We like: Take Ivy

We're silly about Take Ivy, the recently republished 1965 book by Japanese photographer Teruyoshi Hayashida with text by Shosuke Ishizu, Toshiyuki Kurosu and Hajime Hasegawa.

The book is a series of photos of students at U.S. Ivy League campuses in the 1960s that seeks to explain the elements of preppy style. It's fantastic not only because of the way the captions refer to the students in the photographs as if they are some sort of exotic species (which, in many ways, Ivy League students still are), but because the clothes they wear are still so fashionable today.


The book's blurb says that when it was originally published, it set off an explosion of American-influenced "Ivy Style" among students in Tokyo. If you've been to Tokyo, it's easy to suggest that this so-called explosion is still reverberating today - although you could also argue that the way Japanese fashionistas have tweaked preppy style means they have turned it into a style all their own.

However, this is now, and that is then - and we recommend Take Ivy as a completely charming time capsule (and a very good gift for your favourite prep fans). It's published by Powerhouse Books. We got our copy at Auckland's Unity Books.

We like: Cafe Hanoi

We're big fans of Auckland's Cafe Hanoi, not only for its fantastic Vietnamese street-style food, but for the beautiful interior of the building the restaurant occupies in Auckland's Britomart Quarter. When you consider the disrespect Auckland has generally had for its old buildings, it's a delight to see a 130-year-old warehouse as cleverly refurbished as this. The restaurant is featured in our current issue of the magazine. These images are from Jeremy Toth's shoot.


Nat Cheshire of Cheshire Architects wanted to preserve the integrity of the existing structure and the layers of history it contained. So paint was scraped back and left exposed, while the room was fitted out with paper lanterns and red-painted, reupholstered vintage chairs.


Cafe Hanoi is one of those rare restaurants where, if the need arises, you can feel very comfortable dining alone, especially if you sit at the bar with its view of the kitchen.


As the restaurant doesn't take reservations in the evening (apart from large groups - it does take lunch reservations), the bar is also the place to wait at for a table. You never have to wait for long, and the view of the bustling, beautifully decorated room makes the time seem to pass quickly anyway. We suggest you visit as soon as you can.

We like: Handcrafted Modern

Our current favourite book is Handcrafted Modern, by American photographer and writer Leslie Williamson, who visited, photographed and wrote about some of the most memorable US homes owned by modernist architects and designers.

Williamson visited the homes of the late Charles and Ray Eames, George Nakashima, Harry Bertoia, Russel Wright (below and above), and Walter Gropius (bottom) among others.


As a whole, the book offers a counterpoint to anyone who suggests modernist design is minimal and cold-hearted, as all of the homes featured in it are warm, humane and utterly seductive.

Leslie Williams has posted outtakes from some of her shoots, as well as other work, on her blog, http://lesliewilliamsonphoto.blogspot.com/ But the beautifully produced book is the thing we like the best.