From his early days as a member of the music collective Odd Future to his 2021 offering, Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, The Creator has built his own weird, surreal world. Whether it's through music, fashion, or any form of visual art, his out-there antics, love for debonair polychrome fashion, and sonic stylings have allowed him to transmute his passions into an influential legacy and enterprise. He's spearheaded the established music festival Camp Flog Gnaw, built his streetwear brand Golf Wang, and with the recent expansion of his other fashion and beauty brand, Golf le Fleur*, Tyler has made sure he is always, well, creating.
At his recently-launched Malibu, California pop-up for Golf le Fleur*, the artist debuts his latest efforts: a smattering of clothing and accessories, a three-piece nail polish offering ($55) that includes two solid pastels and a clear glitter option, and French Waltz ($40-$200), the olfactory manifestation of the 30-year-old's life of leisure. "[French Waltz] smells like letting the water dry on your skin," Tyler explains to Allure over a Zoom call from his home in Los Angeles. "That's what it reminds me of — the moment when all you have to do is worry about what you're going to eat for the rest of the day," he says.
In more concrete terms, the fragrance is a visceral, sweet mélange of mandarin, jasmine, musky rose, and sandalwood, housed in a cylindrical glass bottle with a green flower petal cap. It represents Tyler's version of luxury, a word that he doesn't like to use. "Everyone has tricked themselves into thinking luxury a specific type of thing," he says with a grin. "It has to be this, it has to be that — I think luxury is what makes you fucking happy."
The Golf le Fleur* store is just that — happy. From its pastel color scheme to the rounded curves of the actual building perched atop a hill, the brick-and-mortar location looks like something out of a Wes Anderson film. Out front, pastel trunks are piled one atop the other to welcome you in.
If you can't make it to Malibu, you can snag some of Tyler's latest for yourself at the Golf le Fleur* website, starting December 13. As the rapper explores new business horizons and creative opportunities, he speaks to Allure about his new fragrance, his legacy, and how designer Virgil Abloh's death stirred an awakening for him.
Allure: What inspired you to make your first foray into beauty?
Tyler, The Creator: I don't like to say I'm getting into the beauty world. I like perfume, so I said, "Oh, I'm going to make one!" I like to wear glitter nail polish a lot, so I wanted to make a few colors that I rarely get to see. That's all it is. It is less wanting in on beauty world and more, "Oh, I want to try my hand at this." I'm super blessed to be in a position where any idea I have, I've got the means to [bring it to life].
Allure: Why was it important for you to launch these items in a pop-up store?
TC: I'm more of a painter than a poet. I'm super visual, that's just how I get any of my points across. I'm so sick of the fucking internet, dog. I wanted my items — the sweater, perfume. I needed everything to live in its church and its world. I [needed everything to be in a certain] building, on this rack, in a specific location. I wanted a certain smell in the air, a certain song playing. I wanted my customers to get to the place in a particular way.
I want my customers to see an item I put so much love into in person so they have a better grasp of it. That way, if they hate it, they have the full scope of why they hate it — or why they love it. I think that context gets lost. Everyone is so obsessed with the idea of things selling out.
Most Popular
- WellnessYour December 2024 Monthly Horoscope Is HereBy Sophie Saint Thomas
- Hair2025's Top Haircut Trends Are a Masterclass in Timeless SophisticationBy Sam Escobar
- WellnessYour Capricorn Monthly Horoscope for December 2024 Is HereBy Sophie Saint Thomas
Allure: Where did the idea for the Golf le Fleur* fragrance come from?
TC: I wanted to make really nice versions of things that I was already wearing. Silk shirts, little sweaters, nice slacks… I wanted to put my own personal twist on it, too. I was in Miami a few years back, test driving a Rolls Royce truck with my friends. We're in the car listening to Anita Baker. We stopped at a 7-Eleven to grab a few snacks. I got cookies (I love cookies) and the crumbs are all over me because I was driving and eating fast on the way to the Everglades to play with alligators.
We get out of the car and we're on this gross dirt. It's swamp water, there are flies everywhere, and I saw a damn alligator right there. [I'm standing outside] of this Rolls-Royce truck, wiping cookie crumbs off of me, and [my friends are] all in the car. I'm looking at everything we're wearing: We're in little sweaters, shorts with nice cuts, and some pieces that make us look like school kids. We're all dark with melanin and I'm looking at them and say, "Yo, this is our world. This right here is our world."
Most Popular
- WellnessYour December 2024 Monthly Horoscope Is HereBy Sophie Saint Thomas
- Hair2025's Top Haircut Trends Are a Masterclass in Timeless SophisticationBy Sam Escobar
- WellnessYour Capricorn Monthly Horoscope for December 2024 Is HereBy Sophie Saint Thomas
Allure: What about the smell of French Waltz captures your essence?
