For many of us, our plans for the tail end of 2020 and beyond have taken a more local turn. What better occasion to venture out into our backyard and experience the magic of our country — while wearing both our homegrown tourist glasses and amazing pieces from local designers while we’re at it.
There’s certainly no shortage of staycation activities to tickle your fancy in New Zealand: road tripping around the country, dotting between cellar doors or farmers markets, weekends at the bach — or perhaps a night or two at the myriad of chic hotels that have cropped up here in Auckland. Whatever you do, our local labels have the outfit to match your local adventures. And what better time is there to support local labels than now? Shopping locally has certainly never felt so rewarding.
Here’s to the most stylish staycations yet!
BFF Dress in Periwinkle from hej hej, $220 (left), Day dress from Jojo Ross, $299 (centre), Colette Dress from Kate Sylvester $549 (right).
Linen, linen and lots of linen. It’s the recipe for spring and summer sartorial success.
Between strawberry picking, farmers’ market visiting, vineyard hopping, beach trips and those casual-but-not-jandal-and-tee-attired summer barbeques — there’s really not much a linen look can’t do for you. Our local purveyors of all things lovely and linen, Hej Hej, have yet another stellar Summer collection made from this breathable, light, and downright chic fabric. Tops, jumpsuits, dresses and pants are all a plenty this year in a range of simple yet striking colours — with the prime example being the BFF Dress in periwinkle.
We’re also coveting Jojo Ross’ Day Dress in Cloud (also available in marble) with it’s removable D-ring belt and sun-smart sized sleeves, from the newly-launched Pillars collection. This piece is 40% pure linen and 60% tencel (an environmentally-friendly wood-based fabric), which makes it great for keeping the summer sweat odours at bay, keeping you cool — not to mention, incredibly chic. For a more bold twist on the classic linen dress, we’re loving Kate Sylvester’s Colette Dress, which features in this year’s impossibly elegant KS Resort range.
Alba hat from Jojo Ross, $139 (left), Extra wide brim sunhat from Karen Walker, $160 (centre), Animal print cap from Karen Walker, $90 (right).
Bigger is better when it comes to staycation accessorising. Sun hats, sunglasses, palazzo pants and martini glasses — there’s no spring or summer accessory that’s spared from this penchant. After all, the wide brims and the allure they give simply oozes South-of-France chic — something which we can all draw inspiration from when we’re swapping the thought of St-Tropez beaches with those of Saint Heliers this year.
So treat yourself to the classic wide brim with a contemporary edge (literally) that you find on Jojo Ross’ sculptural Alba Hat or the high-voltage Brim of Karen Walker’s Extra Wide Brim Sunhat. For a more classic, sport-friendly way of staying shaded, we’re also loving Karen Walker’s line of caps in next level, luxurious fabrics.
Speaking of France, did you know that searches for bucket hats have increased by 40% since Emily in Paris made its way to Netflix? In case you too fancy jumping on this bandwagon (as for some of us, it’s really the closest thing getting us to France), might we suggest Kate Sylvester’s selection of bucket-hat staples.
Market bag from RUBY, $13 (left), Take me away bag from Kathryn Wilson, $499 (centre), Jules double handle tote from Seed, $79.95 AUD (right).
The bigger is better mantra extends right through to bags when it comes to staycations. After all, one has a lot to lug around with them, no matter what part of the country they’re retreating to! Togs, towels, wine bottles from your cellar-door hopping, fresh market produce and extra outfits for those vaguely-dress-coded-summer-bbq-slash-garden-parties and a never-ending supply of SPF are among some of the things that might find it’s way into your bag — so it’s better to have a bag with great capacity in tow. Our top picks are RUBY’s aptly named Market Bag, or Seed’s Jules Double Handle tote for something with a touch more structure. We see these ones filling up with fresh strawberries, a dozen oysters and a bottle of bubbly already. Of course, one also needs a great weekender bag to take on their staycation. Kathryn Wilson’s sorbet-hued Take Me Away weekenders will be just your — quite literal — ticket to weekend getaway chicness.
Blackford slides from Kathryn Wilson, $269 (left) and Cloud slippers from RUBY, $99 (right).
It’s clear the trusty mules that sprung back into our wardrobes circa 2015 are here to stay. And with good reason: they’re practical, there’s one out there for every occasion and they’re as effortless to style as they are to slip into. Kathryn Wilson’s Blackford slides take the cake as one of this spring’s most coveted casual footwear. Use these to doll up your summer al-fresco dinner outfit, or you know, swanning around your staycation abode. Of course, staycations provide another ample time to slip into Instagram’s sweetheart souliers: the flat fur slipper. Titled the Cloud Slipper, we can only imagine how soft and heavenly Ruby’s Australian Sheepskin fur slippers must be.
Spliced Ivy Robe from Papinelle x Karen Walker, $329 (left), JHL V-Neck T from Juliette Hogan, $199 (centre), Rosie Robe from Wallace Cotton, $89.90 (right).
In case you haven’t maxed out your time in loungewear this year, you can count on a staycation to provide you with yet another opportunity to don these magical league of outfits. Thankfully for us, many local brands have freshly launched loungewear and sleepwear lines just in time for the warmer season. There’s the sumptuous Papinelle x Karen Walker sleepwear collection, as well as Juliette Hogan’s JH Lounge in luxuriously understated tones, and of course the ever-dreamy sleep, bath and loungewear from Wallace Cotton. With pieces this effortlessly wearable, we won’t blame you for stepping out of the home in them.
Lisson Rose Moisture Boost Sleeping Mask, $68 (left) and Rayna Skincare Firming & Brightening Body Treatment, $145 (right).
Of course, one of the best items about a staycay or chill getaway is none other than unfiltered pampering time. Uninterrupted ultra-long baths, facemasks and extravagant skincare routines — you know the drill. There’s certainly no shortage of wonderful local products to work into your staycay routine, and we’ve got just the picks that’ll help you into the staycay state of bliss. Lissom’s Rose Moisture Boost Sleeping Mask will get you into the spring state of mind with it’s powerful botanical extracts and cooling gel texture. For the rest of your body, Rayna Skincare’s Firming & Brightening Body Treatment is a lifesaver when it comes to recharge and reinvigorate your skin after a long day of beaching, vineyard visiting or whatever spring and summer frivolity you get up to. Made with 10% vitamin C, Ferulic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid, it’ll help your skin elasticise, retain water and build collagen. It’s basically a workout for your skin — even if the only working out you’re doing in your staycay is lifting a champagne glass to your mouth.
Gold-rimmed champagne coupe set from Karen Walker, $50 (left) and Le Pique-Nique Blanket from Trelise Cooper, $99 (right).
Speaking of bubbles; we’ve got just the glassware. Staycation is all about frivolities in every sense of the word, and local designers have all the opulent lifestyle accessories beyond clothing to compliment this. Why not enjoy your staycation sips in the gorgeous Karen Walker gold-rimmed champagne coupe set? And perhaps while poisded Trelise Cooper’s toile Le Pique-Nique Blanket?
In both lifestyle accessories and the clothes to wear them with, New Zealand’s designers’ spring creations are sure to keep us utterly frivolous and fashionable — which is what a staycation should be, don’t you think?
Images supplied.