Forget what you eat. For those that love their cars, you are what you drive.
Many people think of their cars as extensions of themselves and their personalities whilst others eschew four wheels altogether and opt for public transport, or take to the streets on two feet or two wheels. Electric vehicles are also an attractive new proposition and with both every day and luxury marks embracing the demand for more planet-friendly options, more and more stylish EVs are popping up on our streets all the time.
With all that in mind, I asked a few local fashion names what they are driving at the moment and how it makes them feel, as well as posing the question: if money and time were no object, what would you aspire to drive?
Powerhouse blonde and mum of two gorgeous wee ones, Natalie Norman, is the founder of baby sleep solution specialists Growbright, By Natalie Sleepwear and the all new Millo collection of luxe, foam-filled loungers. She has spent all of her life in the sleep industry due to the fact that her family business is the largest mattress manufacturer in Australasia, but to say it feels like Natalie is always on the go is most definitely an understatement! Her newest venture – Millo – is the perfect mix of luxury, liveability and great design, and her signature style is also exactly that.
Her chariot of choice when zipping between meetings, coffees, cocktails with friends and playdates is a BMWx3, “and I honestly love it! Having said that, if I didn’t usually have my two kids in tow I would love to get out and ride my e-bike more.” She adds that she would definitely consider an electric model when she’s next on the lookout for a new car, but her dream car is something much more classic (and not quite as practical).
“I always wanted a pink MINI,” she laughs, “but when it comes to my dream car, it would have to be a gold Mercedes convertible or a vintage convertible Bentley” slightly impractical but very glamorous, and Natalie definitely has the impeccable wardrobe to match.
Pronounced ‘hey hey,’ New Zealand-born hej hej is a cool and super fun brand that is quite the dream for all the linen lovers out there. Founded by long-time friends, Kiki Judd and Alice Isles, they offer a beautifully curated selection of timeless, very flattering, high-quality pieces at an accessible price point, and opened their first standalone store late last year on Ponsonby Road.
In the beautiful space (formerly occupied by moochi) you’ll also find their inspiring new knitwear collection, which is full of must-haves and definitely embodies hej hej’s trademark love of colour. Perfectly positioned to harness natural light even in winter, their Ponsonby Road store is the perfect place to visit on a grey day, with a mood-boosting colour palette of periwinkle, lemon, pink, peach, orange and midnight blue that will always see you leave with a spring in your step.
One half of hej hej, the always elegant Kiki Judd, admits that she currently gets around town in “my mum's Citroën - she lent it to us when we came back from Shanghai,” but she is in great company with Natalie Norman in that she, too would love to jump in a MINI.
“I love what MINI represents as a luxury brand, as it’s always been about minimising the impact on the earth while maximising the fun,” she says. “I’ve also always loved how their colour palette stands out against other luxury car brands and if money were no object, I’d go for a convertible MINI EV in lemon.” She is definitely onboard with the electric vehicle vibe too, saying: “You just can't go wrong with an EV – it’s environmentally friendly and friendly on the wallet at the same time.”
One of my absolute go-to local labels, Mina is a Grey Lynn-based brand that creates refined and elegant wardrobe staples with sustainability and ethical business practices always top of mind. Mina designer Natalie Procter is a master when it comes to effortlessly reimaging classic silhouettes, and each year she releases a multitude of beautifully considered pieces that are designed to be worn and loved for a lifetime. I have pieces from her very first collection that I still have on high rotate, and my unhealthy obsession with her seemingly-endless array of impeccably tailored coats and trench coats is second to none. Even if you buy nothing else this winter, an ankle-skimming Mina overcoat is a must!
The talented designer’s life is currently split between Auckland and Mount Maunganui where she has embraced the slower pace of life many of us can only dream about. When it comes to hitting the streets she says, “in and around the Mount I drive my white VW Polo, which I love; it's cute, small and drives super smooth. In Auckland I drive our work van everywhere, which is a Black Nissan Van NV200 and very practical. It’s quite the opposite to my cute and smooth Polo, but we had rails put in so it holds A LOT of clothes.”
Natalie says that if money were no object, she would opt for practical – but naturally with an unashamedly stylish twist. “I’m lucky enough to live by the beach in Mount Maunganui and have just started surfing, so it seems only fitting that a 2000 Land Rover Defender 90 Soft Top would be my dream car. And baby blue please, to complement my peach surfboard!”
Lastly, would she say that she is getting more into an EV vibe given the rising cost of petrol and increasingly attractive offering of planet-friendly, chic vehicles? “Oh yes for sure! In fact, we looked at getting an EV for our work van before we brought the Nissan, but the charging port unfortunately couldn't be installed behind our studio in Grey Lynn.”
“If money were no object then I'd happily take an EV Golf - in a heartbeat!” (HELENE RAVLICH)
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