Inside the Artikel boutique in Wellington, New Zealand (click to enlarge)
Did you know that Collette Dinnigan, one of Australia’s premier designers is actually South African born, New Zealand trained (at Wellington’s Institute of Technology) and moved to Australia to start her business? So needless to say I was keen to find out more about the fashion on offer in Wellington when I was there two weeks ago. After all, it’s the country that is home to names like Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester, Annah Stretton, Trelise Cooper, Kate Sylvester, Zambesi, World, Nom D and Alexandra Owen so I had high hopes of what New Zealand’s capital have to offer in the shopping stakes?
I didn’t have to walk far from Cuba Street to find out, just around the corner on Wakefield street was Artikel (pictured above), a veritable Willy Wonka’s factory for independent and international designers. The shop was filled with stylish womenswear and menswear with a fantastic range of jewellery and homewares. We had our eye on a fabulous zipper necklace which was an affordable NZD$99 (approx AUD$82) and pieces by Mala Brajkovic.
Karen Walker’s Wellington boutique
Just next door was another must see – the Karen Walker boutique. Greeted by a crocodile hanging from the ceiling, my first instinct was to dash straight to the racks of Karen Walker clothes with pieces from her resort collection just landing in stores. What caught my eye (after I tried on a few gorgeous skirts and dresses) was the Karen Walker Lancome Juicy Tube – available along with some other designer collaborations, only in New Zealand). For NZD$50 (approx AUD$41) you would get a Karen Walker Juicy Tube and a limited edition Karen Walker silk scarf, bargain for an Australian when you consider than Lancome Juicy Tubes retail for AUD$42 each.
WORLD Beauty Store in Wellington New Zealand
Because I obviously hadn’t seen enough beauty items, I made my way to the World Beauty Store. The New Zealand brand World had expanded into the world of beauty recently, opening up boutiques to experience opulent and luxurious beauty brands that aren’t so readily available in department stores. Our top picks instore includes the likes of Aesop, Philosophy, Darphin, Van Cleef and Arpel, and the Demeter Fragrance Library.
Once you drag yourself from the fragrant World Beauty Store, make sure to pop into Swonderful, it’s full of quirky and sweet designs by some of Wellington’s emerging design talents.
When I eventually dragged myself away from Cuba street and it’s surrounds, I made my way to the Lambton area. Here is where you will find the retail chains and nestled in amongst it is the Old Bank Arcade on the corner of Lambton Quay and Hunter street which is filled with must-visit boutiques like I Love Paris, Ricochet, Workshop, Andrea Moore and Minnie Cooper. Also in amongst the bustling streets off Lambton Quay is Zambesi, full of customers I had to squeeze in to see the wares of one of New Zealand’s best known designers. Even if I didn’t get to check out the clothes as well as I’d like, I did get to see the Costume National shoes that were shocked and fell in love.
Must hit shops:
- Artikel, 126 Wakefield Street, Wellington, www.artikel.co.nz
- Karen Walker, 126 Wakefield Street, Wellington. www.karenwalker.com
- Swonderful, 95 Victoria Street, Wellington. www.swonderful.co.nz
- WORLD Beauty, 86 Victoria Street, Wellington. www.worldbrand.co.nz
- WORLD, 98 Victoria St, Wellington. www.worldbrand.co.nz
- Annah Stretton, 1 Willis Street, Wellington. www.annahstretton.co.nz
- Zambesi, 107 Customhouse Quay, Wellington. www.zambesi.co.nz
- Old Bank Arcade, 223-237 Lambton Quay, Wellington. www.oldbank.co.nz
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More from the ‘This one time in Wellington’ series:
Cuba street, the sights sounds and eccentricities
The Montana World of Wearable Art Show 2009
Yayoi Kusama: The Mirrored Years exhibition
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SASSYBELLA.com was flown to Wellington thanks to Positively Wellington Tourism by Air New Zealand and stayed as a guest of the Bolton Hotel.
Those looks in the display at Artikel remind me of some of my favorite black and white looks from Crispin and Basilio. The designer’s architectural flair adds a new dimension to classic shapes.