Fabulous Illustrations by Joana Avillez
I have just returned from a short trip to Melbourne, one of my favourite cities. Melbourne for me is all about great food, shopping and beautiful landscape. I thrive there but my bank balance does the opposite. It is particularly beautiful this time of year, all the autumn leaves were out and the grass is so green. Living in Brisbane our four seasons consist of summer, summer, summer and a little bit of spring, so I do get excited at the beautiful colours of autumn and a chill in the air.
While walking though South Yarra, searching for frozen yoghurt, I fell in love with the most unlikely object. Ok well don’t freak out people, but it was a car, yes you heard correctly a car. Let me just make one thing clear, I don’t pay any attention to cars usually. They are mostly ugly metal boxes that move us around. If someone starts talking to me about cars I will tune out rather promptly. This was different, this was an object of absolute beauty, can I say it actually bought tears to my eyes ( I am still having trouble accepting that a car made me cry). This was a 1950′s custom made Cadillac formerly owed by ZZ Top sitting in the showroom at Dutton Sporting Cars www.duttonsportingcars.com.au whom so kindly send me some pictures, isn’t that eggshell colour just to die for? I need not say more just enjoy the pictures.
We are very pleased to announce that for the FIRST TIME, you will be able to pre-order any garments you saw at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week via a special collaboration TOVAH has established with online retail store The Dreamery From today you will be able to shop the collection, like a real fashion buyer and pre-order garments for delivery just in time for summer. This is a limited time opportunity so get in fast.
To do so, head to http://www.the-dreamery.com/Designers/Tovah
Now fashion week is over, I have given my self a little bit of time to recuperate. This of course includes some therapeutic shopping. I find sunglasses shopping very hard. It always takes me weeks to find what I am looking for and to get the fit right. Yesterday was my lucky day, the first pair I tried on I fell in love with (very unusual indeed). I tried on about 4 different pairs from the Retrosuperfuture brand and they were all fantastic. So thought I should share these fabulous glasses with you. There are definitely on my wish list.
Tovah has partnered up with international shoe label United Nude for this years Mercedes Benz fashion week. United Nude was founded by RemKolhass a Dutch trained architect with Galahad Clark a seventh generation shomaker. United Nude products are about clear concepts, elegance and innovation, and that is what Tovah loves about the label. Below are some of our favourites from the label. Need we say any more.
More than 100 of Peter Gentenaar’s ethereal paper sculptures were hung inside the Abbey church of Saint-Riquier in France.
Peter’s sculptures are created by allowing pulp to dry and shrink in unison whilst attached to bamboo framework. He says, The tension between the two materials transforms itself into a form reminiscent of a slowly curling autumn leaf.
Just. So. Beautiful.
TOVAH AW2012, is a tribute to the personal style of one the designer’s style-icons – her mother. It’s wild, it’s free, yet tame, sophisticated and polite. It’s cowgirl meets Audrey Hepburn.
An afternoon of exploration and reminiscing, led Tovah to view old photos of her mother from a bygone era, including a stint with high society in the prairie and lake country of Minnesota, USA. The result of this inspiration is a collection that infuses the refined, structured, waist-flattering silhouettes of the 1950s with the freedom of the “wild west”.
As we all know here at TOVAH, your work room is a very personal space. It is where our creativity flourishes and where all the magic happens. Featured here is the awesome black and white studio of Danish artist/painter Tenka Gammelgaard. We love the eclectic and inimitable style of the space. The TOVAH workroom is currently undergoing some renovations. We can only hope it will be as creatively nurturing as Ms. Gammelgaard’s is.
The visual life. Adding an insight behind the lens. Scott Schuman is internationally known for capturing the street style from New York to Milan to Paris and beyond. Acclaimed one of most influential gentlemen in fashion today, this short documentary on the man behind the camera provides a beautiful insight into the mind, passions and visions of Scott Schuman.
Honoring Paul Newman – Master of the 1960’s prep. Not only known for his acting, and his flawless good looks, this award-winning star is known throughout history for his impeccable attire.
Whether kitted out in a perfectly tailored suit or a beat up pair of chinos his complementing forms, structures and effortless style carried with him, creating the effortless style icon.
In this Intel Visual Life short documentary, Michael Wolff, co-founder of Wolff Olins Agency and considered one of the preeminent visionaries and perhaps the father of 20th century brand expression and identity, talks about his approach to looking at the world, including the muscles of curiosity, appreciation, and imagination.
“Any form imaginable can be rendered through drawing, but when modeling in paper, an object has to be physically shaped. When faced with a flat sheet of material, there is no obvious indication of how it can be manipulated into a three dimensional object. The limitations of paper as a form making material offer a challenge, which through playful investigation results in tangible models.”
Some inspiring words that transform all too easily into the world of fashion design. A true insight into the mind of an artist.
Last week the fabulous Valerie Soh (Hong Kong editor) wore my clothes to shows at fashion week. The first outfit she picked out was the long pleated pant with the lilac slip to wear to the White Suede show and the second outfit was my lilac and blue paneled dress with the little blue cape. She looked amazing and course and got photographed a lot. One of the images, which I must say I do love as Valarie is always on the ball when it involves posing for photos, was snapped by the fabulous Yvan Rodic for Facehunter. FOr all of you who do not know what Facehunter is, it is an international blog rated at the very top. He has a huge amount of followers world wide. People that just log in to see what he has snapped. So this was very exciting for the label. Anyways here is the picture below of Valarie killin it.
http://facehunter.blogspot.com/
We arrive at the grand Westin hotel in Sydney and are so pleased to be in the Heritage wing which is the old post office building. The huge ceilings and large windows just speak grandness. We get there and unpack the collection, finally getting to see the whole collection hanging feels so good. I am thrilled. It looks fabulous. So I have attached a picture of the rack. I will keep updating my RAFW trip. So keep posted as it was a very exciting week.
