Perfect fit

SOLECT specialises in quality shoe brands that stand on their own two feet.

WORDS NICKY ADAMS | PHOTOS JAHL MARSHALL + SUPPLIED

Light, bright and breezy, with an expanse of white space and sleek seating areas, walking into SOLECT at Tauranga Crossing, there was a moment when I wondered if I’d just come in because it looks so darn inviting. Then I glanced around and, yep, I knew exactly what had brought me through the doors.

I love a relaxed shopping experience, and low-level music is a great first step. Good, knowledgeable customer service is a solid second. Then, of course, there’s the shoes themselves. Artfully displayed on minimalist-style shelving, it’s all about the footwear. With a range that, in the words of brand manager Kat Farron, cleverly covers everything from “boots to Birkenstocks, sneakers to slippers.” Catering for men and women, the range has been carefully curated. Here it is most definitely a case of less is more, so rather than sending your brain into anxious overdrive, the premium brands that have made it on to the shelves have done so because of their proven quality, performance and heritage.

SOLECT has the biggest range of Birkenstock shoes in the Bay, and it’s one their highest-selling brands. The store prides itself on listening to its customer, so among the instantly recognisable classics sit some exciting additions. The Buffalo range is 100 per cent vegan, with some of the boots even gaining the PETA tick of approval. While the puffy cloud soles and bouncy vibe is synonymous with the Spice Girls in the 90s, the combination of reimagined retro cool and super ethical has earned these boots and sneakers a space up there with the Dr Martens, Vans and Timberlands. Another drawcard is the extension of the Emu Australia range. While the uber Instagram-able sheepskin slippers are a firm favourite, this season the Emu cosy minis and leather ankle boots have been brought in to give the customers even more choice. As someone who loves to wear sheepskin boots all year round, I’m a pretty good road tester – and it’s fair to say I’m a big fan of this brand for its combination of price and durability.

Snuggly boots aside, the season ahead will see Blundstones styled with flowing dresses, Dr Martens remaining the unisex wardrobe must-have, and Birkenstocks, street shoes and sneakers from the likes of ASICS, the cool, comfortable backstop. Whether for trends or staples, SOLECT has all bases covered.

SOLECT.NZ

THE FITNESS DIARIES: NEW BEGINNINGS

Editor Hayley Barnett faces her fitness fears – and the body scanner – to embark on a year-long self-improvement journey.

PHOTOS SALINA GALVAN

Gyms have never been my jam. I joined one with a friend back in high school and we would regularly show up, hit the stationary bikes for five to 10 minutes, then saunter off to the sauna feeling very pleased with ourselves. It wasn’t until I joined my university gym that I realised I wasn’t really achieving anything. All that beer, combined with not growing taller, wasn’t doing me any favours either. So I started running, outside, away from the gym.

Over the years, the running has helped to keep me fairly fit, but as you get older, apparently, you need to build muscle everywhere. Something to do with your metabolism slowing down and hormones being thrown out of whack.

I liked the idea of joining ClubFit at Baywave because it was close to home, my kids did their swimming lessons there and I wanted to try the Body Combat class my friend always raves about. But, on my first consult with trainer Kiriwai Poroa, she suggested perhaps building a foundation first, and so reality kicked in instead.

She suggested having a BodyScan, a machine that measures everything from your weight to how much muscle and visceral fat you have. ‘Visceral what?’ I hear you say. The fat around your organs – the most dangerous fat. It turns out mine wasn’t that bad. My muscle to fat ratio, however, wasn’t great. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great, and Kiriwai had a plan.

Kiriwai advised building a solid base of strength with resistance training. That way, I could kick my way to a fitter body soon enough. Not only does resistance training build muscle strength and tone, it also protects your joints from injury – magic words for a runner. She set up a programme including five resistance exercises, two body weight exercises and two cardio machines for warm up and cool down. I then downloaded the ClubFit app, where my workout is kept, showing exactly how many reps, weight and time to be spent on each exercise, so there are no excuses to be made, like blaming a foggy memory. The app even includes videos showing you the correct form for each exercise. You can connect it to other devices and monitor your heart rate while you exercise, as well as track outdoor movement, calories burned and distance travelled. It’s an all-in-one hub for your health and fitness. Technology has come a long way since my uni days.

Together with two resistance days a week, we agreed I would attend one Body Balance class per week, to get my stretch on and relax those muscles after a couple of outdoor running sessions. This is getting serious.

The biggest motivator (besides having my face splashed across a magazine) is going to be my visit back with the old BodyScan machine in three months’ time. Watch this space!

CLUBFIT.CO.NZ