Who: Megan, Merchandising
What: Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
Why: I’ve read it every holiday season since college, and I still laugh just as hard as I did the first time.  All of his books are hilarious and incredibly well written.

Who: Beatrice, Accessories
What: Shutter Island, by Dennis Lehane
Why: It’s a great psychological thriller, by a great writer – a combination that should be easy to come by, but is actually very hard to find!  Lehane has great powers of description, and really makes you empathize with all the characters – good and evil.  A multi-faceted thriller that’s impossible to put down.

Who: Lauren, DVF Stylist
What: Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (2002)
Why: This book immerses me in Japanese history while taking me for a ride through inconceivable fantasies.

Who: Sarah, Architecture
What:  Why Architecture Matters by Paul Goldberg
Why: Just got it yesterday from my roomies for Christmas….(they saw the author interviewed on The Colbert Report)

Who: Marty, Store Manager/Woodbury
What:  Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
Why:  For everyone, there is a different interpretation… but for me, it was about Bella’s strength and how love gave her this great strength… it was great to follow her development from this young, fragile girl to emerge as a huge pillar of strength at the end… and I’m a total sucker for romance.

Who: Ashley, Creative
What: The Journeys of Socrates
Why: My mother insisted that it was the “best book she has ever read”…and so she might be right.  Even though I have not read any of his other books, it proved to be an amazing story. We are all on a journey in life and anyone who has spent any time in self-exploration will appreciate this latest book from Dan Millan. His writing is down to earth and thought provoking, and the ending holds the best surprise. It is a true story about how life always comes full circle.

Who: Valeria, Sales
What: The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night Time by Mark Haddon
Why: It’s so fresh, funny and sad at the same time. Once I started I couldn’t stop reading it – it’s entertaining and it gives a lot to think of.

Who: Eva, Southampton Store
What: The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston
Why: It’s the true story of Italy’s most infamous serial killer who murdered and ravaged the bodies of young lovers across Florence’s countryside. If you’re like me and can’t get enough Hannibal Lector and Cold Case Files on A&E, it’s a must read.  Upon moving his family to Italy, Preston learns that he lives next door to where one of the horrific crimes took place and teams up with Mario Spezi, a journalist who had been covering the case since the 80s, to further investigate. And in an interesting twist, the story involves the crazy prosecutor who just put Amanda Knox behind bars. Not exactly in the holiday spirit, but a great book to enjoy with a fire and eggnog.

Six ways to find your style:

1. Make tear sheets. Read lots of magazines and books and tear out or make copies of things that resonate with you, whether they are whole outfits or just appealing color combinations, beautiful textiles, scenes that evoke a certain era or feeling, or anything at all that you think you want to express with your clothes.

2. Write down your style history. Reflect on your life and take note of the things that have influenced you most.

3. Try a lot of looks. Experiment. Everything I know about my style and my taste has been the result of trying out every look in the book.

4. Constantly ask yourself questions. The more answers you have the more defined your style will be. What proportions flatter you? What fabrics and colors do you love? What kind of mood do you seek to create around yourself? What pieces in your closet do you come back to again and again?

5. Find your style icons and inspiration. Identifying with someone whose style you admire is a great way to figure out whether something is you. Inspiration equals personal style.

6. Make an effort. Style will not appear in your life on its own. I always feel and look my best when I’m dressed in evening clothes because that is when I make the biggest effort. We can’t go the whole nine yards every morning, but muster what energy you can and you’ll feel better all day long.

This Independence Day weekend we’re looking forward to curling up with a good book. So whether the next few days have you near or far, here are a few reads recommended by Diane and the rest of the DVF team.

Diane: A few that I am reading this summer…Madame de Stael by Francine de Plessix Gray, The Bolter by Frances Osborne, Chicago by Alaa El Aswany and Gloria Vanderbilt’s new book, Obsession: An Erotic Tale.

Abigail: Snow by Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk. I read it last summer but have picked it up again because it is so beautiful and so timely as it deals with the clash of radical Islam and western ideals. Work Hard. Be Nice. by Washington Post education writer Jay Mathews. Mathews follows two young teachers as they pioneer KIPP, one of the most successful charter school programs in America.An honest view of these two young teachers who are changing the way we think about education. As a board member of KIPP, I was especially excited to see the KIPP program chronicled by Jay Mathews!

Luisella: Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This book shows that one ordinary person with a strong determination and vision can really make a difference and contribute to change the world.

