(Clairborne Swanson Frank/Assouline)

Affordable luxury comes in many different forms – an ultra-plush blanket, Chanel’s newest nail color or Dior perfume in a sample size.

One of the best ways to amp up the glam without breaking the bank is a beautiful coffee table book.

Assouline, a book publishing company founded in 1994, just launched their newest tome this week. “American Beauty,” by Claiborne Swanson Frank and Genevieve Bahrenburg, captures over 100 women in the fashion industry between the patriotic covers.

Assouline and Vogue have been working together on a book tour for Swanson Frank and Bahrenburg, which made a stop in Dallas on Wednesday night at Neiman Marcus.

The two very stylish women were seated in the cosmetic department of the NorthPark Center store, signing copies and chatting with attendees who had purchased the required amount of Estee Lauder cosmetics.

In the spirit of “American Beauty,” the makeup brand partnered with Vogue and Assouline to provide make overs during the event.

“American Beauty” is an extension of Swanson Frank’s first book, “Indigo Light.”

Swanson Frank and Bahrenburg worked with the women in an aesthetic and intellectual conversation in order to create the most accurate and beautiful portrait.

“It was really a collaboration with these women,” Swanson Frank said.

“We wanted to encapsulate them in beautiful portraiture.”

Swanson Frank delved into the women’s personal closets to conjure up a look that spoke to the woman’s true self.

Swanson Frank is well-known for her work with Lauren Santo Domingo for Vogue in the past, but has now developed a career as a photographer.

Bahrenburg, who earned her chops as a features editor at Elle, provided all the copy inside “American Beauty.”

Alongside each photograph, there is a bold quote and miniature biography of the featured woman, sizing them up in a few well- chosen words.

Krystal Schlegel, a SMU senior and fashion blogger, was among the few that attended the pre-launch dinner at the Mansion on Turtle Creek Tuesday night.

Multi-course dinner aside, Schlegel relished her time spent flipping through the book and chatting with Swanson Frank.

“I love that the book focuses on beauty through successful and accomplished women,” Schlegel said. “It isn’t a way we often see women shown in fashion portrayed.”

The book features a handful of Texas women, including Laura Bush, Solange Knowles, designer Lela Rose and Vogue Fashion Market Editor Jessica Sailer.

“I love Texas girls, they are all bombshells,” Swanson

Frank said.

“They’ve got a lot of moxie. And hair,” Bahrenburg added.

To place “American Beauty” on your bookshelf, go to assouline.com or visit any of the Assouline boutiques worldwide. 

(Claiborne Swanson Frank /Assouline)

(Claiborne Swanson Frank/Assouline)