KEY POINTS:
The jewellery Mia Straka makes is modern and glamorous.
But the gestation process definitely isn't.
"Sanding off your fingernails and sometimes your fingertips", is not much fun, says Straka.
"And there are some days when I'm just sitting at a [work]bench for hours. ... after doing about a million solder joins, I'll go a bit cross-eyed."
So because she gets dirty, dusty and cross-eyed during work hours, Straka says she makes sure to dress up on the weekends. She admits to a love of the sparkly, glamorous and girlie and sometimes she finds herself choosing jewellery first, clothing second.
"Some of my necklaces require a bit of skin," Straka explains. "They need to sit on something that's not too busy, so with my favourite one - a neckpiece I made from a loose constructed silver chain mail that falls over the neck and one shoulder - I might wear something like a simple strapless."
Straka describes her work, stocked at Fingers, Masterworks and most recently Workshop after catching the eye of designer Helen Cherry, as kinetic - "it moves on the body, it fits with the contours of the body".
When a necklace made out of what look like tiny pins - Straka likens them to tiny flower stamens - is worn, the pin heads reflect the light as the wearer moves.
All of which, one imagines, more than makes up for a few shortened fingernails.
Who are your favourite designers?
Brooke Tyson is responsible for most of my wardrobe. Helen Cherry, Kingan Jones and Zambesi are also labels I admire.
What was the last item of clothing you bought?
A printed silk shift dress by Keith Matheson that will be great for summer festivities as soon as I shave a few inches off the length.
What's your biggest indulgence?
Boots. And butter chicken pies from the Matakana bakery.
Who or what inspires you?
Music, life, loved ones, Aretha Franklin singing live at the Filmore.
Best fashion bargain?
A little black backless jersey dress from a young designer's market stall in Florence.
Who does the best shoes?
Nine West does a good range of styles that are well-made and nicely priced.
The best jeans?
Jeans shopping is about as fun as bikini shopping, but Workshop takes away some of the pain.
What's the one thing everyone should have in their wardrobe?
Something that makes them smile. Mine is a pair of red sequin shoes.
What do you really want this summer?
A holiday.
Your favourite shop?
Maharani on Richmond Rd has gorgeous floaty things you won't see everyone else wearing.
Your favourite shop elsewhere?
Top Shop in Britain.
Your best beauty tip?
Look after yourself and laugh a lot.
What can't you live without?
My mates.
Whose wardrobe would you most like to raid?
The costume department from the film, Moulin Rouge.
Is there anything you'd never wear?
Legwarmers.
What won't you be wearing this season?
Footless tights.
What is the biggest fashion mistake you have ever made?
A tight poodle perm with a straight fringe when I was about 11.
Is there anything you think the fashion police should ban?
Lip liner outside the lips. And orange shop-girls who give you the once-over.
The one rule you always dress by?
Coco Chanel's rule that "fashion is architecture; it is a matter of proportion".
The one fashion rule you always break ... or that you think should never have been a rule in the first place?
Satin and sequins can never be worn during the day.
