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It’s a wrap: Gift books for those with a passion for style and elegance

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Nothing says wintertime like snuggling up on the couch with a warm blanket, a mug of hot cocoa and your favorite coffee table book. However, if your coffee table is barren, or you’ve noticed your friend’s book collection is looking rather skimpy, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of our favorite fashion, style and beauty books to gift this holiday season.

“Neville Jacobs: I’m Marc’s Dog,” by Nicolas Newbold (Rizzoli, $22.50)

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Get a glimpse into the glamorous and fashionable New York life of Neville Jacobs, Marc Jacobs’ sassy bull terrier. This book is a compilation of Instagram photographs taken from puppyhood to present. Pamper your puppy-obsessed friend with a book that warms the heart and fits perfectly on a dorm room bookshelf or sits stylishly on a living room coffee table.

“Vogue: The Shoe,” by Harriet Quick (Octopus, $125)

The award-winning journalist, editor and author has amassed more than 300 images of some of the best footwear to have graced the pages of British Vogue. This is the holy grail of coffee table books, with beautiful images from some of the most renowned photographers: George Hoyningen-Huene, Irving Penn, Corinne Day, Norman Parkinson and Mario Testino. The shoe lover in your life will love you forever.

“The Drybar Guide to Good Hair for All” by Alli Webb (Abrams, $24.95)

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The ultimate handbook for at-home hairstyling from Drybar’s founder, it features more than 100 photographs and step-by-step tutorials. So spread the cheer with a book loaded with style and easy DIY hair-care tips.

“Volez, Voguez, Voyagez” by Louis Vuitton Malletier (Assouline, $50)

Did someone say Louis Vuitton? Yes, the Paris luxury maker of the iconic handbags and luggage, ready-to-wear and more has released a stylish book that takes readers on a fascinating journey into the rich history of the brand. Travel never looked so chic. Let your imagination set sail as you explore this timeless book.

“Alexander McQueen: Unseen” by Robert Fairer (Yale University Press, $65)

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Marvel over Fairer’s vibrant and luxurious photographs of McQueen’s imaginative collections, taken on the runway and backstage where few have access. “Alexander McQueen: Unseen” offers a glimpse into the life and work of one of the world’s most intriguing and iconic fashion designers.

“Red-Blooded American Male” by Robert Trachtenberg (Penguin Random House, $40)

The award-winning photographer challenges male stereotypes, gender norms and traditional social constructs of masculinity through his cheeky portraits of celebrities and everyday men. This comedic look inside the male psyche features more than 100 creative, gripping and sexy portraits of actors, professional athletes, comedians, dancers and war veterans. Any man or woman in your life who appreciates humor will appreciate this book.

“Slim Aarons: Women” by Laura Hawk (Abrams, $85)

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In this book, the American photographer — known for shots of socialites, jet-setters and celebrities — captures the glitz and glamour of the arts, fashion and Hollywood. “Women,” with its images of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Eva Gabor, Marlene Dietrich, Jackie Kennedy and the Duchess of Windsor, would be excellent for anyone who appreciates classic style and old Hollywood glamor.

“Gem” by Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff (DK and the Smithsonian, $50)

Feast your eyes on the most beautiful encyclopedia of jewelry you will ever find. This book, presented by the Smithsonian and Dorling Kindersley Publishing, unearths all the myths, stories and legends surrounding the world’s most-glorified jewels. Additionally, its stunning photographs and in-depth guide make it a conversation piece worth leaving out on your coffee table.

“Nasty Galaxy” by Sophia Amoruso (Putnam, $37)

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This cool adult picture book is packed with bold graphics, photos and short essays that embody the essence and attitude of the Nasty Gal brand. Featuring a foreword by Courtney Love and lots of brazen advice from New York Times bestselling author and Nasty Gal founder Amoruso, this is a winning gift for folks who embrace fashion but don’t take themselves too serious. Amoruso writes in the book’s introduction, “I decided to go all the way back to the beginning — to the black hole moment of creation — to trace the influences of both myself, of NastyGal and of #Girlboss, and to serve it all up in stream-of-consciousness realness, not unlike your Instagram feed. It is a deep dive into my brain and my home.”

“The Fashion of Film” by Amber Jane Butchart (Octopus, $39.99)

Explores how cinema has inspired fashion design over the last century in this intelligent and engrossing read about the merging of two creative industries. This book would look picture perfect in the hands of a film buff or an aspiring fashion designer.

“Paul Smith’s Cycling Scrapbook” by Thames and Hudson (Thames & Hudson)

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Who knew cycling could be so stylish? This book takes readers on a visual journey through the designer’s days in the world of cycling. Riding through his memories, it becomes clear how a bridge formed between Smith’s love for cycling and his love for design. A perfect gift for the sporty spice in your group.

“Inge Morath: On Style” by Justine Picardie and John P. Jacob (Abrams, $65)

Told through the photojournalist’s meetings with Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn, “On Style” offers an intimate portrait of women in the 1950s and 1960s. Morath’s work became a touchstone for the forms of fashion, photography and self-expression during the postwar years in Europe and the U.S. Prepare to get lost in the ethereal beauty and complexity of Morath’s photos. A terrific gift for the photographer or artist in your life.

“Taffin” by James Taffin de Givenchy (Rizzoli, $150)

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The work of the French jeweler — more than 300 pieces — is the star of this regal volume. Since launching his own company in 1996, Taffin has garnered a reputation as an expert on exotic gems. He is also becoming known for his aesthetic, which marries old-world European decadence with stripped-down modernity. This winter, don’t let the frost get to you. Instead, imagine what kind of jewelry to frost yourself in as you flip through this luxurious book.

image@latimes.com

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