Serpentine Top Handle in ivory from Bvlgari

A new chapter for Bvlgari, the evolution of an icon

12 Nov 2025

Under the creative direction of Mary Katrantzou, Bvlgari’s Serpenti in Conversation ushers in a new chapter of collaboration and artistry. The debut edition invites Géraldine Guyot, founder and Creative Director of DESTREE, to reinterpret the iconic Serpentine Top-Handle bag.

Left: Mary Katrantzou. Right: Géraldine Guyot

Renowned for her sculptural, art-driven aesthetic, Guyot brings a refined playfulness to the piece, weaving intricate metal passementerie through its serpentine curves. The result is a masterful dialogue between Bvlgari’s storied jewellery heritage and Parisian modernism. A celebration of sensual form, bold craftsmanship and timeless creative evolution.

Shop The Collection

Serpentine Top Handle in ivory calf leather from Bvlgari

Serpentine Top Handle in brown Nabuk from Bvlgari

Serpentine Mini top handle bag in black satin from Bvlgari

Serpentine Mini top handle bag in Red Satin from Bvlgari

bulgari.com

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The Wine Room’s definitive guide to hosting clients

12 Nov 2025

Wine is a rare passion that weaves itself through every corner of our lives. Whether at work or at play, a love for wine is not just a pursuit but a way of living. David Nash and the experts at The Wine Room embrace this philosophy with genuine enthusiasm. As the year ends, it’s time to celebrate the business relationships built over shared experiences. The Wine Room excels in creating refined, personal occasions — offering exclusive food and cellar experiences designed for meaningful client hosting.

Members at The Wine Room curate a tailored cellar to share rare bottles in an intimate setting. This level of personal detail transforms professional events, making each occasion distinctive in Auckland’s hospitality landscape. Guests are welcomed with unique selections that blend private cellar exclusivity, chef-driven dining, and memorable service, creating lasting impressions that linger long after the final toast.

Here, wine connoisseur and founder David Nash shares his advice for entertaining clients at The Wine Room.

Allow for an icebreaker

“When creating an experience for a lunch or fully hosted private event, we always orchestrate the service to be the piece that first breaks the ice, then ensures the conversation flows in the right direction,” Nash explains. “Our hosting is not the main event; it’s there to foster an entertaining, emotive atmosphere that encourages great discussion. We always plan for the space in between our hosting as much as we do for our hosting itself. Nothing is left to chance.”

Take your time

“What should you invest in? Time,” he says. “Time with our venue, time with our layout, and taking the time to meet our team. Discuss the outcome you want to achieve, and you’ll have the entire service team behind you, supporting you to seal the deal.”

Go bespoke

“In the corporate world, once you’re at a celebratory level, everyone’s been taken to lunch 100 times — it does get tiresome,” admits Nash. “It’s a large investment for someone to take an afternoon off, so you need to respect that time. Every experience at The Wine Room is bespoke; for that reason, we don’t offer any set piece experiences,” he says. “We tailor every lunch, dinner, and full venue event to be 100 per cent about the guests — and making the experience relevant to them. We research the guests, their firm, or their family background, to ensure that we have the stories to tell that will resonate and create a sense of nostalgia, which I believe is the heart of great hospitality.”

Escape the everyday

“The most consistent feedback we get is that The Wine Room is an ‘international experience’, you’re five minutes from Auckland’s city centre, and yet you feel like you’re in another country,” explains Nash. “It’s the feeling of escaping the day-to-day, when you walk through our doors, you’re not next to the office at the same old bistro — you’re in our world now, you’ve got a private chef who changes the menu on a daily basis (much to the delight of our front of house team), and quite possibly the most extensive wine list your clients and guests have ever seen. Not to mention the best hosts, sommeliers, and service team in the country.”

thewineroom.nz

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Westmere welcomes Hōchō Eathouse, offering an authentic, affordable taste of Japan

12 Nov 2025

Westmere’s West End Road continues its quiet transformation into a local dining destination, now welcoming Hōchō Eathouse, an intimate new Japanese eatery that’s already drawing in curious locals. Helmed by chef and knife specialist Kenta Kawano, Hōchō brings its own authenticity to Westmere’s neighbourhood dining scene. Here, culinary craft and community meet over a bowl of ramen or a unique scoop of matcha ice cream.

