There is a phenomenal footwear regression that has been influencing the trends of the last few seasons. It propelled the ugly ‘dad’ sneaker into fashion’s favour, heralded the return of snakeskin and has recently brought forth from the archives the revival of a noughties fave — the jandal.
And while some find it hard to get on board with the fact that styles like the cowboy boot are ‘back,’ we thought it high time we made a case for embracing the footwear of the moment, turning to one of our go-to stores for shoes that speak to the trends but in a modern and inherently wearable way.
From loafers that evoke the elegance of the 50s and 60s, to bold Western silhouettes, Scarpa’s new styles are helping us put our best feet forward when it comes to not only staying on top of the trends but also cultivating a collection of shoes that will ultimately prove timeless.
It’s been a while since we’ve given our wardrobes a refresh. Perhaps it’s the cold weather — we’d rather spend our money on comfort food and skin treatments — or maybe it’s because this time of the year is particularly busy. That said, we’ll never say no to some online shopping. And as such, have compiled a running list of everything we’ve been ‘adding to cart’ of late. For a spot of sartorial inspiration, look no further…
Marlon James has been widely discussed amongst literary circles for quite some time now, but it wasn’t until his latest book Black Leopard, Red Wolf, that his name was propelled to one of household status. And yet, while he is becoming more well known by the day, James is still very much in the beginnings of what we suspect to be a long and successful career in the writing biz. Big things are happening but, undoubtedly, even bigger things are to come, and so we deem it wholly necessary to knight the pensmith with the coveted title of Author To Know — the fourth in our Author To Know series and, incidentally, the first male.
Now an acclaimed novelist and a professor of literature and creative writing at Macalester College in Minnesota, James is a recognised talent. And yet, unlike our previous Authors To Know, this feature on Marlon James doesn’t discuss an early acquiring of literary fame. He wasn’t scouted when young, he wasn’t snapped up by his local newspapers and he wasn’t awarded coveted accolades and awards early on his career. In fact, James’ first book, John Crow’s Devil, was rejected by publishers on 78 different occasions. Instead, James youth was spent in his birth country of Jamaica, suppressing his homosexuality via a newfound relationship with the church.
Considering that he was born in 1970 in Kingston, much of James’ material is influenced by his homeplace, and its rampant homophobic culture — sex between men is illegal in Jamaica and, while the laws are rarely enforced, homophobia-related violence is still widespread.
His first novel, the previously mentioned John Crow’s Devil, focuses on a biblical struggle in the fictional, remote Jamaican village of Gibbeah in 1957. The writings are mythical, with curses and fantastical beasts, but the two preachers vying for leadership both harbour very real sexual secrets. The prose is stark, confronting and often violent, and yet, despite the book’s initial rejection by publishers, it eventually found its place in the literary world. The debut even incited a few praising reviews from notable publications. The New York Times, for example, noted how James writes with “assurance and control,” while The Independent stated that it “at times” has “real vigour and energy.”
His 2009 follow up, The Book of Night Women, is a story written in the same challenging but compelling vein. In fact, it has been described by The New York Times as “both beautifully written and devastating.” The piece tells the story of Lilith, a girl born into slavery on an early 19th Century, Jamaican plantation, and follows her as she becomes part of a revolt. Even more confronting than James’ previous works, The Book of Night Women paints gruesome and vivid images. It is disturbing but compulsively readable — described by The Independent as containing an “epic narrative” and by the Washington Post as having a “vibrant, violent plot,” with text that is like “an explosion of poetry”.
It wasn’t until his third novel, the 2014-released A Brief History of Seven Killings, that James won his first major accolade. A tale that went on to win the Man Booker Prize, A Brief History tells a fictional story based on the attempted assassination of Bob Marley, in Jamaica in the 70s and early-80s. The sprawling novel covers seven separate narratives, each densely packed with gang crime, CIA interference, drug abuse and violent murders. It is complex and, thanks to its multiple narratives and dark content, far more difficult to read than James’ previous two endeavours.
But it seems those who take the time to invest in the novel will be rewarded greatly, and the book has been applauded by numerous critics. It made Huffpost’s Best Books Of 2014 list, was recognised by The Conversation as being “exciting” and “important”, and was described by the New York Times as “epic in every sense of that word: sweeping, mythic, over-the-top, colossal and dizzyingly complex.”
