At Tory Burch’s Soho Store, a Warm Welcome for New Book David Hicks in Colour

In New York, when the temperature goes into the 70s, you’re sure to find people on the streets of SoHo dressed in their summer s finest—but yesterday, at Tory Burch’s Mercer Street store, an especially chic group gathered to celebrate the launch of interior designer Ashley Hicks’ new book David Hicks in Colour.

Upon entering, guests were immediately welcomed by the warmth of the store’s space—woven rattan baskets were suspended from the ceiling and honeycomb shelves showcased the brand s signature bags and accessories. And at the heart of it all was Ashley s fourth book, dedicated to his father’s work, proudly on display.

David Hicks in Colour features photographs of the celebrated interior decorator s career, assembled in ten colors and framed by his vivid fabrics and carpets, resulting in a stunning visual narrative of his life s work. The book was conceived after inspiration struck Ashley and his partner, editor in chief of Cabana Magazine Martina Mondadori, at his father s home in the countryside, where documents, patterns, and pictures of his father s designs were thoughtfully scattered around his desk.

Ashley shared with Vogue that most of his father’s self-published books in the 1960s were captured in color but printed in black and white. Now, they can be viewed in their authentic, dazzling glory in the new tome. Its cover is a room designed by David in 1965; 55 years later it appears as alluring as ever.

“His work has inspired me in all sorts of different ways,” Ashley told Vogue. “He had a graphic sensibility and was determined that every design he did, primarily, should be photogenic.” Designed by Christoph Radl, the David Hicks in Colour marks Cabana’s first self-published book.

After an hour of hors d oeuvres and refreshing libations, guests were escorted to the second floor, where Ashley discussed his father’s legacy with Mondadori and his longtime friend Tory Burch. Burch, who wrote the foreword for the book, reminisced about the time she photographed a bathroom decorated by David, which later became the inspiration for her brand s Elizabeth Street store in 2009.

Ashley regaled guests with amusing anecdotes of his father s eccentricities—from David’s aversion to chintzes and symmetry to his penchant for decorating tabletops with what he called “Daddy s toys,” which filled the air with laughter.

As the night came to a close, Ashley invited attendees to a book signing event. But before that, he generously imparted valuable home decor advice from his father, stating firmly, “Photographs of people? Absolutely not—only in the bedroom.”