Having spent years leading kitchens around New Zealand, most recently as head chef at Soho Thai Kitchen, Kawano is also one of the country’s few professional knife sharpeners. “I use traditional Japanese natural whetstones,” he says. “I restore broken knives and even turn gyuto chef’s knives into sashimi knives.” The restaurant’s name, Hōchō, takes its cue from the Japanese word for “knife,” a nod to the precision and respect for craft that defines Kawano’s philosophy.

Hōchō’s food philosophy stems from a collective of chefs with fine-dining pedigrees who sought to strip things back. “Rather than doing another high-end concept with fancy garnishes and $40 plates with tiny portions, we wanted to create something homely, approachable, and affordable,” says Kawano. “A place where anyone can walk in and enjoy genuinely good Japanese food.”

The menu reflects that ethos with refined yet comforting dishes. The clear chicken-broth ramen, topped with oyster mushrooms, is a nourishing example of simplicity done well, rich in depth yet light enough to enjoy any day of the week. While matcha daifuku ice cream, infused with salted sakura blossoms, is delicate and quietly surprising, offering a subtle floral sweetness that lingers. “We use our fine-dining experience to make simple ingredients shine,” explains Kawano. “Real Japanese food should be delicious, beautiful, and nourishing. We don’t rely too much on salt; it’s all about balance and the natural flavour of the ingredients.”

A simple drinks menu will soon give way to an impressive sake selection once the liquor licence comes through, including a collaboration with a new local sake brewery serving sake on tap. He hints at a collaboration with a new local sake brewery serving on tap from kegs, in another first for Auckland. “Once that happens,” Kawano laughs, “it’s going to be sake, sake, and more sake.”

The space itself mirrors the food: minimal, clean, and relaxed, with an atmosphere that invites regular visits. Soon, Hōchō will introduce Japanese rice imported by Wakka Japan, the same supplier used by top restaurants globally. “We’ll mill it fresh the day before cooking and prepare it in a traditional hagama pot,” says Kawano. “The pot lets the rice absorb heat evenly, giving it a delicate aroma and chewy texture. Even in Japan, most people don’t get to eat rice like this.”

For Kawano, it all comes back to simplicity and sincerity. “We don’t expect anything fancy,” he says. “We just want people to come, eat, and leave saying, ‘That was really good.”

Opening Hours:
Monday — Sunday, 11 am — 9 pm

hocho.co.nz

127 West End Road
Westmere
Auckland

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Autonomy: The Future of Personalised Health

12 Nov 2025

We’ve become a generation fluent in fatigue. Ask anyone how they are these days, and the answers rarely stray from “busy” or “tired.” It’s the quiet chorus of post-pandemic life, the lingering burnout, the sleepless nights, the brain fog we’ve learned to dismiss as normal. We push through, caffeine in hand, convinced that if the doctor says we’re fine, we must be. But what if fine is the problem?

That’s the question at the heart of Autonomy, a new kind of health practice built for those who’ve outgrown surface-level wellness. For many, the standard approach to healthcare has become reactive and impersonal — a cycle of annual blood tests, generic advice, and supplement routines that fail to deliver true vitality. Autonomy fills that gap in a way that feels both deeply scientific and profoundly human.

Here, medicine meets meaning. It begins with a Discovery Consultation, a one-hour session that feels more like an investigation than an appointment. Led by qualified doctors, the Autonomy team, which also includes health coaches and nurses, takes the time to truly listen before performing five key biomarker tests. These initial insights form the foundation for understanding each client’s unique biology and identifying areas where further investigation may be necessary.

“ What makes Autonomy compelling isn’t just the data; it’s what they do with it. Each client leaves with a bespoke, medically-led plan that translates complex science into something actionable.”

Those who wish to go further move into the Early Wins program, a medically led protocol that explores more than 100 advanced biomarkers. From insulin sensitivity and inflammation to thyroid balance, cortisol rhythms and nutrient status, the testing creates a detailed picture of how the body is performing beneath the surface and what it needs to function optimally.

It’s astonishing what emerges when you look closer. Someone who “eats well and exercises” might discover they are insulin resistant, a silent precursor to diabetes that routine tests often miss. Another may learn their cortisol curve is inverted, too high at night and too low in the morning, explaining wired evenings and foggy starts. Elevated homocysteine might reveal early vascular strain, while nutrient deficiencies can expose the biochemical roots of fatigue, anxiety or cognitive decline. These small, invisible imbalances quietly undermine longevity until now.

