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Architecture & Design

Are you looking to be inspired by some of the finest designers and architects? You find a wide selection of fascinating architecture and design books at Tales. The design books can inspire you to renew your style or house, but you can also use them in your creative process both as a student or professional. If you are more into buildings and the process behind them, take a look at our architecture books that will take you around the world to the most wonderful and groundbreaking buildings on Earth. All of them will look good on your coffee table.
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  • Save 29%
    - A Complete Course
    by Pamela Powell
    £31.99

    Dessous sind ein großer Sektor der Mode. Die meisten Marken haben eine Dessous-Linie. In diesem Buch zeigt Pamela Powell, wie man Dessous und Nachtwäsche entwirft. Schritt-für-Schritt-Illustrationen demonstrieren die Grundbausteine und zeigen, wie man sie in verschiedenen Stilen variiert. Dazu Informationen zu verschiedenen Geweben, Verwendung von Spitzen, Verschlüssen und Verzierungen.

  • Save 22%
    - Police Files Volume I
    by FUEL
    £15.49

    180 photographs of Russian criminal tattoos with accompanying text from original Soviet Police Files.

  • Save 23%
    by Manel Gutierrez Couto
    £15.49

    The latest volume in the 150 Best series, 150 Best Tiny Home Ideas showcases a wide selection of urban and rural homes from around the world that exemplify tiny home living. Filled with detailed, full-color photographs, comprehensive layout illustrations, and informative descriptions, this useful guidebook responds to the space limitations of contemporary environments and highlights the newest innovations in efficient and successful small-space design. In recent years, tiny homes have not only become hugely popular because of their creative use of space but also necessary to deal with increasingly crowded living conditions. In this lush volume, you'll discover the most current and effective trends in tiny home design that work to enhance the comfort and practicality of the home without sacrificing the design. Featuring 150 homes designed by world-renowned architects and designers, 150 Best Tiny Home Ideas is the must-have resource for those interested in the construction and design of small-space living.

  • Save 24%
    by Catharine Slade-Brooking
    £18.99

  • Save 10%
    - Simplicity
    by Nancy Braithwaite
    £35.99

    Interior designer Nancy Braithwaite's long-awaited first book is a striking tutorial in the power of simplicity in design.

  • Save 24%
    by Erik The
    £18.99

    Deals with Escher's works, from the great master prints to numerous drawings that are arranged to form a cinematic journey of discovery revealing the magical world of the artists mind. This title presents a study of a great maverick who so memorably linked the world of imagemaking with geometry and paradox.

  • Save 14%
    by Megamunden
    £9.49

    A colouring book with a unique - and highly popular - theme

  • Save 27%
     
    £21.99

    Divided into seven sections: Line, Tone, Color, Telling the Story, Creating Ideas, Fields of Illustration, and Experimenting and Studies, this book is filled with instructions, tips, insider experiences, and incredible illustrations.

  • Save 23%
    - 365 Essential Design Dos and Don'ts
    by Peter Dawson
    £16.99

    365 daily design mantras for both graphic design professionals and the growing group of non-designers who want some guidance.

  • Save 15%
    - 300 Tips, Techniques, Trade Secrets and Templates
    by Bonnie Fitzgerald
    £10.99

    Title: Compendium of Mosaic Techniques, Author: Bonnie Fitzgerald, Publication Year: 2012-08-02, Publisher: Search Press Ltd, Language: eng

  • Save 29%
    by Dark Horse
    £33.99

    Naughty Dog Studios and Dark Horse proudly present the essential companion to The Last of Us, a richly detailed and compelling game set in a postpandemic world where humans have become an endangered species. Featuring concept art, character designs, and astonishing settings and landscapes, The Art of The Last of Us provides a unique look at one of the gaming world's most eagerly anticipated titles. * A must-have companion to the game. * Incredible full-color artwork! * The latest project from Naughty Dog Studios. * The Last of Us swept the top Game Critics awards at 2012's E3 conference.

  • Save 28%
    - 30 Drawing Lessons from the Creator of Akiko
     
    £14.49

    There's more to manga than big, shiny eyes and funky hair. In these action-packed pages, graphic novelist Mark Crilley shows you step-by-step how to achieve an authentic manga style-from drawing faces and figures to laying out awesome, high-drama spreads.

