Any passerby has seen them: The windows of Louis Vuitton’s storefronts are magnetic. They draw crowds of adults and children alike, eyes wide in wonder at such spectacles as a colossal roller coaster, gleaming golden dinosaur, panoply of brightly colored hot-air balloons, or a universe of polka dots. With an oeuvre of over thirty-five displays, creators Faye McLeod and Ansel Thompson bring the windows of one of the world’s leading luxury brands to life with their unparalleled magic. Featuring an introduction by The New York Times fashion director and critic Vanessa Friedman, these celebrated vitrines are presented as works of art in this hand-bound oversize Ultimate Collection edition, capturing the inspired world that is Louis Vuitton.

Vanessa Friedman is fashion director of The New York Times and International New York Times. Previously she was the inaugural fashion editor of the Financial Times and worked as features and fashion features director for InStyle UK, arts contributor at The Economist and European editor at Elle U.S. She has contributed regularly to Vogue, The New Yorker, and Entertainment Weekly. Friedman is the author of the book Emilio Pucci (2013) as well as an honorary professor at Glasgow-Caledonian University.

Assouline’s Ultimate Collection is an homage to the art of luxury bookmaking. Hand-bound using traditional techniques, with color plates hand-tipped on art-quality paper, each page of this limited-edition series bears the unique imprint of the artisan. Treating a range of topics from jewelry and fashion, fine art and the ‘Impossible Collections,’ the Ultimate Collection curates culture from around the world and across the ages. Nestled in linen clamshell presentation cases, these books attract collectors, lovers of the printed page, and those who devour the culture of our time. Signaling a new level of sophistication for true connoisseurs, these unique books are works of art in their own right.