With James, it’s clear that his skills become more honed with each piece he writes, and every new book is better received than the last. This couldn’t have been made clearer when, in February of this year, he released his latest novel, Black Leopard, Red Wolf. The first volume in a fantasy trilogy, BLRW draws on African mythology and history to result in a story described by James himself as an “African Game of Thrones.”
It follows Tracker, a hunter who is renowned far and wide for his skills, as he is assigned a job to find a missing child. Despite his tendency to work alone, this time Tracker joins forces with a group of eight assorted characters — a hodgepodge of fantastical creatures, including a shape-shifting hunter, a giant and a centuries-old witch — to navigate ancient cities to find the boy, escaping the clutches of a few deadly beasts along the way.
The book, to use an overused but entirely fitting cliché, was a roaring success. Immediately after its release, it was described by GQ as “a rare novel that arrives practically destined to be a cultural touchstone for years to come,” while a journalist at The Irish Times dubbed it “one of the bravest and boldest pieces of contemporary fiction” she had read in years. Even Rolling Stone referred to the book as “a stunning, word-drunk take on sword-and-sorcery sagas,” later going on to say how “you could not ask for a better, more tantalizing franchise firestarter.” So compelling is the storyline, in fact, that the film rights have been snapped up by Black Panther‘s Michael B. Jordan, with James set to serve as executive producer for the project.
James clearly has a tantalising future ahead of him. He’s currently plotting the second in the trilogy — which will apparently follow a witch from the first book — while continuing his teachings in English and creative writing. For the UK’s Channel 4, he has written a TV pilot about a former Scotland Yard detective who returns to her home country of Jamaica. The show is still yet to be green-lighted, and little is known about what we can expect if it is, but if his previous work is proof of anything, it’s that James has a penchant for keeping people on their toes, and is unlikely to follow any conventional path.
Really, it should come as no surprise that James is in the midst of being catapulted to literary fame. The fantasy novelist pulls from folklore, fables and history with great bravura, shining a light on cultures and traditions that the majority are not overly familiar with — but, by now, really should be. His novels defy generic genre titles via a whole new realm of fantasy, and his unique tone — not always easy to read but yet consistently impossible to turn away from — is almost addictive. It’s this risk-taking and brashness, his depiction of homosexuality and religion, that make him entirely unique and profound as a writer. He is almost as intriguingly mythical as the characters that he creates. A writer, we think, that you would do well to keep your eye on — we’re forecasting great things.
Some of you might have heard about my questionable behaviour last weekend. Combining a humble gas station steak pie with a Whittaker’s peanut slab created not only the ultimate sweet and savoury combination but also ended up going somewhat viral — covered by national news and local radio stations. I named the culinary combo the Cooney Hooney after our Senior Editor, Margie Cooney, who was the one who told me about it. (Disclaimer: she did it once, years ago, and advised me not to eat the whole thing.) And because it was a food pairing that, at first glance, seemed utterly outrageous, the Cooney Hooney drew vitriol from the public. Comments swooped in left, right and centre from people in disgust, and who, despite not having tried it for themselves, decided that just looking at a picture of it was enough.
But after the dust had settled, and people actually let their curiosity get the better of them — the tone seemed to change. Most who actually tried the Cooney Hooney only had positive things to say about its warm, salty and sweet nature. Which just proves the age-old adage true: don’t knock it ’til you try it.
That in mind, we thought it a good time to encourage you to expand your culinary horizons further. If last weekend’s experience has taught us one thing, it’s to be adventurous with the food you eat. Branch out and try flavour combinations you would never think would work. As these dishes around Auckland prove, sometimes the weirder, the better.
Ebi Mayo Roll from Ebisu Japanese food purists are usually outraged when they read up on what is in Ebisu’s infamous Ebi Mayo Roll. While tiger prawns sitting on top of an avocado roll, drizzled in mayo with tobiko topping sounds like a dream it’s the addition of rockmelon that comes as a surprise. But before writing it off, open your mind — this unexpected, fruity twist is what makes this sushi roll work. After biting into the plump prawn, and tasting the creamy avocado, the burst of sweetness from the rockmelon comes out of nowhere and complements the flavours perfectly.
