Zara is Coming to New Zealand

Finally. Finally...

Melbourne Shopping

A different trip this year. I managed to do some shopping but was running on half power. An exhausting two weeks leading up to flying out, coupled with extreme dehydration and a 2kg weight loss resulted in my blacking out on the descent into Melbourne.

I was tended to for over half an hour by Air New Zealand crew and two sets of paramedics (all amazing), put on oxygen, wheeled off the plane and placed under observation at the medical centre at Melbourne Airport. I couldn't speak or walk. A visit to a GP a couple of days later (to get clearance to fly home on the 31st) revealed the cause of the issue.

I have never been a big drinker - especially water - but I drank steadily and regularly all week! H20 is my new best friend! The flight home was uneventful, thank God. I am now getting into a habit of drinking water and my natural thirst is slowly returning after many years!

I did manage to pick up a few goodies, so I'm happy. A lovely collection of classic pieces to add into my wardrobe. See below. Paul and I also ate at a new amazing restaurant in Melbourne for his birthday on the 29th - Cutler & Co. Check it out if you're ever in Melbourne!

Perri Cutten Camillia Coat

COS Top with Padded Neckline

White Suede Shine Jeans

Zomp Beige Nubuk Loafers

Saba Isabel Pants

Saba Katy Pinstripe Scarf

Saba Estella Heeled Sandal

Zara Distressed Skinny Jeans

(Also from Zara: a tan faux leather tote bag and a basic black blazer.)

Papinelle Pyjama Bottoms

Papinelle Pyjama Top

Oamaru Easter Weekend

Paul and I visited my folks in Oamaru this Easter weekend. We just snuck in before the cold weather started so it was cool and fresh - a welcome respite from Auckland humidity.

Oamaru is about an hour and a half drive north of Dunedin. An arty town, huge limestone buildings adorn the streets, many having benefited from recent restoration projects such as the Opera House. It's the Steampunk capital of the Southern Hemisphere and boasts a picturesque harbour.

Photo opportunities abound, starting with my hanging with the toadstools at Oamaru Public Gardens...

 Top: Saint James | Jeans: Citizens of Humanity | Shoes: Superga | Sunglasses: 'Deep Freeze' by Karen Walker | Bangle and Ring: Country Road | Nails: Essie 'Really Red'

The town itself is very pretty and quirky.

On Saturday afternoon we drove out to Elephant Rocks, an incredible natural earthwork.

 Cashmere Jumper: Equipment | Jeans: Citizens of Humanity | Shoes: Superga | Sunglasses: 'Deep Freeze' by Karen Walker | Bangle and Ring: Country Road | Nails: Essie 'Really Red' 

On Sunday we met my brother and his partner and went for a walk around the harbour.

 Jacket: New Look | Cashmere Jumper: Equipment | Jeans: Citizens of Humanity | Shoes: Country Road | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Sunglasses: 'Deep Freeze' by Karen Walker | Bangle and Ring: Country Road | Nails: Essie 'Really Red' 

And of course, Mum and I indulged in a little retail therapy (her lovely scarf was a purchase that day!).

On Mum (Val) Jeans: Postie | Scarf: Sababa from Waitaki Interiors | Top: Zara | Shoes: Number One Shoes

On me: Jacket: New Look | Cashmere Jumper: Equipment | Jeans: Citizens of Humanity | Shoes: Country Road | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Sunglasses: 'Deep Freeze' by Karen Walker | Bangle and Ring: Country Road | Nails: Essie 'Really Red' 

All photos by Paul D.

