Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Are you feeling indecisive about what to get for Mother's Day? I’ve rounded up a selection of beautiful pieces from some of my favourite local haunts, including a few coveted pieces from my personal wishlist. Whether you're seeking last-minute gift ideas or simply looking to indulge yourself, I hope this curation inspires... 

Clockwise from Top Left

'Farmhouse in Basque' by Phillipe Long (1872-1957) from John Stephens & Company

Freddie Crew Sweater in wool cashmere by Juliette Hogan

Milly Bag in aubergine lambskin by Yu Mei

Neue Pearl Earrings by Sophie Buhai from Simon James

The Design Chaser x Città Terrace Vase in beige from Città

Solitary Set 07 in moss by Baina

Warm Nordic carved wood tray in walnut from Good Form

Motomu Oyama Plate with foot large & medium from Public Record

Eight Homes: Clements Design from Lamplight Books

Incense Burner in blackened bronze by Studio Henry Wilson from Simon James

Black Anise Eau de Parfum 50ml by Abel 

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Caring for Linen — An Interview with Marle Founder Juliet Souter

Grounded on the philosophy of everyday luxury, premium New Zealand womenswear brand Marle has become a firm staple in my wardrobe over the last few years. Each collection consists of feminine, thoughtful essentials with an emphasis on subtle details, simple silhouettes and a refined, earthy palette. Proudly using natural fabrics and fibres and compostable packaging, Marle only works with manufacturers and suppliers equally committed to leaving a lighter footprint on our planet. Along with silk, wool, Perino and cotton, linen is one of the exclusively natural yarns that Marle uses, and the current Winter Collection offers a beautiful Linen Capsule with pieces designed to be worn effortlessly all year round.

It's no secret how much I love using linen at home. Breathable and kind to the skin with a soft yet textural quality, it extends beyond our bed linen to cushion covers, tablecloths and napkins. With its unique sustainable benefits such as requiring less water to produce than cotton, and being biodegradable, it's no wonder more and more of us are favouring linen when it comes to our wardrobe. Known for its strength and durability, if cared for properly linen will last for many years. 

So, how should you care for your linen pieces? I spoke to Marle founder Juliet Souter to find out the best practices... 

Linen is one of the exclusively natural yarns Marle uses alongside silk, wool, Perino and cotton. Why do you use linen?

Natural yarn, such as linen can elevate simple silhouettes and soft colour palettes with its unique character, weave and appearance. The Marle aesthetic is largely inspired by the inherent texture, created through the natural fibres we use.

We work exclusively with natural fibres and fabric. Primarily for the look and feel, but also the breathability and antimicrobial benefits to the wearer, and the fact they are low-impact to the environment. Linen has its own unique sustainable benefits such as requiring less water to produce compared to cotton and it is also biodegradable like all natural fibres.

As a long-time user of linen bedding, I love that I can throw it all in the washing machine on a gentle cycle. Do linen garments need to be treated with more care i.e prepped in a certain way, placed in a laundry bag, washed separately or hand-washed?

While most linen can be cold machine washed, blended or naturally dyed linen can require hand washing or dry cleaning. Best practice is to read the care label carefully as it’s not a one fits all method for linen. Most of our 100% linen pieces are machine washable. With our linen/silk blends we recommend a cold hand wash and flat dry in the shade or dry-clean.

Linen can vary significantly in weight and texture. For more delicate items that are machine washable, using a laundry bag is advised. It is important to not wring out the fabric. For heavier pieces, give them a good shake out or gently pull to reshape and lay flat to dry in the shade.

If they need to be hand-washed, what is the best method?

Firstly, untie drawstrings and fasten buttons. Use cold water and add a few drops of mild detergent (we recommend ecostore), ensuring the water isn’t too soapy. Gently swish the garment in the water, being careful not to soak, wring or twist. Once washed, tip out the soapy water and repeat with cold, clean water to ensure all of the detergent is removed.

When it comes to drying your linen pieces, what is the safest option to ensure longevity?

Before drying, gently pull to reshape - if specified on the care label. It is best to dry linen either hanging or laying flat in open air, out of direct sunlight. A dryer can be used once the garment is dry to soften the fibres.

Linen is known for its naturally crinkly appearance. Can you iron linen?