What makes Autonomy compelling is not just the science but the strategy. Each client receives a bespoke, ongoing plan led by a personal doctor, supported by a dedicated health coach and nurse. This is not about quick fixes but measurable transformation. Recommendations are precision-tailored: nutrition designed to stabilise blood sugar and reduce inflammation, movement programmed to strengthen mitochondria and preserve muscle mass, and stress recovery guided by measurable data such as sleep quality, heart rate variability and cortisol patterns. Every plan evolves as the body does, ensuring long-term sustainability over short-term gains.

For those who want to go even deeper, Autonomy now offers DNA testing, GLP-1 support, and Whole Body MRI Wellness Scans, the next frontier in proactive health. Already adopted by leading longevity clinics worldwide, these tools help clients understand their genetic predispositions, metabolic pathways, and early risk indicators. The MRI scan, for instance, provides a radiation-free view of most organs and systems, revealing inflammation or early changes before symptoms appear. Autonomy’s medical team interprets each result to ensure context, clarity, and care —never fear or confusion.

“It’s not a detox or a diet, it’s a recalibration. One that empowers you to make decisions about your body from a place of knowledge rather than noise.”

Importantly, Autonomy does not only cater to those chasing peak performance. Many clients arrive seeking relief from chronic pain, fatigue or recurring symptoms that conventional medicine has failed to resolve. By identifying root causes, whether metabolic, hormonal or neurological, the team helps patients reduce pain, restore energy and change their trajectory away from chronic disease.

Autonomy’s 30-day Early Wins program remains the foundation where transformation begins. Within weeks, energy steadies, focus sharpens, and sleep becomes truly restorative. It is not a detox or a diet; it is a recalibration, one that empowers people to make decisions about their bodies from a place of knowledge rather than noise.

What stands out most is how grounded the process feels. There is no evangelising and no unattainable perfectionism. Just an intelligent, medically guided structure for living better in real time, proof that science and self-care can coexist meaningfully.

Because ultimately, longevity is not about chasing youth; it is about sustaining vitality. In an age where our devices track everything except how we actually feel, Autonomy offers something radical: a return to understanding ourselves. For those juggling business, family and the relentless pace of modern life, this is not just about adding years; it is about making those years count.

autonomy.health

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Bread & Butter Bakery donated over 100,000 loaves of sourdough to New Zealanders in need

11 Nov 2025

Few efforts deserve a bigger celebration than an initiative that nourishes an entire community. We have long believed that everyone, no matter their circumstances, deserves a seat at the table with fresh, wholesome bread. The Bread Project Charitable Trust and Bread & Butter Bakery share this philosophy. Together, they have filled homes across New Zealand with the comforting aroma of more than 100,000 sourdough loaves and fruit buns, delivered in partnership with the New Zealand Food Network, Auckland City Mission, and local food banks.

This heartening effort is philanthropy with purpose at its core, woven into the very fabric of their business. Each day, Bread & Butter sets aside a generous share of its oven-fresh, naturally fermented sourdough for NZFN and Auckland City Mission, who ensure these loaves reach families who need them most. This is not day-old bread languishing on the shelves; it is the same golden, crusty bread you would find at any Bread & Butter cafe, fresh from the oven.

“The Bread Project was established to expand on a commitment to making real bread accessible to more people — regardless of circumstance,” says Bread & Butter’s co-owner, Simon Henis.
Launched in early November, the initiative has already soared past its goal of 1,000 loaves a day, delivering an astonishing 80,000 kilograms of fresh bread to those who need it most. These beautifully crafted loaves have found their way to 33 food hubs, brightening tables in 23 cities and across eight regions.

“It looks (and tastes) like something you’d get from a top-notch bakery, definitely something people would choose themselves if they had the option,” said a staff representative at Auckland’s Kindness Collective. “It definitely adds a sense of value to the food parcels we provide, and recipients have been genuinely surprised and delighted to receive such high-quality bread.”

“It’s incredibly meaningful to receive intentional donations like this, where the food is made exclusively for the purpose of helping people,” explains the chief executive of NZFN, Gavin Findlay.

