While spending time indoors, take inspiration from the outdoors and adorn yourself with bold accents in deep ocean blue and forest green jewels for a look that’s positively daring.
Make dinner at home a black tie affair or let your Zoom meeting focus on your emerald accents. Before you knot it you will be having a different type of baguette at breakfast.
Claire Sullivan-Kraus – Founder and Editor In Chief
Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life In The Shadow Of The Crown by Anne Glenconner
“If you were hooked on The Crown you will love this sassy memoir of drama, tragedy, and royal secrets by Anne Glenconner – a close member of the royal circle and lady-in-waiting to the notoriously difficult Princess Margaret. Talk about a stiff upper lip.”
Broken Glass by Alex Beam
“The true story of the unique and intimate relationship that gave birth to the architectural dream Farnsworth House, a masterpiece of 20th century design – and deteriorated into a desperate feud.”
No Filter by Sarah Frier
“Award-winning reporter Sarah Frier looks into the rise and rise of Instagram and how it became the most culturally defining app of the decade. Like.”
Damien Woolnough – Editor
Too Much Is Not Enough by Andrew Rannells
“The Book of Mormon had to close prematurely in Auckland but the star of its original Broadway run delivers his fair share of drama in this witty, self-deprecating and ultimately life-affirming autobiography.”
Uncanny Valley: A Memoir by Anna Weiner
“An outsider’s inside take on the bloated and dangerous rise of Silicon Valley and the culture created behind the boom. On her journey Wiener wonders why an industry that was supposed to bring people together ended up creating divisions.”
Fliss Grennell – Advertising Manager
Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown
“The harrowing story of a girl who faces abuse in foster homes and is exposed to drugs, sex work and gang violence before waking up behind a dumpster and deciding to turn her life around. No wonder Oprah loved it.”
Arabella Nelson – Digital Manager
Guest House For Young Widows of Isis by Azadeh Moaveni
“An at times disturbing look at why 13 young women were drawn to the extremist Jihadist movement.”
As we increasingly look at homes as retreats and places of solace, it’s time to update the sanctuary status of our living spaces. Colour has an immediate impact on our wellbeing, so reach for the paint brush and after some meditative strokes, bask in the brilliance of dusty green Resene Hemlock.
Psychologist Rachel Kaplan from the University of Michigan in the US has found that green environments decrease stress levels, so bring nature indoors with Resene Hemlock’s seventies-tinged evocation of lush landscapes.
From an interior design point of view, another reason that green is seen as calming is its place on the spectrum, producing the least amount of eye strain. Add bonus points for being associated with safety and harmony in many cultures.
If you are looking to increase your ‘green’ credentials in another way, Resene has been addressing environmental concerns for decades. Resene’s Environmental Choice approved product range, includes an extensive array of paints that have been independently verified as having no added VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) or having particularly low VOC content.
The lower the VOCs the fresher the air. Resene colours are also tinted using special, no added VOC tinters, so you can get your favourite colour tinted without worrying about added VOCs.
So keep calm and keep painting.
Image credit: Fraser Chatham, Art Direction: Fran King
Working from home means there are less people around to judge you by the shoes you wear but that’s no reason for exposing your toes to cold floorboards or stray Lego pieces.
Choosing the right footwear could have a serious impact on your performance, helping you crush deadlines and budgets rather than falling into a black hole of Netflix and ASMR video clips.
Research from Northwestern University in the US shows that wearing specific articles of clothing has a direct effect on your psychology and performance. The term ‘enclothed cognition’ describes the connection between clothing and your psychological state.
So wearing pool slides at home could trick your mind into thinking it’s time for sun, surf and sangria instead of spreadsheets.
Get your brain in gear and launch into working remotely feet first.
The morning commute
Get your creative juices flowing, even if it takes you five seconds to get to work from your bed to your laptop. Encased in the athletic Adidas designs your brain is bound to break records that will leave all thoughts of your slippers in the dust.
