Five New Wellington Boutiques To Visit This Summer – That Are As Chic as the Items Inside

Several new bricks-and-mortar boutiques have popped up around the capital in recent months, and each has its own aesthetic and personality, going beyond what you can buy inside. Rifle the racks, try on a fresh wardrobe addition or buy a gift for someone (or yourself) at these notable new stores in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara.

Stolen Girlfriends Club, Te Aro
With its rippling, foiled silver walls and industrial finishings, Stolen Girlfriend Club’s new Wellington store is kinda like a trendy space station. Or, as the label’s founder Marc Moore describes it, an “inverted disco ball”. It was designed in collaboration with architect Jun Tsujimoto of Jasmax and multidisciplinary studio ALT Group, who’ve created a three-stage experience for customers. The blacked-out exterior is like an exclusive nightclub with a 20-metre-long wall mostly shielding the metallic interior from outside view. Move through to the back of the space and you’ll be in pretty, pale-pink fitting rooms that aim to provide a luxurious and comfortable try-on experience. Shop the label’s eyewear on wavy, illuminated shelves, and edgy clothing pieces on the racks that wrap around the space. 98 Victoria Street.

Mimi, Newtown
Mia Breitenmoser’s sweet new boutique is a pastel-toned dream that she describes as “a smorgasbord of New Zealand-made”. Find it on Newtown’s Constable Street, about a 10-minute drive from central Te Aro. Having grown up in the area, Breitenmoser aims for her boutique to be filled with “handmade, colourful, unique things that are made consciously and carefully – and that people haven't seen in lots of places before”. Among the wavy mirrors and tiled countertops, find colourful custom glassware from Rotorua-based glassblower Heather Kremen, flower-shaped cushions by Wellington label Pillo, ribbony candlesticks by Naaytu and much more.
84 Constable Street.
Editor’s note: Mimi is closed from Saturday, December 24 until mid-to-late January – keep an eye on the store’s Instagram for updates.

Hej Hej, Te Aro
Hej Hej opened its Wellington store in September, giving the capital’s residents a chic destination to try its breezy linen pieces in-person. Designed by Wonder Group, the boutique centres on cheery, sorbet tones of lemon, pink, mint and orange. This reflects the love of colour shared by Hej Hej’s founders Alice Isles and Kiki Judd, seen across their ranges of linen dresses and separates. It’s just across the road from Stolen Girlfriends Club and is surrounded by many of Wellington’s best shops and eateries. Stop in for lunch at Chaat Street before or after your visit. 95 Victoria Street.

Standard Issue, Wellington Central
Sustainable knitwear label Standard Issue recently opened its first boutique in the capital, and it’s inside a well-known heritage landmark. Find it in the Old Bank Arcade, a serene and minimal store surrounded by the building’s famously high ceilings and ornate plasterwork.
Shop the company’s organic cotton, merino and cashmere pieces (there’s also linen in the mix – great for summer) and pick up a bite to eat at Smith the Grocer inside the arcade when you’re done. 233-237 Lambton Quay.

Coffee Outdoors, Te Aro

First things first: this is not a cafe. Tucked down a graffiti-covered alleyway just around the corner from Customs, it’s an independent, design-focused outdoor-gear shop. Owners Siobhan Oldale and Tom Cappleman aim to cater to a range of nature-lovers, from casual weekend strollers to more serious adventurers. Displayed on fluro green racks and custom wooden shelving, you’ll find products and garments such as puffer jackets by Montbell, cookware by Snow Peak and sleeping gear by Thermarest. It’s a good store to check out if you need to stock up on essentials for a summer camping trip – or a gift for the outdoorsy type. 8 Marion Street.