“We, alongside so many organisations, are working hard to rescue excess kai from food businesses to help address our country’s concerning food waste levels. The Bread Project is a heartening example of how businesses can play a critical role in supporting Kiwis doing it tough, ensuring food support isn’t just an afterthought, but is intentionally baked into their operations.”

“Demand for food support continues to rise, and this kind of intentional donation is an inspiration to the whole corporate sector,” Findlay adds. “We know times are tough for everyone, but if business leaders could take a moment to think about how we could work together to give back to the community, the collective impact would be huge.”

nzfoodnetwork.org.nz

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Is your partner holding you back?

11 Nov 2025

They might be your beloved other half, but they might also be the flesh and bones equivalent of the ol’ ball and chain; a deep-sea anchor putting a stop to your journey into the giddy realms of success.

Unsure as to whether your significant other is holding you back? We’ve come up with a few key indicators that will sort the worthy suitors from the downright embarrassing, helping you wade through the murky waters of indecision towards a clearer mindset.

Ambition

Or more specifically, the lack of it. You’re a high achiever operating at optimal efficiency, intent on making it in the big leagues. Still, you’re tangled up with a lass or lad whose idea of achievement is becoming a micro-influencer — they’ve been “finding themselves” in Byron for almost four years. Sound familiar? Playing house with this personality type isn’t going to help you rise to the top; you’re much more likely to find yourself meandering down the path to mediocrity — and picking up the bill — instead.

Upkeep

Whatever David Harbour lacked in polish, he made up for with Lily Allen’s enduring style and cool-girl energy. After all, there’s nothing like having an enigmatic partner on your arm to boost flailing popularity. Superficial but undeniably true. While we can’t all have a Lily in our lives (huge fumble), we can ditch the duds: shoddy grooming habits, a penchant for UGG boots (in public places), and an unhealthy affection for an old-school spray tan. After all, it’s a slippery slope, and flouncing about with what looks like a $2 hooker on your arm isn’t going to cut it, no matter how great their ‘personality’ is.

Humour

Sure, they can hold a conversation with your parents, but can they work a room? Being a drip with zero chat isn’t going to do you any favours out in the real world; if your partner is repelling your work colleagues with limp jokes and tense small talk, this reflects badly on you. At the other extreme, if they allow words to tumble out of them as if stricken with a bad case of verbal diarrhoea, you’ll be left trying to put a plug in it before they blurt out something embarrassing in front of clients or that senior partner that makes or breaks your fate at work. Save the Labrador energy for the bedroom.

Manners

“Manners maketh the man.” What we’re politely trying to convey is that a gracious and charming partner in crime will make the path to success a smooth one, while a sarcastic, rude accomplice will make it nigh impossible. If you’ve been gifted the latter, either lock ‘em up or give them the flick. We all know bad manners when we see them, whether it’s the wench shouting into her phone mid-dinner party or the drunkard singlehandedly cleaning up the bar tab, and shacking up with a repeat offender will do nothing but tarnish your glittering reputation.

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Trenzseater stands as a legacy brand, celebrated for its enduring design sensibility

10 Nov 2025

For those seeking interiors that exude sophistication, Trenzseater has established itself as a leader in New Zealand’s design landscape. Founded by Ben and Hamish Lewis, the company offers a comprehensive interior design service that spans residential and commercial projects, working closely with clients from concept through to completion. The approach is both collaborative and meticulous, ensuring every element — from bespoke furniture and drapery to lighting, rugs, and accessories — is layered into a cohesive, highly personalised scheme.

“Our process is about creating something unique for each client,” says creative director Ben Lewis. “It’s a journey designed to be enjoyed, with every stage delivering a sense of discovery.” That dedication has garnered international acclaim.

Trenzseater has been recognised as a finalist in the prestigious Andrew Martin Interior Design Review in London, shortlisted in the SBID International Design Awards for seven consecutive years, and celebrated in the Design et al International Design & Architecture Awards, where Lewis won the ‘Global Interior Design Scheme’ category in 2019. More recently, Trenzseater secured the ‘Interior Scheme Australasia’ accolade in 2024.

