Dressing for the Destination: The Boutiques Down Under are on Top
How to pack for a trip to New Zealand including everything I wore during my summer down under. Dress the part before you even arrive with curated Aussie and Kiwi brands the locals already shop <3
I take packing for a trip extremely seriously, starting with strict carry-on evangelism, but even more important to me is dressing for the destination. Incorporating motifs specific to the country you’re visiting is a form of cultural appreciation near and dear to my heart–and it makes for particularly fire vacation flicks when you can tell where you’re visiting solely based on your outfit aesthetic.
That said, I had an extraordinarily difficult time packing for my recent trip to New Zealand. Having visited the Kiwi’s big brother, Australia, the year prior, I had experience with the notorious “4 seasons in one day” that Oceania sees in the summer, and yet looking at the forecast before my trip only made the situation more confusing. Did predicted rain mean it would legitimately rain all day? Was it going to be a cold or a warm 60°F? And what would locals actually be wearing?
Fortunately, my boots-on-the-ground journalism has confirmed that I packed quite appropriately–plus find the Kiwi and Aussie brands to eye ahead of time below if you’re doing any pre-trip shopping.
What to Wear in New Zealand
To begin with, you’re going to need waterproof layers–even when visiting in the peak of summer. During 12 days split between the North and South Island, I saw 5 days with some semblance of rain while actually managing to miss the bulk of it during uncharacteristically heavy downpours that caused catastrophic flooding and subsequent slips around Auckland.
Queenstown and Milford Sound have a particularly rainy track record, with the Fiordland hotspot ranking among the wettest inhabited places on Earth and seeing nearly 200 days of rain each year. Fortunately, adventure activities like bungy jumping with AJ Hackett and jet boat rides around the lake proceed rain or shine–you just need to remember to pack a jacket.
What’s particularly bizarre is the nature of this rain, considering it can turn from sunny blue skies to a stream of water droplets so dense you can’t see more than a few feet ahead of you in a second. And then five minutes later it’s sunny again–truly bipolar weather in a way I haven’t seen replicated anywhere else in the world.
Thin, durable rain jackets you can fold up to compactly pack are key, and ordering a size up is useful for additional layering–since a wool cardigan or fleece is typically needed on the side as another line of reinforcement. The difference between sun and shade can necessitate these long-sleeve layers, especially in breezy areas where gusts make all the difference.
For waterproof goods, I checked out Lululemon, Free People Movement, Patagonia, Arcteryx, and ALO before my trip–ultimately settling on a Calvin Klein black and tan duo handed down from my grandmother.
When it comes to knits–Aritzia and Mango did me well with open stitch and merino wool heritage pieces–paying homage to New Zealand’s most abundant resident, sheep of course, with this fleece friend eclipsing the local population at a rate of nearly 5 sheep to one Kiwi. Aussies naturally give them a lot of flack for this. For stylish comfort on top, including the ultimate plane sweatshirt with a humongous hoodie to hide your eye mask and trtl neck pillow, I always go back to Madhappy. Their collabs are unmatched and only getting better, with their Columbia collection being a staple in my adventure wardrobe.
The next topic is workout and athletic attire. Given New Zealand is one of the most naturally beautiful places on the planet–particularly around the South Island–it’s expected that you’re going to be hiking or at least taking strolls through the great outdoors at some point. Athleisure is relatively common–even for coffee runs in the same way that west coast California girls whip out matching sets for daily errands–so even if you don’t consider yourself the most active, it’s worth packing some performance pieces. Lululemon is once again a staple with their sculpting jackets and leggings, but I’ve been particularly into FORM lately and their cap sleeve bra, with Set Active and 437 delivering on a similar aesthetic.
Some routes like the Queenstown Hill Walking Track will have you huffing and puffing enough to warrant dedicated workout attire and sturdy sneakers with the tread to match–it’s New Balance 530s, Brooks, or Asics all the way for me–while other loops around Lake Matheson, the Monro Beach Walk, or Hokitika Gorge are flat enough and paved to make a more styled outfit work–like when I wore these NA-KD printed jeans and a fleece vest with my coveted staple white tee. A silver fern design like the one on this beanie embodies the unofficial national symbol rooted in both the country’s lush native forests and Māori heritage. Obviously you’re going to need steezy hiking glasses to top off the fit–and some activities like a Franz Joseph glacier heli hike require eye protection–with Gentle Monster being my go-to for absolutely ridiculous shades, especially in their bold collection.
On that note, the landmarks you can’t miss–especially on the South Island–are so spread out you’re going to spend a significant amount of time in the car driving from place to place. New Zealand is a road trip destination no doubt, and it’s not exactly the most comfortable to spend 5+ hours in the driver’s seat wearing a mini skirt. Months ago I asked my friend to recommend jeans that feel like comfortable cargos and she delivered—the Cool jean from Still Here is a pair I’ll happily wear on a long-haul flight or 15-hour drive day. In general, baggy pants will be your best friend–and give you that cool-girl Kiwi look–or lightweight sportswear shorts. Whatever you do, avoid tight and short bottoms. You can get away with loose denim shorts, but make sure they sit comfortably when you’re seated upright.
