Assouline

My Husband and I were really excited to check out the Assouline store inside of The Plaza Hotel when we were in NYC a month ago. As a long time Assouline collector I was ready to be impressed by this place but the experience was worth reviewing! This store is unique and special, just like the books they sell. I loved being able to flip through some of the books that are not usually left out to peruse. The Assouline Rep at this store, Tamara, was absolutely incredible! She knew everything about any of the books that I mentioned (even some of the rare, older books that are not sold anymore!) and she was able to suggest books that I was actually inclined to pick up and not just a random suggestion. What was really impressive was that she was able to pin point the cologne I had on, which is also a rare and more unique scent (Creed)! After conversing with her for a while I was able to walk away feeling like I knew more about Assouline, even though I thought I knew it all already;), and some new books! Thank you, we will be back!

For a bookstore in the lobby of the Plaza Hotel, this place is far from being pretentious or touristy. For a bookstore that sells exquisite books on art, design, and many things art and design related, this place is inviting. They even had some affordably-​priced books.
While reading the bindings of generally every book on the first wall (Lanvin, Le Corbusier, Ballet Russe, Dior, Barbie to name a few), the very engaging employee asked if there were any books I’d like to see as many of the «amazing-​er» books were higher up and in their own bound boxes. Since «all of them» would have kept me there all day (and stretched hospitality to its limit), I settled on Ballet Russe. It was already out on it’s own display stand. I spent about ten minutes carefully flipping through the pages until I was interrupted by my friend. Pages upon pages of Chanel and Picasso designs and realizations for a ballet company in the early part of the 20^th century. Catatonic.
There were apparently scores of equally awesome things, so I didn’t fault her from taking me away from the Picasso sketches and the melodramatically expressioned and posed Russian ballet dancers from the 1920s in Picasso and Chanel designed costumes.
There is a room off to the side with old, out of print, first edition books. A Groucho Marx biography. Eloise (naturally).
There was also a hippo skull. THAT was too pricey for my budget, and would have been a doozy getting home. I mention this (the other items were also out of my price range), because I do love the pachyderms. However, if I’d had my way (and a rich uncle), it would proudly be displayed in my home.
Other than the amazing items mentioned above, what really sets this very small-​scale (with a few outposts around the globe) bookstore apart is that they publish their own books. And the books are all works of art, gorgeously crafted. The images within are gorgeous and provocative. Stunning works of art that display amazingly stunning works of art.