TC: It's super clean, floral, and a little spicy. I love perfumes. I have 53 of them upstairs. I love sunlight, [especially] pastel sunlight — bright, June type of energy. The smell represents that. It smells like cliff jumping. It smells like mid-July when you have no responsibilities for the day.
Luxury is me being able to sleep and wake up when I'm done sleeping. Being able to take my bike wherever I want to ride it is real luxury. It's not diamonds or the cars I get to drive. Don't get me wrong, that shit's awesome, but luxury is really what you think it is. It's what makes you happy.
Golf le Fleur*
Golf le Fleur* A Nail Polish Collection
$55
Shop Now
Golf le Fleur*
Golf le Fleur* French Waltz 100 mL
$200
Shop Now
Allure: What inspires your quirky beauty and fashion aesthetic?
TC: I travel a lot. If I'm in South Korea, I'll see a grandma in some ill shirt with ill pants or who has her proportions right. Then, I'll go to Denmark and I see some seven-year-old kid whose mom probably dressed him, but like, man, it's a certain way that his pants are fitting and I'm like, "oh, that's so fire." It's not an age thing. It's not a sex thing. It's not a religious thing. Everyone has something that I personally like.
Allure: What made you choose those three nail polish colors for your brand (Geneva Blue, Georgia Peach, and Glitter)?
TC: I always wear glitter. I've been wearing it for years, and the thing about [my take on it] is that you don't notice it until you're looking at someone's nail. It's not loud — it's subtle. It's there, but when the light hits it and you see it, that bitch is like, whoa!
I'm obsessed with that blue. I think I got obsessed with that blue towards the end of 2017, and I started putting it on everything — cars, fucking everything! Then, that Georgia Peach. There is something about orange when it's toned down just a tad to almost pastel. It goes so well with certain blues, browns, and greens, plus it looks so good on dark skin.
Allure: Have you been wearing the polishes and fragrance every day?
Most Popular
- WellnessYour December 2024 Monthly Horoscope Is HereBy Sophie Saint Thomas
- Hair2025's Top Haircut Trends Are a Masterclass in Timeless SophisticationBy Sam Escobar
- WellnessYour Capricorn Monthly Horoscope for December 2024 Is HereBy Sophie Saint Thomas
TC: I've been wearing this shit for like a year and some change, and I'm not over it. That's the fun part. Every day, I get my nails done. I was wearing that blue nail polish [and my fragrance] for a year, bro, and could tell no one. Everyone would be like, "what's that smell you wearing?" I'm like, "damn, it's hot today," changing the subject.
I saw a lady the other day who looked like she would like the smell of this. I told her, "stay here." I [ran to grab French Waltz from the car] and I say, "Hey, my name is Tyler, I'm doing this perfume. Here's a sample you might like, or you might not. I just wanted to share this with you because based on how you smell and what you're wearing, this seems like it's up your alley." I'm [still hawking my fragrance] out of the trunk.
Allure: What's your skin-care regimen like?
TC: I actually use Humanrace. I love the face wash. It might not be for everyone, but I like it because it feels like it's cleaning your face and giving you what you need. It doesn't have a smell. People don't be moisturizing, people be putting on toners and shit. No, what are you doing? I never really had an acne problem. I mean, I get bumps here and there like everyone. I've been blessed to have magical skin that supports itself.
Humanrace
Humanrace Lotus Enzyme Exfoliator
$46
Shop Now
Allure: Are there any other creative ventures you're looking to explore?
Most Popular
- WellnessYour December 2024 Monthly Horoscope Is HereBy Sophie Saint Thomas
- Hair2025's Top Haircut Trends Are a Masterclass in Timeless SophisticationBy Sam Escobar
- WellnessYour Capricorn Monthly Horoscope for December 2024 Is HereBy Sophie Saint Thomas
TC: Man, everything. My whole career has been me doing whatever I wanted to do at that moment. I say at that moment because, you know, three years later, I may [not be interested in the same things.] Somebody's got to let me do a building. It ain't no rules. I'm going to actually ramp up. Rest in peace, Virgil [Abloh]. Safest travels. [His passing made me realize] there is no time. I have to turn that lever up for myself. I have all these ideas, and [I'm going to go for them] all. Get it in the works. Fuck waiting. Time is the realest luxury ever and we've got that.
Read more about the celebrity beauty product explosion:
- Billie Eilish's Self-Titled Fragrance Is Sweet, Musky, and "Mentally Sexy"
- Iman's First Foray Into Fragrance Is a Tribute to David Bowie
- Machine Gun Kelly's New Nail Polish Brand Is the "Smartest Art Project" He's Ever Done
Now, watch Ava Max Try nine things she's never done before:
Follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.
Keyword: Feux d’artifice