Wear them with dark wash denim or chinos and keep your feet feeling on top of things.
WIP it good
It’s important to reassure your colleagues by chat or email that it’s business as usual. The classic derby polished to perfection instantly gives an instant sense of security. If it worked for grandpa in World War II it will work in 2020.
Presentation pieces
Just because you’ve adjusted the lighting, your half-Windsor knot and arranged the books in camera-view behind you doesn’t mean that you’re ready to dazzle your superiors on a tele-conference.
Your feet might be out of view but Alessandro Michele’s signature snake design loafers for Gucci will have your brain prepared to strike (venom optional).
Social distance coffee
Some meetings can’t be kept to a conference call, so head to a restaurant where social-distancing measures are in place. This far from basic black boot lets them know you mean business.
Good design
If you need to channel your inner architect without conducting a site visit, approach blueprints and plans in the design uniform of a simple sneaker. Swap out gloomy black with feel good blue suede. A matching turtleneck is optional.
End of work drinks
Instead of racing to the car park and chasing traffic you can pour yourself a whiskey and congratulate yourself on making it to the end of another day. Things instantly feel better in these fashion forward slippers from Louis Vuitton.
They let your brain know it’s time to relax and you don’t have to worry about getting them scuffed outside your front door.
New Zealand’s leading restaurants have been quick to react to the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) with proactive measures protecting diners.
Here is how industry stalwarts are keeping calm and carrying on.
Mark Wallbank
The Blue Breeze Inn, Woodpecker Hill, Chop Chop Noodle Shop & Go Go Daddy Thai Canteen
I’ve been in the restaurant biz since far too many of you were babes on your mother’s knee and I can tell you the coming weeks are going to be a tough time for us all. That’s why I’m taking the unprecedented step of reducing the number of tables in my restaurants. This uncrowded approach is essential to ensure exceptional hygiene.
I’ll be sharing my time equally between all four restaurants to ensure they remain safe, healthy places for staff and customers alike – and because even after all these years there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Take care, keep up your sense of humour, and know that for as long as we can, we’ll be here to deliver delicious meals, excellent service and worry-free dining.
Lucien Law
Ostro, Ebisu, Azabu, Mission, Fukuko & NSP
The last few weeks have been concerning as we watch our hospitality family around the world suffer and wonder what will happen at home.
We have stepped up our hygiene and taken unprecedented steps to keep our customers and staff as safe as possible and also keep the lights on.
As the situation continues to evolve we’ll update our website and social platforms with any changes such as home delivery or takeaway menus
While we appreciate this is the most serious global health event in our life, it will pass but it will take time… let’s not throw in the towel… let’s tackle it with positivity and kindness.
Richard Sigley
Soul Bar & Bistro, Euro, Andiamo, The Brit, The Chamberlain, The Culpeper, Jervois Steak House & The Crab Shack
We have been quick to address concerns in this time of uncertainty – after all, our customers have been Nourish Group’s priority for 20 years.
Along with the extra precaution of sanitising all high touch points every hour, we are imposing strict staff health checks across our 13 sites.
We have also taken care of social distancing issues by increasing the spaces between tables in all our venues.
Customer health and wellbeing has always been and will continue to be our chief concern. We hope your support of our industry continues in these challenging times.
Picture this: It’s a fairly ordinary Friday morning, and as far as my routine goes, it’s business as usual. Well, with one minor difference. This Friday, when I pull up to my client meetings, I’m behind the wheel of the new 2020 Maserati Levante 350 GranSport — and I have to say, it feels good.
Before you start thinking that I must have won Lotto, let me set the record straight. It was, in fact, because I had selflessly volunteered my test-driving services in the name of quality journalism, that I found myself in the driver’s seat of an SUV that was proving most of my assumptions about its kind very wrong.
Leaving my first meeting that day, I pulled into the flow of traffic with an air of confidence, the signature Maserati purr from the pneumatic valves of the exhaust system daring people to stare as I glided elegantly past (and pretending not to notice when they did).
