KEY POINTS:
So you've spent all day downtown searching for that elusive Cybele dress, the one you really had to have. And you've just about given up. Well, now there's one last resort. Go to St Kevin's Arcade on K Rd and there, among the vintage stores, you'll find a new store called Little Black Crown.
It stocks the likes of Cybele, Salasai, Deborah Sweeney and Juliette Hogan, and the owners hope shoppers will consider their artistically decorated space the place to come to find something a little special. They'll also be stocking hard-to-find local T-shirt labels such as Two White Buddies and Cleatis-Preston, and exotic accessories - cool Goorin Bros hats from San Francisco, playful Steven Shein jewellery from Los Angeles and bold, futuristic Nooka watches from New York.
Sneak peek
Sneaker freakers who like to keep it on the down low should get down to the Workshop stores and check out the new footwear by Common Projects, a New York brand. Made in Italy out of the best looking leather, these shoes are mostly minimal in design with just a touch of retro to them. They're going to cost you about $400, but with these fine looks, they're guaranteed to stand above the vagaries of seasonal trends. And we bet all the graphic designers you know will be wearing them soon.
Interior redesign
Interior design lovers will be taking a trip to the new Republic shortly. One of Ponsonby's favourite interior style stores has moved, into what used to be the Mitre 10 store on the corner of Pompallier Tce and Redmond St. But not a hammer or screwdriver in sight - the hardware store's old building has gone, replaced by modern floor-to-ceiling glass, concrete and weatherboard.
Perhaps most exciting of all, Republic will be opening its first instore boutique on the new premises. The little known labels will include Tash Tugalini from New Zealand, Lulu from Brazil and Elissa Coleman and Kerry Grima from Australia.
