Pillow talk – If you’re looking for a forever wedding gift or just want to make your time between the sheets more luxurious, George Street Linen should be your go-to…
The bamboo linen looks and feels like regular linen, but the natural fibres offer exquisite breathability and softness – to nourish mind, body and soul. Created by Gregory Davidson, a Shanghai-based designer and consultant working at the forefront of textile manufacturing, the bedding range reflects his amazing aesthetic and eye for colour and texture. You may well end up wanting to spend the whole day in bed. georgestreetlinen.com
The Notebook – If you’re pondering your vows, penning some heartfelt, tear-inducing words, don’t do it on your smartphone. Commit your precious thoughts to this butter-soft leather Parisian notebook from Barkers. The little A5 beauty is charmingly debonair, and if you’re tasked with making a speech at the reception and want to have your notes ready to consult, it has the right amount of gravitas for the occasion. The perfect unisex gift or keepsake for friends and family who’ve gone above and beyond, it would also look très chic in wedding photos alongside candles, flowers and other accessories. barkersonline.co.nz
Pass the Salt & Stone – Synthetic deodorant is so 2018. Salt & Stone’s new unisex Lavender & Sage stick, like all of the LA brand’s skincare products, is formulated with natural, organic and antioxidant-rich ingredients – in this case antibacterial and anti-inflammatory essential oils to neutralise odour and soothe skin, arrowroot to absorb moisture and shea butter to hydrate. saltandstone.com
Light my Fire – Dial up the romance at your place any night of the week with Ingrid Starnes’ captivating Vetyver Bergamot candles. Made in collaboration with Auckland ceramicist Fiona Mackay, they’re a limited-edition selection that sparks up the scent of Ingrid’s EDT, EDP, soap and hand cream. Hand-thrown, glazed and fired by Fiona, then delivered to candlemakers to be filled with a naturally perfumed botanical wax, the vessels are available in washed blue, alabaster, charcoal and sage. Designed to last forever, they can be repurposed as mugs or vases once the wax has burned to the base. ingridstarnes.com
Daisy, Daisy – Could these be any cuter? Clearly they could not. By Deer Grace XO, these Daisy T-bars are designed for tots aged 18 months to four. Soft suede with hard soles, their shiny gold buckles will please any flower girl’s bowerbird eye and – crucially – ensure they stay on. This charming vintage style is one of several Grace Watson stocks for a business began after the Kiwi mum was inspired to create a line of shoes for her own daughter. She ships them worldwide, but you can buy these at paperplanestore.com
You glow girl! – Of course you’ll probably be glowing on your special day, but with More than Skin’s Wedding Collection of three packages, you can be confident of looking your radiant best. Be Clear, which involves six appointments over 24 weeks, is for skin that clogs up and breaks out at the first sign of stress. The heavy-duty regime each month includes a 75-minute facial, brow shape, lash and brow tint, Omnilux Revive treatment and a 30-minute aroma massage. Be Serene (3 sessions over 12 weeks) is for skin that’s generally good but could do with a hand in the lead-up to the main event. Each month it includes a 90-minute facial, Omnilux Revive, brow shape and lash and brow tint. Be Still (2 sessions in 4 weeks) is for the final countdown, the finishing touch to ensure you look and feel fab from head to toe. Your first session also includes a 45-minute facial, Omnilux Revive, brow shape, brow and lash tint and Body Treatment. Session two is the same with a 75-minute facial and spa pedi/mani. morethanskin.co.nz
Get the gloss – You can kiss goodbye to lacklustre lips with Bobbi Brown’s latest formula, which offers fabulousness and feel-good factor rolled into one. The Crush Liquid Lip pampers your pout with the emollient-rich moisture of a balm AND the sweet sheen of a gloss, leaving lips looking plumped up and feeling fresh. Infused with a blend of superfruit extracts, including cranberries and blueberries, this legend of a lippy comes in 14 super saturated shades—from bare to bold to bright. Each one is so blendable, they are virtually foolproof. bobbibrowncosmetics.com