Even when idle, the Levante 350 GranSport has a certain ‘I’m loud and I’m proud’ character, call it a testament to the marque’s Italian pedigree and its commitment to an aesthetic of refined luxury. With a design comprising sleek, clean lines that run from a magnificent front grill all the way down to a perfectly-formed rear, the body of this car is so well-shaped, it would make the Kardashians jealous. It has that new-car smell that makes you feel like you’ve made it, an infotainment system so vast that you’ll end up sitting in your driveway for hours simply trying to make a decision (but with wealth comes options, right?) and hand-stitched leather so soft and carefully-detailed that a drive to the shops will feel like stepping into an Italian fashion atelier. With its trademark Maserati tridents embossed on all of the headrests, this car is Italian by name and Italian by nature.
Deciding it was time to put the Levante 350 GranSport through its paces (because what kind of test-driver would I be if I simply judged the car on its looks alone) I headed West, choosing the infamous winding road out to Piha as the ultimate testing ground. Once on the motorway, I switched into Sport Mode, and dropped down a gear, which really gave her a chance to open up. She handled it very, very well. And although I knew that under the perfect curves of her bonnet sat a Ferrari-built Twin Turbo V6 engine, I was still somewhat surprised that a car of that size could handle my Formula 1 aspirations with such grace and effortlessness. We got up to 100km/h in just six quick seconds, but despite being tempted, I decided to hold back from pushing her to reach her top speed of 251km/h. I didn’t want the team at Maserati to have to cough up for a speeding ticket on my watch.
Piha proved a good choice. Part of the beauty of the Levante 350 GranSport, is that it was designed to allow the driver to feel every twist and turn, with suspension that enhances ride comfort and handling. I truly felt like I was on a racetrack, even if I wasn’t driving at eye-watering speeds. The fact that she’s a high-performance SUV that handles like a sports car, really made me feel like I was getting the best of both worlds. The standard features in the Levante 350 GranSport include front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot alert, rear camera, keyless entry and dual-zone climate control, all the bells and whistles that will take you from A to B in total comfort and style.
Our time together was short and sweet, and saying farewell to my weekend whip was not easy. I was faced with a brutal reality check when I stood, like an idiot, at the driver’s door of my basic run-around expecting keyless entry, before suddenly realising I had to actually find my keys and press the unlock button. The dream was over, so there was only one thing left to do: buy a Lotto ticket.
It’s the Goldilocks time of year when it’s not too warm and not too cold but finding something that’s just right is an Everest-sized struggle. Make life easier by setting your default transeasonal setting to cashmere with pieces that offer immediate comfort as temperatures begin to drop and clouds gather.
Since Katie Holmes stepped out in a cashmere bra, the finest of fabrics have been infiltrating wardrobes in unexpected ways, taking cashmere well beyond the standard v-neck sweaters. Here are the key pieces from cashmere whisperers Elle + Riley that will stop you staring into the autumnal abyss of your wardrobe, wondering what to wear.
The Camisole
A cashmere bra is not for everyone but a camisole taps into the underwear as outerwear trend without worrying about the condition of your abs. The sleeveless design makes it perfect for layering beneath leather jackets, with the soft texture offering a creative contrast with tough outerwear.
The Polo Workhorse
Everyone needs that one piece that they can throw on and feel polished enough to face down judgmental baristas or the school run style police. A cashmere polo elevates simple denim to a suitable level of sophistication.
Don’t let the New Zealand-designed light knit fool you, with cashmere offering greater insulation properties than wool.
The Cardigan
Blame your childhood science teacher for spoiling the idea of cardigans but worn the right way, this button-up can turn up more than your body heat. In moderate temperatures the cardigan is optimal outerwear, offering a streamlined silhouette but come winter it serves double duty beneath structured jackets.