We love the inherent textural quality of linen. If you want to iron out crinkles, either steam the garment or if the care label specifies, use an iron, most linen can withstand quite a high heat with ironing. Again, it depends on the blend so always read the care label.

The Marle Winter capsule two collection features several linen pieces including the Carly Dress, Dusty Skirt and Jade Top. Do the individual styles need to be cared for differently?

With linen, it’s never one rule for all. The Carly, Dusty and Jade Top are in fact all cut from the same flax linen but they have different washing instructions. The Dusty Skirt and Carly Dress can both be cold machine washed and line dried in the shade. Due to the design of the Jade Top featuring shirring and ties, we suggest a separate, cool hand wash using a drop of mild detergent. After washing, gently pull to reshape and lay the flat in the shade to dry.

Can we expect any shrinkage or changes in shape with linen, even when following these guidelines?

All of our linen is pre-shrunk so if washed correctly, you shouldn’t see any shrinkage. Linen will naturally change in shape if it’s wrung out, twisted or pulled too hard so it's imperative to be gentle when getting the garment ready to dry.

Thank you to Juliet for sharing these wonderful tips. Shop the Marle new season pieces here. 

Images courtesy of Marle

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Moodboard | A Relaxed Weekend Away

Although international travel is still off the cards we can now travel domestically, and with the tourism industry in desperate need of support it's a great time to plan a trip within NZ. Our beautiful country has so much to offer and I'm currently dreaming of a laid-back weekend escape. I know one thing I will be packing is plenty of reading material. When it comes to the Black Lives Matter movement, I've found Instagram to be a great source for links to educational resources, and introductions to black-owned brands (such as Cold Laundry featured below), content creators and artists. I've also put together a long list of books I plan to read, with a couple included below. My favourite skin and hair products are by NZ-brand Sans Ceuticals. Perfect for my eczema-prone skin, I love that the products are multifunctional, simplifying both daily rituals and packing. With pure and sustainable ingredients and no harmful chemicals, I swear by the Activator 7 Body, Hair + Face  Oil, and have recently started using the Goji Body + Face Cleansing Oil and the Cellular Repair Body + Face Lotion (in addition to using the Sans hair products). One of my favourite NZ fashion brands Juliette Hogan has launched JH Lounge, a capsule offering comprising of five essential pieces, all with a refined, casual aesthetic. Bringing together the strength, stability and easy-care properties of BCI cotton with the soft and luxurious handle of sustainable and traceable cashmere, the resulting yarn is a beautiful lightweight fine gauge knit. The perfect year round next-to-skin layer, I'm in love with my new long sleeved T-shirt. For a stylish Weekender in the perfect Taupe colour, I have my eye on COAST New Zealand who have launched a new range of Bespoke Luggage. Handcafted in NZ to order, the Classic Canvas collection's 5 styles are available in a vast range of colours, and can be personalised with your initials or name embroidered on the external pocket. Take a look here. 

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT 

Cold Laundry 

Anour

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Sans Ceuticals Skin and Hair Care and Linen Bag

Adidas NMD_R1 Shoes

JH Lounge by Juliette Hogan

Ark Journal Volume III

Sophie Wool Cap

Coast Canvas Collection

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Friday Design Selects

First up today, I'm sharing some beautiful images styled by Susanna Vento for the NexTwise Design Contest. Created by Finnish flooring company Timberwise, designers and artisans were invited to come up with ideas for using leftover parquet pieces. I really love this initiative as a way to help reduce environmental impact, and as you can see below, the results are inspiring! Susanna was also on the jury for the competition, which included three categories, small object, floor object and furniture. Here's a look at the winning designs.

Kingi Side Tables and Vieno sofa table and Kingi side tables designed by Terhi Tuominen and Jitan Patel 

Block bed headboard, design by Marika Häkkinen and Joonas Huhta

Powerwise extension cable, design Kalle Järvenpää

Styling: Susanna Vento / Photography: Mikko Ryhänen / Photographer’s assistant: Jari Hämäläinen

Images via Varpunen

The Essence is a new collaboration between Sørensen Leather, Movers & Cashmere and Norm Architects where fashion, architecture and materiality merge together in moments that transcend time. Reflecting a shared passion for natural materials imbued with an intrinsic beauty, this is the second time Sørensen Leather has joined forces with Movers & Cashmere, a global apparel brand whose ethos is all about simple, minimal, enduring styles worn with effortless elegance. The new collection is a tactile mix of exquisite Inner Mongolian Cashmere and Sørensen Leather accents, where the leather enters the picture as more than merely a material, but rather as a silent partner with a presence. The beautiful collection is inspired by Italian painter Giorgio de Chirico, who is known for his use of architecture and shadows as motifs in empty spaces that evoke emotion. 

