Rendered in shades of emerald, mint, moss and jade, these attention-grabbing bags will leave everyone green-eyed. A versatile yet statement-making shade, a green bag will complement all manner of tones within an ensemble — black, earthy tones like brown, and neutrals like taupe and cream. It is also brilliant when purposefully contrasted with colours like peach, purple and navy blue.
The likes of Gucci, Prada, Dior and many more have released their own, signature version of a green bag, so all that’s left to decide is whether you prefer a vibrant jewel-like shade, or a softer pastel. Either way, it’s time to go green.
Whether your home overlooks a body of water or not, you can still capture that refined, laid-back coastal feel by embracing the right textures and tones. Pair raw materials like timber and rattan with sumptuous, tactile fabrics and neutral, earthy tones. Add a few dynamic touches to bring everything to life and most importantly, don’t overdo it. Keeping things understated is the cornerstone of this look.
If the events of the last year have taught us anything about the way information is cultivated, disseminated and analysed, it’s that social media plays a central role in how most of us consume and comprehend news. Those with a following have used their platforms to highlight the issues about which they care, while on the flip side, other platforms have launched in order to specifically address various issues — and have amassed followings as a result. Shit You Should Care About (SYSCA) is one — and a notable one at that.
An Instagram account that was started in 2018 by university students in Wellington, Lucy Blakiston, Ruby Edwards and Olivia Mercer, SYSCA was born from the idea to create something that made important news, political and cultural happenings and Zeitgeist-y shifts feel accessible to the masses. “We are just a bunch of non-experts helping people give a shit — about literally anything,” one of SYSCA’s founders explains. And if their numbers are an indication of anything, it’s that a lot of people really do give a shit.
With 2.9 million followers — including the likes of Ariana Grande and Bella Hadid — Shit You Should Care About has developed a strong voice via its easy-to-digest posts on everything from Black Lives Matter to feminism to Covid-19 and even information on mental health, tech news, Māori affairs and funny, topical memes. In essence, it takes complex issues around almost anything and repackages them for the shorter attention spans of a social media audience.
“I think that part of our popularity is our Kiwi sense of humour,” says Lucy when asked about SYSCA’s attentive, global audience. “It’s really been a combination of people being in lockdown and being more immersed in social media than ever before, plus the strong resurgence of movements like Black Lives Matter, alongside a host of celebrities re-sharing our posts.”
But with great followings comes great responsibility. As the SYSCA founders explain, deciding what to post comes with a lot of pressure. “Imposter syndrome has been a huge hurdle,” they say, “like who gave us the right to do this job?” Choosing which issues to highlight comes down to trusting their gut. “We still act and post the same way we did on day one,” Lucy explains. “We don’t let others tell us how to use the platform that we love, we don’t spend too much time in the comments, and we make sure that we are being as transparent and as reliable as possible.”
And while posting everything going on in the world would be impossible, where SYSCA has succeeded, is in recognising the positive potential of social media when it is harnessed as a forum for like-minded, passionate people who want to be active participants in their communities.
As SYSCA’s reach continues to grow (the girls also launched a podcast, The Shit Show, last year), the future seems promising. The trio indicates that monetising SYSCA is on the agenda, as they look to make what has become a full-time side-hustle, a sustainable business for all of them. As Olivia says, “SYSCA has become a living, breathing, growing organism in and of itself, and right now, we’re just directing it, but I think it will become clearer, with some time, what exactly we want to turn it into.” One to watch indeed.
New Zealand brand Elle + Riley has built its reputation on creating the kind of impossibly soft cashmere that we simply cannot pass up come winter. Matching simple silhouettes with tones that suit any wardrobe, Elle + Riley has ensured that its pieces not only last us through the chilly season but remain layering essentials all year round.
For its new Autumn Winter range, Elle + Riley drew on the experiences of 2020 to create men’s and women’s pieces that played into the idea of slowing down, with the brand’s founders returning to their Matakana roots to design a collection that feels considered and timeless.
Left to right: the Pia polo in Cedar, the Ryan pants in Cedar, the Arielle sweater in Ink, the Britta dress in Oak, all from Elle + Riley.
