If you created a nationwide food brand and cornered the ready-made pancake market through innovative production and distribution techniques, you’d have every right to feel pretty chuffed with yourself, I imagine. But for Ingrid Vercammen, the founder of Van Dyke Fine Foods and brand Marcel’s Pancakes, it was a culmination of overcoming cultural and gender...
With space agencies such as NASA and private companies like SpaceX and Lockheed Martin all making leaps and bounds in the race to inhabit Mars, it seems humanity’s eventual move to the red planet is looking to become a reality. An exploration of this magnitude requires us not only to push the boundaries of technology,...
There are few hotels around the world that can claim themselves to be national treasures, but Raffles Singapore is one such establishment where its name is synonymous with the city in which is resides. One of the last remaining great 19th century hotels, it’s classic colonial architecture is instantly recognisable and is renowned for the...
Those with a taste for luxury know only too well how rare it can be to obtain the very best of the best. And it’s this rarity that makes such items even more desirable. After launching in 2009, the Rolls-Royce Ghost 200EX has become the marque brands most successful motor car, becoming particularly popular with...
Downton Abbey The TV sensation that was Downton Abbey is back – this time as a feature-length film – to continue the story of the Crawley family and the servants who work at their sprawling country estate. Bringing back original cast members, Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern, as well as a host of...
The Chocolate & Coffee Show Those who enjoy indulgent treats will be sure to get to this year’s Chocolate and Coffee Show. Now in its sixth year, the show will feature over 80 exhibitors, showcasing artisan chocolatiers, culinary wizards and producers of indulgent goodies. Now also hosting wine and cheese exhibitors, visitors can expect to...
I’d name my autobiography… Something along the lines of The Cat In The Hat, but a really honest adult sequel. To me success means… Having the freedom to live my life on my own terms. Best advice I’ve been given… If someone took your job tomorrow, what’s the first thing they’d change? I made my...
Over the course of the past three years, designer Maggie Hewitt has been a vanguard in New Zealand’s sustainable luxury industry. Her brand, Maggie Marilyn, exudes a casual yet opulent feel and is creative in its way of remodelling very classic silhouettes. The combination of these characteristics makes each piece by Maggie instantly recognizable. Aside...
It was the great Marilyn Monroe that once said “Hollywood’s a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss, and fifty cents for your soul”. The film industry is an ever changing landscape – exciting and scary, free and restricting – yet classic Hollywood cinema will always stand the test of time,...
Cryptocurrency made headlines for what seemed like months on end last year as Bitcoin’s value soared to previously unheard of heights. Thousands rushed to purchase cryptocurrency in the hopes of being able to become overnight millionaires, as many who already owned the currency did. You may have heard all the buzzwords floating around about “blockchain”...
Dubbed “The Skincare Makeup” brand, jane iredale celebrates 25 years as the pioneer of luxury, cruelty-free mineral makeup. It’s no secret that the movement of conscientious consumerism is building momentum. Transparency is in high demand and for good reason. We as consumers have a right to ask companies about their ingredients, formulations and extraction processes...
A dozen covetable luxuries for the times you need some retail therapy First Base Silky, plumping and feather-light, Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Emulsion SPF 30 PA+++, $109, creates a protective film over the skin, ready to be made up. Potent Lipids Elizabeth Arden extends their capsule range once again to deliver their new oil-soluble...
Soft & Smooth Redken Frizz Dismiss is New Zealand’s top-selling range for a reason. Helping to tame the mane in our humid climate, the Mask, $47.50, contains sustainably sourced Babassu Oil to smoothen frizz and nourish dry hair. Follow with the new Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother, $55, as the ultimate multi-tasking styling cream. For a...
Take inspiration from the streets of Japan this Spring by accessorising your outfit with bold and vivid colours. The latest collection of silk scarves from BESS is influenced by streets of Osaka and features graphic prints in bright hues, perfect for draping around your neck or tieing to the strap of your bag. Complementary Colours...
Relive your nineties nostalgia with a nod towards the irreverent fashion precedented by the Spice Girls. With their comeback tour fresh in our minds, we imagine the modernised styles that would take the ticket in 2019. Top image: Versace Style Tips Have fun without being too literal, a touch of animal print or athleisure will...
