In the eighth edition of Life + Style, we sit down with Repertoire Sales and Marketing Manager, Makaia, to talk fashion, confidence, and life's ever-changing seasons. With honesty and warmth, she opens up about finding her style again, embracing change, and what living beautifully really means.

Q. Has your approach to fashion changed throughout your career and life journey?

For most of my life, fashion has always been fun and, honestly, came pretty easy to me. I was confident in my style, never afraid to try new things, be bold, or step outside the trends.

But now I’m in a stage where fashion and finding my style feels a bit harder. I’m right in the middle of the wild ride that is perimenopause and adjusting to a body that’s changed in ways I’m still learning to accept. I’m the biggest size I’ve ever been, and that’s been a real journey these past 2 years. Although being in love and really content in a new relationship has probably also contributed to the weight gain, someone called it our “love chum” recently, which I thought was cute!

Q. What does Repertoire represent to you beyond the clothes?

I love that Repertoire celebrates women at every stage of life. The brand understands the real changes we go through and creates pieces that empower us to feel strong, beautiful, and confident - with fits and fabrics that move with us, not against us.

Right now, my focus is on comfort, staying cool, and finding pieces that make me feel confident in this version of me and I love Repertoire is helping me feel that way everyday.

Q. What's the wardrobe staple you can't live without, and why?

A great blazer — or a few of them! They’re so easy to dress up or down and always make me feel pulled together. A good blazer has this way of finishing any outfit with style, edge, and confidence.

Q. How do you balance trends with timeless pieces that reflect you?

I don’t really chase trends, I definitely keep an eye on what’s happening, but I’ve learned to just evolve what I already love. My style is mostly built on timeless staples that make me feel confident, and I’ll add a modern twist if something new catches my eye. For me, it’s not about keeping up, it’s about feeling good in what I wear and letting that confidence show through.

Q. What’s on your wishlist currently from in-store?

The Status Anxiety All Nighter Bag, the Kathryn Wilson Elle Platform Sandal in Black and the Juliana Contrast Sleeve Blazer I wore in the shoot! Been eyeing that up since it dropped!

Q. If you could give one piece of advice to women navigating career or life changes, what would it be?

It’s always been believe in yourself. Back your vision, trust your gut, and take action, especially in business and career. Those first small steps are everything; they create commitment and momentum long before confidence shows up.

And when it comes to life’s bigger shifts, protect your peace. Guard your mental health like it’s your most valuable asset, because it is. The world and its struggles feel lighter when you’re grounded and well.

Q. You’ve done work around motivating women — what does empowering women mean to you now?

Oh, Motivate Me NZ, gosh that feels like a lifetime ago, but what an incredible chapter. The connections and experiences I had with thousands of women across Aotearoa during that time truly shaped me and I will forever be grateful for the wāhine that shared that journey with me.

For me, empowering women, whether they’re friends, family, colleagues, or someone I cross paths with, has always been about the same thing: helping them uncover their dreams, recognise their magic, and own their strengths. It’s about reminding women that they have the power to carve out a life that feels true to them. That hasn’t changed, it’s just evolved with me.

Q. Where do you draw inspiration from — in life, work, or fashion?

When it comes to my work in marketing and brand building, I draw a lot of inspiration from music — old and new — and from simply observing people. I love watching, listening, and noticing trends, behaviours, and patterns. As I’ve grown older, I’ve leaned more into my creative side and learned to trust my own direction, though there’s always that practical, strategic voice in me keeping things grounded.

For fashion, it always comes back to comfort and confidence. I’m drawn to pieces that make me feel beautiful and strong, with little touches of edge that nod to the trends I love — but never at the cost of feeling like myself.

In life, my inspiration comes from my whānau and the people I love. I’m a big believer in being of service and helping where we can. I’m really proud of founding Kura Kai, a registered charity that helps feed rangatahi (young people) and their families through partnerships with high schools. It’s now five years old and run by an incredible team who continue to support whānau across Aotearoa — that’s something that deeply inspires me every day.

Q. What does the idea of “living beautifully” mean to you?

For me, living beautifully is about peace, contentment, and love. It’s having relationships that feel emotionally safe — built on trust, loyalty, and calm. It’s the laughter, the travel, and the shared experiences with friends and whānau that make life rich. Enjoying beautiful kai, slowing down, and being present with the people who matter most. As we move through different stages of life, our priorities and perspective shift — and that, too, is a beautiful part of the journey.