Alongside its much-loved palette of soft creams, greys and sandy tones, the brand introduced a raft of soothing, gentle colours designed to bring us back to nature and cultivate a sense of calm in our wardrobes. From Cedar, an earthy, woody tone to Pine, a grounding shade of natural green to Manuka, a warm, uplifting honey to Rose, a soft blush reminiscent of some of our favourite long-lasting flowers, the new-season colours are introducing a depth and dimension that has been missing from our winter knitwear.
Left to right: the Constance off-the-shoulder knit in Kauri, the Cruz cardigan in Manuka, the Nikita sweater in Rose all from Elle + Riley.
It’s always exciting when a popular hospitality purveyor extends their reach out of the central city. Known for some of the best and beefiest (sometimes literally) hot dogs in town, Good Dog Bad Dog currently has a pop-up running in Ormiston Town Centre in new south-east suburb Ormiston.
Located 5kms from Manukau City Centre, Ormiston Town Centre is abuzz with several well-known Auckland food outlets including Bird on a Wire and Daruma Ramen, and now Good Dog Bad Dog has joined the offering — their pop-up will lead the way for a permanent store, currently being built.
From left: Classic Dog; Chicken Hoagie.
Co-founded by David Lee and Oliver Simon, who are also the masterminds behind Commercial Bay eatery Gochu (chef Jason Kim also heads up that eatery), Good Dog Bad Dog has been roaringly popular for its unapologetically decadent ‘dogs. At the Ormiston pop-up, you’ll find a slightly more concise menu that includes their Classic Dog along with the Chopped Cheese, a hamburger-like concoction in a hotdog bun; Chilli Cheese Dog — combining a traditional frankfurter sausage with a house-made chilli mix and cheese topping — and crumbed Chicken Hoagie. Add fluffy potato tots or fries for sides, and you’re away laughing.
“We decided to go to Flat Bush/Ormiston as yum food like ours isn’t as freely available outside of the central suburbs,” says co-founder Simon. “It’s always pretty easy to get into a central Auckland mindset when you live and work in central, and often forget that the majority of Auckland doesn’t live in the CBD!”
Good Dog Bad Dog
Ormiston Town Centre
240 Ormiston Road,
Ormiston 2019
For the last five years, Jeuneora has created some of the best marine collagen and plant-based supplements around, building its reputation on offering beauty and wellness solutions that work via an inside-out approach (keep your gut healthy, and the rest will follow.) And while its powders will continue to help our various gut-based issues, now, the female-founded, New Zealand-based company is looking to further expand its reach into the beauty space by launching a comprehensive range of premium skincare, starting with what it is calling The Essential Seven.
The result of two years of planning, Jeuneora’s new skincare range is set to meet the high expectations of its savvy customers, with fun, luxurious and multi-tasking formulas that combine the latest ingredients to be simultaneously gentle and undeniably effective. Designed to support our skin’s natural microbiome, the dermatologist-approved Jeuneora range is not only suitable for all skin types but harnesses a number of carefully-chosen key ingredients that support the barrier of the dermis without corrupting its integrity or microflora. The range doesn’t claim to be 100% natural, rather the formulations use the power of nature with a helping hand from science to create a high efficacy range. The products are all New Zealand-made, vegan, cruelty-free and entirely devoid of nasties (meaning no parabens, petroleum, phthalates, palm oil, formaldehyde, SLS, SLES, TEA or DEA).
The Jeuneora Skincare range is made up of the MeltTheDay gentle gel cleanser, OhMyDays foaming cloud cleanser, #TBT age-defying serum, ThemGenes daily resculpting serum, GoLightly plump & protect day cream, GoNightly overnight repair cream and SuperSuper face oil. Each has its own area of expertise, ranging from cleansers that promise to remove the sins of the day to serums that swear to leave our skin bright and glowing to creams packed with powerful antioxidants for reducing signs of ageing, or supercharged with ultra-hydrating ingredients to leave our faces feeling impossibly soft. If you ask us, the SuperSuper face oil looks like it will be one of The Essential Seven’s hero products for its lightweight formula, and broad, multi-purpose use.
While the formulas themselves are impressive enough alone, Jeuneora has really hit a home run with its packaging — a cute, shelfie-worthy affair with sleek, soft-touch bottles and eye-catching colours. Importantly, Jeuneora’s packaging incorporates 20 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and the brand has ensured that every item is 100% recyclable through its free-to-use TerraCycle recycling scheme.