  • Save 30%
    by Jonathan Kirby
    £41.99

    Rock Covers brings you more than 750 album covers that made rock history. From legendary to rare releases, from Elvis Presley to Iron Maiden, these indelible markers of musical memory are accompanied by fact sheets, featured interviews, and top-10 record lists from leading rock collectors.

  • Save 32%
    by Christian Louboutin
    £77.99

    An extraordinary monograph created by Christian Louboutin, renowned for his beautifully crafted handmade shoes, in particular his elegantly sexy stilettos. This stunning volume, with a fanciful and intricate pop-up, an elaborate foldout cover, and dramatic still-life photography, evokes the artistry and theatricality of Louboutin's shoe designs.Celebrated for his vertiginously high stilettos with their signature lacquer-red soles, Louboutin has achieved cult status with celebrities as well as fashionistas. His eclectic and exotic designs, often incorporating feathers, beads, and sequins, are a constant and dramatic presence on the red carpet and in nightclubs and restaurants the world over.Louboutin's first book, this monograph highlights the extraordinary range of his couture, from his iconic and glamorous creations to his fetishistic pieces, including his collaborations with David Lynch, meant more for the bedroom than the street. New photography captures Louboutin's artistic sensibilities, while an in-depth interview reveals Louboutin's life, travels, and inspirations, presenting a very personal look at the man behind the shoes. A work of art in itself, with a five-piece foldout binding and a pop-up, Christian Louboutin is an enticing and revelatory look at the most important luxury shoe designer of our day.The book is divided into six chapters. The first chapter covers Louboutin's biography, his start as a designer from his work for Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent to his first boutique in 1992, and his early creations and influences illustrated with many never-seen-before photos from his personal archives; chapter two features the Louboutin boutiques around the world showcasing the varied and extravagant interior designs and displays; chapter three is "20 years of design" and highlights his shoe designs from over the years with all-new still-life photography, as well as editorial art; chapter four features the spectacular interiors of Louboutin's homes in Paris and Luxor, Egypt, and behind-the-scenes shots from his studios and workshops; chapter five focuses on his creative collaborations with David Lynch, of a series called "Fetish," of limited-edition shoes by Louboutin and limited-edition photos by Lynch; chapter six is a complete catalogue raisonne of his work, with photos of all 120 shoe designs.

  • Save 29%
    by Mario Testino
    £28.49

    Kate + Mario = fashion dynamite. This book is the legendary photographer's personal homage to his greatest muse: a young girl that captured his heart and eye with her beauty, humour and spirit, and whose image in his photographs has captured imaginations the world over. The show-stopping collection includes fashion shoots, candid snaps, and...

  • Save 29%
    by Eric Broug
    £33.99

    Islamic geometric designs are admired worldwide for their beauty and intricacy, yet in truth they are seldom understood. In this volume, the author analyses and explains these complex designs in their historical and physical context.

  • Save 29%
    by Monica Ramirez-Montagut
    £28.49

    A vibrant look at the celebrated artist and designer KAWS.Multidisciplinary artist KAWS was first known for his work as a graffiti artist and his subersive approach to poular imagery on bus shelter and phone booth advertisements. This is the first comprehensive survey of the artist's body of work.

  • Save 26%
     
    £21.49

    Described by The New York Times as, "a treasure of fashion insiders," Take Ivy was originally published in Japan in 1965, setting off an explosion of American-influenced "Ivy Style" fashion among students in the trendy Ginza shopping district of Tokyo. The product of four sartorial style enthusiasts, Take Ivy is a collection of candid photographs shot on the campuses of America's elite, Ivy League universities. The series focuses on men and their clothes, perfectly encapsulating the unique academic fashion of the era. Whether lounging in the quad, studying in the library, riding bikes, in class, or at the boathouse, the subjects of Take Ivy are impeccably and distinctively dressed in the finest American-made garments of the time. Take Ivy is now considered a definitive document of this particular style, and rare original copies are highly sought after by "trad" devotees worldwide. A small-run reprint came out in Japan in 2006 and sold out almost immediately. Now, for the first time ever, powerHouse is reviving this classic tome with an all-new English translation. Ivy style has never been more popular, in Japan or stateside, proving its timeless and transcendent appeal. Take Ivy has survived the decades and is an essential object for anyone interested in the history or future of fashion.

