Repertoire Blog

Inspired, designed and made in NZ

Lee, Debi and Meghan set out to create a fashion business unlike any they had seen before. More than five years on, the doors are about to open on the fifth Repertoire, right here in New Plymouth.

So what makes Repertoire loved by so many New Zealand women?

The answer is an inspiring one – where sisterhood is just as important as style...

“New Zealand women don’t want to be something they’re not, they just want to be the best, most gorgeous version of themselves,” Debi explains. “That’s why our clothing is elegantly relaxed, but with an edge.”

With an eye on the world’s fashion capitals but her heart firmly at home, Lee (an internationally accomplished designer) takes the hottest trends and interprets them for the New Zealand woman.

Repertoire designs are flattering on a wide range of body types. Meghan says, “You don’t fit the clothes, the clothes fit you!”

From day dot, the three also agreed they would never contract manufacture to a foreign factory. “Repertoire will always be New Zealand made, and proud of it”.

Meghan continues: “The thing is, we all have busy lives and limited budgets, and we need to make our wardrobes work hard for us. That’s why many of our garments are also really flexible.” Repertoire’s gorgeous range of summer wraps is an example of this – they can be worn in many different ways.

Repertoire staff help their valued customers put together looks to accentuate assets and hide figure challenges. The team can also help with ‘wardrobe extenders’ – key pieces that work with many other items to create stylish outfits. “Often, all that’s needed is a beautiful pair of versatile pants or a layering top, and all of a sudden those wardrobe orphans can be worn,” says Meghan.

But it’s not just their clothing that has made Repertoire so beloved; it’s what the brand ultimately stands for - the celebration and uplifting of women.

“We wanted to create a welcoming space, where women can come in and have a bit of escapism, and feel special,” says Debi.

“We have a saying here – our Customer is Queen. We hope you will visit our New Plymouth store to discover this for yourself.”

To celebrate the opening of the new store, Repertoire is offering a beautiful gift with purchase. Doors open on 2 October 2012 at 44 Brougham Street, New Plymouth. Phone (06) 758 3153.

From the design room came these special tips caring for your merino. With a little TLC your premier merino wool garments should wear beautifully. Hand washing: • Gently hand wash your garment inside out in cold water with an approved wool wash • Rinse in cold water making sure not to wring or twist the garment • Squeeze the water out by pressing down on garment with hands • Lay garment between two towels and press any excess water out • Lay on a towel out of direct sunlight to dry Although we strongly recommend hand washing, your merino can be machine washed on a delicate wool cycle. Machine washing: • We highly recommend you turn the garment inside out and place it in a lingerie wash bag to prevent excess pilling • Wash in cold water with approved wool wash • Lay on a towel out of direct sunlight to dry If garment needs pressing gently iron on low heat with no steam. Golden rules are: • No tumble drying • No harsh chemicals Storing: • It’s a good idea to pop some sandalwood sachets in amongst your merino garments – this will help prevent damage from moths and leave your merino smelling beautiful www.nzmerino.co.nz"]

"The little black dress, aka LBD, is considered a timeless classic and essential to complete any woman’s wardrobe. A LBD is an evening or cocktail dress, it is usually black in colour, simple in its cut, design and embellishments and is often short in length. The strength of this piece is its versatility to be used for multiple occasions. Due to its simplicity, accessories will do all the work, by giving your LBD multiple looks. Fantastic for those emergency “what can I wear?” situations, the key to a great LBD is to find a style that fits you really well. It should be comfortable and flatter your shape - accentuating your figure assets and hiding your challenges. It is well worth investing in a LBD made of quality fabric, as this piece will be a keeper. Choose a length that is age and situation appropriate and suits your personal body shape. Knee length is usually the most flattering. The key is to keep it simple. Timeless style is essential! Be particularly careful when selecting a dress with embellishments as it can quickly date and restrict accessorizing options. And lastly... invest, invest, invest in accessories that will keep your LBD current and give it lots of different looks for many occasions. Most importantly have fun, be open minded and creative when styling your little black dress.