No other shopping precinct in Auckland is quite as vibrant as the heart of Auckland city. You can find anything you could ever need or want for what we call a one-stop shopping experience. Start your adventure in Auckland's Queen Street, where you will find the cities most elite department store and premium luxury brands. Head to High Street and soak up the cities heritage in the laneways of our busiest city. A short walk to leafy Britomart, it's here you can enjoy an open-air shopping experience in a district that showcases the best of New Zealand designer fashion. Finally, once you hit Commercial Bay, the most recent addition to shopping in Auckland City, this popular destination provides the most refined international designer fashion and beauty brands along with cuisine to tempt any taste. It's here the team at BeautyEQ have found some of the very best new-season style for our next event - Bubbles & Beauty at Gusto. Here's a taste of how to shop for spring.
Queen St
Queen St is one of the best strips to shop for new season beauty buys. Start at the elegant department store Smith and Caughey’s, then head to beauty bars Mecca, and Sephora. Or for a hit of premium fashion from handbags to indulgent fragrance check out Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
Making our way down Queen St
Our picks
Sisley Le Photo-Rough Lipstick 31, $78 from Smith & Caughey’s. Gucci Liberty T-shirt, $900. Marc Jacobs Beauty Accompline Instant Blurring Beauty Powder, $83 from Sephora. Louis Vuitton Escale NéoNoé handbag, $3750.
Vulcan Lane & High Street
Tucked away in Vulcan Lane is one of the best sunglass stores, and unique boutiques shops, it’s also a great place to stop for coffee and lunch. One of our favourite spots is Sumthin Dumplin at the top of Vulcan Lane, a great place to refuel before heading to try on the new season’s offering from Gregory.
Hitting Vulcan Lane and High Street where you can find some unique boutiques and great cuisine.
Our picks
Moochi Assemble Blazer, $460. Gorman Coastline dress, $269. Ruby Mirella Tiered blouse, $199. Nike React Vision, $210 from Loaded.
Louise Hilsz models the latest range of sunglasses in Vulcan Lane, home to Auckland’s most luxurious eyewear boutique Sunglass Bar.
Left to right Tom Ford 803K sunglasses, $595. Gucci 0516 001, $565. Dior ID2 807, $595 and Saint Laurent 364 002 sunglasses, $645. Which one do you like best?
Britomart
Grab a coffee and stroll around leafy Britomart, it’s here you will find some of our favourite New Zealand designer stores including Zambesi, World, Kathryn Wilson, Juliette Hogan, Deadly Ponies, Allbirds and Kate Sylvester. And don’t leave without popping into Amano for lunch or to take home a loaf of their delicious sourdough bread.
Editor Trudi Brewer picks her to look for Bubbles & Beauty from World, while style director Louise Hilsz gets distracted by their colourful, plush, jewel-encrusted hats.
Our Picks
Trelise Cooper Tangled Up In Blue dess, $999. Deadly Ponies Mr Mini Verne Python, $699. Kathryn Wilson Paris heel, $320. Sass & Bide Ziggy jumpsuit, $650.
Commercial Bay
The newest precinct in Auckland’s downtown is Commercial Bay and it does not disappoint. From international fashion buys to a dreamy Dior beauty boutique, for anyone searching for that special occasion outfit, this is where you need to head. Be tempted by the range of cuisine on offer in dozens of restaurants and bars. It’s you can relax and enjoy the view out over Auckland’s stunning Waitemata Harbour - prepare to stay all day.
Editor Trudi Brewer and Louise Hilsz in Commercial Bay, downtown Auckland.
Our picks
AGL Bianca sneaker, $590 from Scarpa. Bec and Bridge Lucie Maxi dress, $299 from Superette. Yu Mei 3/4 Phoebe Bucket bag, $595. Wynn Hamlyn Beam blazer, $895.
Cheers, to what we call a successful day out shopping in our beautiful city. We would love to share the best on offer from Heart of the City at Bubbles & Beauty Oct 17, learn more here.