3 minute read
In conversation with Tutti and Paul Bennett
Absolutely fabulous!
Everyone who has noticed Tutti and Paul Bennett would agree that they bring joie de vivre to the streets of Lane Cove.
Having lived locally for 38 years, their flamboyance and flair is unmissable. Each day, Tutti curates an inimitable outfit, mixing and matching with colour and often with her signature headscarf. “For me, it’s innate. I love putting clothes together and giving things a different look. I’ve never liked following the crowd – I’ve always dressed to please myself.” This style has led to the couple being noticed not only locally, but internationally. They were recently photographed to be included in a book entitled ‘Advanced Love’, which is due for release later this year. The book is being produced by Los Angeles-based photographer and author, Ari Seth Cohen. Ari is the creator of Advanced Style, a project devoted “to capturing the sartorial savvy of the senior set.” Through his work, Ari shows that you can be stylish, creative and vital at any age. “Ari visited Australia to attend a Vogue exhibition launch. He stayed with us for a few days and took a range of photos, though we’re not sure which one he will select for the book.” Tutti and Paul raised their two daughters – Sonia and CecilyAnna – in Lane Cove and the couple can often be seen up at the village together with their three-year old granddaughter Marnie. “My goal in life has been to embarrass my children,” says Tutti. It would seem that there have been moments where she has successfully achieved this. For example, the outfit that she put together for Cecily-Anna’s year 5 school social. “When all the other kids were wearing stone-washed denim, I wore a bright yellow and black leopard print shift dress with matching hot pants, overlaid with a black tulle skirt and sleeveless denim jacket, complete with leopard print collar and pocket,” explains Cecily-Anna. Tutti was brought up not to worry about what other people think. Growing up within the only Jewish family in Bathurst in the 1950’s, the family didn’t bow to convention. “There was a lot of xenophobia there at that time. I admire my parents for standing out.” At 21, Tutti left Bathurst and became a trainee in the fashion department at David Jones. Overseas travel followed and Tutti says that it was then that she really became her own person, dressing as she wished and having the courage ‘to be me’. Meanwhile husband Paul, who grew up in Brisbane, was studying graphic design in London. On returning to Australia, Brisbane felt too small so a move to Sydney followed. It was a chance meeting at a Jewish party in 1975 that saw their two worlds collide. “It was almost like an epiphany when I viewed this someone - almost like from another planet. Tutti was so different to anyone that I had ever dated,” says Paul. After only a few months, the couple married. That was 41 years ago. In Paul’s desire to ‘save the world’, he wrote and published ‘The Cranky Guru; Adventures in Metaphysics’ in 2014. “This book has been my contribution to what makes things tick, how to live a life of abundance - to be able to do what you want to do when you want to do it - where we can engage mind, thoughts, intent and passions.” The couple have seen many changes to Lane Cove in the decades they have lived here. “Change is a beautiful thing,” says Paul. “It has been great to see the explosion in the number of young families to the area (Paul has affectionately coined the astro turf area in the Plaza as the ‘human petri dish’) and to see so many people out and about.” One cannot come away after meeting Tutti and Paul without feeling inspired. The energy and vitality that they express through their clothing is reflective of their attitude to life. If only they could bottle this formula, it would be a best seller…