Raspberry, coconut, coriander ice cream from Duck Island Renowned for its variety of sophisticated flavours, especially the signature roasted white chocolate miso and salted caramel, Duck Island has no boundaries when it comes to creative combos. And while patrons know not to expect the usual when walking into this ice cream store, the raspberry, coconut and coriander flavour still garners double-takes. Coriander in ice cream might sound strange but if you actually think about it, the additional herb makes perfect sense, especially when paired with fruit. Cutting through the richness of the coconut while adding zest and freshness to the raspberry, coriander is definitely an asset to this scoop.
Dessert from Sidart At this progressive fine-dining restaurant, the exceptional menu throws any idea of normal out of the window from the get-go. Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Sidart, Sid Sahrawat is constantly pushing the gastronomic boundaries to make his one-on-a-kind flavours and offer an unparalleled gastronomic experience. But it’s in the final dessert that Sahrawat regularly blows his diners away. Despite the fact that the dishes at Sidart are always changing depending on the season one example we have had before is the Roquefort cheesecake. This dessert saw a combination of flavours that, by themselves, would lend themselves far more to a savoury palate. Decadent yet fresh sheep’s milk Gorgonzola cheesecake was combined with aromatic truffle ice cream, rich olive oil shortbread, pungent red wine jelly and a red wine syrup, and reminded us of a dessert version of a grazing board.
Matcha scone filled with red bean and butter from The Candy Shop Scones are no longer limited to just the savoury cheese and sweet date judging by The Candy Shop’s rendition of the classic cafe cabinet treat. Here, the moist scone is infused with an earthy green tea matcha powder for a slight bitterness which sounds strange, but with the addition of sweet red bean, balance is restored. The main problem for scones, in general, is that they can often be dry, but the amount of butter placed inside these beauties take any risk of this down to zero. Butter and red bean is actually a common combination in modern Korean bakeries as the butter enriches the fluffy and sweet red bean, making it an indulgent experience.
Matcha scone filled with redbean and butter from The Candy Shop
Glazed doughnut burger from Sneaky Snacky In the age of social media food that looks spectacular but tastes underwhelming, you might have already written off Sneaky Snacky’s doughnut burger as just another example of that. But having tasted it for ourselves, we can guarantee that it’s one of the most sinfully delicious things in town. The fluffy doughnuts are glazed in thick sugar syrup and inside, sits salty and succulent wagyu patties and a spicy kimchi fritter for an extra kick. In this beast, you get sweet, salty, spicy and it’s truly sensational.
Jerusalem artichoke ice cream from Han This root vegetable is an oddity on its own and Min Baek, head chef and owner of modern Korean restaurant, Han, has made it even stranger by using it for ice cream as part of his latest dessert — The Winter Garden. The nutty flavour of the artichoke actually pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the dessert, where its flavours complement the ‘edible soil’ made from crumbled dark chocolate. Baek also incorporates fruity sweetness by adding a compressed tamarillo and persimmon and tops it all off with crispy Jerusalem artichoke and dehydrated persimmon leather.
Those at Netflix knew what they were doing when they added Mindhunter to the streaming giant’s repertoire back in October 2017. The program was proffered to us to devour when we were at peak desire for chilling, twisted, true crime-focused content, and we gobbled up each of the ten episodes with fervour as though we’d been starved of sick storylines for months. (NB: We hadn’t, given that Abducted In Plain Sight and The Confession Tapes were also getting binged on at this time.)
Season one followed FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench as they picked the brains of some of the US’s most notorious criminals, with the hope of applying their findings to ongoing and future cases in a very Silence Of The Lambs styled set up. Very unnerving, and very real, criminals featured, with most characters moulded around actual convicted murderers, and their prison scene dialogues based upon real interviews — including that of Ed Kemper, Jerome Brudos, Monte Rissell and Richard Speck.
With each professional breakthrough, however, Ford took a hit to both his mental health and personal relationships, until finally, his career started taking a hit, too. The series finishes with an interview between Ford and Kemper, during which the Agent gets drawn into a hug by the serial killer. In what is seemingly the final straw for Ford and his fragile mental state, on his way out he collapses and falls into a panic attack in the hall, realising, no doubt, how close he had come with danger himself.
