessories, and a dazzling cache of documentary photographs-the history of the Florentine family-owned saddler that has imprinted its name on the fashion consciousness. Both a history of the company and a glorious visual exploration of its far-reaching influence, the book is a treat for the collector and the fan."

Amazon Price: $37.80 (as of 12/10/2009)

"In this beautiful volume, the glorious life of the incomparable Coco Chanel shines again through hundreds of illustrations and the lively prose of Edmonde Charles-Roux, her official biographer and close friend. Chanel knew and collaborated with the likes of Picasso, Diaghilev, Stravinsky, Cocteau, Jean Renoir, and Visconti-even as she matched their modernist innovations by liberating women from the prison of 19th-century fashion and introducing a whole new concept of elegance."

Amazon Price: $18.96 (as of 12/10/2009)

"The House of Klein tells the inside story of the rise of a fashion legend and the business empire he built from the ground up. Calvin Klein is perhaps the world's best-known fashion designer and creator of one of the most recognizable brands in the global marketplace. At the forefront of fashion for more than thirty years, Klein has been no stranger to controversy-yet his continued success and profits always seem to answer his critics for him."

Amazon Price: $28.84 (as of 12/10/2009)

"Dior's daily inspiration emanated from the world of the intellectual and artistic elite, in which he moved with such people as Erik Satie, Francis Poulenc, Henry Suguet, Jean Cocteau, and Raoul Dufy. With elegance, precision, and impeccable research, Marie-France Pochna recreates this one-of-akind world of glamour and luxury and situates Dior's fairy-tale career in the rich tapestry of Paris cultural life."

Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)

"Extravagant and supersexy, the fashions of Gianni Versace (1946-1997) combined the expert craftsmanship and luxury of haute couture with the sheer creativity of the street. Instantly recognizable for their glamour quotient-who could forget Elizabeth Hurley in her slit-up-to-there "Safety-pin Dress"?-the deceptively fragile designs utilized innovative fabrics and meticulous construction to anchor their illusions. Although thoroughly modern, the clothes also drew inspiration from fine art: Versace counted Delaunay, Calder, and Klimt among his influences."

Amazon Price: $85.05 (as of 12/10/2009)

"Ralph Lauren isn't easy to define. Unlike many designers, he is not known for a single signature look, but rather for his sweeping dreams of American living. Over the course of his career, the images of luxury, adventure, and beauty that he created have come to define American style. In this visually stunning book, Lauren speaks candidly for the first time ever about himself and his art. In part one, we get to know the designer through never-before-seen pictures of him in private life and with his family, living ..."

Amazon Price: $8.49 (as of 12/10/2009)

"Based on the hilarious best-selling novel, this sinfully funny movie starring Academy Award(r) winner Meryl Streep* and Anne Hathaway is "sensationally entertaining in every way" (maxim). As assistant to impossibly demanding New York fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Streep), young Andy Sachs (Hathaway) has landed a job that "a million girls would die for." Unfortunately, her heaven-sent appointment as Miranda's personal whipping girl just might be the death of her!"

Amazon Price: $25.99 (as of 12/10/2009)

"For 40 years, YSL reigned as the 20th century's most influential and brilliantly inspired couturiers. His dramatic designs and conceptual innovations completely revolutionized women's fashions. The result is two new documentaries that reveal both the man and his work. Yves Saint Laurent - His Life and Times: Follows his career, from the dazzling debut of his first line, under his own name at the age of 22, to becoming one of fashions most creative and unorthodox designers."