MY FAVORITE COFFEE TABLE BOOKS TO COZY UP WITH AFTER SKIING

Yours truly is back from a mini blog sabbatical (but not a writing one) and am happy to report that the longest month of the year is now behind us (it’s a proven fact that January is approximately three months long, no?). During the past eight weeks before and over the holidays, I spent many of my hours in a blissful powder furlough on the slopes of Jackson Hole; since returning a few weeks ago, I’ve spent as much time researching ways to stay inspired (and, erm, in shape) when there’s no snow on the ground, as the situation is in Dallas, Texas, where I write this.

With winter in full swing, if you’re not on the slopes, now is the time to curl up with a hot après drink and a good book. And when it comes to ski style, an entire section of my library is, of course, devoted to the topic. Here are the best of the best that your coffee table can get (and they make great Valentine’s day gifts… especially when paired with a pair of plane tickets to Courchevel, hint, hint):

BEST VINTAGE SKI PHOTOS

The Stylish Life: Skiing is a vivid trip through decades of ski style, often through the iconic lens of Slim Aarons, among others.

BEST HOSTESS GIFT

From Assouline comes St. Moritz Chic: I cannot wait to add this one to my collection when it is released this month. The fabulous Sofia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, and Audrey Hepburn all loved St. Moritz, and this 268-page volume by Dora Lardelli promises to make an equally glamorous addition to any console.

BEST COOKBOOK

I am utterly obsessed with the visual feast that is Alpine Cooking, by Meredith Erickson. Traditional alpine style (and cuisine, for that matter) is in the midst of a revival, much like traditional interior design and entertaining… but I digress… This thoughtful and beautifully photographed book will make you immediately want to book a flight to Austria, or at least run out and buy a fondue pot. You won’t be able to put this one down.

BEST SOUVENIR

Another beautiful achievement from Aerin Lauder, Aspen Style is a scrapbook of glossy shots from nowhere other than Aspen, Colorado. It makes a perfect ski trip souvenir to remember a weekend in Aspen.

A few more must-haves include The Ultimate Ski Book, In The Spirit of Gstaad, and The Man Behind the Maps (ski area maps, that is).