With showrooms in Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown, and a vertically integrated model that allows for bespoke New Zealand-made furniture alongside global design brands, Trenzseater continues to deliver interiors of timeless, international calibre.

trenzseater.com

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Evoke modern romance with Resene’s vintage-inspired palette

7 Nov 2025

Art direction — Amber Armitage/ Marigold
Photography — Melanie Jenkins/ Flash Studios

When it comes to refreshing our homes, colour is one of the simplest yet most impactful ways to shift a space’s atmosphere — and this alluring palette proves it. Romantic without being saccharine, modern yet anchored in heritage, this rich base of muted plum and soft caramel weaves together tones that feel both nostalgic and fresh. These shades, when combined, create a grounding foundation of warmth and understated elegance.

Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Vintage and floor finished in Resene Colorwood Dark Oak. Luca chair by Kelly Hoppen from Frobisher. Embrace the Moment II by Vicky Savage from Parnell Gallery. Flowers from Hands in The Dirt

Here, Resene Vintage takes centre stage, offering that dusty mauve-meets-plum note. Offset against Resene Coral in an adjoining room, the caramel undertone amplifies the purple’s subtle richness, bringing out the palette’s quietly dramatic character. Together, they strike a balance that’s indulgent without being overwhelming, ideal for living spaces that invite comfort while still feeling elevated.

To keep the look contemporary, lean into unexpected accents and artistic touches. For moments of bold punctuation, deep black provides the perfect grounding contrast, sharpening the softer tones with a sense of graphic definition. Texture, too, has its part to play. From polished metals and natural woods to plush soft furnishings, layered materials elevate the scheme with tactile interest.

Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Coral. Ploum settee from Ligne Roset. Mineral rug from Designer Rugs. Draped Shed by Neil Driver from Parnell Gallery. On the Horizon by Vicky Savage from Parnell Gallery. Onyx side table by Kelly Hoppen from Frobisher

The key, however, lies in layering. Let bolder hues breathe across walls or upholstery, anchor the room with caramel or ochre elements, and introduce accent shades sparingly for emphasis. The result is a space that feels curated, characterful, and deeply personal.

More than a passing trend, this palette speaks to a wider shift in interiors where personality is favoured over austerity, made effortlessly achievable with Resene’s considered palette.

Colours to try

Modern Romance

resene.co.nz

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With a fresh new menu bursting with inventive Filipino flavours, Bar Magda is the place to be

PHOTOS Josh Harvey | 7 Nov 2025

If there’s one place that captures the thrill of discovery in Auckland’s dining scene, it’s Bar Magda. Hidden down a staircase on Cross Street, just off K Road, this intimate, dimly lit spot has built a reputation for delivering some of the city’s most inventive, flavour-driven food. The arrival of its new seasonal menu proves why it remains a firm favourite of those in the know.

Charcoal-grilled bavette tacos with orange gremolata and salsa Doña

Tartare of wild venison, peach mango gel, soy yoghurt, potato skin cracker

Chef Carlo Buenaventura brings his signature blend of bold Filipino flavours and refined technique to a line-up that’s confident, creative, and deeply satisfying. The lechon pork terrine with raw tuna carpaccio is a standout, rich, fresh, and perfectly balanced dish, while the wild venison tartare, elevated with soy yoghurt and peach mango, brings new energy to a classic. The chicken albondigas stuffed boneless duck wings are tender and deeply comforting, and the barbecue beef bavette delivers that unmistakable Magda hit of smoke and spice. The vegetarian dishes shine too: the potato and parsnip gnocchi with peas and pickled lemon is hearty, while smoky asparagus with lemongrass vinaigrette and coconut ricotta tastes like summer is here.

Left: Potato and parsnip gnocchi with peas, pickled lemon, manchego and sauce À la king. Right: Charred pineapple, white rum, PX sherry, liquorice root, juniper

Dessert is non-negotiable. The tres leches and orange butter cake, drizzled with dulce de leche and finished with camembert ice cream, is a rich, salty-sweet heaven; the kind of finale that lingers in your memory days later. Co-owner and mixologist Matt Venables keeps the drinks list equally inspired, with cocktails that play on tropical notes and local botanicals, all poured with effortless charm. Service strikes that rare balance between warmth and confidence, creating a dining experience that feels personal and elevated without ever being fussy.

