FASHION + STYLE COVET CONSIGNMENT - A GREAT PLACE FOR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING What is Covet? Covet sells an eclectic mix of new, pre-loved and vintage clothing, shoes, jewellery, accessories, ceramics furniture and art. Designer pieces from New Zealand and overseas are mixed with unique vintage items such as silk kimonos, recycled gold-fill jewellery and art deco silver bracelets. Because I sell on behalf of my consigners, I never know what’s going to turn up each day! It’s like Christmas sometimes when we see what someone has brought in. I handpick everything and only stock things that I like and that I think will appeal to my customers. Covet owner Brigit Timpson in her I really try to create a place Richmond Road store, near Ripe Deli that has something for everyone - we often see three generations of the same family finding something here. Having a wide range of stock seems to work well - you can always find a gift here for just about anyone as well! Do you just sell vintage? I like a mix of vintage, not-so-vintage and new, because everyone is looking for something different. Some people only like vintage, some people only want new, and some people don’t know what they want until they see it. I am a big recycler though, and have only bought second-hand for most of my life. I just like the fact that things have had a previous life and that they’ll go on to have another one with the next person. I especially like recycled vintage furniture, jewellery and bits and pieces. They can be so beautiful and the craftsmanship and history is fascinating to me. Who are your favourite customers? I love it when people who really know what they like come in, because their ability to zero in on the exact things that thrill them is really impressive. Some people have a very good sense of what suits them in terms of colour and style, and they know exactly the type of thing they want. They aren’t afraid to search through the whole store to make sure they haven’t missed anything either. These customers love recycling shops because they know the hidden gems in these stores are going to become their favourite treasures. F PN COVET, 168 Richmond Road T: 09 378 8688
GETTING DRESSED WITH THE CUPBOARD’S DIANE BURKHARDT DIANE BURKHARDT HAS BEEN SPENDING HER DAYS IN HER BEAUTIFUL ST MARY’S BAY workroom since The Cupboard opened there in July 2013. Ponsonby News asked the designer of 18 years (and pattern-maker, grader and retailer of more) to tell us about her own way of dressing and love of clothes. I ‘dress’ seven days a week, because clothes are made to wear, not to save for a special occasion. The Cupboard clothes are made to last as well, so you can wear them for years and years, they’re timeless. I suppose if I am on holiday somewhere I might slip into something a little more casual like a kaftan - in Fiji or Rarotonga or at our place in Kuratau in Lake Taupo. I’m passionate about clothing and fashion - it keeps me awake at night with all these ideas going through my head. I usually have a pencil and a pad by my bed and I will draw little sketches and think “that’s it, I can go to sleep now,” but then another idea comes... I try to wear only things that we stock in the shop from our three designer lines - Diane Burkhardt, Colleen Behrens and Succhi Collection. I dress with the underlayer being all the same colour. If I am going to wear darker colours I would put a little singlet on and darker pants or shorts - I don’t normally wear skirts, I’m quite practical and they feel a bit too ladylike - I’ll wear them if they are a little bit quirky, though. I’d go all black or white or grey underneath, and then layer a different colour or a textured piece over the top. Keep your body layer quite close to the body and have your visual interest in the outer layer. In winter there may be a coat or a long cardigan - we buy in Alistair Trung who does a lot of lovely, different cardi’s - the one I am wearing is one of his summer ones in linen. I wear our New Zealand-made “Cat Baloo” bags - it’s a little leather cross-body that sculpts your clothes a bit. We also buy in some lovely chunky, unusual jewellery from Italy and Spain - I mainly wear necklaces. I seem to have forgotten earrings completely - I’m too busy! The piercings have probably closed over. We buy in shoes - Django and Juliette. When I worked from home I worked barefoot because it was more comfortable, but now that I am here in the workroom and shop I wear a flat brogue type shoe. I choose the shoe after the clothing, it comes last. We stock, and I wear, mostly neutral shoes with a pop of colour. My sunglasses are these lovely Karen Walker filigree ones - even my daughter wants them. For a special occasion I choose the shoes first, and I’d wear a high heel. I tend to wear black when I go out because it’s slimming, and usually a bit of bling in a necklace and a nice bracelet. Sometimes for a special occasion I wear my grandmother’s amethyst ring and bracelet - she was big on jewellery, she had rings on every finger and long fingernails. The most dressed up I have ever got, was to my wedding in 1990 - I made a white lambskin wedding dress with lace that cost me $250 a metre at the time. My style advice to other women? Step out of your comfort zone. Don’t worry about what everyone else thinks - especially your husband. Men have what they think looks nice, but it’s not really what we feel comfortable in. Feel comfortable in your own PN skin, really. F THE CUPBOARD, 14 St Mary’s Road, T: 09 378 4770; www.thecupboard.co.nz
56 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2013
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)