1. Back to the 90s
Commonplace Essentials’ AW26 collection, Boats Against the Current, taps into 90s New York with vintage sport references and sharp, pared-back tailoring. Clean lines and muted tones anchor the season, while subtle texture adds depth without fuss. This release also marks the brand’s first standalone footwear range, designed to sit seamlessly within the wardrobe. The result is a cohesive lineup that moves easily between prep and street, offering staples built for daily rotation.
2. Kate’s Emporium
Kate Sylvester’s iconic Auckland workroom is relocating, and everything must go. From archive clothing and footwear to fabrics, eyewear, and all things fashion, this is a rare opportunity to snap up pieces from one of Aotearoa’s most legendary labels. The sale runs Friday 20–Sunday 22 February, 10 am–4 pm at 33 George Street, Mount Eden. Join the Facebook event for updates, further details, and sneak peeks into what will be for sale!
3. Breaking all the rules
There’s a new rebel in town. Aje’s Summer 26 Rebel Rebel collection that took over the Paris Fashion Week runway is finally here, with hand-pleated textures, airy veils, and sculptural silhouettes that feel like wearable art. Think sunbleached pastels, earthy tones, and hyper-pigmented prints inspired by Australia’s wild beauty, paired with structured vegan leather and fringing for a touch of edge. Aje founders, Adrian Norris and Edwina Forest, have proved that rebellion has never looked so chic.
4. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend
Valentine’s Day has been and gone, but we’re still swooning over these diamonds from Graff’s new High Jewellery campaign. Debuted in a hero suite in Paris and centred on a rare 31-carat unheated sapphire, surrounded by over 200 carats of dazzling Graff diamonds. The choker and matching earrings ripple with pear-shaped sapphires and emerald-cut brilliance, crafted over hundreds of hours by master artisans. This collection confirms that some love affairs – with diamonds, that is – last forever.
5. Drag, darling
What does it take to create a drag persona? At Britomart this Pride, the New Zealand Fashion Museum’s latest exhibition, Inside the Closet, lifts the curtain on the transformative power of fashion. The outdoor exhibition features life-size portraits of 13 dazzling performers – each dressed in a hue of the Pride Progress flag – captured by photographer Denise Baynham. From K Road icons to rising stars, the project celebrates the wigs, couture and craft behind every look. Consider it a love letter to self-expression and community.