Tres leches, orange butter cake, dulce de leche, pickled lemon and Camembert ice cream

Bar Magda remains a firm favourite, feeling personal and alive, where the food is exceptional, the drinks are clever, and the atmosphere always delivers a good time.

barmagda.co.nz

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The ins, outs, and how-tos of social climbing for beginners

7 Nov 2025

Keeping up with the social cliques in one’s life is a tricky business, and one that’s becoming increasingly essential as one navigates the modern world.

It’s a non-official blood sport, one that requires constant training with one eye firmly on the goal and the other warily watching your back. The quest for social betterment has become a 24/7 preoccupation, as we’re no longer content to settle for the happy-go-lucky social coincidence of yesteryear. At all hours of the day, we’re steering ourselves into more established circles, where advantageous friendships and influential acquaintances reign supreme, and opportunities are ripe for the taking. We’re driven by the need to get ahead and do better, comparing ourselves to others and enviously sizing up our friends, even as we toast their success through gritted congratulatory smiles.

And whether you take part with razor-sharp awareness or dim, happy-go-lucky naivety, the fact is we’re all striding towards the gilded upper echelons, albeit some faster than others. So, for those of you looking to escalate a rung or two, pay attention — the new order dictates that it’s all about location, location, location.

The School Drop-Off

Where:
Schools that have a ‘fast lane’ or a drop-off driveway. If it boasts a ‘VIP’ drop-off zone, then all the better. Make sure you have your shades with you, however, as the glimmering queue of sparkling luxury vehicles may cause temporary blindness.

Who:
Hot nannies driving the family’s latest 4WD, yummy mummies, and the occasional rich list dad dashing in quickly to snatch his offspring before all of the above descend upon him like hungry vultures.

The conversation:
Advantageous play dates.

How they dress:
Looking glamorous at the gates is a must. Form-fitting athleisure for the morning drop-off, followed by an assortment of discreet designer outfits for the after-school pickup — remember, it’s giving quiet luxury. Oversized sunglasses are also handy for hiding the dark circles after back-to-back champagne-fuelled nights on the social scene.

Ladders to look out for:
The wife of the CEO at your husband’s workplace.

Snakes to avoid:
The single mother who’s single-handedly making her way through the husbands.

The Charity Fundraiser

Where:
Golf clubs, stately homes, private members’ clubs, or five-star hotels. Anywhere that boasts a ballroom and a huge, glittery chandelier.

Who:
All of the usual charity doyennes, bug-eyed businessmen, and a shiny army of social do-gooders.

The conversation:
A curious combination of self-deprecating humour to sugarcoat their own generous donations, and a flutter of uneducated discussions about the ‘it’ charity in question, before quickly moving on to more important topics like holidays.

How they dress:
Extravagantly.

Ladders to look out for:
The charity chair who is recruiting for a new committee member.

Snakes to avoid:
Fleas that don’t make a donation, preferring instead to ride on the coattails of your own generous contribution.

The Exhibition Opening

Where:
A mix of established galleries and underground warehouse-slash-art spaces.

Who:
Avid art collectors, the usual wealthy patrons with dollar bills flying out the back of their Bentleys, as well as the inevitable art crowd limpets sporting tight, rolled-up jeans.

The conversation:
Loudmouthed puffery, grand sweeping generalisations, and plenty of long, ‘thoughtful’ pauses. They nod knowingly and pretend to understand when some stuffy turd starts to snob on about the next great master.

How they dress:
Thick, black rimmed glasses and tight trousers are de rigueur. A few will be wearing pieces from a clever underground Japanese designer’s debut collection. You haven’t heard of them? Hmm, well of course you haven’t.

Ladders to look out for:
The new rising art talent.

Snakes to avoid:
Tired has-been attendees for whom the opening is a chance to knock back free wine.

The Gym

Where:
Any inner city gym charging high membership fees. It calls itself a ‘community’ and is fitted out with steam rooms, infrared saunas and of course, the healthy on-site café — we’re talking Erewhon prices. It’s essential to work on your networking skills before or after you work on your core strength.

Who:
Plastic divorcées, eternal bachelors, and vacant muscle men. Not to mention determined up-and-comers hoping to get chummy with their superiors.

The conversation:
Macros, micros, the latest protein powder, future holidays, and of course, the blatant one-upmanship battle: “So, what’s your deadlift?”

How they dress:
Or rather, how they wear it. Dressed almost exclusively in Lululemon or Alo, they stride and stretch with purpose: shoulders back, glutes flexed, chests and pecs puffed out for the rest of the gym to ogle at.

