We’re regularly sent items from brands hoping to catch our (and your) attention. Some we’re happy to shout about; others, not so much. Many are new launches, others are cult classics worth coming back to.

So, we’re sharing more of what crosses our desks, inboxes and feeds. Some of these products or services may have been gifted, but the opinions are all ours.

Cawley at Sully’s (this coat in particular)

This London brand is cool and we feel has an Ensemble spirit: subversively sweet with an appreciation for craft and the ‘small’. Wellington store Sully’s – which recently moved down Ghuznee Street in the space previously occupied by Kaukau – has stocked the brand since it opened three years ago, with a small selection available for pre-order, including this dreamy flax/cotton trench coat (they had an oil skin but it's sold out). Swoon! It’s definitely coat season, with some special options around at the moment, like this divine locally made (and one-off) oilskin coat, from photographer Harry Were, and Barbour, which recently launched a New Zealand online store.

Acme Tajimi range, from $35

As longtime Acme fans, we were excited to meet the brand’s co-owner Megan at a morning ‘cocktail’ class hosted at San Ray earlier this month, celebrating the launch of their new Tajimi tumblers. Over breakfast, award-winning barista Honoka served a refreshing non-alcoholic cold brew, infused with her own citrus additions. We took a couple of tumblers home and put them to the test over the Easter weekend and can confirm that both the tall and short versions are perfect for coffee and G&Ts. The fine white porcelain is so chic it almost feels too fancy to use (but we have, don't worry).‍

Three Fates 2024 Arneis, $35

We’ve long been fans of Three Fates, the small wine brand founded by three wāhine out of the Hawke’s Bay around the same time as Ensemble was born. Post-Covid collective women businesses represent! We also love their whimsical, playful branding, their commitment to community and ethical land practices, and the fact that each wine comes with a suggested Spotify playlist.

The Arneis really does taste like sunshine, making it the perfect tipple to get through these drab seasonal evenings. If you’re Auckland based we highly recommend the rose collab with one of our fave eateries, Rag Tag, also. 

Ashley and Co Bonberry trio, $90 (you can also buy the jam on its own)

Our interest in The Modern Preserver was piqued earlier this year when we spied Kylee Newton’s Apricot & Amaretto and Peach & Lemon Verbena jams for sale at Mor bakery. Suffice to say we were extremely excited for her Bonberry jam collaboration with Ashley & Co to cross our threshold. Lychee is one of our favourite delicate flavours (Rebecca won’t shut up about the lychee lime cocktail she drank at Woof in Dunedin/Ōtepoti recently) and here, in both the jam and the fragrance, it beautifully balances the sweetness of the berry into something that tastes and smells kinda complicated in a really good way, not at all cloying or sweet and just yum.

Buddy x Emma Jing, POA

If you’re into T-shirts or well-made basics, you will know about Buddy, the hemp/organic cotton line from stylist and vintage aficionado Helen Young-Loveridge (Zoe loves her chilli red tee). And if you're plugged into Tāmaki Makaurau's emerging designer scene, you will have heard of Emma Jing (we covered its beautiful wedding show here). This week, a meeting of minds with a hot collab between the cool girl brands: “a capsule concept collection centred around circularity, collaboration + community”, with Emma Jing designer Emma Jing-Cornall reworking deadstock pieces from Buddy. It’ll be launched at Karangahape Road store The Keep this Thursday night, with a pop-up until the 17th. Expect clever draping, fun colour and one-off pieces.

Olivia Cashmore x Mokshini T-shirt, $249

Another cool take on the classic tee. Local designer Olivia Cashmore is quietly and confidently building a following with her elegant and beautifully made pieces, with several pieces from her latest capsule range already catching our eye. Add to that list a collaboration with New York-based artist Mokshini. Printed T-shirts are a dime a dozen these days, but this one feels special with the artist’s whimsical illustration of locals commuting in India; sarees blowing in the wind. With the perfect crop and a back seam detail, and made locally from 180gsm organic cotton, this is a T-shirt that’ll last.

Teva slim sandals, $130

Zoe has a few pairs of Tevas in her wardrobe, including a classic strappy style printed with an 80s lime floral pattern (which Rebecca once called ugly). This new style is a more refined take, with slimmer straps and a muted colourway that will appeal to minimalists. A warning: if you're used to the sturdy feel of the originals, these finer straps may take a little getting used to. Think ‘urban street’ adventures, not off-road ones...

‍Half Magic Crystal Butter Lip Balm, $41, from Mecca

The fun brand from Euphoria’s makeup artist Donni Davy is all about experimentation and the creative expression of makeup, rather than ‘correction’ – face gems, hyper-pigmented shadows and neon-hued packaging. They also have really evocative product names (‘mouth cloud’, ‘glitterpuck’, ‘cheek fluff’), with these new ‘Crystal Butter’ balms recently added to that list. The balm is faceted like a hard crystal, but the texture is super soft and hydrating; the main appeal though, if that’s your type of thing, is the very Y2K sparkle. We have to be honest though, the best thing about the PR sendout was the adorable lip balm holder it came with (sadly, not available to buy).

Billie Eilish Your Turn 100ml eau de parfum, $155

Call us snobs, but celebrity fragrances just don’t do it for us. But this, which we were sent, surprised us. The press release says it’s unisex with notes of ginger, peach and sandalwood, but our own noses say it’s both woody and powdery. The packaging of Billie’s earlier fragrances felt a bit... pervy but this one, inspired by her love of dice (apparently? We aren’t fans so don’t know the lore) is sculptural and cool. Though the corner dice lid can be a bit clunky to get on and off at first.

Revlon Illuminance Glow Wand, $32

These affordable liquid illuminators are like highlighter for beginners – you twist open, swipe for subtle glow on cheek and brow bones or tip of the nose, then blend (and build if you prefer more coverage). Available in three shades – Rose, Golden and Bronze – they all contain Hyaluronic Acid and Squalane to help hydrate at the same time. Anything with the name ‘wand’ does have a bit of pressure to live up to that magic, but these are extremely easy to use. They’re from Revlon’s newish glow range which also includes illuminating balm and glow primers, if primers are your thing.

Too Faced Ribbon Wrapped Lash Extreme Lengthening Mascara, $54, from Mecca

Crazy lengthening! Trust us: we did the one eye with, one eye without test and the difference on our stumpy, fine lashes was almost comical. The very Ensemble ribbon motif relates to the ‘ribbon wrap’ tubing technology that lifts lashes, and adorns the pretty pink packaging. Our new regular mascara.

Oosterom crinkle cotton skivvy, $299, and linen shorts, $399

We recently went to a lunch for the reveal of Oosterom’s accessory collaboration with Hotel Indigo, where over half the table was dressed in gifted crinkle cotton pieces that have become a signature of designer Nicole Hadfield (not us lol/awks etc). We love that the cool new boutique hotel, the official accommodation for this year's NZ Fashion Week, chose to partner with a small, slow fashion brand that champions locally made-to-order garments. As well as the hotel collab, Nicole, who is about to have a baby, recently released a new capsule range featuring updates on her crinkle cotton plus seersucker cargo pants, silky shirts with ruffled pockets at the bosom, wrap skirts and these high-tasted linen shorts that we would totally wear.