Officially available from today, this bold new range couldn’t have come at a better time. After all, whose skin doesn’t need a bit of extra TLC over the harsh winter months?
As ardent fans of architecture and design, we’re very excited at the prospect of the 10th annual Resene Architecture + Design Film Festival, which kicks off in Auckland this week at Rialto Cinemas.
Launching on Thursday, 6th of May, the festival’s line-up offers an inspiring array of films about architects that have left a legacy and lasting impact on contemporary design including Alvar Aalto, Mario Botta and Alfred Frey.
A particular focus on women in architecture shines this year with films that highlight the pioneering work and visions of designers like Charlotte Perriand, and others who have completely shaped movements like Bauhaus only to have history forget them.
Starting in Auckland, the festival then moves down to Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and while the entire lineup looks worthy of booking, here are our picks of the bunch.
Where Architects Live, 2014 Humans are a curious, voyeuristic bunch and any glimpse into the personal preferences of the world’s tastemakers is fascinating. Where Architects Live gives insight into the daily lives of eight leading designers, including Mario Bellini, David Chipperfield and the late Zaha Hadid, and into their homes. Combining more than 30 video contributions, this intimate look into the houses of architects all around the world from Tokyo to Berlin, Mumbai to Milan, showcases the multitudes of how we choose to live.
Aalto, 2020 One of the greatest modern architects of our time, Finnish designer Alvar Aalto’s work spanned architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware, as well as sculptures and paintings. It was characteristic of Aalto to treat each building as a complete work of art — right down to the furniture and light fittings. This film explores the formative relationships Aalto had over his lifetime with two remarkable women; his first wife, Aino, and second wife Elissa, shedding light on the impact they had on his work as equal architects and visionary designers in their own right.
Perriand chaise longue, 1929.
Charlotte Perriand, Pioneer in the Art of Living, 2019 A founder of the Modernist movement, French architect and designer Charlotte Perriand ranks among the great creative geniuses of the 20th Century — yet, compared to her male contemporaries like Le Corbusier, her 75-year career is relatively unknown. This documentary explores her trajectory from her own perspective, an extraordinary woman who pushed the boundaries of modern design.
Nakashima House, New Hope, Pennsylvania. Photo: Ezra Stoller.
George Nakashima: Woodworker, 2020 If beautifully made furniture is what gets you going, this documentary is one for you. It explores the lasting legacy of iconic Japanese-American furniture maker George Nakashima, who changed woodworking by embracing the ‘imperfections’ and natural character of nature.
The Gardener, 2016 Not forgetting that a building’s surroundings are often just as important as the architecture and interiors themselves, this film profiles renowned horticulturalist Francis Cabot and his signature creation, the gardens of Les Quatre Vents in Quebec. One of the world’s foremost private gardens, it was created over 75 years and three generations and is an enchanting masterpiece of the 21st Century. Green thumbs, you’ll love this.
The Resene Architecture + Design Film Festival is showing at Rialto Cinemas in Auckland from Thursday, 6th of May — Wednesday, 19th of May Find the full programme here.
When contemplating what to queue up next on the playlist, why not dive into compelling new offerings from fresh faces and old favourites alike? From homegrown to international talent, get acquainted with the music we have on repeat.
NEW ARTISTS Arlo Parks Having just released her debut album to widespread critical acclaim, this British singer-songwriter-poet is firmly on our ones-to-watch list. Combining poignant lyricism with her warm, airy, natural voice, Parks has a distinct way of cutting through the noise.
Mustafa.
Mustafa Hip hop / Islamic music Recently releasing a moving track dedicated to loved ones he has lost to gun violence, 24-year-old Canadian poet-turned-singer Mustafa (also known as Mustafa the Poet) is garnering more and more attention for his authentic, soulful sound and clear, heartfelt messages.
Molly Payton.
Molly Payton Rock Inspired by rock and roll bands of the 60s and 70s, 19-year-old Kiwi (although she has called London home for the last few years) Molly Payton sings with a deep richness that belies her age and has recently released her EP ‘Porcupine’ which received critical acclaim.
Claire Chicha.
Spill Tab Alternative/Indie This US-based, singer-producer duo (Claire Chicha and David Marinelli) is making waves for its intimate brand of pop and dreamy vocals. Reminiscent of Billie Eilish, Chicha’s soft voice has a distinct character and the duo’s tracks are captivating and memorable.
