“The Hamptons” is synonymous with luxury. Simply mentioning the name conjures images of poolside soirées, grandiose waterfront estates and endless days on the beach socializing with the upper echelon.
But before this famed peninsula became the summer haunt of the glitterati, its forty miles of rolling sand dunes provided the perfect landscape for English settlers. Once New York high society caught wind of the charming hamlets and salty air, its members—from the Fords to the Vanderbilts—soon turned The Hamptons into a summer oasis.
“All the towns along the East End have therir own charm, from Southhampton to Montauk; and they’re close enogh that you don’t have to pick just one”
Michael Kors, designer
Next came the creatives seeking solitude, a place to write and sketch, away from the urban cacophony. John Steinbeck in Sag Harbor. Jackson Pollock in the Springs. And Andy Warhol in Montauk. Now, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Calvin Klein, Madonna, Alec Baldwin and Martha Stewart all enjoy Hamptons homes. They may come from different realms, but what’s one thing all Hamptonites, honorary or official, can agree on? The locale boasts a unique allure—one that morphs to meet the desires of its next seasonal guest or lifelong dweller.
Hamptons Private invites readers to peek behind the manicured hedges in Amagansett, charter a yacht off the shore of the Springs, experience the surfer’s haven that is Ditch Plains and attend a polo match in Bridgehampton.
Each page envisions the quintessential leisure of The Hamptons and showcases the unique quality of light that artist Willem de Kooning dubbed a “miracle.” One can almost hear the thwock of tennis balls at The Meadow Club, the whisperings of exclusive parties, the rhythms of seaside music at The Surf Lodge—even the first bite of a lobster roll at Lunch.
The Hamptons, at once a retreat to nature and a hot spot for A-listers, exudes a boho-chic spirit reflected in its beautiful people and sublime surroundings.
Editors: Dan Rattiner & Assouline
Release date: April 2021
Format: W 10 x L 13 x D 1.5 in, 6.0 lb
Features: Linen hardcover, English language, 316 pages, over 200 illustrationen
ISBN: 9781614289876
About the author
Dan Rattiner, a cartoonist, photographer and award-winning writer, fell in love with The Hamptons when he moved to Montauk at sixteen years old. He’s been a resident of the East End ever since. Rattiner founded the popular Dan’s Papers, a free weekly publication, at age twenty. He’s also worked at The New York Times and hosted a weekly radio show called “The Hamptons Report” for WQXR. Rattiner’s books include In the Hamptons, In the Hamptons Too, In the Hamptons Forever and Still in the Hamptons.
About Assouline
The illustrated market has become integral to the worlds of luxury, fashion and design. Assouline has actively contributed to this growth by creating the highest quality book-objects whose distinctive graphic identity and editorial savoir-faire have captured imaginations, addressing new themes in a contemporary manner.
The brand, with its style and vision, is a true pioneer. Beginning in the mid-90s, Assouline brought the illustrated book market to life with products that were modern, luxurious and creative.
“We created this company to be the first luxury brand on culture. We love and believe in books more than everything else and so we wanted to supply everything for a contemporary library.”
says Prosper & Martine Assouline
Today, the luxury book market has become an indispensable tool for luxury brands. Because of decreased visibility in print publications whose distribution has dramatically plummeted and the rise of digital media and “influencers,” luxury brands need a “tangible” product to define their DNA and position themselves in the marketplace. This presents an opportunity for brands to describe their heritage, define their style and bring their creations to life for their international clientele as well as the business world.
“Our digital world goes faster than ever and nothing remains of it, but books are the solid part of our past and present. They also are beauty. For us, books are a matter of intellect and emotion, of heritage and innovation.”
so Prosper & Martine Assouline
Beyond beautiful books Assouline is invested in the promotion of culture. It has created the “first brand of luxury culture” by opening boutiques where one can discover a world of good taste, excitement and intellect, a place where “culture can be acquired” within a luxurious environment. One can purchase complete book collections as well as objects that belong in contemporary libraries such as perfumed candles and “cabinets of curiosities.”
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