Don’t overlook splashy coffee table books as holiday gifts

This combination of cover images shows, from left, Worn on this Day: The Clothes that Made History,” by Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, “Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion,” by Marcellas Reynolds, “Ralph Lauren: In His Own Fashion,” by Alan Flusser and "Ballerina: Fashion's Modern Muse," by Patricia Mears. (Running Press/Abrams (2)/Vendome via AP)

By LEANNE ITALIE / Associated Press November 23, 2019 1 min read

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Coffee table books

This cover image released by Abrams shows “Letters from Hollywood: Inside the Private World of Classic American Moviemaking,” compiled and edited by Rocky Lang and Barbara Hall. Collected from libraries, archives and personal collections, the book covers more than five decades of letters, memos and telegrams from celebrities and other insiders. (Abrams via AP)

This cover image released by Abrams shows “Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion,” by Marcellas Reynolds. Abrams. From the first to make it into catalogs and onto the covers of magazines to runway stars past and present, this book pays homage to black models. (Abrams via AP)

This cover image released by Abrams shows “Ralph Lauren: In His Own Fashion,” by Alan Flusser. (Abrams via AP)

This cover image released by Chronicle Books shows “Ballerina Project,” photographs by Dan Shitagi, who has parlayed the popularity of his Instagram feed @ballerinaproject into a book in more than 50 shots of accomplished dancers around the globe over 18 years. (Chronicle Books via AP)

This image released by Abrams shows “Architectural Digest: AD at 100, a Century of Style,” by Architectural Digest. It’s a centenary celebration hinged on homes past and present. (Abrams via AP)

This cover image released by Clarkson Potter shows “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: A Visual History,” by Fred Rogers Productions, Tim Lybarger, Melissa Wagner and Jenna McGuigan. (Clarkson Potter via AP)

This cover image released by Voracious/Little Brown shows “Cabin Porn: Inside,” by Zach Klein. (Voracious/Little Brown via AP)

This cover image released by Phaidon shows “Rihanna,” by Rihanna. In more than 1,400 photos, the superstar shares her backstage moments, vacation moments and fashion moments, along with the obligatory concert moments. (Phaidon via AP)

This cover image released by Insight Editions shows “Game of Thrones: The Costumes,” with costumes by Michele Clapton and written by Gina McIntyre. (Insight Editions via AP)

This cover image released by National Geographic shows “Women: The National Geographic Image Collection." The book’s 450 photographs span three centuries and more than 30 countries. (National Geographic via AP)

This cover image released by Running Press shows “Worn on this Day: The Clothes that Made History,” by Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell. (Running Press via AP)

This cover image released by Da Capo Press shows “Jeff Buckley: His Own Voice,” edited by Mary Guibert and David Browne. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of Buckley’s debut album “Grace” is this collection of never before seen journals and unpublished lyrics. Buckley died in 1997 in an accidental drowning three years after “Grace” was released. (Da Capo Press via AP)

This cover image released by Artisan Books shows "1,000 Place to See Before You Die: The World as You’ve Never Seen it Before,” by Patricia Schultz. (Artisan Books via AP)

This cover image released by Vendome shows "Inside Tangier: Houses & Gardens," by Nicolo Castellini Baldissera, with photos by Guido Taron. Long a haven for hippies, artists, literary outcasts and eccentrics of all kinds, Tangier is also filled with properties reflecting the “Tangerine” lifestyle. (Vendome via AP)

This cover image released by Assouline shows "Interview" 50 Years," featuring Interview magazine’s famous interviews, covers and artwork. (Assouline via AP)

This cover image released by Workman Publishing shows

This cover image released by Vendome shows

This cover image released by Laurence King Publishing shows

This cover image released by Amistad shows "My Name is Prince," a retrospective of the photographer’s 25 years working for Prince, by Randee St. Nicholas. (Amistad via AP)

This combination photo of cover images shows, from left,

This combination of cover images shows, from left, “Architectural Digest: AD at 100, a Century of Style,” by Architectural Digest, “Cabin Porn: Inside,” by Zach Klein, and "Inside Tangier: Houses & Gardens," by Nicolo Castellini Baldissera, with photos by Guido Taron. (Abrams/Voracious/Vendome via AP)

This combination of cover images shows, from left, "Interview" 50 Years," "Drag" The Complete Story" by Simon Doonan, “Women: The National Geographic Image Collection," and "1,000 Place to See Before You Die: The World as You’ve Never Seen it Before,” by Patricia Schultz. (Assouline/Laurence King Publishing/Nat Geo/Artisan Books via AP)

This combination of cover images shows, from left, “Game of Thrones: The Costumes,” with costumes by Michele Clapton and written by Gina McIntyre, “Letters from Hollywood: Inside the Private World of Classic American Moviemaking,” compiled and edited by Rocky Lang and Barbara Hall, and “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: A Visual History,” by Fred Rogers Productions, Tim Lybarger, Melissa Wagner and Jenna McGuigan. (Insight Editions/Abrams/Clarkson Potter via AP)

This combination of cover images shows, from left, “Ansel Adams’ Yosemite,” by Ansel Adams and “Ballerina Project,” with photographs by Dan Shitagi. (Little Brown and Company/Chronicle Books via AP)

This cover image released by Little Brown and Company shows “Ansel Adams’ Yosemite,” by Ansel Adams. The book includes images from Yosemite National Park selected by Adams before his death in 1984. (Little Brown and Company via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) – Art, architecture, music or travel: Coffee table books can fill just the right gift niche, especially when the cost would be budget-busting if you bought one for yourself. Offerings abound at holiday time. Some suggestions:

HOMES:

This cover image released by Voracious/Little Brown shows “Cabin Porn: Inside,” by Zach Klein. (Voracious/Little Brown via AP)

“Architectural Digest: AD at 100, a Century of Style,” by Architectural Digest. Abrams. In her foreword, Anna Wintour calls the book “quite the house tour.” It’s a centenary celebration of homes past and present. Marlene Dietrich lounges in Beverly Hills, circa the 1930s. Kylie Jenner stands atop a suede pouf next to a white grand piano at home in Los Angeles. The studios of famous artists and the homes of legendary architects are included. $100.

“Cabin Porn: Inside,” by Zach Klein. Voracious/Little Brown. More than a decade ago, Klein – co-founder and designer of Vimeo – began collecting tales of cabin life on a blog as he and his family set up camp in upstate New York. After publishing “Cabin Porn,” about his unplugged return to nature, he’s back with a second volume filled with the interiors and small details of how lay builders went about making their dwellings all over the world. $32.

“Inside Tangier: Houses & Gardens,” by Nicolo Castellini Baldissera, photos by Guido Taroni. Vendome. Long a haven for hippies, artists, literary outcasts and eccentrics of all kinds, Tangier is also filled with properties reflecting the “Tangerine” lifestyle. Among those in the book: Sidi Hosni, where Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton spent three decades. $75.