The Stylish Sweatpant
Thanks to cashmere the concept of a stylish sweatpant is no longer an oxymoron, with styles now worthy of gracing your designer sofa as you watch Netflix and actually chill on a Sunday.
Cashmere sweatpants are also perfect for travelling, looking so much better than the pyjamas provided at the pointy end of the plane. If you do spill some of your turmeric latte while relaxing remember that cashmere, like most of us, responds best to gentle hand-washing.
Last Sunday saw 34,380 people take part in the annual Round the Bays event, and an incredible amount of money raised for numerous charities because of it. The triumphs, however, have since been overshadowed by the ensuing furore caused by the mountains of plastic waste left behind, with most rubbish bins left overflowing with Pump-branded plastic bottles.
The plastic water bottle has become one of the most visual symbols of our throwaway culture. Often found scattered on beaches or crushed underfoot at events, the single-use water bottle is normally made from petrochemical-based plastics and as such, is almost impossible to dispose of naturally.
Looking to make the plastic water bottle a thing of the past, Jayden Klinac established For The Better Good, a company with an ethos of regeneration and an objective to operate in harmony with nature. The premise is relatively simple: to create a water bottle that is not only safe to reuse an infinite number of times but is also made from something that can break down without harming the environment. The ‘Better Bottle,’ Klinac’s plant-based alternative boasts a 78 per cent smaller carbon footprint than its regular counterpart, is made entirely from naturally-occurring starch (making it certified compostable), and is filled with pure, New Zealand spring water.
Furthermore, Klinac has, in order to encourage people to embrace a circular system, set up a number of refill stations around the country (over 200 now), as well as initiating specific collection schemes for bottles that are no longer wanted. More recently, Klinac tells us, the company has set up three of its own composting sites in Queenstown, Wellington and Auckland alongside contracting another private site in Christchurch, each with its own “environmental experiment” attached to it. The Wellington site, for example, will compost tonnes of food waste as well as For The Better Good’s bottles.
Klinac also explains how the site’s surplus land is being set up for organic gardening where the compost will be used to regenerate the soil and grow food that will be donated to a charity called WELLfed. For The Better Good has even launched a programme whereby for every box of water bought, a tree will be planted in a bid to keep business growth in line with that of the environment.
The young eco-entrepreneur has created a business for the modern era. One that recognises how environmentalism is no longer a niche pursuit and how it must be inducted into the mainstream if we are to safeguard our environment for the future.
Advocating for various states of undress, the translucent trend remains stronger than ever this season, seeing a number of tasteful twists on ‘nearly-naked’ take centre stage.
There are some of the pieces we’re adding to our wishlist.
Dr Rudi’s
Offering an incredible view across the waters of Viaduct Harbour, this rooftop bar (and bowling alley) has been a summertime favourite since it opened. Pick a scenic spot on the deck and enjoy the sunset with a crisp Dr Rudi’s brew in hand.
Parasol & Swing
Another Viaduct Harbour spot that promises to have you soaking up every minute of the golden hour. Indulge in one of Parasol & Swing’s signature cocktails, like the Tiki-Birds of Paradise, and you’ll be setting yourself up for a perfect evening.
Andiamo
Sunset can be enjoyed from places other than just a rooftop. Herne Bay’s favourite restaurant, Andiamo is perfectly positioned to soak up the last few moments of sun as it kisses the horizon, bathing its outdoor tables in a warm pink and golden glow.
Soul Bar & Bistro
If looking out onto the sun-speckled water isn’t blissful enough, Soul Bar & Bistro elevates the fantasy further with its (now iconic) ceiling of beautiful blooming florals. This waterfront institution is sublime and makes for an idyllic date-night spot.
The Churchill
As the highest rooftop bar in Auckland, The Churchill offers unparalleled views across the Auckland City skyline and is a luxurious place to park up for a sunset tipple. With its vast selection of Champagne and gin, this is an elevated experience in more ways than one.
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