Author(s): LAURENCE BENAIM

Travel Guides

The concept of luxury, often thought of as a modern notion, has deep historical roots, paralleling human civilization itself. Ancient societies, in their pursuit of more than just basic needs, left behind exquisite artifacts that reflect the joy of possessing unique objects. From the enchanting "turqueries" to the grandeur of the Topkapi Palace and delicate decorative arts, five centuries of luxury have continuously evolved, inspiring the present day. This book, created in collaboration with Beymen, a Turkish luxury-fashion leader, commemorates their fiftieth anniversary and complements the Golden Opulence exhibition in Istanbul, showcasing exclusive fashion pieces by renowned designers like Alexander McQueen and Valentino. Golden Opulence, 500 Years of Luxuriant Style pays homage to Ottoman craftsmanship and emerges as an essential reference for fashion and luxury aficionados, offering a glimpse into a singular way of life that continues to captivate and inspire. AUTHOR: Journalist and writer Laurence Benaïm is the author of highly regarded biographies on Yves Saint Laurent, Marie-Laure de Noailles and Jean-Michel Frank (Grasset, 2001, 2017, 2018), in addition to La Sidération (Stock, 2021) and Paris, capitale de Guerlain (Flammarion, 2021). She has written several books on fashion and style history for Assouline, including Yves Saint Laurent: The Impossible Collection (2020), Orientalism Style (2022), Carita (2022) and Guerlain: An Imperial Icon (2023). Curious, eclectic, demanding, a dreamer and a self-taught man, Laziz Hamani is an exceptional photographer. Of Berber origin, he was born and lives in Paris. He is passionate about creating beautiful images, his life defined by a constant search for aesthetics and meaning. He has worked with many prestigious luxury brands, such as Dior, Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre, as well as with designer Axel Vervoordt, and he has collaborated with Assouline Publishing on more than twenty titles. From the finest details of high jewelry to the purity of minimalist design, Hamani aims to bring the viewer into dialogue with the image, to evoke power and beauty through his unique simplicity. He photographed the images for Uzbekistan: The Road to Samarkand and Uzbekistan: Living Treasures. 200 illustrations Silk hardcover in silk slipcase