Travel Essential: Wallpaper City Guides

It's been about 5 years since my last trip down under, so I'm eager to brush up on the new shops, cafes and boutiques that await me. Earlier this week I ordered the Wallpaper City Guides on Sydney and Melbourne from Phaidon Press. These tiny books pack a big style punch and are full of recommendations for the best boutique hotels, museums, shops and restaurants, whether you're travelling to Australia, Europe, Asia, or right in our North American backyard. Plus, they're cute to look at, no?

As I shopped on the Phaidon site one thing I found pleasantly surprising was their blog...each entry is a quick cultural lesson. I love the current post on photographer Guy Bourdin, the groundbreaking French photographer and contributor to French Vogue. His photos are in-your-face sexy and stylish but with a dark side - here are some of my faves: