Looking for the perfect gift for the reader in your life? Check out Part 1 of the reader’s gift guide for some inspiration!
When I think of the perfect gift I think of a book. Books really do hold the power to inspire us, entertain us, teach us, and transport us. What better gift to give someone than an experience like that? One that they can revisit time and time again? In this gift guide I have included a mix of some of my absolute favorite books that have stood the test of time.
This blog post uses some affiliate links. All of the imagery in this blog post can be found on the respective brand websites. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links here.
Food
The World Kitchen // This cookbook, published by William Sonoma, is a guide filled with recipes from around the globe. The recipes are completely no-fail and delicious! It is the perfect edition to any cultural enthusiast’s library!
Hand Made Baking // A charming book filled with memories and recipes, Kamran Siddiqi of the blog The Sophisticated Gourmet has written a true gem. If you love feel good anecdotes and have a passion for home baking, this is a must-have!
Travel
Where To Go When: The World’s Best Destinations // This has been one of my favorite books for many years. It is what every good travel book should be. It provides ideas for destinations around the world with maps, information on how to get there, where to stay, sites to see, customs and culture points you might need to know, and even outlines an itinerary that you can use for your trip! It’s the absolute perfect book for the passionate traveler. If you like this book, there are also other books in the series by DK Publishing that are more specific to continent or region.
Fashion
I Love Your Style // There have been so many books written about personal style and fashion, but this one takes the cake. Amanda Brooks has written the most thorough guidebook on finding inspiration and developing your own personal style. This book is the best for exploring an array of style icons through the years with plenty of vintage photographs to spark your imagination and reference the past. She walks you through her own personal style journey to illustrate just how “personal style” develops and is truly a personal affair. The best, most informative style book out there.
Iconic // This gorgeous book is by Australian illustrator Megan Hess. Megan is known for her incredible fashion illustrations and has worked with elite designers the world over. In Iconic, Megan pays tribute to Italian fashion. She explores ten of the best known and most loved Italian designers: Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Valentino, Pucci, Prada, Miu Miu, Missoni, Gucci and Armani.
Elegance // Another incredible book by Megan Hess, Elegance now explores the French fashion masters Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Givenchy, Chloé, Balmain, Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Celine. She explores everything from haute couture to prêt-à-porter.
Beauty
Face Paint: The Story Of Makeup // This book is outstanding! Makeup, as we know it, has only been commercially available in the last 100 years. However, applying decoration to the face and body is arguably one of the oldest global social practices. In Face Paint, Lisa Eldridge explores the cultural significance and the history of makeup, from Egyptian and Classical times up through the Victorian age and golden era of Hollywood. For the beauty enthusiast, this book is a gold mine of information!
Allure: Confessions Of A Beauty Editor // This book is the best all-inclusive makeup book out there. Written by the editor-in-chief of Allure magazine, Linda Wells, it is a practical guide to every beauty practice imaginable. If you’re looking for a beauty bible, this is it.
Lifestyle
Celebrate // If you love to throw parties then this book by lifestyle queen Lauren Conrad is the perfect inspiration. Lauren helps you through the party planning process and provides tips and tricks in this whimsical book.
Whiskey In A Teacup // Reese Witherspoon is such an inspiration to women everywhere. In her book, Reese gives us insight into her life and memories of her family traditions. Sprinkled throughout the book are tons of tips and tricks in various lifestyle categories. Some of my favorite are her recipes and entertainment ideas! If you’re a Reese fan you’ll love her book.
Art
The Secret Lives Of Color // This book was researched and written by Kassia St. Clair. I have never seen a book with such a unique concept! If you are an artist or an art appreciator, or just love color, you will find this book fascinating. It provides a brief history or vivid story of how each color came to be. With this book, Kassia provides a unique study of human civilization.
Art Courses
Modern Watercolor Botanicals: A Creative Workshop In Watercolor, Gouache, & Ink // This book is an extremely thorough yet accessible watercolor course written by Sarah Simon (The Mint Gardener). This book is for you if you have always wanted to learn how to paint with watercolor, or just love to paint flowers. It is by far the best modern course book out there.
Florals By Hand: How To Draw And Design Modern Floral Projects // This is Alli Koch’s second book. I loved the first book, Modern Florals, but I love Alli’s second book even more! In this book Alli explores some different drawing warmups and approaches, but the best part of this book is the section on how to digitize your drawings. Whether it’s for a website or to post to social media, this is useful knowledge for any artist looking to bring their drawings to the internet.
(One Drawing A Day Courses)
One Drawing A Day: A 6-Week Course Exploring Creativity With Illustration And Mixed Media // If you are looking to practice drawing skills, improve and expand upon your technique, or exercise your imagination, this six week course might be just what you need. Each spread in the book features a beautiful drawing by one of eight professional illustrators, with a description and comments by the illustrator as well as a companion exercise. Each exercise includes media suggestions, drawing advice, and other professional tips.
One Watercolor A Day: A 6-Week Course Exploring Creativity Using Watercolor, Pattern, and Design // If you enjoyed One Drawing A Day then you will also enjoy this second book. Brought to you by the artists of the popular blog One Drawing A Day, this second book is another six week course. This time the artists explore watercolor techniques. There are daily watercolor paintings and exercises to help you cultivate your imagination and develop your style.
I hope that this guide was helpful in finding the perfect gift for that special reader in your life!
