While NZ gets ready for the onslaught of NZ Fashion week in Auckland; I am overseas in London, Milan and Florence seeing the new spring collections or as they call them – Primavera/Estate 2010 from our favourite shoe designers and also seeing and buying winter fabric ranges for Autumno/Inverno 2010-2011 from some of the most amazing mills in Italy.

What a week and just wait till you see the clever and fashion forward shoe ranges from our Favourite Tracey Neuls and Beatrix Ong. Tracey whose shoes are stocked at the ever so fashionable Dover Street Market in London, was doing an installation of design at Wapping Project for London fashion week. Check out her latest pics below.

Beatrix Ong was buzzing as they have an appointment with the buyers from Colette in Paris for this season… (for those who haven’t been fortunate enough to visit Colette – it is arguably the best design store in the world – 3 levels of fashion, books, music and accessories,) and they have had Wallpaper Magazine photograph the Donella boot we have in stock.

While we think fashion week consumes Auckland, London fashion week is just at another level.

Then in Milan at the Micam Shoe Fair I spent the day wandering around looking at people’s feet! It was just mindblowing how many shoe designers there are out there, but it reconfirms we do stock some of the best!

Fabrics in Italy have been just as exciting, with the softness and tactile nature being a main focus of the textile designers. Cashmere is still the top savoured yarn. I have struggled to stay within my New Zealand dollar budget, but just wait till you see next winter… amazing jerseys and washed wools, shine playing against matt, and textures and colours that are just making me tingle inside.

I was also so spoilt as one of my mills supplied lunch today, Just a simple “in the office” lunch which is quite rare in Italy as normally everyone goes out, but today they bought the food to us….and we all stopped work to savour mozzarella trucked in from Puglia, local Proscuitto and Mortadello and the best breads and flavours… I have to pinch myself.. I am lucky this is work… not everyday is like this but these ones make everything worthwhile.

Tracey Neuls Wapping Project Installation

Amazing new jewellery from Julie Eynon a Contemporary New Zealand Jeweller has just arrived in store.

There are these beautiful Sweep necklaces and High House Chains with handmade links that are oval or circular and  in a typical taylor way The way you wear it is your choice as they can be worn 2-3 different ways to make them short choker chains or  long necklaces, multi chained or single chains….

Triple bangles and triple stacked rings are also amazing simple additions to your jewellery and will compliment and add a contemporary note to your outfits.

Trap earrings and Hooped earrings that graduate from thick to thin and flat to raised all give even a simple shape a stylish edge.

These jewellery pieces are just beautifully modern and timeless all rolled together.

Sweep Chain

Doubles Bracelet

Triple Bangle

Hoop Earrings

Girls.. I just want to remind you of those time many of you have received a drill, hammer or a new car for him to drive, on your birthday or mothers day… Now with father’s day approaching… this is the perfect time to spoil yourself and him!!