Mindhunter‘s roaring success was well predicted, it seems, because just one month after its release the arresting series was renewed for a second season. Now, after almost two years of waiting, avid fans can finally find out how the story progresses in a nine-part successor.
The Plot Season two will fold the previous narratives in with coverage of the notorious Atlanta killings — a series of child murders that took place in Atlanta between 1979 and 1981, killing at least 28, mostly African American teenagers and children. As hinted at in the first season, the second will feature infamous cult leader Charles Manson, alongside a raft of other new criminals, including David Berkowitz (also known as Son of Sam). It’s likely that viewers will see the effect of Ford’s breakdown, following his visit with Kemper at the end of season one, and will see a return from Kemper himself, too, if the trailer is anything to go by.
The Cast Jonathan Groff (Ford), Holt McCallany (Trench) and Anna Torv (Wendy Carr) will all resume their roles as the central criminal profiling trio, this time around joined by Michael Cerveris (Fringe), as a new FBI director. Also confirmed to return is Joe Tuttle, the actor who played Gregg Smith, the new member of the FBI squad that joined the team in season one. Cameron Britton will, of course, be back as Kemper, while Damon Herriman is rumoured to be playing Manson, an actor who, interestingly, also plays the notorious cult leader in Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.
The release date Mindhunter season two drops on Friday 16th August.
In the last three decades, Allpress has grown from humble coffee-cart to iconic brand. Started by Michael Allpress in Auckland in 1989, this innovative company has had a huge hand in transforming the coffee culture in New Zealand into the refined, world-renowned industry it is today and is now taking its unique, flavoursome brews to the world.
Allpress’ original coffee cart in Victoria Park Market in 1989
As part of its anniversary celebrations, Allpress has installed a retrospective exhibition in its Auckland gallery space (Allpress Studio) that opened today and will run until 5th October. Tracing the evolution of Allpress via audio, video, photography, art and intriguing things from Allpress’ archives, the exhibition will even contain a recreation of the original 80s cart was set up in Victoria Park Market.
Throughout the duration of the exhibition, three events will also take place at the Studio, where notable New Zealanders who embody the same kind of entrepreneurial, disruptive and adventurous spirit as Allpress will lead interesting talks.
Marking the 30th anniversary, Allpress has also collaborated with Bennetts chocolate to produce three limited-edition bars — Double Espresso, JAFA and Flat White — alongside releasing a special, 30th Anniversary coffee blend based on the first one that it ever created.
A great, long coat can make you feel all sorts of things. It lends a sense of bravado and builds confidence by making any outfit feel sleek and finished. But take your arms out of the sleeves and see how you feel. It’s as close a feeling to what I can imagine wearing a cape must be like and will take you from powerful to heroic in one fell swoop. Only those who have walked a mile in public with their coat draped over their shoulders will truly understand.
But before you accuse us of being slaves to fashion trends, the draped coat is in fact, not a trend at all — it’s historic. It dates back to aristocratic times, where the royals showed their elite status through extravagant clothing, and traditionally regal pieces like robes and capes were draped elegantly across one’s shoulders — a sign of wealth and influence.
People who talk smack about this sartorial-superhero aesthetic are either villainous trolls of the Internet or have only come across people who have worn it wrong. In order to do this grand look justice, your coat must be a suitable size — big and spacious, to lend the illusion of broad shoulders and to allow you ample room to move.
Obviously, if you’re having to do things that require serious arm mobility — grocery shopping, talking on a phone, driving a car — don’t be stubborn. Put your arms back into your sleeves – we’re not advocating style to the detriment of everything else.
When done right, draping your coat over your shoulders not only makes you look like a boss, but it makes you look like a busy hustler. So busy, in fact, that you simply don’t have time to go through the last step of completing your outfit.
