Perched on the edges of Cabarita Beach in northern NSW, the extremely Instagrammable Halcyon House was always destined to become a cult hit with the travelling fashion set.
It's no surprise, then, that the venue would be selected to host one of the most anticipated (and stylish) events of the year: the arrival of Mr Porter's Style Council – a weekend-long event covering every topic a style-conscious man might be partial too: food, art, fashion and how to live a life of good taste.
Kicking off on May 19, the event coincides with the launch of LA-based Australian photographer George Byrne's artist-in-residency exhibition, Colour Field, documenting the landscapes of Northern NSW and Byron Bay.
Byrne and fellow Australian Hayden Cox are the latest members of the prestigious Council, which originally launched in 2011 and includes the likes of Pharrell Williams, Dev Patel, and David Gandy.
"The idea was to invite some of the world's most stylish and best-connected men to share their style tips and insider recommendations for where to eat, drink, play, and what to wear when attending," explains director Ashlyn Chesney.
Joining the elite
Hayden Cox, surfer and designer of some of the world's best surfboards, Haydenshapes, describes the invitation as humbling.
"I've never really seen myself as someone that you'd directly link to fashion or lending an opinion on that subject," confesses Cox.
"But I realised that it is much broader than that and it covers all different interests, travel, food and cool products. Personally my passion lies in the ocean and outdoor lifestyle, product design and aesthetics. I am also really interested in fabrics and textiles because it relates back to my love of building surfboards and exploring different materials. I was honoured to be invited to join and lend my two cents on things.. I'm in good company."
One look at Cox's award-winning surfboards – his minimalist aesthetic distinctly different to traditional "surfer" style – and the reason for his induction is evident.
"The black and white monochromatic style of the Haydenshapes brand is an extension of my personal style and colour palette, with some grey thrown in. In saying that, I'm definitely a product person and will often invest in quality pieces from more of a design/materials aspect over what's trendy right now."
The artist is in
For the LA-based Byrne, brother of actress Rose Byrne, the event is a two-fold success doubling as the launch of his latest exhibition Colour Field, documenting the landscapes of Northern NSW while staying at Halcyon House as an artist-in-residence.
"I was absolutely thrilled to get the chance to stay at Halcyon House for my artist-in-residence experience," Byrne states.
"I like to get back to Australia two or three times a year but I don't get much of a chance to take pictures when I'm there so yes, this residency at Halcyon House was an invaluable opportunity for me to fully immerse myself in the landscape of northern NSW. As my work is largely taken in, and based on, Los Angeles, I was very curious to see how the aesthetic instincts I'd been honing in LA, would play out in such a different environment."
What you can expect
After the official launch party on Friday, guests will be treated to a Style Suite, hosted by Mr Porter's style insider Joe Ottaway and George Sotelo from the swimwear brand Thorsun. To satiate physical appetites Ben Devlin, executive chef at Halcyon House's restaurant Paper Daisy, has prepared a four-course lunch with accompanying wines during which Byrne and well-respected art dealer Tim Olsen will give their inside tips on what to look for when collecting art, followed by a Q&A; discussion.
If you think the event's itinerary reads like a page from torn from the diary of the heir to a shipping fortune, you're not wrong. It's kind of the point.
"The [Style Council's] ultimate goal has been to create a trusted resource for visitors to discover (and re-discover) the cities they visit or live in," says Chesney. "A guide of sorts with first hand recommendations from people that may influence choice in style and lifestyle alike. And it's also about creating community. It's about finding locations where you know you'll feel comfortable meeting friends, bringing a date or closing a deal; it's about discovery and adventure, in good company."
George Byrne's Colour Field will show at Halcyon House, in partnership with Mr Porter, from May 19.