Book Review: Slim Aarons — Once Upon a Time

Introduction

If you’ve ever saved a sun-drenched Amalfi Coast shot to your mood board or admired Sean Connery-era tailoring, chances are Slim Aarons had something to do with it. First published by Abrams in 2003, Once Upon a Time gathers more than four decades of Aarons’ photographic escapades—Montecito mansions, Riviera pool parties, Aspen chalets—into one stunning 240-page hardback that weighs almost as much as a Leica M3.

For the TheMenMen crowd, it doubles as both a style manual and a living-room brag piece.

Why It Still Matters

A Masterclass in Quiet Luxury

Long before TikTok coined the term, Aarons was documenting linen suits, Persols, and teak-deck Rivas with a candid nonchalance money can’t buy. Every spread offers cues on fit, fabric, and understated confidence—proof that good taste ages better than trends.

Jet-Set Geography

The book hops from Capri to Palm Beach to Gstaad, spotlighting locales that shaped modern resort culture. Use the imagery as a cheat sheet for future travel—or at least for crafting an envy-inducing Zoom backdrop.

Narrative Context

Essays by William Norwich frame Aarons’ work within post-war affluence and magazine culture, giving you cocktail-party talking points beyond “nice photo.”

Print & Build Quality

Thick semi-gloss stock preserves the Kodachrome punch; the Smyth-sewn binding lies flat for double-page panoramas—exactly what you want from a display piece that’ll be leafed through for years.

Coffee-Table Cred

Position it next to a cedar-scented candle and your vintage Patek chronograph book: instant visual hierarchy. Friends will linger, flipping to the iconic 1959 Poolside Gossip spread—then asking where you scored the book.

Takeaways for the Modern Man

1. Wardrobe: Earth-tone polos, crisp white trousers, tasseled loafers—proof that resort wear can be masculine without cargo pockets.
2. Interiors: Note the teak sun loungers and rattan textures; they translate effortlessly to a contemporary loft.
3. Mindset: Aarons shot “attractive people doing attractive things,” yet the joy feels low-ego. Wealth whispers, it never shouts.

Verdict

Rating: 4.9 / 5

Once Upon a Time isn’t just nostalgia; it’s a blueprint for aspirational yet tasteful living. If your design library is missing a cornerstone of mid-century elegance, correct that oversight—immediately.