For a look that oozes calm sophistication, nothing beats top-to-toe tones of chic neutrals. Swathe yourself in layers of ivory, stone, taupe and latte and forget about the old adage of boring beige. Top images: Isaac + Lulu and Burberry Style Tip Add a bold red lip for a pop of colour against the pared...
Whatever your shade of choice, a soft-hued accent of pastel will be sure to put a spring in your step, and brighten up the dullest of days. Styling By Anna Clark – Photography By Laura Court Mint Sorbet A newly minted shade for spring – try adding a splash of minty green and emerald to...
Your bathroom vanity is the place you start and end your day, so making it look the best it can possibly be is essential for getting yourself into the right frame of mind first thing in the morning. With that in mind, vanities need careful consideration regarding lighting to help it live up to it’s...
While we’re blessed to live in a country as beautiful as New Zealand, being at the bottom of the world often means we miss out on luxe labels from the Northern Hemisphere. However, Farmers is coming to the rescue with the arrival of one of Denmark’s most sought after brands. The department store has started...
This client was after an ensuite reflecting the style of her home – a renovated Herne Bay villa. The client was after modern touches and tapware but went with the marble looking tiles for that timeless traditional look. Bathrooms By Elite have been creating Auckland’s finest quality bathrooms for over 15 years. Each project is...
Does happiness grow on trees?… I sometimes wonder, reflecting on my recent Fiji experience as I visualize lines of coconut trees, Wimbledon like tennis courts, clear blue seas, glorious sunshine and endless Fijian smiles. Bula Bula Vinaka Denarau, a man-made island, typically renowned for its upscale resorts and Kiwi “go-to” winter escape destination, hosts the...
Shiraz and Syrah are one and the same. Shiraz is used in Australia, but not exculsively, as South Africa also produces Shiraz, and Syrah is the name used for this variety around the rest of the world. A dark skinned variety, Syrah originated in the Rhone region of France and is strongly influenced by the...
Any foodie knows that a Michelin Star restaurant is where you’re guaranteed a dining experience to remember. Sadly for us here in New Zealand, dining at one such establishment would require a passport and a plane ticket as the famed restaurant reviewers are yet to publish a guide here. Luckily for us, SO/ Auckland’s Harbour...
Strong Stance If you’re into weight training, you’ll know the importance of maintaining a strong stance during a workout. A supportive shoe is essential during this training to help with good form. New Balance’s Minimus 20v7 is here to keep you feeling stable with a one piece Vibram outsole that provides the wearer with a...
All entrepreneurs have a bit of ego, we are often intrinsically competitive, driven and have an unwavering belief in what we are trying to achieve. I believe you need to be a bit eccentric and maybe a bit crazy to live the life of an entrepreneur. Sometimes however, our drive for success clouds what we...
Whether you’re a start-up or an industry leader, investing in the right technology is key to gaining the edge for your business. HP is well known for it’s business equipment to get things done, but they’ve taken things a step further, offering an entire space for you to work in! BYOD (bring your own device)...
Coming in at number 18 on Forbes annual list of most powerful women, GlaxoSmithKline’s CEO, Emma Walmsley, is the first and only women in the world to head up a major pharmaceutical company. Walmsley started her career at cosmetic giant, L’Oreal, where she worked for 17 years in a variety of management and marketing roles...
The universe is governed by an unalterable set of laws. The fundamental rules of physics – motion, mass and energy, thermodynamics, if you drop your toast it will land jam side down and your dog will have just deposited a fist-sized ball of excess hair in the exact site of impact (may be less bandied...
We all know how easy it is to get lazy with exercise over winter – after all, who wants to head out for a run when it’s freezing outside and pouring with rain? Struggling to stay motivated at the end of winter, myself and a couple of my colleagues started a star chart system. The...
From a powerful selection of speeches from a life of leadership, Helen Clark shares with us this still relevant TEDx talk from 2013. AOTEA CENTRE, AUCKLAND – 3 AUGUST 2013 TED is anon-profit organisation famous for short, interesting and clever talks no longer than eighteen minutes that cover a broad spectrum of topics. Every year...
