No. 46: Alix Darcy & Clara Hofer-Maire
The Balzac theater, a 1970s Rimowa suitcase, the Bahaus swimming pool, dominoes, Chantal Akerman and more.
Alix Darcy and Clara Hofer-Maire are the Paris-based duo behind Turn – a curated collection of designer vintage pieces. Though perfectly in sync, the two extremely stylish best friends each bring their own distinct flair to every styled look in their collection, which includes a Jil Sander pleated skirt, a 1990s Saint Laurent belt, a Gucci suede blazer, and an Armani asymmetric top. Beyond sourcing and curating these gems, they also capture the histories of the pieces through Traced by Turn. The note on a sequin Marni mini dress: “The dress was purchased on a whim by its owner, who took a cab from JFK to the shop. She fell in love with the uniqueness of the dress - it only was produced twice and she spent her entire vacation budget on it.” From Alix & Clara –
ALIX DARCY
I. a pen and notebook
I need to write everything down, so I always carry a pen and notebook. Honestly, I’d rather someone look through my phone than read a notebook of mine, because my to-do lists can easily be mixed with my inner thoughts. I use a clear page Moleskine and a 0.3 smooth gel black ink pen from Muji, and I feel like that’s always been the best combo. Nothing original here, but they are classics for a reason.
II. a cinema
I feel good in any cinema, the Balzac in Paris has this pretty special feeling to it. I have a cinema card so I go at least once a week, sometimes four. I go watch the great movies and the terrible ones, and it’s always a good time. Sometimes I just hop in and out, sometimes I take myself out on a full date before. It’s definitely my safe place.
III. a game
If you’re not gambling, dominos can be a pretty boring game. I always hated it growing up because my family would play all the time and I didn’t see the point. There’s not much strategy. I’m older now and I appreciate playing, because I get that it’s the conversation around it that matters. And if the conversation is boring too, the play isn’t lengthy so there’s always a quick getaway possible :)
IV. a suitcase
I love a good luggage piece, I get that from my Dad. Every year on my birthday, he gifts me some sort of travel bag and I got my 1970s Rimowa suitcase on my 18th. I love it so much, but in full transparency, it’s the most impractical suitcase ever. It’s heavy and they hadn’t yet figured out the top handle or 4 wheels thing yet. But I still take it wherever I can, and people actually stop me at the airport or the train station to ask where it’s from. Here’s me dragging it up the pavements in Lisbon, full of regrets but always in style.
V. a person
I couldn’t possibly make this list without mentioning Clara, my associate. She’s part of my daily and I think it’s a very special relationship to have with someone, to work together to make something grow. We’ve seen each other in impossible situations, especially because Turn is not just an office job, but a people job and a physical one too. She inspires me and I’m very grateful, and she always gets my jokes, which is a plus. I have tons of pictures because she constitutes 80% of my camera roll, but here we are indulging in our mutual coffee addiction- although she beats me at this game- in Seoul, where we traveled together in April.
CLARA HOFER-MAIRE
I. a material (wood)
I get obsessed by specific materials but wood has been the longest fascination of mine. It’s difficult to translate in clothes but it’s always present around me. Growing up I would collect pieces/chunks of wood (there’s still a few pieces in our family house in Budapest). Today it’s mostly on my arms that I collect it. But, on a recent trip to the Noguchi museum in Queens I saw a huge version of my bangles and now I can’t take my mind off it.
II. a suitcase (mallette)
Using a word Alix included too. I find it interesting to see both our perspectives. It’s such a symbol of Turn because we literally travel with them and depend on them to carry our collections around the world. Actually the first “collections” I ever made were for my suitcases - a collection of clothes to fit a time of the year / a moment in life. That being said, I am very bad at making my suitcase because I think of it as a collection and overpack. The suitcase I like the most to collect in is an old Gucci not practical “mallette”. I am also attached to the suitcase concept because it’s the essence of “l’ame du voyage” which is also a major symbol of Turn - “an eye that has traveled”… has a suitcase.
III. a pool
My current color world is one of a public swimming pool. I like the unnatural blue chlorine water, tiles and the outrageous bathing suits, and plastic chairs. This one is a Bahaus swimming pool in Budapest (the only Bauhaus public swimming pool in the world).
IV. a documentary
Chantal Akerman by Chantal Akerman. I have nothing to say it’s too perfect. So witty. An interpretation of herself by herself. My favorite thing she says is «j’aime à penser que» in English “I like to think that”. I love that we like to think things differently from reality just because we like to think that it’s that way.
V. a person
Again, taking Alix’s last word and talking about Alix. If we were an engine, if Turn was an engine, she would be the cooler and I would be the combustion chamber. One cannot function without the other and I would definitely explode if she was not there to stop me. (Again, us drinking coffee when we arrived to NYC for our first pop-up at MNZ).
~ bulletin ~
los angeles
On view: Maureen Dougherty’s solo show, March Avery’s Quiet Inside and Peter Shear’s Reality Show at Blum. Elana Bowsher at Hannah Hoffman Gallery. Emily Lebowe’s debut art show New Painter at 3100 Gallery. Gordon Parks at Pace Gallery. Sabrina Piersol’s The Blue of It at Sow & Taylor. Group show Water & Flower at Wilding Cran. David Zwirner’s 30th anniversary show. Angel Otero’s The First Rain in May and the late Winfred Rembert’s Hard Times at Hauser & Wirth. Camille Claudel sculptures at the Getty Museum. Ed Ruscha’s Now Then at LACMA.
new york
On view: Cassandra Mayela Allen’s Desahogando: Undrowning at Olympia. Demetrius Wilson’s Bam! at Half Gallery. Vivian Maier: Unseen Work at Fotografiska. Matinee: Dike Blair at the Edward Hopper House. Group show Out of Sync featuring Cecile B. Evans, Cyprien Gaillard, Anri Sala, and Carolee Schneemann at American Standard Co. for Art & Design’s window vitrine (35 Allen). Group show Dog Days of Summer at Timothy Taylor. Travis Fish’s That Dog In Me at Jupiter Gallery. Derrick Alexis Coard’s I Am That I Am at Salon94. Maja Ruznic’s The World Doesn’t End at Karma. Group show Social Practice including works from Paul Cooley, Dan Flanigan, Cristina de Miguel and more at Amanita. Amanda Wall’s Sky Got Dark at Almine Rech. Christopher Wool’s See Stop Run at 101 Greenwich St. Jenny Holzer’s Light Line at Guggenheim. Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion at the Met.
Tonight: Opening reception of the Body of Work AW24 collection (and month-long pop up) at Nepenthes from 7pm to 9pm. The pop-up will also include a curated selection of printed matter by Geoff Snack and an exclusive new ceramics collection created in collaboration with Haneu Haneu. Read more from Body of Work’s co-founder, Brittney MacKinnon, in her Affection Archives feature.
Affection Archives is a weekly look into the archives of yours truly (Arielle Eshel) and people I admire. Follow Affection Archives on Instagram for a daily look into the archives & DM if you’d like to add an event to the bulletin.
love the impractical vintage luggage situation here haha
🎀