Lifestyle

VAN LIFE by Foster Huntington, Hachette.

Perfect summer reading for those seeking wanderlust inspiration, or thinking of packing in the nine-to-five and taking to the road. Foster Huntington is a US-based writer and photographer who abruptly left his high-profile design job in New York and decided to move into a campervan. The book is part Pinterest-friendly photo inspiration of scenic views and decked-out vehicles (converted school buses make a great travelling home) and part interviews with those who have also decided to live a life on the road.

VOGUE: THE GOWN by Jo Ellison, Hachette.

Followers of fashion will drool over the gorgeous creations that have featured on the covers and pages of Vogue magazine over the past century. The visual feast of “fashion fantasy” served up by some of the world’s most acclaimed photographers is complemented by Jo Ellison’s captions and narrative providing intriguing snippets of info about the stories behind the pictures.

ADVANCED STYLE: OLDER & WISER by Ari Seth Cohen, Penguin/Random House.

As Dame Vivienne Westwood succinctly put it: “People who wear impressive clothes have better lives.” Ari Seth Cohen started photographing amazing street-style outfits eight years ago and profiling the interesting people wearing them, all of whom are over 60; the most flamboyant often over 90. There’s colour and fur and velvet and armfuls of jewellery and matching poodles and a lifetime’s worth of tips on how to live with confidence and attitude. It’s the antidote to the belief that getting older means dressing duller.

PARIS, AN INSPIRED WANDER THROUGH THE CITY OF LIGHTS by Alexandra Carroll, Macmillan.

A lovely gift for someone planning a trip to the French capital, or indeed for armchair travellers who simply love all things Parisian. Essentially a travel guide for exploring the city on foot, it is a beauty in itself, with evocative photography and informative text capturing the charm, attractions, shops and eating places of this romantic destination.