The lambs are frolicking, the daffodils are blooming, and the sun is finally beginning to make its long-awaited appearance. And yet, while it feels as though spring is on the horizon, we’re still hesitant to chill our rosé and pack our picnic baskets — if these recent storms are anything to go by, we’re not completely out of the clear just yet. But the small hints of seasonal change has incited a deep thirst for spring’s arrival that is in need of being quenched, and these final few weeks of wait seem impossible, at best. Lucky, then, that oceanside eatery Mission is offering the perfect way for Aucklander’s to escape winters residual wrath and dip their toes into the warmer season a few weeks early, via a beguiling indoor, botanical garden.
Kicking off today, Mission will be hosting the latest offering in its Secret Garden series, this time inspired by the upcoming sunny season and its magnificent blooms. To set the scene, not only will they be decking the space out with blossoming flora, but Mission has also teamed up with Ecoya to ensure that sweet, spring-reminiscent aromas linger in the air. The collaboration will also guarantee that guests are sufficiently satiated, thanks to a unique cocktail list inspired by four of the brand’s most exemplary fragrances — French Pear, Spiced Ginger and Musk, Vanilla Bean and Guava & Lychee Sorbet. The bespoke libations will comprise the crisp and refreshing Pear Punch, the spiced Ginger Rogers, the indulgent Vanilla Ice-Mood and the sweet but sinful Big Trouble In Lil Lychee, marking a deliciously early foray into the silly season.
With a sublime beverage list and the chance to win an Ecoya gift pack every time you visit, Mission’s alluring secret garden is proving that there is no better way to say farewell to winter, than to escape from it altogether.
Mission’s Ecoya Secret Garden is in full swing Wednesday through to Saturday, 3pm to 8pm, every week until the 15th September.
While it’s surprising that a designer as prolific as Karen Walker hasn’t branched into bridal before, after being introduced to the iconic designer’s elegant new Atelier collection, it seems that the wait was worth it.
Offering an end-to-end bespoke service for blushing (and brazen) brides-to-be, Walker has created a collection of 12 dresses and five suits, to sit alongside an impressive line up of engagement and occasional rings — each one an entirely new design and each made to the exact specifications of the wearer.
The dresses, while clearly cut from the inimitable Karen Walker cloth (some of the designs have been directly inspired by archival looks), carry their own distinct identity, where shape, length, volume and structure have all been explored to offer a diverse range of silhouettes.
Sourcing many of the textiles from Gratacós, one of the world’s great couture fabric houses, designs can be rendered in the likes of floral lace, glass-beaded embroidery, dotted tulle, bubble jacquard and a particularly luxurious crêpe de Chine.
The jewellery, in a similar vein, has been crafted to reflect the special and personal nature of a wedding day, with 14 new styles designed to sit singularly or stacked together.
From delicate tiara shapes to eye-catching starbursts, stones like champagne, black and white diamonds, morganite, peach and grey moonstone, onyx and rutilated quartz can be used to brilliant effect, leaving any bride with a piece she can treasure forever.
Just when we thought the renowned Negroni cocktail couldn’t get any better, Peroni Nastro Azzurro has intensified our love for the digestif by creating its own rendition of the cocktail. Instead of the dark semi-bitter Campari, this recipe sees the lighter and more refreshing Aperol and of course, Peroni lager combined to bring a unique, balanced and refreshing flavour to the table. Whether it’s sipped in the summer heat or while cosied up next to a fireplace on a cold winter’s day, the Peroni Negroni is the perfect drop and here is how you can make your own.
What you will need For the Peroni Negroni -20 mL orange-infused gin -20 mL Aperol -20 mL red vermouth -20 mL of mandarin juice -20 mL Peroni Nastro Azzurro -Dash of orange bitters (see below)
For the orange bitters (if you don’t have any available nearby) -The peel of four oranges -A pint of vodka -2 allspice peppercorns -2 cardamom pods -4 coriander seeds -A whole clove
Instructions For the orange bitters 1. Take the peel of four oranges and dry them in the oven, heated to the lowest temperature setting, ideally 80 degrees Celcius for approx 30 mins.
2. Put the dried orange peels in a large container with a lid and add in your pint of vodka and all your spices.
3. Set aside for a month, in a cool, dry and dark storage space for the flavours to infuse and your orange bitters is ready
For the Peroni Negroni 1. In a glass, mix in equal parts of orange-infused gin, Aperol, red vermouth, mandarin juice and a chilled bottle of crisp Peroni Nastro Azzuro.
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