The unusual line-up of contributors includes artists, an algebraist, a fashion creator, designers, authors, a gardener, a choreographer, an astrophysicist, photographers, an opera singer, a watchmaker, a starred chef and a philosopher — all of whom give their own definition of the word or concept assigned to them. For example, the book opens with the word Love, for which acclaimed opera singer Natalie Dessay provided a facsimile of the original score of an aria from Charles Gounod’s opera Romeo and Juliet. A few pages down, algebraist Laurent Derobert concocted an equation that can calculate LUCK in relation to happiness and pleasure. The book ends with a drawing by Lanvin’s creative director Alber Elbaz, inspired by Van Cleef & Arpels’ signature Zip necklaces. 

Marking each chapter in the book are intricate laser-cut paperworks depicting fairies and other imagery related to Van Cleef & Arpels’ designs; delicate, elaborate and perfectly designed, these creative “intermissions” subtly remind us that it is not by chance that Gallimard is one of the leading publishing houses in the world. The book “An Exercise in Style” was released in early October 2015 and is already available through various vendors online.