Tluxe Blog

The casual cool of Harper’s Bazaar Australia Fashion Editor, Christine Centenera is something that’s always appealed to us here at Tluxe. It’s not only her reputation as an international style leader that we love - appearing on numerous blogs, including The Sartorialist, and now consulting for Kanye West’s upcoming womenswear line - it’s her unique way of dressing up the casual comfort of quality cotton jersey, a theme very close to our hearts. 

Christine's clever formula revels in contrasts; feminine with rock'n'roll, tailoring with loose slouchy fits, high glam faux fur with a low key T-shirt and grey marle track pants. We can’t wait to see the outfits she has lined up for next month’s round of international fashion weeks, starting with New York on September 8. Rock on Christine.

The 70s-inspired pantsuit will be big this summer. We should know. We’ve been doing our own version of the relaxed jersey all-in-one since summer 2007, when we first launched the Tluxe Bianca Jagger style, pictured above.

Inspired by the likes of Mrs Jagger and cohorts Debbie Harry and Jerry Hall at the legendary Studio 54, the Tluxe pantsuit has evolved into the slouchy chic of our newest styles, Melissa O, and Elsa S, in stores now.

First sported as workwear by women in the 1940s, the renaissance of the pantsuit into fashionable wardrobes started in the early 1960s thanks to designers such as Yves Saint Laurent and Norma Kamali. This season everyone from Chanel to Lanvin are embracing the pantsuit’s relaxed glamour. Style yours up with statement heels for a night on the town, or take a note from Tluxe's Emma Balfour and go clean and casually simple by keeping accessories to a minimum and throwing on some great summer flats.

Images top to bottom: Tluxe Bianca Jagger pantsuit, Studio 54 style, Tluxe Elsa S pantsuit, Tluxe Melissa O pantsuit.

We’re having a navy moment. Yes spring is on its way in the fashion world but the reality is there’s still a chill in the air and right now we’re swapping our chic little black dress for something in navy. Not only was navy big on the catwalks for winter, it’s softer and more subtle than black and is a great transitional colour as we head into spring, as seen above on our model Emma Balfour, who's wearing one of our navy maxi dresses from the new spring/summer 2011 collection, in stores now, and available online September 1. And if you can’t quite give up wearing black, just make like Stella McCartney and wear the two together. Or try it on your nails. Along with Chanel metallics, emerald green and turquoise, a deep petrol blue is the< newest nail shade for now.

Shoestring Chic is a new book by Paris-based Australian illustrator and author, Kerrie Hess, who recently sketched for Chanel. Her tips on how to look like a million dollars on a budget include a smart guide for cash-strapped travellers to Paris, who want to stay somewhere chic without the five star price tag.

It’s inspired us here at Tluxe to look closer to home for our own ideas on little luxuries that won’t cost the earth but make life sparkle.

1. Picnic at a harbourside villa: Spring is on its way. Grab a bottle of champagne and some delights from your local deli and head down to Strickland House in Sydney’s Vaucluse. Its secluded, in-the-know location features million dollar harbourside views for little more than the cost of a sandwich.

2. Make Wednesday night your new Saturday night: There’s a whole new world of opportunity outside of weekends. Weekends are expensive - movies, gigs, restaurants are all more likely to have a higher price tag on weekends. So why not make Wednesday night out a routine? For Bondi locals especially, it’s the best night of the week.

3. Buy less but buy better quality: We love nice things. Instead of spending regularly on tee-shirts that instantly fall out of shape, buy one good dress or shirt every few months. Buying less means you can invest in quality. If you have particular things you really like, then saving up and buying a decent version of them is cheaper in the long run. And it will still be around to give you joy in years to come.