Books: The Fashion Book

Should you still find yourself giftless for that special someone who is passionate about dress, this beautifully illustrated 510-page style encyclopedia could be your salvation. Surveying the past 150 years of fashion history, the book goes beyond what might be expected of such a compilation, offering up entries not only on celebrated designers from Paul Poiret to Helmut Lang but also on tastemakers generally less well known–for example, textile creator Zika Ascher, cobbler Pietro Yantorny and early 20th century cosmetics manufacturer Alexandre Napoleon Bourjoi. Another plus: at $39.95, The Fashion Book is about one-sixth the price of a Hermes scarf.

–By Ginia Bellafante