From left: Home; Heaux Tales; When You See Yourself; Sound Ancestors.
NEW ALBUMS Home Rhye Canadian singer-songwriter Michael Milosh’s ethereal, androgynous falsetto rings through every song on Rhye’s sensual new album. Not deviating too far from its signature, soft-pop sound, this album includes ghostly cantos by the Danish National Girls Choir, sultry lyrics brimming with innuendo and the sleek, rhythmic baselines we’ve come to expect. Song: Beautiful
Heaux Tales Jazmine Sullivan Comprising eight songs connected by spoken-word interludes by different women, Jazmine Sullivan’s fourth album is a meditation on the loss and gain to be found in sex and love. Allowing her powerful voice to shine through, the artist tells intimate stories that draw the listener in — each song a reminder of her incredible talent. Song: Lost One
When You See Yourself Kings of Leon Four years after their last release, Kings of Leon are back with a highly-anticipated new album — proclaiming it to be the one of which they are most proud. Recorded in Nashville’s iconic Blackbird studios alongside Grammy-Award-winning producer Markus Dravs, this is a return to form for the lauded rock group. Song: 100,000 People
Sound Ancestors Madlib with Four Tet Groundbreaking hip-hop producer Madlib (Jahri Massamba Unit) collaborates with DJ and producer Four Tet on this extraordinary record. Combining reggae beats, jazz riffs and poignant storytelling, this album sees its creators embark on a journey through the lineage of Black music. Song: Road of The Lonely Ones
When it comes to dining out in winter, we crave warming, flavourful dishes and a cosy, cocooning environment in which to enjoy them. While this week’s opening of their new venture may have been in the works for over two years, hospitality duo Krishna Botica and Tony McGeorge are right on time with Ghost Street.
Situated beneath their recently relocated (and eternally popular) restaurant Cafe Hanoi, Ghost Street has made itself at home in what was previously 1885 Basement. The subterranean space was given a thoughtful interior refresh by Dajiang Tai and James Ting of Cheshire Architects, an elevated yet approachable reimagining of the bustling hole-in-the-wall eateries that run along Beijing’s famous food street from which this eatery takes its name.
Textural and transportative, the 82-seat space presents all manner of options for differing group sizes — as perfect for an intimate date night as a rousing meal with friends, a business lunch and more. A 44-seat private dining room will also open on the 1st of June. A long, stool-lined, shared table runs in between the central pillars of the room, with an open kitchen giving diners ample view of executive chef Nathan Houpapa and head chef Khai Yee ‘KK’ Khor leading the culinary action.
The idea behind Ghost Street, Botica tells us, was to hone in on aspects of Chinese cuisine that the team feels passionate about. As with Cafe Hanoi, Xuxu Dumpling Bar and Saan, the eatery celebrates Asian cuisine while combining it with a Western-style beverage offering — at Ghost Street, this takes the form of aromatic cocktails that contain spices, bitters and herbs, almost like a Chinese apothecary, plus a curated selection of Champagne, wine and beer.
Both Houpapa and Khor have a particular affinity for Chinese food, and Ghost Street’s menu offers rustic, seasonal dishes from throughout the country with a particular emphasis on those from the western cities of Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, and Xi’an. A research trip in China two years ago saw the team curate a collection of dishes that pack a flavourful punch, with a balanced selection that means you can hit all manner of taste profiles from tart and vinegary to savoury, to both sichuan and hot spice.
Chinese pickles with fried wonton skins are an ideal way to start, and the pickle bowl is generous enough that you can cleanse your palate in between other bites. Scallop wontons are beautifully silky, layered in a shallow gingery broth laced with numbing sichuan oil. We found the vege fried rice to be extremely moreish yet non-stodgy, and we are told KK’s special fried rice with tiger prawn tails and XO sauce is another must-order.
Biang Biang noodles are already being touted as somewhat of a signature, and whole steamed Australian king prawns are a delicious dish to roll up your sleeves for, arriving in their shells on top of an umami tangle of glass noodles and stuffed with fried garlic. The full menu is comprehensive yet not overwhelming, with plenty to satisfy both carnivores and vegetarians alike. We also loved the sichuan eggplant — spicy and jammy, it melts in the mouth and is topped with sesame seeds and fresh chilli.