Ladders to look out for:
Befriending an ex-All Black as your training partner.

Snakes to avoid:
Roid takers, intent on introducing you to the benefits of the ‘latest shake’.

The Races

Where:
The VIP area with enough liquor to encourage outrageous betting, cordoned off by a white picket fence and potted shrubs.

Who:
Husbands, wives, mistresses, toy boys and a posse of dandy charmers.

The conversation:
The amount of money they’re just about to pocket, the pretty, ill-advised waif who stupidly wore stilettos to an afternoon on the lawn, and who’s wearing the most outlandish fascinator.

How they dress:
Tarty party dresses and hats with ‘pizzazz’ for the ladies; checkerboard prints for the men. They’re channelling the royal eclecticism of the 1940s with their yesteryear aesthetic.

Ladders to look out for:
Members of the racing fraternity.

Snakes to avoid:
Trashy gals who think they’re the most important fillys on the field.

The Supermarket

Where:
Supermarkets such as Farro are equipped with large deli areas and free tastings, making it easy to position yourself next to someone worth talking to.

Who:
During the day, you’ll find ladies of leisure and stay-at-home mums searching for gossip and invites to private luncheons. Early evening or on a Sunday afternoon, you’ll come across affluent bachelors cooking for one but searching for another, while party girls sashay up and down the aisles hoping to meet their soul mate.

The conversation:
Dinner parties they’re hosting, dinner parties they’ve been invited to, and cooking techniques that they picked up at a little Italian cooking school in Sicily.

How they dress:
The daytime crowd opts for a casual outfit that showcases their best assets without seeming too overdressed to push a trolley. Whereas the night crowd can appear in anything from a full-blown dinner suit (they’re on their way to a charity dinner, didn’t you know?) right through to polished work wear. We suggest you dress to impress without looking like you’re trying too hard.

Ladders to look out for:
The celebrity TV chef you can invite to the next dinner party.

Snakes to avoid:
Your chatterbox nosey neighbour.

The Dinner Party

Where:
Impressive multi-million dollar mansions that scream pretension.

Who:
A lighthearted mix of It Girls, successful entrepreneurs, sharp-tongued creative folk and a B-grade celebrity or two. All of whom will quite easily natter away until the sun comes up.

The conversation:
Themselves. Popular topics include how many other pressing social invites they had to decline to be at this particular dinner, all the exciting, fabulous creative projects they’re juggling, and the money they’re making.

How they dress:
The latest, the hottest, the shortest.

Ladders to look out for:
Sweetening up the host or hostess will ensure you’re invited back.

Snakes to avoid:
The one guest who inevitably ends up inebriated, verbally attacking anyone in their line of sight.

The Airline Lounge

Where:
A member’s only or frequent flyers’ lounge.

Who:
The inebriated are looking for a dark corner to sleep off their hangover after the raucous all-nighter that ended with a 7 am check-in time. Unfortunately for them, the lounge is also a veritable magnet for the wealthy, the connected and therefore the influential, thus increasing their chances of drunkenly stumbling into the client they’ve been so desperate to snare.

The conversation:
Where they’re jetting to and whom they’re meeting up with, where they partied last night, and where they’ll be partying once they touch down.

How they dress:
Last night’s clothes, hastily covered up with cashmere and dark shades, or a stiff suit sans its $6000 jacket, which is artfully thrown over the handle of their Louis Vuitton carry-on.

Ladders to look out for:
Potential clients with whom you can bond over your jet-setting lifestyles.

Snakes to avoid:
Chatty co-workers from the office may try to continue a conversation throughout the course of the 12-hour flight ahead.

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Coveted

Allow for an icebreaker

Take your time

Go bespoke

Escape the everyday

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Bon Vivant

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Gastronomy

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Wellbeing

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Gastronomy

Ambition

Upkeep

Humour

Manners

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Culture

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Design

Art direction — Amber Armitage/ MarigoldPhotography — Melanie Jenkins/ Flash Studios

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Design

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Gastronomy

The School Drop-Off

The Charity Fundraiser

The Exhibition Opening

The Gym

The Races

The Supermarket

The Dinner Party

The Airline Lounge

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Art direction — Amber Armitage/ Marigold
Photography — Melanie Jenkins/ Flash Studios