1. Checking in?
Francie’s newest chapter answers the age-old question, ‘What to wear?’ when packing for a holiday. From suitcase to wardrobe staple, their delicate knits continue to earn their place. Designed between Melbourne and Auckland, their latest chapter leans into refined elegance. Think: gauzy layers spun from cloud-soft fibres in sun-faded hues such as rose pink, cherry, azure, and brown sugar. As day fades to night and seasons change, these pieces defy trends, offering continual comfort. Thoughtfully made, endlessly wearable, and at the top of our seasonal list.
2. From Mother, With Love
Grey Lynn’s newest arrival, Mother, is the latest daytime opening from Hugo Baird and Willy Gresson – the duo behind Lilian, and Baird’s Honey Bones and Hotel Ponsonby – with Petra Gailer (Butter Butter) leading the kitchen. Designed with CTRL Space and rooted in European café culture, the menu favours seasonal simplicity: coffee, fresh pastries, sandwiches, and salads that strike a balance between relaxed and refined. The name, Mother, acts as personal homage to the women who shaped their journey. And if the menu samples we’ve tried are anything to go by, it’s set to become a FQ favourite. A wine bar offering will follow soon.
3. Tailored for the city
A new chapter for a New Zealand icon has been announced, with Zambesi set to open its flagship on the ground floor of Commercial Bay this spring. Celebrated for its moody, intellectual aesthetic, architectural silhouettes, and uncompromising craftsmanship, the brand’s new store will present womenswear, menswear, accessories, and exclusive New Zealand-made pieces.
4. Step into the light
On Wednesday night, FQ stepped into the glow of DarkLight: The Edge of Light. Hosted at one of our favourite venues, OKAHU, the exhibition immersed audiences in an atmospheric collision of light, sight, and sound. This year’s programme spotlighted some of Aotearoa’s most inventive artists – Angus Muir, Catherine Ellis, Matt Liggins, Simon Holden, Peter Hobbs, Luke Foley-Martin, and Sarah Jayne Kavali. While every installation had its pull, we found ourselves irresistibly drawn to Kavali’s Porcelain – a decadent dessert island sculpted entirely from porcelain. The best part? Guests were invited to taste the sweet creations, blurring the line between art and indulgence. Darklight runs from 2nd – 4th of September with the closing show Resonate – featuring performances by world-class producer and DJ Zepherin Saint, along with Frank Booker and Love Language – on Friday 5th September.
5. Bounce back
Meet your skin’s new hydration heroes. Elizabeth Arden’s Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides Ceramide Capsules Hydra-Plumping Serum and Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides Ceramide Hydra-Plumping Water Cream are designed to visibly firm and restore skin’s youthful bounce. The cutting-edge serum delivers a powerful dose of Size-Shifting Hyaluronic Acid and collagen-boosting peptides in every biodegradable capsule, deeply hydrating and plumping for instantly dewy, volumised skin. Pair it with the lightweight water cream, which drenches skin in lasting hydration for up to 240 hours, leaving it soft, radiant, and refreshed. Together, they’re the ultimate duo for skin that looks healthy and full of life.