It’s not something we’d usually mention, but even the menu design is clever — tick a box next to the dishes you want, hand it over and you’ll be saved all the back and forth of yelling over the table to your waitperson.
As they are wont to do with their other openings, Ghost Street’s team has identified a gap in their neighbourhood’s offering and filled it in the best way possible. We suggest you get yourself down there to try it for yourself.
Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday: 5PM — close (around 10PM) Thursday: 12 noon — close (around 10PM) Friday: 12 noon — late (around midnight) Saturday: 5PM — late (around midnight) Sunday: 5PM — close (around 10PM)
Ghost Street
Basement Floor,
27 Galway Street,
Britomart
Access via Tuawhiti Lane (adjacent to Hotel Britomart)
Among young New Zealand creatives with their sights set on fame and fortune, a voyage overseas is a well-trodden tradition. For 22-year-old actor Erana James, however, Hollywood came to her, offering a central role in the Amazon Prime Video series The Wilds.
Filmed in Auckland, it was touted as the breakout hit of the season upon its release in December 2020 (with a second season confirmed soon after), and thanks to the show’s success James has been catapulted onto the global stage.
The Wilds follows eight young women who, following a plane crash, are washed up on a desert island. Described as a successor of Lord of the Flies, or Lost (but with teenage girls), the show has been praised for its relatable portrayals of a range of young women from diverse backgrounds, and its stars have garnered dedicated fanbases that grow seemingly by the minute.
James as Toni Shalifoe in Prime Video’s The Wilds.
For James, who plays tomboy Toni Shalifoe and was the only main cast member from Aotearoa, the opportunity to shoot her first American TV show on home soil was a dream. “It was so amazing,” she tells me. “It’s the type of job that can change your life a little bit, because you get thrown out of life as you know it for such a long time.”
Having a strong female support system throughout the filming process was also incredible, she says, reflecting on the opportunity to work with industry legends such as the late Jamie Tarses, producer Amy Harris and writer Sarah Streicher, as well as her other female co-stars.
James was born in Whangārei and moved to Wellington when she was 10, where she got into acting at the age of 14 — her mother manages performing arts school Rata Studios. There, James was mentored by actor and renowned acting coach Miranda Harcourt, which led to the then-17-year-old being cast in her first local breakout role as Laura Chant in the Margaret Mahy film-adaption, The Changeover. A year after that was released, she was cast in The Wilds.
“I never really thought it would be something I’d do full time,” says James of her accelerating acting career. “But, I’ve been very willingly thrown into this crazy job at the moment, that I hope will continue to go well.”
Poised, eloquent and wise beyond her years, James speaks candidly about her journey and keeping her head in a notoriously difficult industry. She’s getting used to having more eyes on her than ever before, including a social media following of over 218,000, but she’s also not afraid to speak out for what she’s passionate about.
“I have always been and will always be passionate about indigenous culture, having indigenous culture be at the forefront of the education system and being able to play indigenous characters,” says James, who is Māori from Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei hapū on her father’s side. “Telling those stories through the right lenses has always been [important]… and also changing the narrative around the types of women we see in film.”
Coming off the back of playing Toni, an openly gay character, James is delighted by the outpouring of positive messages she received from the LGBTQ+ community, telling her they felt seen and represented by her portrayal. “It just means the world.”
When it comes to preparing for a role, part of what makes James so compelling to watch is her skill in finding a balance between inhabiting a character and being herself. “My acting coach [Miranda Harcourt] speaks about finding the naturalism in the story you’re telling,” she says, “so, whatever part of myself I can activate for whatever character I’m playing — stronger, dull that back, push that further — if there’s already truth in that [emotion] in me, then I hope the truth comes through in that character.”
Ask James about who or what is inspiring her, and she’s quick to praise her brother, Ethan James, who also works in the industry as a 1st Assistant Camera (also known as a focus puller) naming him as her “biggest inspiration and drive.” And, as far as dream roles are concerned? “I have always wanted to work with Jane Campion, so whatever role she wants to give me!”
This year, James will be filming season two of The Wilds for several months, and after that, she’s looking forward to diving into more work. We’re sure she’ll have her pick of any number of amazing roles.
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