It’s our Capsule Collection time! Here’s where we feature what’s new and what’s on in NZ – our eclectic collection of new things that have caught our attention and that we love, from events and restaurant openings to the best of new products in fashion, beauty, food and lifestyle – you’re welcome!
BUY
BIBBI Santal Beauty Eau de Parfum 30ml
$253
If you’re a sucker for scent like I [Kelly] am, then you’ll love Mecca’s newest fragrance brand, BIBBI. It’s a Paris-based fragrance house, with each scent inspired by the founder’s deep meditations, and is designed to transport you to moments and stories you’ve never been to, but will somehow understand. These scents are complex, gorgeous and long-lasting – I’m loving the Santal Beauty at the moment with it’s deep sandalwood and violet, perfect for winter. When the weather gets warmer, or when I’ve fully had a gutsful of cold and rain, I’ll switch to Swimming Pool which is fresh and herby, and somehow really does make you feel like you’re about to dive into welcoming water.
Bendon x BCC Riviera Robe
$139.95
Does it get any cosier than this!? This 100% cotton robe is the snuggliest, chicest robe we’ve seen this season. Bendon have partnered with Breast Cancer Cure for an entire range of sleepwear, donating $5 from each piece to the cause. Everyone wins!
Ecoya Sea Salt and Coconut Madison Candle
$59.99
When I tell you I [Kelly] screamed when I saw this scent had come back to the Ecoya lineup – as a permanent addition, no less – I really am not exaggerating. For me and former Capsule director Emma, this is scent is LEGENDARY, our absolute shared favourite and one we’ve missed for years and years. It’s a little silly how a candle can really change a mood, but this is one that makes us both incredibly happy – think summer, fresh, happy, free. If you’re having a little bit of a rough week, I swear, this candle has the power to turn it around.
Jeuneora Beauty Sleep Powder Limited Edition Berry Brownie
$79
I [Kelly] was a bit sceptical when I first tried Jeuneora’s Beauty Sleep… but then, my God, the sleeps I had. It’s a cult favourite for a reason – it works. Now they’ve brought out this limited edition flavour, Berry Brownie, which contains clinically-studied pistachio extract and a blend of reishi, shiitake and maitake adaptogenic mushrooms. It’s plant-based and formulated to support sleep onset, sleep quality and stress response. More of that, please!
Logitech Mobi Fold Mouse
$159
A mouse that folds!? We’re really living in the future, kids. If you’re on the go a lot and work from a phone, tablet or laptop, you need this little baby asap. I [Kelly] have had this for a few weeks now and it’s changed my portable office game – instead of lugging my laptop everywhere when I’m out and I want to snatch a few hours of remote work, I’ll take my Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 instead and boom – a full set up without the bulk. It’s tiny, works great with Bluetooth and can even turn your phone into a computer (I took a photo on my phone with a mouse, what is this life…)
BLUNT Neo
$89
Anyone who lives in a windy part of the country knows that if you’re buying an umbrella, it has to be Blunt – I’ve had one for almost 10 years and it’s the only brand that’s never let me down, turned inside out or been unable to withstand classic Kiwi weatherbomb. I love my Metro, but I’m thinking hard about investing in the new Neo – a 30% smaller model that fits perfectly in a handbag.
Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black Honey
$59
I [Kelly] am SO late to the black honey hype and I’m annoyed about it because this might just be one of the best mascaras I’ve ever used. The shade is PERFECT for my green eyes, and the volume and length this gives is amazing.
Picky Hydrate
$4.49
You might know Picky for their juices and smoothies, but now the much-loved Hawkes Bay brand has branched out into hydration with these cute little cans. They’re sparkling, low-sugar electrolyte drinks made with real fruit and they’re perfect for any time you need a little pick me up (yes, from my own personal experience they work great after a big night!).
UGG Sheepskin Slippers Tazzy Hippy
$139.00
If there’s one thing you realise when you get a little older, it’s that investing in a good pair of slippers is worth every penny because we all work bloody hard and our feet deserve the best. I [Kelly] am obsessed with this sand colourway and, seeing as I’m wearing them as I’m writing this, I can attest the tootsies are wonderfully cosy on a very cold winter’s day! UGG Express have also opened a brand-new store on Auckland’s Queen Street where you’ll find a wide range of ugg boots, slippers, footwear, bags and accessories from leading brands including UGG, EVERAU, UGG Australian Shepherd, Urban UGG, Emu Australia and Tarramarra.
