Gathering around an open fire with friends or family is a time-honoured winter tradition, and this iteration of the classic fire pit is allowing us to bring that warm, inviting ambiance to any outdoor setting.
The Flames fire pit by Philippi is a sturdy fire bowl that is both aesthetically elegant and simple to use. Satisfyingly weighty and available in two different sizes, the sturdy legs and straight-forward set-up make it about as versatile a fire pit as you’ll ever find, while the powder-coated steel well allows plenty of space for a roaring fire. Beyond its mood-setting value, the Flames fire pit can also be used as a grill thanks to a small hole in the base that provides air supply.
The gap between seasons of your favourite series can seem to yawn — until you discover another great show to watch, that is. There is something to be said about returning to the same beloved (or not-so-beloved) characters time and time again, and these new seasons of some of the most acclaimed series pick up where they left off — inviting the viewer to do the same.
The Righteous Gemstones Everyone’s favourite televangelist family is back for another round of this hit Danny McBride-created comedy. Season two sees the money-obsessed Gemstone clan continue to find “blessed” ways to amass their fortunes — but, this time, outsiders threaten to destroy everything they’ve worked so hard for. An excellent cast (led by John Goodman as the Gemstone patriarch) and constant laughs make this an unmissable watch.
Stranger Things Season four of the exquisitely bingeable, supernatural-teen-mystery show is due to start in May, and its many fans are eagerly awaiting its return. Will, Eleven, Mike, Dustin and the rest of the gang are once again entangled with the Upside Down, thanks to a hauntingly empty house that seems to have been the scene of horrible things.
Atlanta After a four year hiatus, Donald Glover’s award-winning, eccentric, semi-surreal series returns for its third season. This time, its stars — Glover along with recurring favourites Lakeith Stanfield and Zazie Beetz — are heading to Europe. Quintessentially unpredictable events ensue, as their characters Earn, Alfred, and Van navigate their new unfamiliar surroundings.
Top Boy The fan-favourite British drama, often described as similar to The Wire, takes us back to the housing estates of East London for its fourth season. Against the backdrop of gang tension and drug deals, its titular characters navigate alliances and rivalries, while trying to retain the reputation and title of “Top Boy”.
White might be known for its purist notions, but the new way to wear it, as temperatures cool, is with a sense of carefree creativity. Whether you pick-up a white leather handbag from the likes of Chanel or Christian Dior, or go for a white shirt and blazer from Workshop or Dadelszen, find confidence in a mix of slouchy and tailored silhouettes.
White? For winter? It might be unexpected but trust us when we tell you that this particular shade will (when done right) command attention in the best way.
Why hang one piece of art, when you can combine plenty? A collage of collectibles communicates your sense of style much more than a single showpiece. Look for complementary tones and themes to amplify your artistic side — currently, we’re coveting deep ochre and ink in figurative strokes. To complete the masterclass, frame each piece with a corresponding colour from the artwork beside it.
The new Space Race has taken off in New Zealand — already a billion-dollar business as we discover more of the great expanse. But while we are sending much more stuff up there, we risk making the same wasteful mistakes as we have on Earth, with toxic materials, inefficient technologies and end of line products left like litter in no man’s orbit. Creating a sustainable space environment — at scale — will enable a new era of possibilities, and prosperity.
On a mission to make “the next frontier for humankind” more accessible globally (and without the satellite tumbleweed) are James and Stefan Powell. When studying at the University of Canterbury and the Delft University of Technology, respectively, Stefan joined an international team that built an amateur rocket and broke European altitude records. While it was a huge achievement, it was a one-hit-wonder. “It took us five years to build and was only in the air for 10 minutes,” says Stefan. “That was industry standard. But we knew there had to be a better way.”
In 2017, the brothers founded Dawn Aerospace with three more founders from the team, split between New Zealand and The Netherlands. Its reliable propulsion technologies enable explorers to actively de-orbit satellites at the end of their useful life, bringing them back down to Earth safely. “Presently, space junk is only just manageable. If we don’t change things, it won’t be long until it could become an irrecoverable mess,” says James. Luckily, Dawn Aerospace’s order book was already three times that of last year’s for the start of 2022.
But the business’ most exciting development is its sub-orbital spaceplane, which combines the Powell’s experience in aviation and aerospace engineering to deliver satellites and science experiments to the border of outer space (where they will then manoeuvre into position under their own power).