“Our collaboration with Movers & Cashmere and Norm Architects reflects our mutual mindset about the compelling appeal of natural materials, seen in this collection of soft, sculpted separates that effortlessly come together. The Essence merges the sensory experience of our leather with exquisite Inner Mongolian Cashmere, set against a clean, serene aesthetic that defies time and space. An artistic expression of our relationship with objects, ourselves and our surroundings, envisioned and captured by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen. It all echoes our own passion for taking leather beyond the typical.” —Louise Vesterskov Sørensen, Sørensen Leather

Photography by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen / courtesy of Sørensen Leather

Stanhope is a new residential development in Melbourne's South Yarra by Kincrest. Showcasing timeless architecture by Telha Clarke, there is a restrained use of materials and a focus on quality and luxurious interior spaces. Injecting a soft version of Scandinavian minimalism, Lotta Agaton Interiors has completed the interior design with a light and contemporary feel where natural materials are in focus, including bespoke stone kitchens and bathrooms, and Dinesen flooring. 

"We have chosen high quality solid wooden floors and handpicked a sand coloured stone. Both materials feel modern but will age naturally to remain timeless in their expression." —Lotta Agaton Interiors

The renders are so beautiful, I'm very much looking forward to seeing the end result. 

Images via Kinrest 

I've been admiring the work of Belgian designer Arno Declercq for some time, so it's great to receive news this week that his pieces have made their way to us here in New Zealand. Available exclusively from Simon James, Arno's dark and bespoke monolithic pieces serve both as furniture and sculptural works of art. Artisanally created by hand with Iroko wood, Arno’s connection to ethnographic design is derived from his father’s ancient West African art collection. 

Images courtesy of Simon James 

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An Unforgettable Trip to Tasmania with David Jones for The Art of Living

With a huge sense of excitement, I set off on my first ever trip to Tasmania last week with David Jones. In celebration of The Art of Living we were treated to an incredible journey of discovery at Australia's leading contemporary museum, MONA. Spread across two days, the event consisted of a series of immersive experiences showcasing the best of David Jones fashion, beauty, food and home. With the main focus on homeware, I've put together a summary of highlights from this unforgettable trip. 

Travelling in style with Samsonite Lite-Cube DLX suitcase and Bose Quietcomfort 35 Wireless Headphones from David Jones 

Arriving in Hobart Monday night I checked into the Maylands Lodge, which is set within one of Tasmania's finest heritage properties. Settling in to my beautiful suite, I was delighted to discover a welcome pack that included a gorgeous Waverley Alpaca Throw and luxury Sheridan robe from David Jones.

My home for two nights, Maylands Lodge

Known for offering superior products and services across national and international brands in fashion, beauty, food, technology, and homewares, the iconic Australian department store celebrated its 180th anniversary in 2018. David Jones is also the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. With 45 stores as well as an online store, including its first international store in Wellington New Zealand, I'm very excited about the Auckland store set to open later this year.

Waverley Throw and Sheridan Bathrobe from David Jones

On Tuesday morning we set off on the ferry, which took us up the River Derwent, direct to the stairs of MONA. Greeted by contemporary performers, followed by a welcome speech by David Jones ambassador Adam Goodes, we were then led to through to the beautiful MONA eatery, The Source. 

Aboard the quirky new Mona MR-II Ferry

An awe-inspiring table setting that included elaborate foliage, shells, bones and 62 edible elements set the scene for The Art of Entertaining. With a focus on food and home, the gourmet four-course lunch designed by chef Vince Trim showcased an incredible array of Tasmanian produce, local winemakers and artisan distillers. Inspired by nature, the extravagant meal included Confit Tasmanian salmon, summer vegetables and Slow cooked Robbins Island sirloin, stunning cheese platters with Tasmanian honey, and a decadent dessert featuring Lark whisky & hazelnut black pearl with textures of chocolate and late summer berries. And yes, it was all as heavenly as it sounds! 