  • by Winifred (The Nottingham Trent University) Aldrich
    £23.99

    Offers a reference source for the practising designer. This edition includes chapter on computer aided design now has full colour illustrations and reflects the growing importance of CAD to the industry and as a part of fashion and design courses. It is suitable for students of fashion and design.

  • - For Artists, Designers, Poets and Designers
    by Leonard Koren
    £21.49

    An updated version of the classic volume on the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.

  • Save 31%
    - The Definitive Guide to the Decorative Arts of the 1920s and 1930s
    by Alastair Duncan
    £44.99

    Offers an account of the decorative arts of the Art Deco period. This book celebrates the styles rich variety of form and its diverse international roots as the very factors that make it a perennial favourite of modern collectors and designers.

  • Save 29%
    - Timeless Interiors
    by Axel Vervoordt
    £31.99

    A rare insight into the stunning interiors created by one of the world's leading antiques dealers. Axel Vervoordt's Castle of s'Gravenwezel and his Kanaal gallery in Belgium attract visitors from all over the world. Previous books on Vervoordt have brought the splendid objects on display in these remarkable locations to an even wider audience. In this new work, the great antiques dealer reveals for the first time the other interiors he has created in locations both in Europe and the United States. The extent of Vervoordt's talent is revealed in the unique atmosphere of the twenty-three houses presented in this book. The variety of styles reflects Vervoordt's love of eclecticism, and his authentic and welcoming interiors are inspirational for amateurs and professionals alike. From a Swiss chalet to a Miami mansion or a Bordeaux château,Vervoordt's creations are perfectly in tune with the character and history of each space.

  • Save 21%
    - The War in Eastern Bosnia 1992-95
    by Joe Sacco
    £14.99

    In late 1995 and early 1996, cartoonist/reporter Joe Sacco travelled four times to Gorazde, a UN-designated safe area during the Bosnian War, which had teetered on the brink of obliteration for three and a half years.

  • Save 23%
    by Naoto Fukasawa
    £16.99

  • Save 23%
    by Gustave Dore
    £15.49

    Gustave Doré (1832-83) was perhaps the most successful illustrator of the nineteenth century. His Doré Bible was a treasured possession in countless homes, and his best-received works continued to appear through the years in edition after edition. His illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy constitute one of his most highly regarded efforts and were Doré's personal favorites. The present volume reproduces with excellent clarity all 135 plates that Doré produced for The Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise. From the depths of hell onto the mountain of purgatory and up to the empyrean realms of paradise, Doré's illustrations depict the passion and grandeur of Dante's masterpiece in such famous scenes as the embarkation of the souls for hell, Paolo and Francesca (four plates), the forest of suicides, Thaïs the harlot, Bertram de Born holding his severed head aloft, Ugolino (four plates), the emergence of Dante and Virgil from hell, the ascent up the mountain, the flight of the eagle, Arachne, the lustful sinners being purged in the seventh circle, the appearance of Beatrice, the planet Mercury, and the first splendors of paradise, Christ on the cross, the stairway of Saturn, the final vision of the Queen of Heaven, and many more. Each plate is accompanied by appropriate lines from the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow translation of Dante's work. Dover (1976) original publication.

  • Save 29%
    - The Complete Illuminated Books
    by David Bindman
    £28.49

    This volume contains every page of Blake's 20 or so illuminated books, reproduced in facsimile. It features his great prophetic poems, for example, "Jersualem" and "Songs of Innocence and of Experience".

  • Save 17%
    by Harold Speed
    £11.99

    Much of the learning to practice as well as to appreciate art is concerned with understanding the basic principles. One of these principles is what Harold Speed calls "dither," the freedom that allows realism and the artistic vision to play against each other. Very important to any artist or work of art, this quality separates the scientifically accurate from the artistically accurate. Speed's approach to this problem is now considered a classic, one of the few books from the early years of this century that has continued to be read and recommended by those in the graphic arts.In this work, Harold Speed approaches this dynamic aspect of drawing and painting from many different points of view. He plays the historical against the scientific, theory against precise artistic definition. He begins with a study of line drawing and mass drawing, the two basic approaches the artist needs to learn. Further sections carry the artistic vision through unity and variety of line and mass, balance, proportion, portrait drawing, the visual memory, materials, and procedures. Throughout, Speed combines historical backgrounds, dynamic aspects which each technique brings to a work of art, and specific exercises through which the young draughtsman may begin his training. Although not a technique book in the strict sense of the terms, The Practice and Science of Drawing brings to the beginner a clear statement of the principles that he will have to develop and their importance in creating a work of art. Ninety-three plates and diagrams, masterfully selected, reinforce Speed's always clear presentation.Harold Speed, master of the art of drawing and brilliant teacher, has long been cited for this important work. For the beginner, Speed will develop a sense for the many different aspects which go into an artistic education. For the person who enjoys looking at drawings and paintings, Speed will aid developing the ability to see a work of art as the artist meant it to be seen.

