Notes on our most coveted art & design pieces and collaborations.
£46
Inspired by the House’s travel heritage, the covetable Louis Vuitton Fashion Eye Collection evokes cities, regions or countries through the eyes of fashion photographers, from emerging talents to industry legends. For planning the fantasy staycation see Martin Parr’s United Kingdom, a bittersweet chronicle of life on this island nation, vividly expressing the famous photographer’s complex feelings about his country. After Louis Vuitton City Guides and Travel Books, this collection presents travel photography with a fashion perspective, a vision of destinations with the unique vision of world-renowned artists.
£20
Whatever the climate of your destination, a baseball cap is a travel essential. This Yoko Ono design by Tate, produced as part of the merchandise offering for Ono’s major retrospective at Tate Modern, might be the perfect hat: as minimalist as Ono’s artworks, with a fun text twist at the back to elevate it to a brat summer accessory. As a longtime advocate for global peace we can’t think of a better name to doff your cap to.
$60 USD
It’s the height of the travel season and we are more than ready for a summer getaway this year. Australian brand Soleil Soleil is our go-to for beautifully crafted and low impact designs for the beach. This Fiesta pareo utilises the floatiest organic cotton, and the square shape is designed to be tried as a mini or midi length cover up, or folded into quarters and used as a scarf. The bold colour block design is exactly what the summer calls for.
£85
Summer holidays incoming: live your best life vicariously or throw this into your suitcase, a delicious exploration of the storied Mediterranean island of Capri, a destination with a history dating back to the Roman Empire, and cherished by everyone from from physician Axel Munthe, who recommended its clean air to his patients as a cure for bronchitis; to film director Jean-Luc Godard as the setting for his 1963 film Contempt; to literary icons, celebrities, poets, and the jet set. A celebration of a place that might be close to paradise on earth.
£254
In case you hadn’t clocked, lemon is having a serious moment. Continuing the summer vibe The Wick is lusting after this Melissa Oabash bandeau swimsuit, with SPF 50 protection built in and sunshine guaranteed. We love the chic ruching and tortoiseshell ring detail, and the joyful and flattering hue. As with all Oabash swimwear you can expect this to last way beyond your next holiday too – it’s crafted in premium Italian swim fabric, with a luxe ribbed finish. It’s giving tropical holiday vibes.
£36.50
A zesty little number to elevate your summer dining experience comes in the form of this delectable dolomite fruity jug by &Klevering, the Amsterdam-based homeware brand known for their colourful and inventive creations designed to bring cheer into your everyday. We love the textural, tactile look of this lemon-adorned piece, giving a sculptural feel. The lemon jug can be combined with lemon plates for the ultimate summer evening table.
£49.95
The third book on The Wick’s reading list this week is The Great Women Sculptors, the latest in a series of volumes exploring the women who have shaped art history in different mediums. We have been particularly excited about the arrival of this one, as women have been underrepresented in sculpture yet have contributed some of the most exciting and innovative works. This weighty hardback is the proof: more than 300 artists from 60 countries, spanning 500 years, from the very familiar (Barbara Hepworth, Yayoi Kusama, Phyllida Barlow and Simone Leigh, to name but a few) to young rising stars (our favourite discovery is Hannah Levy, who is currently showing at MASSIMODECARLO London). An inquisitive, expansive and visually stunning survey we can’t wait to dive into. Available for pre-order now.
£30
Lindokuhle Sobekwa began this project after finding a family portrait with his sister Ziyanda’s face cut out. His sister later disappeared from his life for more than a decade, and when she returned she was unwell. By then, Sobekwa was a photographer – he wanted to take her picture once, but she refused. She died soon after. This moving book is a dedication to his late sister, and the strange relationship between memory and photograph, presence and absence. It is a deeply personal book – with a scrapbook aesthetic and handwritten notes – but reflects wider issues of disappearances and dislocation in the aftermath of apartheid and colonialism.
£79.95
There’s no better time to pick up a time on Dame Tracey Emin. This week, Emin made it onto the King’s Birthday Honours List, and is now officially a Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Emin spoke movingly of receiving the hard-won recognition – having left education at 13 – the same week she received the all clear from cancer. This book simply titled ‘Paintings’ is the first ‘serious study’ of the celebrated British artist, and includes an essay by Jennifer Higgie, and a conversation with painter David Dawson, a friend of Emin’s who studied with her at the Royal College of Art in the 1990s. And of course there are images galore – more than 300 of them. This is bound to fly off the pre-order shelves (the book officially comes out in September).
£65
Ally Capellino’s Simon wash bag is available in this endorphin-inducing new colourway for spring summer 2024. The details and quality remain the same: easy-clean nylon lining, water-resistant British waxed cotton and useful pockets a plenty. A joyful travel companion that will endure for years to come. Also available in the black and lilac, but personally we love the punchy orange – a colour that sends a message of happiness, hope and youth.
