La Madu

Yesterday I finally discovered La Madu on Great North Road in Auckland.  A reminder of all that I loved from my trip to Indonesia. It's like a store hand picked of everything amazing on offer in Indonesia in clothes, accessories and homeware. Who needs to go when the hard work has been done for you.

I met the owner Adele and her passion for sourcing the higher quality products is inspiring. Working with families who are true masters of their craft. The store also features some Italian leather shoes and hand embroidered items from India.

Walking into the store gives hope and anticipation of all the coming summer has to offer, with it's heavenly array of colour. Most of all La Madu's vast collection of Kaftan's is impressive. Every shape, colour and size can be accommodated with this selection. Featuring gorgeous handmade silk kaftans, and hand printed and embroidered dresses. All we need now is the sunshine to match.

There are two things my clients consistently ask for and that is colour and for their arms to be covered and I can't think of an item of clothing that does this better in summer than a kaftan. 

LA Madu

www.lamadu.co.nz

196 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland

Phone: 09 3604101

Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat 10am-4.30pm; Sun 10.30am-3pm

Summer Styling - Personal Shopping

The party invites are being prepared, the days are getting longer, and your hemlines should be getting shorter.  This, my friends, is the inevitable and much awaited approach of summer after the weeks of wrapping up in multiple layers.

Have you given a thought to the change of seasons and what you are going to wear over the next several months or does even the thought of getting ready for your first summer bbq seem far too daunting?

Closet Confidential has identified everything you need to know for this coming season. When to shop, what's on trend, where the best shops are and getting prepared in advance.  We make the whole experience stress free and less time consuming. We assist you in spring cleaning and organising your wardrobe, identify all the pieces you need for the season ahead, work within your budget to get your wardrobe looking polished, professional and stylish.

Forget days and days of searching for outfits that co-ordinate we can dramatically improve your wardrobe in less than 6 hours of your time.

We also search overseas websites and brands for hard to find items and give you recommendations on brands that suit you. We work with any budget big or small and also offer follow up appointments for the next seasons.

Take advantage of a package designed especially for you, or have a wardrobe assessment on its on where we can give you an action plan for improving your wardrobe. Alternatively select the full package including the assisted shopping trip, or try our new group assisted shopping session where you and a couple of friends can have 4 hours  guided shopping and styling expertise.

The best time for Spring and Summer shopping is September through to November. So contact us now and get ahead of everyone. Bag those key pieces which sell out well before the first warm days even arrive.

Contact Charlotte now and let us put a package together for you.

Top Store - The Shelter

The Shelter Store must have ticked off everything on my perfect store list. A cafe, designer clothing, and an eclectic mix of homeware. Somewhere you can take the other half and feel quite comfortable ditching him for 20 minutes while you try gorgeous designer clothing on.

The Shelter has clearly been put together from people who have a passion and strong vision to create the ideal space it's customers. Not one inch or one piece of product looks like a compromise.

Located in what is now becoming the best part of Ponsonby shopping on Mackelvie Street, next to Lonely, Workshop and Deadly Ponies. ( there is a whole afternoons playing right here)

The Shelter Store has also just won Best Retail Section at the Interior Awards, and it's no surprise why.

The Shelter stocks a range of international designers Maison Martin Margiela, along with Danish designer, Barbara Gongini, Canadian jewellery designer Arielle de Pinto and local brands like Jimmy D, Monday's Child (from Christchurch). One of the Store owners is Vicki Taylor and the her brand  taylor is featured in the store. 

The Shelter also features a range of Homeware from the Foxes Den and Bikes from Tokyobike.

Find The Shelter at 78 Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby, Auckland.

Brand to Know - Mr W and Me

After stumbling across Mr W and Me's pop up store in Ponsonby central a months back, I have been thrashing the cute patent leather Brogues I purchased.  Great news that they now have a permanent store in Ponsonby Central, plus some great new styles have just arrived in.

MR W & ME's new Ponsonby Central Store

The small range features brogue and loafer styles, with lots of high shine patent leather, feet loving flat soles and great quality leather are all instantly appealing.

Winter Range

However what we love most about this brand is that it's a couple of New Zealander's going out on their own and doing something they love. Their simple structure means they are able to pass on some tempting prices. Around $139.99 it's hard to resist. 

Ponsonby Central Store

Mr W and Me's started all online, so if you can't get into their store this is ideal. http://www.mrwandme.com

Man needs clothes.

Over the next few weeks Closet Confidential is going all out to prove to men how easy our services can make the daunting process of getting your clothes sorted.

We can make this process simple, quick, easy and enjoyable. This is for you if you answer yes to any of these?

• I dislike shopping.
• I don't know where to shop.
• I want to get my clothes sorted but don't know how.
• I need extra assistance to help look better.
• I can never find what I am looking for.
• I don't have much time to shop.
• I like beer.

Closet Confidential has no problem dealing with the above. All you need to do is get in contact.  We will send you a simple few questions to answer, then book in a date to try on and pick up everything you need. If we can't find it on foot, we will look online. Enjoy a well deserved beer afterwards. 

Closet Confidential has been able to secure some great discounts for various stores and we can often save you a good proportion of our fee in discounts. 

Bring a mate! Get 2 of you together and we can sort you both out. 

Contact us on the contact page.

See you soon Charlotte

** Limited availability. 

Digging Dungarees

Does it show your age or confirm the speed at which fashion rotates the trends, when an item is back in fashion for the second, ok and maybe the third time in your meagre existence. Of course it's not my age it must be the fast paced fashion cycle that is in top gear rotating through the trends at fever pitch. 

At Closet Confidential we have a total obsession with longevity and not being "of the moment".  I'm impressed with how these ladies are rocking the Dungarees in a more classical forever kind of way.  For many seasons now overalls and dungarees have been lurking quietly but reassuringly in the back ground but it seems they are pushing their way into the limelight again.

Rachel Stevens in White Top Shop Dungaree. image from www.dailymail,co.uk

Rachel Stevens looking causal, comfortable and chic in Topshop Dungarees.

 Photo by: Neil Mockford/Alex Huckle/GC Images on www.whowhatwear.com

Amal Clooney in Sonia Rykiel Overalls, looking the most casual I have seen her. Yes she is human and she does do casual, and still manages to look fantastic. Note the seriously amazing matching accessories. 

Available from www.asos.com

A quick internet search at ASOS pulls up 134 different versions of Dungarees, they have all the variations covered. Loving the black for when you just know that all white is going to spell disaster.

www.zara.com

Or for the Classic version Zara has this great opiton available.

We are all over the overalls!!