Khaki and White

Tee: Juliette Hogan | Pants: Zara | Shoes: Superga | Bracelet and Ring: Country Road | Earrings: (from Need Supply Co.) | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze' in Black

All Images © Copyright Sara Mole

Blue Jeans, White Shirt

Shirt: Saba | Jeans: Zara | Shoes: Top End | Bracelet: Veronica B | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze' in Black

All Images © Copyright Sara Mole

Casual Stroll

Jeans: Zara | Jumper: Country Road | Sneakers: Superga | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Earrings: Found | Bracelet: Veronica B | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze' in Black

All Images © Copyright Sara Mole

Painterly Print

Trousers: Zara | Top: Zara | Shoes: Jo Mercer | Bracelet: Veronica B | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze' in Black

All Images © Copyright Sara Mole

Navy + Khaki

Trousers: Zara | Tshirt: Saba | Shoes: Sambag | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze' in Black

All Images © Copyright Sara Mole

Melbourne Haul

Each time in Melbourne, I buy less but come away with so much more. My focus this trip was work wear and I also wanted to experiment with a different silhouette, whilst still retaining clean lines and polish in my corporate wardrobe. It certainly is tricky to balance elegance with modernism, corporate with edgy. But this time, I feel I have actually achieved that balance.

Being a size 12 - 14 certainly helps. The reality is, that most fashion-forward brands stop at a size 14 (or even a 12 in some cases). So, it was lovely going into boutiques showcasing their new season collections knowing that I was likely to fit most of it. On reflection, I fitted about 90% of what I tried on.

One thing that becomes more obvious with each visit to Melbourne is the gaping hole in the 35 - 50 corporate wear market for women here in New Zealand. Country Road and Trenery don't cut it for me these days. The tailoring is rarely crisp and the collections lean towards the casual. Don't get me wrong: I can still find things to purchase at Country Road, but more and more, items I buy are for the weekend or casual Fridays at the office.

My go-to brands for work wear in Melbourne are Saba, Zara, Nine West and Jo Mercer. For casual wear, Zara. I happened to be in Saba's new store at Emporium in central Melbourne the moment it opened (purely by accident!). I met the General Manager of Saba and mentioned to her how I wished Saba would open in New Zealand. Their database is full of New Zealand-based customers, so perhaps some time in the future they will come here. I learned that sister brand Sportscraft has just opened in Christchurch so that's promising. Sportscraft came and went quickly in the mid 1990s so they are trying again, 20 years on. New Zealand retail was very different back then so I am sure this time it will work out.

I tried to get into the newly-opened H&M but with queues around the block all week (and school holidays!), I decided to give it a miss.

Below is a list of my purchases and a few photos of the haul (excuse the amateurish pics; Sara I am NOT)! I'll blog about a few key pieces in coming days, and share some shopping tales with you!

Zara

Khaki Skinny Cargo Pants

Grey Short-sleeved Angora Mix Top with Jewelled Sleeves

Black Cigarette Pants

Grey/Black Zipped City Coat

2 x Soft, Billowy Tops with Painterly Pattern (Green and Blue Tones)

Skinny Mid-wash Blue Jeans

Country Road

Grey Wool Pleated-front Pants (a new shape for me!)

Sass & Bide

Navy 100% Cashmere Crew Jumper

Saba

Basic Tshirt in Ink (Navy)

Cocoon Top in Ink (Navy)

White Tuxedo Shirt (another new shape for me!)

Grey and Black Ankle-strap Heels (finally, ankles fine enough to wear a strap!)

Rhodes & Beckett

White Egyptian Cotton Shirt with French Cuffs

Jo Mercer

Black Lizard Effect Point-toe Heels

Black Patent Peep-toe Heels

  

Zara Update

A small selection of Zara product is now available in New Zealand through online store Co.Label. Not the rejects from the Northern Hemisphere either. This is current season AW14 Southern Hemisphere stock! Thank you to my lovely cousin Selina for the tip-off!

Oversized

Jumper: Saba | Tshirt: Juliette Hogan | Jeans: French Connection | Leopard Clutch: Oroton | Black Clutch: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Shoes: Zara | Bangle (right hand): Marc by Marc Jacobs | Bracelet (left hand): Charlotte Penman | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze'

All Images © Copyright Sara Mole