Things Of Note No. 004

I’m slowly getting back into the swing of things after the Easter school holidays and quite a few short weeks. These past holidays always feel extra special as it’s also my eldest daughter’s birthday — this year she turned 7. We celebrated with a leisurely breakfast at Hazel in Sydney’s South, a beautiful restaurant on the grounds of Hazelhurst Art Gallery. The girls had a great time colouring in and running around the gardens.

There are so many things on my mind at the moment — I love this time of year where there is a shift in seasons; a little mood and wardrobe reset. This year in particular feels exciting as we have a trip planned for June, a little warm weather getaway. This will be a first for us with both kids, and I feel so lucky to have that moment to look forward to in the middle of winter. It also means I’ve been working overtime saving S/S references that feel relevant for a little vacation wardrobe capsule. I’ll share more on this in a future letter. For now, here is what's been on my mind, my screen, and my reference board lately. I hope you love them just as much as I do.

Archival letters sent by Yves Saint Laurent to friends, from his holiday home in Marrakesh; the work of artist Dora Maurer; neutral interiors with bold contrast — think stark pops of chocolate brown and black; burl wood accents and furniture; that soft dreamy butter yellow still on my mind; a new fragrance; shoes with socks — and these shoes in particular (I wish!) and a scarf tied so effortlessly around the waist. Such a great way to repurpose an essential accessory.

I saved this look and it’s one I keep referring back to. The tones, the simplicity of the pieces and the styling. No notes.

One thing I’m seeing more and more of is exceptionally chic store fitouts. Below is the latest boutique that Friends with Frank have opened in Armadale, Melbourne. With interiors designed by Georgina Jeffries, it feels like the perfect embodiment of their brand and really invites you to step into their world. Sara wrote a great post about the best retail experiences in Australia, and I also wanted to share a few additional spaces I’ve seen pop up overseas that I personally love.

The below is the Yvon Lambert-curated selection of books at Massimo Dutti’s pop-up concept space in Paris. The whole store feels so beautifully put together, without taking away from the pieces themselves. I’ve stepped into my fair share of average change rooms over the years, and really notice a difference when a space feels thoughtful and well-appointed.

This one is another new discovery — the EHRÈ boutique in Seoul. I wasn’t familiar with this brand, having only launched last year, but judging from their Instagram, it feels right up my alley in terms of aesthetic. They focus on refined silhouettes with an emphasis on premium fabrications.

This has been doing the rounds on notes — an incredibly chic soft launch from Réalisation Par in London’s Mount Street. When I first came across these images they were untagged, and unfortunately I ended up crediting them incorrectly. I’m so happy I did uncover the truth as it’s such a perfect space, and I can’t wait to visit if/when I make it over to London next. I adore the Art Deco touches, chrome counter and that photo booth which I’m sure will quickly become a Mayfair must-visit (if it hasn’t already).

I’m very much into this cropped capri/bike pant moment that’s resurfacing again for overseas Spring. These are such a versatile piece, can be dressed up or down and make for a great shoe moment. Below is a look I could see myself in as we transition to cooler weather here. I particularly love how well they work with a sweater / trench or cropped jacket for trans seasonal dressing. This is the pair I have my eye on.

I'm still thinking about Salone — dreaming of touring Villa Necchi Campiglio, or how it would have felt to visit Palazzo Olivazzi.. You can read more about that here, but it was a very special moment as the private residence, designed by Osvaldo Borsani in the late 1940s, was opened to the public for the first time during the week, in partnership with Interni Venosta.

The new Miu Miu fragrance, Miutine, was kindly gifted to me and came in the sweetest baby blue lockable box complete with a little microphone and themed playing cards. The fragrance is floral and fruity with warm vanilla undertones — just what I would expect from Prada’s rebellious and spirited younger sister.

Those yellow tones again — though this time woven into bathroom and kitchen settings. There is something I really love about it, particularly when paired with chrome basins and tapware.

The Calder exhibit in Paris at Fondation Louis Vuitton. Ah, I wish I was there. I used to visit Paris annually for work, and the timing usually always aligned with a great installation at one of the many famed galleries the city has to offer. We don’t have a trip on the cards anytime soon, but if we did, I’d be making a beeline to this.

Scarves — a simple accessory that is so multi-purpose and can dress up an outfit instantly. Have fun with the styling and don’t be afraid to mix and match textures and tones. This one is firmly on the wishlist.

Last month, I finished both The Correspondent and Heart the Lover, both beautiful, both heartbreaking in their own way. I highly recommend both if you haven’t read them already, though perhaps not back to back. I needed something light and fun afterwards, so I picked up Lies and Weddings (thank you Zara Wong for the recommendation). This was a lot of fun, and I loved all the art and fashion references. Definitely a good beach read if you have a vacation coming up! I’m now re-reading Emma as I was in the mood for a classic, though something romantic and satirical to keep the mood light.

I often return to the work of Andrée Putman. The late French interior designer was known for her refined eye and a contrasting approach to style that married classic elegance with modernity. It’s amazing to look through the archives and see her work, spaces and places I’d still very much feel at home in today.

This COS set — one for my Northern Hemisphere readers as it isn’t currently available locally, but I’m holding out hope.

I love the new arrivals from LIÉ STUDIO, particularly the new bag and pouch shapes in the perfect taupe brown and light blue tones. They have also just launched a collaboration with one of my favourite skincare brands, LESSE. These lip balm pendants are the perfect pairing of style and function.

This painting by Belgian artist Luc Tuymans on my reference board.

I still think about this necklace, and this campaign. I love the styling and the contrast.

Lastly, I’ve long been a fan of cords (I have a great navy pair I wear almost every winter). This season I wanted a wider leg silhouette, a little longer in the leg and preferably in a beige or brown tone. These were an affordable purchase that ticked all the boxes.

T

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