1. Pastel party
Wedding season might be coming to a close for now in Aotearoa, but all blushing brides-to-be should take note, as local designer Caitlin Crisp has announced the addition of a bridesmaid collection to her label. Having first dipped her toes into bridal during her first year of business, when a customer requested a custom wedding dress in her signature white linen, the bridesmaid range comes as a natural progression for the designer who is revered for her striking silk dresses. With custom requests continuing to flood in, Crisp decided to streamline the process by shifting away from a made-to-order model to producing a small but considered edit of styles in a range of pastel hues. Launching officially on Thursday the 18th of April, the collection will offer nine colours across six designs in sizes 6-16 with custom sizes available on request.
View the range online at caitlincrisp.com
2. Brunch and beyond
Auckland’s local hotspot Daphne’s has been our go-to destination for Mediterranean-style fare since it opened back in 2021. Run by hospitality veterans Clare and Joost van den Berg (the duo behind all-day dining spots such as Zomer, Hugo’s Bistro and Odettes Eatery), Daphne’s are now inviting diners to sample their cuisine from dawn till dusk with the introduction of their new Morning Menu. “Breakfast is where we began. It provides a lot of nostalgia to us,” shared the founders. “We have had a lot of requests from our gorgeous customers to create this vibe again in Ponsonby, and what a great space we have to do that, so we thought why not?” Welcoming a tempting selection that includes dishes such as taramasalata on toast, grilled sirloin on toast and halloumi fritters, it’s now the perfect spot to spend a leisurely morning that extends into a long lunch.
View the menu and make a booking at daphnes.co.nz
3. Garden of Eden
Inviting you to indulge your seductive side is Le Beau and La Belle Paradise Garden from Jean Paul Gaultier, the newest additions to the French Maison’s exquisite olfactory offering. Drawing inspiration from Gaultier’s iconic 2010-2011 Autumn/Winter show, both fragrances boast a medley of botanical notes, with each formulated to complement the other. The women’s fragrance, La Belle, layers bursts of vanilla with sweet iris and blue water lily, while Le Beau focuses on woody and aromatic accords of green fig, coconut water and sandalwood. Housed within sculpted glass bottles modelled after the male and female form, these scents are equal parts enchanting, whimsical, and sexy.
Shop both fragrances in-store and online now.
4. Perfect pair
In a coming together of two iconic female-owned brands, local lingerie label OHEN has announced that they will be launching a select range of their bras and underwear in the Pōneke/Wellington luxury lingerie concept store, Underlena. The duo behind OHEN know all-too-well how difficult it can be to find a chic, well-fitting bra, especially when you’re trying to purchase online. In an attempt to extend their offering beyond Tāmaki Makaurau (where they currently offer fitting appointments by request) the OHEN founders are proud to extend bookable, private fitting opportunities to Wellington women through their partnership with Underlena. Available from April 20th onwards, customers will be able to experience the brand’s range in-person before making a purchase, ensuring they find a set that’s equal parts comfortable, functional, and beautiful.
Bookings can be made at underlena.com.
5. Heart of gold
Give your skincare routine the Midas Touch with Guerlain’s new Orchidée Impériale Gold Nobile collection, a luxurious gold-infused cream and serum formulated from a breakthrough in Quantum science. For the past 20 years, Guerlain has been dedicated to researching the Orchid and its ability to boost skin longevity. In this latest collection, the brand has laid its focus on the Gold Nobile Orchid — a plant known for its moisturising, toning, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. At the heart of both the serum and cream lies the essence of the Gold Nobile orchid extract, meticulously blended with white micro-pearls and 24-carat gold particles. Clinically proven to enhance skin luminosity and youthfulness, this indulgent formula represents the pinnacle of luxury skincare.
The Orchidée Impériale Gold Nobile collection is available in-store and online now.
