For some of us with more energy and time than others, party season appears to last all year long but, for most of us, it really starts to kick in about now.
If you’re a beauty freak like me, more excuses for nights out mean more chances to play with some seriously fun makeup looks, and new product lines are arriving in stores like MECCA just in time for summer. At this time of year I love makeup that goes the distance, mainly because I’m not the type to be bothered lugging around a kit for touch ups on the go. Exclusively available at MECCA and meccabeauty.co.nz is the NARS brand, one of my absolute favourite celebrity MUA brands from way back. François Nars is quite simply a master of transformation, and his products are as premium as it gets.
The brand’s holiday collection for 2019 is all about having a great night out, as evidenced in its name – Studio 54 – referencing the legendary New York nightclub. Think disco, decadence and some seriously glittering packaging, of which the Inferno palette is most definitely my favourite. It offers multiple looks and the chance to get as fruity or as fresh as you like, and just looking at it brings a little extra disco ball shimmer into your day. Westman Atelier Eye Love You mascara is my pick for your lashes after hours, for a number of reasons.
Makeup artist Gucci Westman created her Eye Love You mascara because she struggled to find a non-synthetic option that looked natural and didn’t smudge or crumble. Consciously made using 96% natural ingredients, it has a dense brush that volumises, defines and curls in one sweep, and it lasts and lasts. Pair all of the above with a nourishing, long-wearing base and gloss or lip stain in a nude shade for the ultimate low maintenance option, and avoid having to find a mirror all night long.
When it comes to hair over the silly season, in an ideal world there would be a professional on hand to take care of your ‘do’ every single time. Not an option for most, but often springing for an in-salon blow wave and then dragging it out for a few days with clever use of a dry shampoo and texture spray can make it a little more justifiable. Commune is a new salon on Westmoreland Street West in Grey Lynn that has been opened by much loved stylist and creative director, Leigh Keepa. Years of working on editorial shoots both here and in the UK has meant that Leigh has every trick in the book down pat when it comes to creating something pretty special in the shortest time possible, and he’s offering a service that does exactly that in his new location. Updos, waves, braids and more are what you’ll get when you book in for the Express Service, which involves turning up with clean, dry hair and letting the pros do their work.
Next up, we address what happens below the neck, of which the options are vast. If there is any time of the year when you can justify shelling out for a truly fantastic party dress then this is it, and some of the brands at Workshop on Mackelvie Street absolutely excel when it comes to nailing the glam factor. ROTATE Birger Christensen is a Copenhagen-based brand that designs fun party dresses in bold silhouettes and colours, and its latest 80s-inspired collection is just perfect for right now. Workshop is also now stocking the truly covetable UK label, The Vampire’s Wife, which is the work of Nick Cave’s wife Susie, and references directly her inimitable personal style. A little bit goth, a little bit gypsy and a lot rock n’ roll, it has been impeccably crafted and ensures a grand entrance is made every time.
Locally, Ingrid Starnes has created a beautiful collection in liquid silk for a languid, elegantly sexy vibe that is perfect for right now and destined to be worn all summer long, while Hailwood’s Mercury dress is guaranteed to make you feel like you’re on the red carpet no matter where you are in the world. Hailwood’s gowns are legendary, and I for one can’t wait until some of the showpieces he sent out on the runway at New Zealand fashion Week hit the store. Helen Cherry’s tea-style Tessa dress is most definitely my pick for race-day style and elegance and is a silhouette that will most definitely endure.
If you’re looking for a statement party piece that won’t break the bank, Witchery’s Limited Edition collections offer some very special pieces at an affordable price point that are worth checking out. This season’s jumpsuits are my pick for a 70s-style party vibe, and they come in a range of colours and prints. And, if you’ve saved in one area it’s definitely justifiable to splurge in another, which is where great shoes and accessories come in. Zoe & Morgan’s latest collection, Floating World, is full of beautiful and bold earrings in particular, like the Astrid and Aurora styles that are so easy to love.
A recent collaboration that has resulted in a very beautiful accessory is the Amity Necklace by Flox and Cathy Pope Jewellery. The Amity Necklace is a bold centrepiece pendant laced with Art Nouveau and New Zealand influences, and comes embellished with the ‘Stone of Successful Love’, emerald, citrine, for manifestation, and clear quartz as an amplifying stone. A limited edition release, only 78 in each metal have been produced.
Lastly, when one thinks of elegant partygoing or race-day style for men, you can’t go past a look through the current Working Style offering for a little inspiration.
Get the basics right – a beautiful tie, a well-made pair of shoes, and a good watch – then browse Working Style’s new season collection for something special. Mediterranean blue, sage green and tan are the foundation colours of the season, highlighted with powerful pops of yellow and ivory. Lightweight cotton and linen offer a relaxed and effortless silhouette and keep things cool even when the mercury is rising. (HELENE RAVLICH)