The revolutionary design has the performance of a rocket but can land like a plane for rapid re- use. As such, the first flight test was not so much about the thrilling suspense of the launch, but seeing the spaceplane slowly roll back to mission control afterwards. “Every other piece of space hardware I have ever gotten back was collected in rubbish bags,” says Stefan. “I felt a real sense of vindication that we are on the right path.”
The spaceplane is the first craft capable of such a feat multiple times per day, with the possibility of cutting launch costs by 96 percent, while buying everyone a lot more time. A recent test model showed it could allow the collection of 1000 times more data. Its chosen subject was the high layers of the Earth’s atmosphere, meaning it could help dramatically improve climate models.
As Dawn Aerospace continues to develop the next spaceplanes, the Mk-II and Mk-III, with testing from sites including the Glentanner Aerodrome near Aoraki Mt Cook, the overarching goal is to build a globally deployable, commercial space fleet.
While they have an overseas office, Aotearoa is the place to innovate — with a stellar aviation regulatory system. “Great people, clear skies, and a general can-do attitude,” confirms Stefan. “We have coupled that with the experience, resources, and customer base of Europe to achieve a totally unique ability.”
Dawn Aerospace is fundamentally transforming space transportation, something which Stefan says takes “determination and humility” more than anything else. “In the next 30 years, space could go from being a small niche to being a significant factor in our everyday lives,” he adds. “But that will only happen if we can figure out ways to operate in space without harming the Earth below.”
It’s “nearly impossible” to imagine what we can do with such accessible and sustainable capabilities, but like any project in space, it pays to think big. This year, Dawn Aerospace is doubling its team size and further developing its spaceplane and satellite propulsion product lines, while gearing up for many more research projects, including with the European Space Agency. Beyond that? “Up, up and away,” they say.
It doesn’t take much for a place to make a name for itself in Auckland, just good food and a cult following. It’s how Ponsonby’s Parade has amassed such notoriety in the short 12 months it has been open, and what began as a simple pop up has now taken up permanent residency in the space next door.
Even if you haven’t tried Parade (and trust us, you’re missing out), you’ll likely have seen the burgers. Truth be told, they’re unlike anything else. The epitome of indulgent eating, each burger is served in a house-made pretzel bun, with decadent fillings that have been known to include fried chicken with macaroni and cheese or a smashed beef patties with nacho chips, cheese sauce and salsa. As far as flavours go, the Parade team are never afraid to try something new or push the boundaries of what’s expected from a burger. And now, this approach is paying off.
Parade began as a vision from the trio behind Newmarket cafe, Mutual Friends. And now, after starting Parade as a pop-up amid Auckland’s longest year of lockdowns, Bryan Anderson, Nick Fury and Sean Bone are proudly opening an official outpost at 252 Ponsonby Road. Where Parade is unique, is in the way that it offers Instagram-worthy burgers that not only reimagine what the classic burger is (flavour- and composition-wise), but that also taste as delicious as they look. And it’s this potent mix that has seen Parade’s popularity skyrocket.
With the arrival of a more permanent space, the “grown-up version of Parade” begins, according to Anderson. While much of the menu everyone knows and loves will remain the same, the team have taken this opportunity to expand their selection of sides alongside finally being able to offer (thanks to a new liquor license) cold Asahi, natural wines and tasty cocktails.
“What we’re most stoked for is making it more of a three-dimensional space,” Anderson reflects. “It’s a bigger space than where we were previously, we were missing the whole dine-in experience. Here we can collaborate and host more activations — we’re levelling up what’s on offer.”
Although Parade is swiftly growing (thanks, in large part, to the magic of social media) it is still a grassroots venue of sorts. When I go and visit the space before opening, all three of the owners are moving a fridge and unloading new stock ahead of a pre-opening night for the friends and family who have supported them since the beginning. In fact, much of the new fit-out was handled personally by the trio.
Now officially open to the public, Parade’s sleek new spot is sure to draw the crowds. And while we’re anticipating lines around the block this weekend, in our opinion, any wait for this menu is worth it.
When it comes to creating, launching and sustaining a successful fashion brand, these days it’s not enough to merely focus on a finished garment. It requires the vision to create an immersive world, an identity that consumers feel they can slip into as easily as putting a hand through a well-fitted sleeve. With their label Entire Studios, Sebastian Hunt and Dylan Richards Diaz understand this intrinsically.
