Tluxe Blog

Olafur Eliasson, Your Activity Horizon

The Present from m ss ng p eces on Vimeo.

Artist, Grayson Perry

‘Slow Creativity’ describes a need for contemplation and reflection amidst the speed of contemporary ideas. It's a subject close to our hearts as we get ready to launch our new collection, titled Perpetual Motion. Artist Olafur Eliasson's Your Activity Horizon, pictured above, is a great example of the way Slow Creativity, or in this case, slow motion has the power to fascinate, and almost hypnotise us. A darkened room with a coloured light installation running along its walls at eye level gives the impression of a limitless horizon whose colour changes every 50 seconds. And for those who feel time flies by too fast, take a look at the annual clock called The Present, which tells the time in seasons using gradients of colour.

Direct from Nashville (and in celebration of Australia's Country Music Week this week) we've discovered this track from the fabulous, yet underrated Bobbie Gentry. And if Country isn't your thing, this little number might just change you're mind.

While researching inspirational images for next spring/summer’s collection (yes, we work at least 12 months ahead) we came across the talent that is Kelly Thompson, a New Zealand-born, now Melbourne-based illustrator who’s intelligently seductive style, more often than not featuring beautiful women, has gained her an international following in art and fashion communities worldwide.

You can check out her work – for clients as diverse as accessories brand, Mimco to international publishers Hachette and the New Zealand Opera – here. Kelly tells us: “The greatest results happen when you are employed to do what you do best and are encouraged to push your boundaries and have fun.” We couldn’t agree more.

Fashion legend and ex-American Harpers Bazaar editor, Diana Vreeland (1903-1989) has been celebrated in a recently released book, The Eye Has to Travel, which hails the high priestess of style as an enduring icon whose influence shaped the face of fashion, beauty, art, publishing and culture. Illustrations, original magazine spreads and famous photographs reveal Vreeland’s vision and her impressive ability to invent and discover fashion ideas, designers, personalities and photographers. If you didn't know already, Vreeland is also the queen of fashion one-liners - the precursor to the current king of fashion quips, Karl Lagerfeld. Keep an eye out for the documentary film version of this book, to be released next year.

The perfect summer hat: Ann Demeulemeester sun hat The perfect sunglasses: Persol Summer 2012 footwear: Simona Vanth

Welcome 2012! While many of our local readers are still enjoying their summer holidays we’d thought we’d offer a few tips for keeping cool, and of-the-moment whether you’re lazing by the pool or soaking up the sun’s rays by the beach.

The perfect summer hat:  We say stick with the classics and make it a wide-brimmed Fedora or floppy 70s-inspired sunhat a la Ann Demeulemeester's offering above – or if you appreciate the quality of handmade tradition, take a look at these beautiful Panama numbers, all the way from Ecuador.

Moving on from the see-it-everywhere Trilby, these handmade Fedoras have a certain chic sensibility in keeping with our very own Tluxe take on relaxed glamour with a Studio 54-style twist. And let’s face it, in the Australian sun a wide-brimmed hat is so much more than just a style investment. It will quite literally, save your skin.

The perfect sunglasses: Persols. Classic Italian heritage. Steve McQueen. Now in cool coloured frames. Need we say more?

2012 footwear: The most down-to-earth footwear trend for this summer, and next, is all about mixing a few found objects from your beachcombing with the look of raw leather, hammered metal, and earthy, rough-edged textures. We just love the look of these sandals from young Italian shoe designer, Simona Vanth.