  • Save 24%
    by Cassandra Clare
    £18.99

    Celebrate the magic of the Mortal Instruments with this gorgeous new Collector's Edition, complete with stunning new cover artwork and a letter from Cassie.A must-have gift for any Shadowhunter fan, revisit the magic with this lavish new hardback edition of City of Glass, featuring new cover art, stunning endpapers and a letter from Cassie.Amid the chaos of war, the Shadowhunters must decide to fight with the vampires, werewolves and other Downworlders - or against them. Meanwhile, Jace and Clary have their own decision to make: should they pursue the love they know is a mortal sin?

  • Save 14%
    by Brandon Sanderson
    £9.49

  • Save 10%
    by L. J. Smith
    £8.99

    Elena, believing she was helping her boyfriend, Stefan, is tricked by his brother Damon into exchanging blood with him - little realising that this will transform her into a vampire too. Now crazed with her own wild craving for blood, it is up to Stefan to save her - but first he must find a way to end his feud with Damon...

Architecture

Our selection of cultural books also include architecture books. If you are fascinated by beautiful or memorable buildings we have the books for you. 

Architecture is the art form everyone is in contact with everyday. We move across a wide variety of buildings everytime we go out the door. Schools, work spaces, museums and even your own home is a form of architecture. Some buildings however have that extra effect on you. They make you shop and wonder, and most importantly they are products of their time. They are part of our history and tell the story of the time they were made. Some architects also go beyond that creating something never seen before and these are the buildings that we remember and they might even become attractions or landmarks like the beloved Eiffeltower in the city of lights.   

You could also get inspired as an architect or architectural student yourself. The architecture books invite you into the process of making a building out of the ordinary. If you are interested in sustainability you could also find architecture books about that. In the last couple of years we have also seen an increase in sustainable architecture, where materials are reused or alternative and good for our planet. They are the buildings of the future. 

We also have a collection of garden architecture books. In recent years open air spaces have been desired especially in the big cities, where fewer and fewer have access to a garden or park. Therefore we need innovative ways of finding new green areas in the cities also in order to be sustainable. For that matter we need to plant more trees and have nature surrounding us both for our planet, but also for the wellbeing of ourselves. Find ideas for new kinds of creating just that in our selection of architecture books. 



Fashion and design

Everyone wants to be stylish, and in our selection of design and fashion books you can get inspired by some of the best style icons and designers in the world. You can get that extra tip that will help you become the most stylish person in the room or one of the new style icons of Instagram.  Whether it’s about interior or clothes you will find it all among our fashion books and design books.

Fashion is a way of showing who you are. The way you dress reflects your personality and it is a way of showing how you feel or wants to feel that day, although it can be difficult to mix your outfit in the right way, and that is where the fashion books can help. Another wonderful thing about the fashion and design books is that they look stylish in themselves, and they will look gorgeous as a coffee table book. They add that extra level of style to your furnishing, and you display all your knowledge about fashion. So that is why you find the most beautiful and cool fashion books for decor at Tales. 

In our selection you find the popular fashion book In Paris by the French Instagram it-girl Jeanne Damas and Lauren Bastide. In the book they try to cover the secrets of the parisienne; who she is, what she wears and where she is heading. The fashion book contains interviews with 20 of the most inspiring French women from the city of light, and concludes that being a parisienne is not just about how you look and dress, but a way of life. 

If you yourself dream of having a designer carriere, you could also find fashion books for designing in Tales’ selection of culture books. Get the perfect guide to sewing, draping, and picking patterns for your next stylish creation. 

If you need inspiration to renew your furnishing you could - in addition to selecting a stylish book among our fashion books for coffee tables - also find design books about that. They help you pick the most tasteful furniture on the market and most importantly how to style them, and you could end up with the most wonderful interior in your own house. 


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