Having both worked as stylists and creative directors for several years in New Zealand, then Los Angeles, Hunt and Richards Diaz launched Entire Studios in October 2020. In under six months, they received seals of approval from celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner who were photographed wearing Entire’s signature brightly-hued puffer jackets. Since then, the label’s trajectory has only accelerated.
Early famous fans were not entirely out of the sartorial blue; before they created their own label, Hunt and Richards Diaz were gaining widespread clout in the industry through consulting as “ghost” creatives for Kanye West and his label Yeezy (operating behind the scenes to help shape the brand and holistic vision); plus working with Kardashian, Justin Bieber and internationally acclaimed New Zealand choreographer Parris Goebel.
“Years of styling and creative consulting set us up with the skills and industry knowledge to start our own brand,” says the duo. Seeking clothing that simultaneously embraced not only functionality but also quality, impeccable design and accessibility, was a key impetus to take matters into their own hands. “Many brands will meet one of those criteria, but then the others are sacrificed, which we believe is a missed opportunity for a brand to elevate at the intersection of luxury and accessible streetwear.”
With each new collection, they explore the impact of colour and push the boundaries of silhouette; through their lens, shapes are exaggerated to transform or highlight the body, whether that be the sell-out, oversized puffer jackets, the slick catsuits, ultra-mini micro skirts or the perfectly relaxed hoodie and tracksuit sets.
Since launching, the duo’s approach to design has evolved and improved constantly, as has their awareness of what their customers gravitate towards. While initially, they released just one item in three colourways (the emblematic puffer jackets), now that they create wider collections, they say it’s resulting in a more well-rounded understanding of who the Entire Studios customer is, and what pieces work in their wardrobes.
Currently, Richards Diaz is based in L.A. and handles much of the design, creative direction and shoots, while Hunt focuses on art direction and manages the team and operations from Auckland. The distance can be a challenge, but they’re constantly connected through technology — and, if anything, covering more ground between them has been an advantage.
Debuting a new label during the pandemic has also not been without its fair share of hurdles. Like many other designers, they haven’t been able to work as closely with their manufacturers as they would like to, due to travel restrictions. Fabric and reference-sourcing have also been limited, they say, but the most noticeable challenges have been around not being able to attend their own pop-up stores in person. “Because Entire Studios is driven by social media, we’ve had fewer opportunities to see people out and about in ES looks.” Luckily for them, there is no shortage of people offering free marketing by flexing their Entire ensembles for the ‘gram.
Speaking of social media, much is being said about how its domination creates an endless feedback loop of homogenous trends. How do these creatives avoid this? By being relentless in their vision, regardless of what’s trendy, they think.
“We are guided by what we like and steer clear of the echo chamber by having a wide reference base of fashion history. In order to create the new, you need to know what has gone before.”
Recently, the label has been seen on the likes of Dua Lipa and Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny (Spotify’s most-streamed music artist of 2021). Although one would imagine they’d be used to it by now, Entire Studios’ founders say it’s always incredibly exciting. “We don’t think it’ll ever get old seeing a public figure give our clothing the tick of approval.”
When asked who are the ultimate people to see in their pieces, for Richards Diaz that would be Naomi Campbell, and for Hunt, Gwyneth Paltrow.
In the last year, the launch of Entire Studios’ Drop 2 and Drop 2.5 collections have been met with frenzied enthusiasm; Hunt and Richards Diaz have collaborated with Hypebeast on a pop-up store in Hong Kong, and sold out a collection on luxury e-tailer Ssense before the marketing for it had even launched.
All shining moments from a duo who have an even brighter future ahead of them — but the proudest of all is closer to home. “Ultimately, hiring our team and watching the buzz with them every time a new delivery goes live is our proudest accomplishment.”
Foreground: Hug armchairs by Rossella Pugliatti; Drive sofa and two Blend low tables by Carlo Colombo for Giorgetti; Circuit wall light by Apparatus Studio. Background: Selene dining chairs and Mizar dining table by Roberto Lazzeroni for Giorgetti; Tassel 57 pendant by Apparatus Studio — all ecc.co.nz.
It takes a clever eye and a considerate, careful nature to tackle the renovation of a heritage building. But when such projects are done properly — when the marriage of old and new is a harmonious and effortless one — the final effect is exquisite.
Oak House, perched atop a concrete jetty on the edge of Sydney Harbour, is a shining example of this, from its historic facade to its contemporary, European-style interiors. Here, architect Jeremy Bull of Alexander & Co. has managed to pay respect to the structure’s all-important history while transforming it into a warm, inviting family home — and the result is simply breathtaking.