Last but not least, for tops–aim to pack timeless staples with interesting elements that elevate them beyond boring basics. Take this black long sleeve for example, with the built-in layered look so it seems like a tank is being worn over a long sleeve. Nothing groundbreaking, but these slight structural details make all the difference. As you’ll see from the offerings listed in the local boutiques below, shops down under have nailed the art of conveying effortless coolness, and it all comes down to creating interesting shapes, whether that’s from ruched tees with long dropped sleeves or cowl tops with asymmetrical drapes.
I didn’t end up making my day trip to Rotorua, but I’m convinced this one-shoulder tank would’ve been a hit in front of the geothermal backdrop–plus my local host wore a patterned one-shoulder tank the same day I did, so I can confirm they’re in there…and polka dots for that matter!
Kiwi and Aussie Boutiques Locals Swear by
If I could only buy clothes from Oceania for the rest of my life, that’s something I’d be entirely cool with, considering the designers down under are on top of the fashion curve. Walking the streets of the CBD, I was struck with fashion inspiration in a way that Soho could never achieve–city girls with beachy, carefree elements somehow pulled into a work-appropriate ensemble.
Without further ado, these are the boutiques I’ve discovered myself during my time abroad in New Zealand and Australia, with contributions from my local friends who put me on to their favorite shops. The best part is, our flipped seasons mean that with warmer weather around the corner, the end-of-summer sales are about to drop on the sites below!
New Zealand Brands
Ruby – buy one of their pieces and wear it for a lifetime. I was unusually impressed with the quality of all the garments I tried on down under, especially considering the thin plastic crap plaguing hangers everywhere in the states, but Ruby takes it to a new level. My bestie had been eyeing this short butter blazer for weeks before pulling the plug–since these investment pieces aren’t exactly cheap–while I came home with this sheer black chiffon blouse…partially because nothing else would fit in my suitcase.
Deadly Ponies – premium leather and suede bags and shoes responsibly sourced. If you consider yourself a CBK minimalist, these silhouettes are just classic enough to stand the test of time while standing out above boring basics–plus no one in the states will have one, unlike every DHgate dupe.
Superette – one of the best curations of interesting pieces I’ve ever seen from clothes to jewelry to homeware to men’s goods. I could spend all day in here looking at every single little trinket. How I managed to escape without spending money is beyond me, but again, only bringing a carry-on was a tactical play.
Glassons – less of a boutique and more of a department store–I’d compare it to H&M or a lesser Zara in the states. You can copy Kiwi style for less here, with the most popular clothing trends represented in the generally more subdued and basic staples.
Australian Brands
Kookaï – also shown to me by the Kiwis, this is another brand where the sophisticated structure of the pieces is just leagues above the states–especially when it comes to going-out tops. My friend wore the oyster low cut top during our night out and the wiring around the front cut-out made sure everything stayed in place, plus the fabric is noticeably thick. White tops that aren’t see-through? Groundbreaking.
Charcoal – my most recent Aussie discovery. They opened a dedicated U.S. online storefront given the multi-month shipping delays I encountered when securing the goods from their original site. Some of the reviews I saw online ahead of my Black Friday haul concerned me, but I can concur the quality is top-notch. The slater Myers coat is undoubtedly the most elegant covering I own, and where would I be without my latte oracle jumper (boring and basic is the answer).
VRG GRL – I’m under the impression this brand is more well-known in the U.S., but maybe that’s presumptuous. Anyways, this the home of light, airy linen pieces which fortunately will unwrinkle once you step out in subtropical humidity.
Country Road – another casual, classic staple brand. These pieces feel slightly higher quality than Glassons, with an older, working demographic in mind. It somewhat gives Australian Aritzia with a bit of Banana Republic.
Kivari – my best find in Byron Bay. Their bohemian small-batch collections are elevated yet beachy. Not necessarily pieces I’d wear in Ibiza or Mykonos, but more down-to-earth resortwear minus all the glitz and glamour.
Lucy Folk – basically the same as above, but sprinkle back in that glitz and glamour at a noticeably more expensive price point, even for the unapologetically bold prints.
Zulu & Zephyr – chic, color-blocked sun, surf, and sportswear. In my H2O: Just Add Water dreams this is the mermaid-approved brand I’m wearing on the daily.
SIR – extremely similar to the above, but I’d say somehow even more minimal? The recipe for effortless cool.
Mister Zimi – the opposite of the above: colorful, maximalist maxis. Somehow they’ve managed to make heritage patterns like stripes and dots fun again; each design is classically reimagined with whimsy at the forefront.
Summi Summi – summer if it was shaded in jewel tones and other desaturated hues. The floral, tropical prints are bold—don’t get me wrong—but with a touch of maturity rather than the stereotypical neon splash.
Have any additional Kiwi or Aussie recs? Drop ‘em below!
Xx Ash