Coat Tale – If there’s any chance of suffering the dreaded, Alanis Morrisette-ironic rain on your wedding day, you’d be wise to invest in a raincoat from Rains’ Reflections range. The Danish rainwear brand has added beautiful, soft shades of lavender, mint and grey to their SS19 collection that would actually look pretty cute over a wedding dress. You could even go in for the matching makeup bags too, which would make sweet gifts for your bridal party. Fun fact: Rains coats are appealing for their lightweight simplicity, but the fabric is actually bonded through ultrasonic welding, making them strong, waterproof and more high-tech than their minimalism might suggest. rains.com and available at smithandcaugheys.co.nz
It’s Hip to Be Square – We’ve all had that sinking feeling at an outdoor do when our stilettos sink into the grass, which is just one of the reasons why Chaos & Harmony’s block-heeled Passion shoes are so cool. They come in five hues, so colour-matching them to your ensemble is a cinch, and those heels and wide straps mean they’re comfortable. Designed in Mt Maunganui and handmade by artisans in China, practical and pretty never felt so good. chaosandharmonyshoes.com
Rainbow alliance – New Zealand fashion brand WORLD is nailing its colours to the mast for this year’s Pride Festival. WORLD is out and proud with a new collection of Levi’s tops and jackets that lets you wear your heart on your sleeve, and your rainbow on your chest. So if you’re planning to get out there and parade, picnic or party (we’re doing all three) to celebrate our brilliant mix of cultures, sexualities and gender identities, this collection will be you to a tee. worldbrand.co.nz
Flock to it – For the ultimate in wedding sophistication, Flock, a Hawke’s Bay-based luxe wedding and events company, specialises in furniture hire, florals and styling, with more than 100 items in velvet, rattan, linen and leather. If you’re more low-key than la-di-dah, they can cater to that, too. Coming to Auckland in October, Flock is the creation of husband and wife team Kris and Allie (they met while she was in the States studying classical music, and he was a maize and beet farmer), who say the project sprang from their love of inviting people into their home. “Gathering in the modern era has become vital. Really, gathering has become an art,” they explain. flockevents.co.nz
Dazzle ‘em – Put your best foot forward with the crème de la crème of shoe polishes. Saphir Pate De Lux is an all-natural product based on beeswax, turpentine, and carnauba, with six other nutrient waxes designed to shine your shoes to a high gloss without damaging the leather, unlike some synthetic options out there. It’s now stocked at Crane Brothers. crane-brothers.com
Paradise found – It’s daywear, but not as we know it. Harman Grubisa’s luxury sleepwear-inspired Paradise range has ‘effortless elegance’ sewn into every beautiful inch. Designed to capture the glorious essence of summer, each piece in this collection has you luxuriating in paradise before you’ve even set foot on the plane. Think silk spots and pure cotton stripes complemented with Harman Grubiša’s signature wide-legged pants, loose shirts, and long tiered dresses. For the quiet adventurer, fine pinstripes are woven with delicate metallic accents, like “glints of sunshine off shell-laden coastlines”. There’s rosé-toned suiting and an abundant offering of Italian textiles for the chic jetsetter, with mix and match prints and unstructured silhouettes. harmangrubisa.com
Smart Move – With your true love soon to lean in for the first kiss of the rest of your lives, beautiful lips are arguably your best accessory. Get smart and prep your pout now with Arbonne’s Intelligence Lip Treatment, which helps to hydrate, plump and soften fine lines. It also doubles as a primer for lipstick and gloss, and is gluten-free and vegan, with a list of botanical ingredients that reads like a superfood smoothie, including alfalfa, chicory, ginger, cocoa, raspberries and cloudberries. Use morning and night. arbonne.com
Cool is not cool anymore – For its Autumn/Winter collection, New Zealand designer label WORLD has given up on trend-seeking, offering menswear and womenswear customers the chance to do their own thing instead. Titled COOL IS NOT COOL ANYMORE, it’s an eclectic collection that feels like you’re thumbing through a friend’s wardrobe. There are jungle and animal prints, floral denims, pinstripes, punchy puffer jackets, and the brand’s signature use of bold conversational prints and bold colours — hot pink, turquoise, purple. For those looking to make maximum impact, there are next-level rainbow sequinned reception gowns and a stretchy, conceptual metallic cocktail dress. An iridescent rain poncho (handy as a just-in-case wedding accessory) and a tailored, bell-sleeved purple and gold coat also stand out as statement pieces. The collection is punctuated with slogan t-shirts: “It’s just that being cool never got me anywhere” and “Sorry that I’m not Cool”. How cool is that? worldbrand.co.nz