Shapes Wah’cho Cheese
$3.99
Look, are these just cheese Shapes with some Warriors branding slapped on them? Yes, but take my money anyway. It’s a GREAT year to be a Warriors fan (our year?) and hell I’m happy to celebrate any part of it, including Wah’cho Cheese Shapes, because I guess that’s just who I am. I guess I’ve found my new game day snack and, it goes without saying, but Up the Wahs!
Mecca Cosmetica Weekend Skin Hydra Tint
$66
I [Kelly] absolutely froth a skin tint as opposed to a foundation – in fact, unless I’m going out-out, it’s a hard pass. I’ve been a devotee of the Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue for years and years, but it’s got some serious competition in Mecca’s version. It’s lightweight and has just the right amount of dewy finish (I’m not a glass skin gal, but this just looks like you’re kind of lit from within). It’s also buildable, but a little goes a long way – this covers my redness perfectly, but you can still see my skin through it. Advice – go for a darker shade than you think.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra
$3499
A phone that folds is still something of a novelty – until you have one and realise just how handy it is! You can use it like a normal phone with the front screen, but when you fold out the internal screen, you pretty much have a tiny computer in your pocket which means you can do literally anything – including ‘millennial’ jobs that we’d usually reserve for the laptop – from your phone.
Circa Blackberry and Plum
$46.95
It’s hard to get a scent that’s both deep and fresh, but this one from Circa ticks off those boxes and more. Encased in their signature ceramic vessels, Circa’s Blackberry and Plum is bright and juicy and smells good enough to eat .
Klorane Hydration and Shine with Prickly Pear Shampoo & Conditioner
$24.99
I [Kelly] got to experience the full Hydration and Shine range at a salon last week and I was seriously impressed. Turns out, there’s a difference between dry hair and dehydrated hair, and in order to really get control of your locks, you have to make sure it’s hydrated (otherwise you’re just going towards oily and no one needs that in their life). It’s available from Chemist Warehouse, and if you’re investing in the shampoo and conditioner, consider the mask too – it’s fantastic!
DO
The Wine Room x Cloudy Bay Proper Sunday Roast
The Wine Room, Auckland, $120
Cloudy Bay has partnered with The Wine Room to bring Aucklanders, by their measure, a Proper Sunday Roast. Available every Sunday throughout August, the exclusive dining experience pairs elevated and seasonal comfort food with some of New Zealand’s most celebrated wines. Led by The Wine Room’s new Executive Chef, Alfie Ingham, the evolving seasonal menu offers a refined take on the traditional English roast, with each course thoughtfully designed to complement Cloudy Bay’s acclaimed wines. Guests are welcomed with a glass of Cloudy Bay Pelorus Rosé on arrival, with the option to enjoy a guided Cloudy Bay wine pairing. What more could you want?
Voco Queenstown
Queenstown
Queenstown’s hotel scene has welcomed the refreshingly different voco Queenstown – a warm alpine escape with a Mediterranean kitchen, fireside cocktails (oooh) and a welcome that feels more like arriving at a friend’s place than checking into a hotel. The 227-room voco Queenstown has opened, marking the completion of an upscale transformation of the former Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown into IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium voco brand. I [Kelly] have stayed at the previous iteration when it was the Holiday Inn and I loved it, so I can’t wait to see the zuzsh into voco!
QT High Noon Lunch
$59 per person
There simply cannot be a better value lunch in Auckland right now, if you’re looking for something special, incredible, delicious and still kind to the wallet. For $59 their High Noon menu gets you chorizo croquettes, a mezze plate, sirloin beef with the best paprika aioli and chimichurri, market fish crudo, patatas bravas and a baby gem salad – AND a glass of wine each. The food’s to die for, the wine is epic and the vibes are high. Get yourself there stat.
Titanic: The Human Story
Tickets from $40, Auckland
If you have any kind of fascination with Titanic (is there a millennial alive who doesn’t?!?) then this one is for you. Titanic: The Human Story exhibition showcases years of dedicated work and research led by the Musealia team and prestigious Swedish historian and author, Claes-Göran Wetterholm, one of the world’s foremost experts on the Titanic. But at its core, Titanic: The Human Story focuses on the human impact of the sinking, stories of love, hope, survival and heartbreak that continue to resonate more than a century later.
Visitors will be able to explore detailed recreations of Titanic’s interiors, from the elegance of first-class suites to the close confines of steerage accommodation, supported by an immersive audio guide featuring music, atmospheric soundscapes and authentic testimony. The experience encourages guests to travel back in time through photographs, handwritten letters, wayward keepsakes, and other personal belongings telling countless stories about the lives and fates of those on board. You can buy tickets here!
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