Before it was Oak House, the structure of this home (erected in 1912) was first a place in which wool arriving from sea into Sydney was processed, before eventually becoming a suite of commercial offices. It has a storied history, and one that the owners were required to protect by maintaining the building’s colonial character and conserving its original structure. This required the team at Alexander & Co. to work strategically and creatively within those parameters, eventually coming up with a concept that would pay homage to the home’s history while grounding it firmly in the present.
Externally, Oak House has retained its original character entirely (it was only slightly altered for restoration purposes and privacy), with most of the renovations taking place on the building’s interior. As such, the facade was designed to envelop the contemporary home rebuilt within, creating an interesting aesthetic dichotomy between old and new and making a strong architectural statement.
The interior is a study in sleek European luxury. Painted timber panelled walls and herringbone floors communicate beautifully with the gnarled timber beams of the original structure (peppered throughout), while a palette of soft, oaky neutrals, bright whites, undulating marble and dulled bronze sets a calm, sophisticated tone.
Subtle decorative details and touches of toned-down colour have been deployed with a deft hand to ensure that each space feels layered, warm and unique. Take the two Hug armchairs by Rossella Pugliatti for Giorgetti in the main living room for example, or the eye-catching wall and pendant lights by Apparatus Studio throughout. Every detail has been meticulously considered and assembled in such a way as to exude quiet, understated, timeless luxury.
Comprising five bedrooms over two storeys, the layout of Oak House has been just as carefully designed. With children’s rooms on the lower floors, adult living upstairs and balconies on both levels to maximise the effect of the residence’s astounding views over Sydney Harbour, this home offers a seamless flow between its shared and private spaces.
Each bathroom has its own aesthetic character, while a sprawling, superbly-designed Boffi kitchen sits at the heart of the home — a place where the family can perch on Jean-Marie Massaud’s Poliform Ventura stools to connect with one another and bookmark their days.
Oak House is a design triumph and a credit to Alexander & Co.’s creative approach. Overcoming the hurdle of working with a historic waterfront building to create something that feels of-the-moment without being trend-driven, Bull and his team have proven that perhaps you can teach an old dog new tricks.
There’s no denying that as days get colder, ‘rugging up’ will soon mean more than merely pulling on a long sleeve. And as we look to our wardrobes for cold-weather solutions that don’t compromise a well-considered outfit, there is one jacket that stands above the rest for its timeless style and textural quality — the shearling.
While the shearling jacket has had its moments in and out of fashion’s favour (and a number of iterations throughout the years) it really is a style that transcends trends. Our advice? Invest in a shearling jacket that will see you through more than one winter by sticking to classic styles and versatile tones. Think black leather or tan suede, with trim kept to a palette of neutrals.
Once you find that perfect shearling jacket, it will be more than just a look-enhancing layer. It will keep you warm through winter’s most inclement days — and piece to which you can always turn when in need a little something extra.
With the long weekend just around the corner, beckoning us to hit the road, take off or simply escape the hustle and bustle, we’ve corralled a quartet of travel-friendly things we couldn’t possibly leave without.
Dadelszen Boston Overnight Bag A good quality bag can only get better over time and Dadelszen’s Boston overnight bag is the kind of keep-all that you take on a weekend stay but won’t want to let go of. Complete with palladium hardware, an interior pocket and a removable shoulder strap, it’s a hardworking style that can take you anywhere. To buy, click here.
Abel Odor Layering Set Anything but the duty-free miniature fragrances of the masses, these handy atomisers are filled with Cyan Nori, Pink Iris and Green Cedar olfactory experiences by none other than the nose that knows, Abel Odor. Whether your getaway calls for smelling like a convent in bloom or a citrus orchard at dawn, look no further. To buy, click here.
Butterworth Estate The Skippers 6 Pack After a long and windy road trip sometimes a little holiday tipple is all you need. Our choice is the Butterworth Skippers pack. With 2 bottles of its divine Butterworth Pinot Noir, Butterworth Sauvignon Blanc and Regatta Rose, there is something to please each and every holiday maker. To buy, click here.
Ecostore’s Haircare Bars A stand-alone saviour from dubious hotel toiletries, Ecostore’s haircare bars make it even easier to reach for the gentle, plant-based ingredients that won’t strip your hair’s natural protective oils regardless of where you roam. The range includes both shampoo and conditioner in various formulas to suit every hair type and the compact size makes it easy to stash away in your luggage. To buy, click here.
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