Here at nzgirl we are huge fans of the NZ mint Jewellery ranges. And we are happy to announce a new range from the brand with a local feel...

The new range is all inspired by Maori symbolism and Taonga. Created by renowned Maori artist Shane Te Ruki each piece comes in beautiful gift boxing with an explanations of the pieces meaning.  Nzgirl.co.nz will be stocking select pieces from the range with the first two pieces in store now.

Wellington designer Alexandra Owen would know! We check out the behind the scenes making of her divine new retail location...

I love going into a new boutique or store and seeing how they have laid out everything – what the designer’s vision of the brand is in brick and mortar. But rarely do you get to be part of the process. Alexandra Owen, one of my favourite designers has recently opened a beautiful store in Wellington. And she is giving you an insight into what it took to set it up in a delightful little video, starting with the beginning of the fit out right to the first day open. We love it!

And if you are an Alexandra Owen fan make sure to have a nosey at her look book; I love the knot dress and riding pant.

Jeanswest is showing its love and concern this Valentine's Day. Will you help them?

Jeanswest has just announced its support for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. The chain of 226 stores in New Zealand and Australia is going to Donate all profit made in stores this Saturday (February 14) to the Red Cross Appeal! So make sure you help them show the love by shopping up a storm.

Jeanswest make it easy, with their cute range of goodies in store now including the looks pictured above!

Along with the very generous profit donation, Jeanswest will also be donating clothing, great work Jeanswest!

What do you get when you combine beautiful boho clothes, a dash of new trends and a smidgeon of dirty carnival from the 30s? The New Grace, the latest breath taking collection from Sass and Bide.

The clothes are divine, think the kind of dresses and separates that got us excited about Sass and Bide the first time around. But for me, the main star of the show is the campaign imagery - it literally has me drooling!

If the shots above do the same for you, be sure to check out the video behind the scenes of the shoot – inspirational!

It is not unusual to come across people and things that inspire us.  It happens to me everyday. Something as simple as a great outfit on the street or a snippet on a blog is enough to get me thinking. And of course I’m inspired by those around me –  the office catwalk.

Today my inspiration is none other than Miss Nadia, our very own in-office style maven. Today she is sporting a totally on-trend headband, paired with a soft delicate cardigan and a fun pleated skirt. The look is whimsical, fun and practical. Definitely a look that had us all turning heads as she walked into the office this morning!

Want to steal her style? I have hunted out match it buys for Miss Nadia’s slice of office hotness. With a little internet snooping, Nadia's look, and our inspiration is yours.

My Picks:

1: Detail Gathered Cropped Cardigan £17.75 from Asos

2: Hand beaded Flower Headband Wrap $AU19.95 from Sportsgirl

3: Longwood Skirt $US118.00 from Anthropologie

4: Scoop Neck Cami $AU49.95 from Witchery

Pale denim is shaping up to be a big trend this summer with pieces included in the collections of everyone from Kate Sylvester to Glassons. 

For lovers of this light hued fabric keep an eye out for Karen Walker’s new collection, ‘The Believers’, which is due out early next year. The range is influenced by prairie clothes with lots of pretty, washed out denim dresses and boyish shirts and cute shorts.

My picks from this white hot trend are...

1: Susan skirt, $239 from Juliette Hogan

2: Gathered Chambray skirt, AU$49.95 from Just Jeans

3: High Waist Denim skirt, AU$99.95 from Witchery

4: Chambray dress, $315from Kate Sylvester

5: Collette Powell Mini dress, £57 from ASOS

On the look out for the perfect LBD? We know you are, and we are too which is why we are going to keep our eyes out for hot versions, like the World find we have this week...

When I told the girls in the office they couldn't believe they were from World, so often associated with the fringe of kiwi fashion. World are also a personal favourite of mine for delicious evening wear that manages to accentuate all the positives and hide all of the negatives of the typical nzgirl's frame! This one dress looks dramatically different belted and un-belted, and with its sweetheart neckline and thick straps is practical and flattering. Not to mention the fact it comes in a sweepy chiffon version as well as a more toned down pencil skirt version!

It is totally the season for sales at the moment and here's another that should be a great one. It’s a huge pre-Christmas women’s fashion sale featuring hot New Zealand and Australian designer bargains and fantastic chain store finds.

Labels for sale include: Kate Sylvester, See by Chloe, Ruby, Karen Walker, Cue, Karen Millen, Witchery, Yvonne Bennetti, Seduce, Lacoste, Alannah Hill, Cybele, Max, French Connection, Hailwood and many more.  There are so many cool pieces for sale - summer dresses, party dresses, cute tops, designer t shirts, jeans, skirts, shoes and accessories!  

It's on Friday, December 5 from 10am - 5pm and Saturday December, 6 from 10am - 4pm at Studio 111 3/55 Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby, Auckland (Just off Ponsonby road near Mecca Cosmetica and Murder Burger). Stock has been sourced from everywhere including directly from designers and from the wardrobes of Auckland fashionista, so there is a great mix of new season, previous seasons and vintage pieces. Eighty percent of stock is brand new; the rest is all in excellent condition. Come along and pick up a bargain for yourself or some cool xmas presents for your friends and family!

Evelyn
 

I’m a big Kate Sylvester fan so I was super excited to find out her Autumn/Winter 09 lookbook has just been released...

Kate didn’t show at this year's Fashion Week due to other commitments, so this is our first look at her upcoming collection entitled ‘Black Swan’. The collection is inspired by ballet dancers, black swans and black roses and is as rich and beautiful as you would expect her collection to be given those influences. The colour palette ranges from deep blue, rich burgundy and black to soft greys, baby pinks and ivory. My favourites are the fitted leotard like grey dresses, pretty oversized pink cardie and of course the tutu inspired dress. The collection is super elegant but very wearable and inspiring enough to have us all channelling our inner ballerinas come next autumn.

Love Huffer? I profile their new store that will let you get your own piece of Huffer no matter where you live...

Want to buy hot new Huffer and have it delivered to you door? Now you can as the clever guys at Huffer have just opened their first online store at www.hufferstore.com. It showcases their new pieces and some cool old school Casio watches.  At the moment the stock available online is somewhat limited as the store is brand new, but they have big plans for its future. My picks of what’s available would be the Zig tee $75, DNA tee $89 and Stripe Bubble skirt $139. They also have some hot guys tees and shorts for those of you thinking about Christmas presents for your boy.