April: Mine is not glamorous or a trashy beach read, but The Wonder of Boys by Michael Gurian. It is about what parents/mentors/educators can do to shape boys into exceptional men.

Colleen: The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho - He is one of my favorite authors. He is usually very spiritual in his writing (i.e. The Alchemist) and I am very interested to see how he folds fashion and cinema into his repertoire.

Daniela: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. It’s a quick read and is so inspiring. It reminds us to follow our dreams and achieve them, as life is so precious. It’s one of those books that you’ll want to keep around and read once in a while.

Cesar: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. The best pieces in here are funny to the point that I almost needed an oxygen tank to restore normal breathing after laughing so hard for so long. The only possible reason not to read this book is if you’d rather hear the author’s intrinsically funny speaking voice narrating his story. In that case, get Me Talk Pretty One Day on audio.

Katie: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. Pulitzer Prize winner! A lot of Junot Diaz’s writing seems to stem from his personal experience of growing up as a Dominican-American. This novel recounts the history of one family while also recounting the history of the island itself. It’s both tragic and hilarious at the same time. Best book EVER!

Claire and Katty in their DVF

Last week DVF hosted a book launch party for Womenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success, the new tome by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay. The two women (of Good Morning American and BBC News respectively) collaborated on the new book, which explores the role of women in the workplace and gives you insight on how to have it all! The authors were divine in their DVF dresses and everyone from Katy Couric to Al Roker to Charlie Gibson stopped by to congratulate them. Plus! The book just debuted at #10 on the NYTimes bestseller list (Advice/How to) for the week of June 21st! Congrats to Claire and Katty, who even with their busy schedules managed to pop by our Sample Sale last week and pick up some book tour-worthy wardrobe additions.

Buy the book…

Ike with Marisa Berenson and Pat Cleveland

Last night DVF hosted the launch of Style File: The World’s Most Elegantly Dressed, a new book from Ike Ude and aRUDE Magazine. The event took place in the store and the first floor of the studio, which was packed with friends and fans of Ike and his new book. Guests were not even slightly deterred by the freezing weather, braving the cold to support Ike and get a glimpse of the book - and themselves in it. Hamish Bowles, fashion iconoclast Iris Apfel, image guru Montgomery Frazier and Patrick McDonald were just a few of the Style File subjects to enjoy the evening.

Buy the Book…

Vive la Vie

You know about the DVF ad campaign with Francois-Marie Banier and Natalia Vodianova, but did you know that Steidl just released a book featuring outtakes from the Francois-Marie’s work? Vive La Vie is an intimate monograph that chronicles the unique relationship that was forged between Diane, Francois-Marie and Natalia during their time together. The resulting photos/paintings/writings are layered with both emotional and artistic complexity.

Produced by Steidl, the limited edition book is now available for purchase at all DVF shops. And at only $50 a book, it’s an affordable and beautiful way to own your very own piece of this creative collaboration.

Find a DVF shop near you…

Ike Ude's Style File

Ike Ude - painter, photographer, publisher - he is a man of many trades and talents, and most recently he is the author of STYLE FILE: The World’s Most Elegantly Dressed. And we think this might be one of the most elegant books to cross our coffee tables in a while. Through interview and photographs, Ike profiles 55 iconic arbiters of style, including John Galliano, Oscar de la Renta, and Diane von Furstenberg. Photographed at DVF studio, Diane reveals her favorite phrases, movies, and role models (you’ll never guess what world leader she thinks has the most distinctive style).

Released on November 4, the book is available online at Amazon.com

PIN-UP: for the intellectual architect

Remember in grade school when you would have book fairs? You’d get all dressed up with your allowance totally excited to get your hands on the latest Sweet Valley Twins? Maybe that was just us. But there’s still something about new books that gets us excited, which is why we’ll definitely be checking out the NY ART BOOK FAIR (and not just because it’s across the street from DVF HQ).

The annual event (third year running) was created by Printed Matter, the NY non-profit devoted to artists’ publications. Held at Phillips de Pury & Company, it will showcase contemporary art books, art catalogues, artists’ books, art periodicals, and zines from over 140 international exhibitors. Look for magazines like Pin-Up and Art on Paper, as well as displays from John McWhinnie at Glenn Horowitz Bookseller and the 13th Street gallery, White Columns.

The fair kicks off Thursday night with a benefit preview, and then runs from Friday, October 23rd thru Sunday October 24th

NY BOOK ART FAIR