Dinnerware by Robert Gordon for David Jones with Glassware from Riedel and the David Jones collection, Cutlery from the David Jones collection 

Exquisitely presented, the food was served on the new David Jones dinnerware collection, designed in collaboration with Robert Gordon. The hand-made pieces feature warm, neutral tones and an organic feel, perfectly suited to the nature-themed lunch. These were paired with elegant glassware from the Riedel and David Jones collection, along with cutlery from the David Jones collection.

'The Art of Entertaining' lunch at The Source, MONA 

With new Wireless Speakers from Bang & Olufsen providing stellar sounds, the lunch also featured a an artistic display of homewares showcasing new collection pieces from Georg Jensen and Dinosaur Designs. A huge fan of these brands, I loved how the textural elements of the designs were enhanced by the unique outdoor installation. A third display featured Robert Gordon sculptural pieces custom-made especially for the launch. From start to finish, the lunch was an incredible sensory experience. 

Wireless speakers by Bang & Olufsen from David Jones 

Georg Jensen pieces, now available from David Jones

New pieces from Dinosaur Designs, available end of  February from David Jones

Bespoke pieces created by Robert Gordon for 'The Art of Entertaining' art display (not for sale)

Following the lunch and a guided-tour of the MONA gallery, we headed back to our hotels to get ready for the evening event, The Art of Fashion. Located at MONA'S The Void, the textured sandstone walls in this part of the museum are truly spectacular. Providing the perfect backdrop for the dazzling runway showcasing the best of international and Australian new season designer collections, this was followed by a progressive cocktail experience. An incredible evening with unexpected twists (in true MONA Style) I've shared some memorable moments over on my Instagram Story Highlights. 

The scarified sandstone walls inside the Void at MONA and seating for the David Jones Runway 'The Art of Fashion'

On the second day we headed back to MONA for the Art of Wellness. Soothing the mind, body and soul with a revitalising brunch, we had the pleasure of indulging in the beauty, fitness and lifestyle brands that David Jones has on offer. Located at Faro, within MONAS Pharos space, with floor to ceiling windows looking out on the Derwent, the dreamy views framed with incredible floral arrangements provided the perfect setting to reflect and re-energise.

Faro restaurant at MONA provided a tranquil setting for 'The Art of Wellness' 

Treated to a delicious brunch that included an amazing Japanese food selection and Juice Station with fresh juice by Vitamix, I loved how The Art of Wellness had a sustainable focus. Very much in fitting with David Jones' commitment to reducing their impact on the environment by eliminating any paper or plastic, the brunch included reusable Avanti stainless steel Waterbottles and Keepcup coffee cups, both available to purchase from David Jones.  

Delicious Japanese food overlooking the River Derwent

Guest speaker at the brunch, Australian actor, director and wellness warrior Theresa Palmer, shared some fantastic tips on wellness which I've been putting in to practise since arriving home. We were also guided through a breathing session - the perfect way to re-centre and reflect on our time in Tasmania. 

At home enjoying a Nespresso coffee in my reusable Keepcup from David Jones - perfect for on the go, it also suits our decor perfectly

I'll definitely be living off these memories for some time! 

To see more from the new season collections visit davidjones.com. 


Images1-4, 14-21 by Michelle Halford for TDC
Images 5-13 courtesy of David Jones

This is a sponsored post. I only work with products I love and all opinions are my own. For more information please visit my About Page.

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Interview with the Founders of New Concept Store SLOW

Opening its doors later this month, SLOW is a new online store and experiential showroom located in the heart of Queenstown. Founded by Martina Blanchard and Sunny Wehrle, the concept store will offer a carefully curated selection of design, fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands, many of which will be new to the New Zealand market. These include internationally recognised brands Norwegian Rain and Tom Wood Project from Norway, Danish brands Aiayu, New Works and FRAMA, Not Only White from the Netherlands, Ladies and Gentlemen Studio from New York, plus many more.

