Hang onto your elastic Voxfrockians, there’s a truckload of fancy entertainments to stick in your book this week:
SYDNEY
Consumer candy (From Friday, May 10)
Tighttigers (TT) fashion entrepreneur Claire Coppins pitched her latest project, The Aparttment at sophisticated types who are happiest when shopping and hungry for new spots and ways to do it. Her fashion and furniture concept store, located in ivy’s whimsical laneway off George Street, was inspired by the cliche of a Parisien boudoir, with the purest definition of “luxury” at its elegant heart, helpfully tempered by accessible prices. Miss Coppins blended dozens of niche and pinnacle fashion, homewares, beauty, accessories and jewellery brands into a composite collection unique to The Aparttment. Her own TT range is racked with Senso shoes, Bloom Cosmetics, Max Sparrow furniture, Cadry rugs, light fittings by Zaffero, leather jackets by Nour Hammour of Paris, with Yassin Lahmar silk scarves, SFLitter jewellery and a kick-back area serving T2 and Lorraine’s Patisserie. “I wanted to offer a unique shopping experience,” says Miss Coppins. “A boutique where you can come in, take some time out, explore the treasure trove of charming products, sit back with a cup of tea and relax.”
The Aparttment’s neighbours in ivy’s “lifestyle precinct” laneway, are also integral to its chic, including celebrity hair salon Brad Ngata, sleepwear boutique Peter Alexander, multi-brand fashion store Elsewear, yoga-wear phenomenon LuluLemon Athletica, as well as Zimma Tailors, Cupcake Bakery and The Bottle Shop.
THE APARTTMENT, Shop 320C, Ivy, 320 George St., Sydney. Open Monday to Fridays, noon to 9 pm., Saturdays, noon to 7 pm., www.theaparttment.com
MELBOURNE
Love Art (From Thursday, May 9 to September 8)
The National Gallery of Victoria is firing on all arty cylinders. Its Winter Masterpieces exhibition Monet’s Garden has opened to acclaim, its extraordinary water and music installation Clinamen 2013 by French composer Celeste Boursier-Mougenot has mesmerised and delighted all comers, and state arts minister Heidi Victoria (cool name, what?) has announced $4.5 million will be allocated for a Summer Masterpieces programme focussed on contemporary art and design, and a further $4million will be injected to generally tart up both the international gallery at 180 St. Kilda Road., and the national collection i The Ian Potter centre at Federation Square.
Ms. Boursier-Mougenot’s work, installed in the St. Kilda Road gallery foyer and viewable for free, comprises a “celestial blue” pool of water with shifting flotilla of white porcelain bowls that bob about and collide as her avante-garde music chimes and resonates. The work was enabled by the remarkable and apparently bottomless Loti and Victor Smorgan Fund, and will be on view until September 8.
Claude MONET
French 1840–1926 Roses (Les Roses) (1925–26) oil on canvas, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris
Gift of Michel Monet, 1966 © Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, © Bridgeman-Giraudon / Presse
The NGV International’s Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Monet’s Garden: The Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, includes dozens of works as stupendous as they are familiar to even the most casual art lover. The artist’s iconic water lily paintings are among 60-odd heart-flutterers inspired in his famous Giverny garden and frankly intriguing for the manner and emotive power of their paint strokes. They were curated by Madam Marianne Mathieu, assistant director, Musee Marmottan Monet, Paris, and will be on show until September 8. Tickets $26, $22.50 and $10.
ChicTrip (Saturday, May 11)
Get a wiggle on; there is still time to book a spot in The Ultimate Travel Capsule Seminar by doyennes of sensible chic, Pia and Ingrid Almarker. The mother and daughter businesswomen host dozens of events every year including styling workshops, collection showings (two coming up on Saturday, May 18 and Wednesday, May 22) and how-to wardrobe seminars. Their travel class includes packing for space and weight, accessory solutions, accomodating unexpected climate conditions plus gadgets, apps and tips on personal security. Tickets $65, for Saturday, May 11, from 11 am. to 2 pm., at 1375 Malvern Rd., Malvern, can be booked on (03) 9824 5266, info@almarker.com.au, www.almarker.com.au
Mr. Boon Presides. (Sunday, May 26)
Renowned celebrity stylist Philip Boon, known as Melbourne’s “super stylist” for his 25 years in fashion, is offering a rare masterclass and insight into his art. The first, on May 26, is touted as particularly relevant to aspiring stylists, but will invariably appeal everyday, fashion-mad private citizens too. “(I) will give you all the tips and tricks that you need to know to be the professional fashion industry insider,” Mr. Boon says. “Start your career, or jump to that next level.”
Sunday, May 26 from 2 pm., Level 4, 211 Chapel St., Prahran. Places $249 plus booking fee, www.trybooking.com/cuax
Tea? (Sunday, June 16)
High Tea is the proverbial pots and dainties phenomenon that has swept luxury restaurants and hotel lobbies- apparently to the delight of gazillion businesswomen who don’t warm to the long, boozy corporate lunch – from Parramatta to Paris. L’heure du Thé (French translation: tea time) is a particularly lavish version and (you guessed it) designed to mimic the Parisien originals. It will be hosted by Le Style Magazine for the National Breast Cancer Foundation in mid June. The event has sold out in 2011 and 2012 and 2014, Le Style is taking Le The on the road to New York and Singapore. For now, however, it is fetching up in Melbourne’s gorgeous Sofitel Hotel, or, Sofi’s Lounge, to be precise (pictured, above).
The tea will be buffet-style, with macarons and rich gâteaux, pâtisseries, ribbon sandwiches and fontaine à chocolat (chocolate fountain to tu), served with Madame Flavour teas, sparkling wine and cocktails.
Entertainments include song, dance, music and art performances by Jane Moore Academy of Ballet, Moulin Rouge and Lido showgirl Shay Stafford, Leonie’s Piano Melbourne, international fashion illustrator Kerry Hess (her work features at the top of this page) and master patissier, Pierrick Boyer. Prizes, giveaways, gift bags, treats and all manner of fizz-making thrills reportedly justify the $100 ticket price, a percentage of which is allocated to breast cancer research.
Two tea times are offered, from 1 pm. to 3 pm., and 4 pm. to 6 pm., Sunday, June 16 at Sofi’s, Sofitel Hotel, Collins St., Melbourne. Dress code: Parisien Chic. Book at www.lestyle.org/go/order
Compiled by Terry Carruthers with Janice Breen Burns and Candice Burke: info@voxfrock.com.au, intern@voxfrock.com.au, jbb@voxfrock.com.au
