It's About The Experience ...

This is exactly what it looked like when I walked into Assouline Publishing's new shop in South Coast Plaza yesterday. The boutique atmosphere harkened back to the bookstore days of yore. The kind I remember visiting as a kid that you just don't see anymore. Allow me to digress for a moment ... I heard author Jonathan Franzen say something on Oprah about there being so much noise in today's culture. He continued to say something along the lines of "if you can cancel out about 99% of it, you can start to see things one at a time." That's exactly how I felt walking into the Assouline boutique compared to say, walking into a giant chain bookstore. Don't get me wrong, I do partake in the convenience of the bigger chains, but it's the "experience" of spaces like this one, with walls lined in such pronounced style and design, that I put a greater value on.
This particular Assouline shop is one of four in the world. So do yourself a favor if you're in the area and pay a visit to Teri, the manager, who was gracious enough to let me peruse the latest release from Cecil Beaton and shared some Slim Aarons prints that had just arrived from The Met. It made my morning. That and the $20k Goyard for Assouline trunk that greeted me as I walked in. Luxury at its best!

15 comments:

Melanie's Randomness said...

How pretty. I'd love to shop there. I'd go nuts with alll those wonderful titles!! =)

Melanie's Randomness

Lillian C said...

Ooh, thanks for the heads up! Now I must get myself out there and check it out. I miss bookshops like these too - whenever I find ones like this, I spend hours getting lost among the books. And that's one of the best feelings in the world :)

Diana Mieczan said...

I adore bookshops..I love getting lost in them and enjoy looking at all the amazing books:)
This one looks amazing
Kisses, my dear

Anonymous said...

beautiful! books make me happy, too! need to find some more! haha

what an amazing store! xoxo

TheBeautyFile said...

Wanna chip in and co-buy the trunk? We can have joint custody on the east and west coasts!

This is such a stunning photo. I love book stores and libraries. I feel most at home there. {outside of my actual home...}

elissa @ faucethead said...

i just picked up a franzen book this weekend. i can't wait to start it. i've heard nothing but good things.

Julie-Inspired Shares said...

Sometimes there's nothing better than being surrounded, floor to ceiling with books.
Julie xo

thais said...

luxury indeed! I completely value the feel and quietness of small boutiques like this one as well. beautiful!

Heather Feemster said...

How fabulous!!!! I want to go there. xo

Brandi said...

You know what I love about bookstores? The smell. Visuals yes, books yes, but there's nothing like that new book smell. I need to check this place out.

Lisa Michelle Cifuentes said...

Sounds like a great bookstore. Living in NY, I'm lucky to have some great ones here as well, but the downside to it is that they are always incredibly crowded! Ahh... the price we pay for living here...

Unknown said...

Beauty File I like your way of thinking. You could be onto something here. And btw, one of the four locations is in NYC:)

julia wheeler said...

i'm going to south coast tomorrow! if i have time, i want to hit this up! i feel like you could get lost here for hours!

Lauren said...

You wanna know something funny? I read this post, went to comment but got stopped pouring over the websites and pictures and books and VISUAL GOODNESS of Assouline that I never got time to comment....good stuff.

bink and boo said...

Beautiful! We should meet at SCP for lunch.

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