tkstore hots up

There is sometimes a dichotomy – a man who can design incredibly feminine clothing, or a strong woman who designs discrete, delicate clothing – but more often designer and clothing are inextricably linked…

Turet Knuefermann tkstore SS11/12

It is always an interesting thing meeting the creative mind behind a clothing label.

There is sometimes a dichotomy – a man who can design incredibly feminine clothing for women, or a brash strong woman who designs discrete, delicate clothing – but more often than not the designer and the clothing are inextricably linked.

This is just the case with Turet Knuefermann and her label TK Store.

This is obvious the moment you meet her as she greets you with a warm wide smile that is incredibly infectious. And this is the same every time you meet her – always ready with a smile – and she has that rare quality of making you feel like you are the only person in the room and she is really interested in what you have to say. This might sound like a very obvious thing, but over the years I have met A LOT of designers, and this is quite simply not the case. Whether they are jaded about what they do, or in meeting people, to be this open and sweet is a reasonably rare thing.

On a most basic level she just appears to love what she does. This is quite apparent in the shop when she is serving clients, and her handpicked staff carry this right on. The store is bulging with bright colourful silks – in fact, it is a little hard to know where to start – so my advice is the talk to the wonderful girls who work there. And try lots of things on. There is plenty to choose from…

But I digress; we are supposed to be talking about Turet’s summer 2011-2012 collection.

It is a smart, sassy and sexy (all the best ‘S’ words) collection of floaty silk pieces that you certainly won’t disappear in. Lovely shifts, and kaftan-esque tops and dresses which discreetly cover the arms (the bits we sometimes don’t like), paired with classic jackets, pants and floor length eveningwear. Classic is actually probably the best word to describe what she does; they are pieces you can add to your wardrobe and just keep pulling out year after year. Turet herself describes her style as ‘a modern twist on classic pieces’.

This year she has added to her usual colour block palette with a fabulous new print. She made the fabric in conjunction with the photographer Patrick Bryne. His photographs of the work of Austrian/Australian architect Harry Seidler were the basis for her work. Seidler was the first to introduce the Bauhaus concept of creating a ‘total’ work of art, in which all arts – including architecture – would eventually be bought together. Byrne made a collection of photographs called Apartments of Australia from Seilder’s work. The photographs melded with dark inky blues and golds in the silk fabric just look like what they are – patterns of fabulous design.

Added to this is the influence of heritage 70’s luxury labels which have inspired her.

Here are some of our favourite pieces.