She just opened her first retail store, has two labels and is mother to four children – but Company of Strangers designer Sara Aspinall made time to have lunch with Thread and share her top Dunedin shopping spots…
Sara Aspinall’s Shopping Guide to Dunedin
She just opened her first retail store, has two labels and is mother to four children – but Company of Strangers designer Sara Aspinall made time to have lunch with Thread and share her top Dunedin shopping spots.
Sara is herself a graduate of Fashion Design at Otago Polytechnic and a former Nom*D design team member, so add her own achievements and she’s a very fitting fashion ambassador for her city.
The new Company of Strangers store in George Street, Dunedin, stocks Sara’s own labels – Company of Strangers and recently-launched diffusion label Strangelove – plus the brand’s leather and jewellery, as well as George & Edie candles from Wanaka and beautiful fashion, architecture and photography books; “all the things that inspire our collections,” Sara explains. Coming soon are Zora Boyd and Underground Sundae jewellery, Equipment shirts from France, and Opening Ceremony shoes.
We distracted Sara from her ‘baby’ long enough to extract these insider Dunedin shopping tips.
VINTAGE STORE: The Modern Miss (Moray Place).
‘They have the most fantastic stuff’ says Sara, “from ‘40s crepe dresses to ‘70s gear. The owner, Violet Fagan, is also an artist and she has the most amazing eye.” Sara’s most recent purchase was a kimono.
HOMEWARES: Whiteroom Design Store (Moray Place)
“A very good selection of mostly New Zealand-made stuff, contemporary (not Kiwiana). The White Room is owned by another artist, Sam Foley, and it also has a good art collection. I did my Christmas shopping there and ended up buying a Christmas present for myself – a yellow macrame pot holder. I also love my ‘Sensitive Boyfriend’ pillowcases from The White Room.”
SHOES: Plume (George Street)
“I’ve never bought shoes anywhere else in Dunedin. Margi (Robertson – Plume owner and Nom*D designer) has a great selection. Most recently I bought L D Tuttle wedge sandals and flat biker style boots. I buy my perfume from Plume, too – Comme.”
COSMETICS: M.A.C (Arthur Barnett)
“I’m always at the M.A.C store. ‘Lady Danger’ is my favourite lipstick shade ever, but I’ve recently bought ‘Empassioned’ pink.
LINGERIE: Belle Bird (George Street)
“Belle Bird stock Lonely lingerie. For sleepwear there’s really only Arthur Barnetts – but that’s also where M.A.C is!”
BOOKS: The University Book Shop (Great King Street)
“They have a massive selection, and a really good arts section.”
COFFEE: Kiki Beware (George Street)
“The best coffee, and the owner, Mel Norman, does great food. She comes from a fashion branding background and worked for Canterbury in Melbourne before she returned to Dunedin.”
FLOWERS: Carly Jones (St Clair)
“Carly knows how to do simple flowers, like when all you want is a beautiful bunch of vintage-y roses. We’ve come to understand each other and she will be doing the flowers for the (Company of Strangers) shop.
Words and photos, Julie Roulston
15 March 2013
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