Release Date:- 2010-11-02
Availability:- In Stock
Kind:- ebook
Encyclopedia of the Exquisite is a lifestyle guide for the Francophile and the Anglomaniac, the gourmet and the style maven, the armchair traveler and the art lover. Itās an homage to the esoteric world of glamour that doesnāt require much spending but makes us feel rich.
Taking a cue from the exotic encyclopedias of the sixteenth century, which brimmed with mysterious artifacts, Jessica Kerwin Jenkinsās Encyclopedia of the Exquisite focuses on the elegant, the rare, the commonplace, and the delightful. A comĀpendium of style, it merges whimsy and practicality, traipsing through the fine arts and the worlds of fashion, food, travel, home, garden, and beauty.
Each entry features several engaging anecdotes, illuminating the curious past of each enduring source of beauty. Subjects covered include the explosive history of champagne; the art of lounging on a divan; the emergence of āfrillies,ā the first lacy, racy lingerie; the ancient uses of sweet-smelling saffron; the wild riot incited by the appearance of Londonās first top hat; Julia Childās tip for cooking the perfect omelet; the polarizing practice of wearing red lipstick during World War II; Louis XIVās fondness for the luscious Bartlett pear; the Indian origin of badminton; Parliamentās 1650 attempt to suppress Europeās beauty mark fad; the evolution of the Japanese kimono; the pilĀgrimage of Central Parkās Egyptian obelisk; and the fanciful thrill of dining alfresco.
Cleverly illustrated, Encyclopedia of the Exquisite is an ode to lifeās plenty, from the extravagant to the eccentric. It is a celeĀbration of luxury that doesnāt necessarily require money.
BONUS MATERIAL: This ebook edition includes an excerpt from Jessica Kerwin Jenkins's All the Time in the World.