Books for the Plane

I bought this book at the
 Art Museum in São Paulo

Two short & sweet books for the airplane ride.

"Concisely written, this book packs loads of detail into a handy small format, tracing the evolution of costume history and fashion through a series of interconnected trends and movements (a.k.a. "isms") from the Greco-Roman toga and the antebellum hoop skirt to the latest from the runway.

This guide is organized chronologically and covers the evolution of costume, the beginning of haute couture, and the rise of fashion as we know it— documented throughout with a combination of line drawings, costume illustration, and fashion photography. It includes an overview of designers from the classic—Coco Chanel, Dior—to the contemporary design greats, such as Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs. While the book traces the influences and links between designers, it also includes patrons, from Marie-Antoinette to Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana, as well as fashion muses from Sarah Bernhardt to Sarah Jessica Parker. Related topics such as accessories and accoutrements are included as well.

Anyone interested in costume and fashion will delight in this book."

This bookstore, Livraria Cultura caught my eye in São Paulo.  Turns out, it's the largest bookstore in Brazil.  This is the flagship store in São Paulo on Avenida Paulista.  It has three beautiful floors of books with a cute little cafe and free wifi.  The architecture is unique and there is a fun charm about it.

This is the first novel I will read in Portuguese.  I was looking for a simple, yet interesting short read by a Portuguese author.  The popular Jorge Amado was recommended to me by a friendly employee.  He has read this book numerous times and mentioned of Amado's greatness in cultural portrayal, humor, and deep yet optimistic messages.