At the end of every month we look back on our bank statements to remember the nice things we bought, and genuinely loved.
As always, there’s strictly nothing #gifted to see here - only purchases made with our own hard-earned cash, that come personally recommended from us to you.
Karen Walker dress, $360
I just love the 70s, vintage feel of corduroy, and that's what charmed me about this KW shift dress. Love the wide sleeves, the front pockets and little bow ties. It's one of those pieces that I knew that I'd wear all winter, and so far I've worn it loads. I also bought a taffeta Batsheva dress this month but it was too expensive (even on sale!) and quite ridiculous so I'm too embarrassed to share it here… - Zoe Walker Ahwa
Lush Honey I Washed the Kids shower gel, $24
This winter I'm suffering without a bathtub. My old house had a dreamy claw-foot situation, with a secret bathroom door that opened up to my bedroom. Once, inspired by Cleopatra, I tipped a carton of goat milk into the water and made my own bath tea bags filled with dried rose petals. Another time, inspired by Madonna, I tore the leaves off a whole basil plant and bathed in herby soup (we were in lockdown). Point is, I’m a bathing enthusiast who has had to become a shower person.
If Lush is your idea of patchouli-scented hell, I understand. I haven't walked into a store in years, but when I found myself on Queen St with an hour to kill, I was reunited with a bottle of the best smelling thing they make. It's so thick and deeply caramel it's like you're lathering in pure mānuka honey - Cleopatra and Madonna would approve. No shower gel lingers on the skin like this - my boyfriend told me I smelt like these discontinued apricot bikkies - who else remembers these? - Lara Daly
Boygenius eagle T-shirt, $78
I’m not usually much of a printed T-shirt person, but it turns out the pathway from listening to Phoebe Bridgers on repeat to bleaching your hair and buying merch with her face on it is more of a direct line. - Tyson Beckett
Hastings Distillers L’Opera, $55
I visited Canterbury recently and had an amazing dinner at Gatherings when I landed. The food, all locally sourced produce, was outstanding – especially the celeriac which was so good my children nearly came to blows over it. Their drinks menu also sounded divine and I was particularly interested to learn one of my favourite gin makers, Hawkes Bay Distillers, do a version of a Kiwi campari. Sadly I had a long drive ahead of me that night so I stuck to water but couldn’t stop thinking about it.
So last week I jumped online and bought their L’Opera, their sweet vermouth and gin. I now have all the ingredients for the best Negroni of all time at my disposal, and even better I’m supporting a small business in the cyclone stricken Hawke’s Bay region. It’s practically a charitable donation. - Rebecca Wadey
Bonds 15 denier sheer black tights, $8.50
Maybe it’s because I’m in denial about winter really being here and I’m trying to save an extra layer for when the real winter weather arrives, or perhaps I’ve just been looking at too many pictures of celebrity outfits on Getty Images. Either way I too have swapped my opaque tights for sheers. So far I can’t complain, although a word of warning, queer hookup rules also apply here: Rings off before your hands get even remotely close or you will risk a painful snag. - TB
Baggu x Laura Ashley laptop case, $65, from Mooma
For years I had a grey monogrammed (gifted) laptop case from The Daily Edited that did the job and that I never really thought about - until recently, when I noticed the leather was cracking and the zip broken. Not chic! I've also had my eye on the Baggu x Laura Ashley collaboration since it launched, including the puffy floral laptop case. So, this month I finally bit the bullet and bought it. I'm not convinced that it protects as well as the old leather one, but it's floral and adorable. (I also desperately want a dress from the new Batsheva x Laura Ashley collab; and no, that wasn't the other dress I bought this month). - ZWA
Jeuneora Beauty Sleep hot chocolate, $77 for a 1-month supply
I hate myself for recommending a $77 jar of hot chocolate, but I bought this on a whim (sleep deprived and online shopping) and didn't expect it to work so well. The 'active' ingredients are pistachio extract and adaptogenic mushrooms, which sounded nice but a little weak to actually help my insomnia. I was wrong! Every night within an hour of drinking this, I felt like I had taken half a Xanny - I floated into bed and slept solidly (once at 7pm) and woke up feeling refreshed. Now that I've run out I'm back to being sleep-deprived, and the cure doesn't come cheap, so buyer beware... - LD
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