Welcome to clipboard, a weekly newsletter about good shit and Tāmaki Makaurau by me, Reilly Hodson. This week, my latest wish list as we head into the real colder months. If you enjoy clipboard, I’d love it if you could share it with your cool besties - spread the love! You can get in touch with me on Instagram @clipboard.nz or fire me an email if you’re old school.
staying icy for winter 22
This week in Auckland was the kind of week that confirmed that winter, even if it hasn’t “officially” arrived, is certainly very near. We had heavy rain, and thunder, and whatnot, which personally seemed a bit like a pathetic fallacy to the way I’ve been feeling at work this week.
Now that the weather is changing, I’m back with another issue of my planned-to-be-regular series of seasonal wish lists, where I tell you about the stuff I want to buy, wear and shop for this season. For me, this winter is about nailing layering in a way which is put-together, classy and makes the transition from the cubicle to the cocktail bar. It’s also my birthday season (bring on Cancer time), so I’ll be cooking up birthday looks as well.
knitwear
My love-hate relationship with knitwear is well documented. I struggle with eczema, which flares up disastrously when the weather changes, and which takes a particular dislike towards wool jumpers. That aside, I just love the way that knitwear looks - the right knit rides the line perfectly between comfortable, easy and office-appropriate, which is a line I like to walk. I’ll be looking for pieces in fine merino or cotton, that will look just dressy enough with jeans or trousers.
What I’m looking at: this beautiful number from Thom Morison (pictured) is top of the list, I also love this abstract floral piece from Kowtow and a little birdy told me Checks Downtown has some stuff cooking…
heavy, loose trousers
It’s nearly impossible to shop for trousers. If money was no object, my recommendation would be to just figure out a cut that you like, and have them made in a bunch of fabrics by a tailor. For me, that cut would be straight and loose through the body, maybe with a pleat, hemmed with no break to the shoe. Because I can’t just get 6 pairs made in my perfect style, I’m always on the lookout for trousers that fit the bill in nice fabrics and colours.
What I’m looking at: The Stan Ray painter pant is probably my favourite casual trouser style, and the black duck version is bang on, I also have my eyes on Inward Goods’ pleated trouser (which you can’t buy at the moment) and wonder if this will be the season I cave for some Checks Downtown double knees.
big headphones
My AirPods are great, but people in my office don’t respect them as a sign that I don’t want to talk to anyone. Also, they don’t cancel the noise around me, and I’m spending a lot of time on the train at the moment (I’d also like to get on a plane or two in the next year), so I’m thinking it’s finally time to get some big, fuck off noise cancelling headphones. Luckily, nowadays there are even options that don’t look terrible (although there are not options that aren’t expensive).
What I’m looking at: I can’t afford AirPods Max (as much as I like the blue colour), so I’m considering Sony’s latest pair, which look good and have had solid reviews.
dark jeans
It might finally be time - I’m starting to think about a pair of dark, maybe even selvedge, jeans. I am by no means a denim nerd, but I’m increasingly feeling like I could pull off some great looks with a heavy, dark pair of jeans. Just feels like something I should have in the wardrobe, you know?
What I’m looking at: Thom Morison’s Selvedge jeans are a no-expenses-spared kind of option, as are these from 3sixteen. On the other hand, you can’t go wrong with a pair of Levi’s.
coffee grinder
The one limitation of the Boss Coffee approach to caffeination is that it’s not fun to drink cold coffee when it’s raining or cold out. As a result, I’ve been looking back towards my trusty Aeropress for a speedy coffee in the morning, particularly on wfh days. I’ve been buying pre-ground beans, but my former barista brain doesn’t like it one bit, which is why I’ll be looking to buy a proper burr grinder, like this one perhaps, to pop on the kitchen counter and take my morning coffee ritual to the next step. One day, maybe I’ll be one of those fancy folks with an espresso machine, at the moment I just want to make my home manual brews a bit nicer.
clips
🖼 there’s a cool-looking new show on at Objectspace, called twisting, turning, winding: takatāpui + queer objects. It features the work of 50 (!!) queer artists and practitioners, and all the pieces spin around in the space.
📖 I am not a huge royal watcher, but I am desperate to read Tina Brown’s new book on the royals after reading this review in The Spinoff. If you want a copy, be sure to support local! My favourite places to buy books are Unity, Time Out, Lamplight and Bookety Book Books.
🕺 It looks like swings, my most hotly anticipated new opening, will be ready for service very soon, if the secret invitation I got to its opening party is anything to go by.
👕 The ridiculous new Aime Leon Dore store in London is very cool, but also seems a bit much - it certainly explains the prices!
🗒 I have been influenced by TikTok into the view that I need clear post-it notes, but I can’t find them anywhere. If you have the inside track, let me know.
🍣 I went to Sake Bar Icco in Morningside with some friends on Friday night - would definitely recommend! Shout out to neighbourhood favourites, it’s always good to remember to go to places which aren’t just the hottest new spot on the block.
That’s all for clipboard this week, thanks for reading! I’ll be back next Sunday at 7am, and in the meantime you can find me on Instagram or get in touch via email. Have a good short week!