Each of the brands encompass conscious business ethics, crucial pillars for Martina and Sunny, who sought to curate a range of collections that connect to an overarching theme of attentive design, simplicity, function, craftsmanship and sustainability. Housed in a stunning architectural and multi-functional space, the interior fit-out follows suit with sophistication and an experiential showcase of products. As well as being a design and fashion retail space, SLOW will feature a coffee studio in an exclusive collaboration with FRAMA Copenhagen and will house a photo gallery.

An exciting concept with so much on offer, I was keen to find out more about the founders and what we can expect from SLOW....

Please share a little bit about your backgrounds and what led you to the launch of SLOW.

We have a mixed background ranging from fashion, hospitality, interior design and social science academia. The idea of SLOW concept started to unfold about a year ago, a realised dream of a coveted space that would foster meaning and purpose rather than just host for a strict retail transaction. Originally I was seeking to open an interior store that resonated with my passion for slow design and minimal interior styling. Sunny on the other hand has a vast experience in the apparel industry and is driven by ethical and sustainable garment production. We have combined our ideals and experiences with the slow ethos and started to work on how to translate this into a conscious business model.

You are introducing some beautiful Scandinavian brands to NZ which I know my readers will be very excited about. What draws you to design from this part of the world?

Scandinavian brands have a strong ethos of design, materials and heritage. We feel that they are the arbiters of design, retaining their refined, functional and timeless aesthetics in all they do for centuries (i.e. The century of Danish chair!). Additionally, Scandinavian design industry is fully supported by the government for both new and up and coming designers, which we feel leads to creative pods of craftsmanship and the accessibility of some incredible brands.  Most of our brands utilise a group of varied designers for their collections which brings variation to the overall design content. Many of these designers are women, which brings an interesting dynamic to the “man's world” of design. We love this beautiful E-book by Danish brand ferm Living featuring creative women and their homes.

I’m particularly excited about Frama, having visited the flagship store in Copenhagen last year during 3 Days of Design. Tell us about the coffee studio collaboration. …..

Being a design driven store, it all began from the idea of introducing the FRAMA kitchen and advancing that idea of an experiential space that promotes products as designs in function. Certainly not a new idea, for me the inspiration was the experiential VIPP loft in Copenhagen! We got to talk about what we are trying to achieve directly with Frama founders and when we asked them for an exclusive collaboration, they said yes! Next to the kitchen we will also showcase Frama Adam seating, shelving and Otto stoneware – all part of our coffee studio experience. Additionally we would like to introduce some specialty European style coffees to reflect the cultural heritage of European café culture.

Frama Kitchen and Adam stool

Frama Otto stoneware

Frama Shelf and Adam stool 

The brands you have chosen encompass conscious business ethics. How does this fit with your overall ethos for SLOW?

Our ethos pertains to values of permanency, quality, attentive craft-design, sustainable practices and social-awareness, so we were very passionate about these brands being aligned with our ethos.

How would you describe the interior look you were wanting to achieve with the store? How does this resonate with your own personal styles?

Simple, minimal, functional with great attention to detail and materials, complimenting our curated brand selection respectively. We have treated this space as we would our own personal space, striving to create balance between retail and informal realms which heighten sensory experience. Often in retail you found yourself in over lit space defined by restriction of movement and staleness. Paying attention to soft lighting options, textures and purposeful flow within the space, we have created a gallery like showcase of products, grouped by a theme and function into dedicated stations where you can then spend some time exploring and trying our products.

Ovis Lounge chair by L & G Studio

New Works Florence Table and Shelves

SCAPE by by NOT ONLY WHITE

You're also launching online, which is great news for those who live outside of Queenstown. Will you be offering the same products as you have in store, including larger items such as furniture?

Yes we will – we will gradually introduce more products above our current core collections as we establish regular shipment schedules. Importantly, however we are more then happy to consult and custom order any specific products for both small and larger interior projects.

What are some of your favourite pieces on offer?

Frama kitchen, New Works Florence shelving/table and MUUTO sofa and lighting. We are also bringing beautiful NOT ONLY WHITE and their SCAPE collection of freestanding wash basins.

Many thanks to Martina and Sunny for sharing more insight into the incredible SLOW concept store! 

SLOW launches online at slowstore.co.nz on 23rd Oct, and opens its doors at 83 Beach Rd, Queenstown on the 30th of October. 

3D store renders and product images courtesy of SLOW

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