You might recognise someone on the Foureyes blog at the minute if you frequent The District. Emma-Jane, Pauanesia’s long-time manager wearing a brilliant combination of vintage paired with striking bright lips. Hello!
Personalities
As it says on their website Blue Dude really has been the ‘go-to’ place for swimwear in Auckland since 1975. An institution in The District, you are always sure to find the best swimsuits here and in my opinion the kind of ones that actually make you look good when near naked. With stock arriving all year long they are sure to be able to find you a winner of a suit for that mid May trip to Fiji or a suit for to perform a water ballet in to over 300 people (speaking from experience!).
John started Blue Dude in ’72 and his daughter, Salene, was recruited to help out with the social media end of the business, see their Facebook page here. Blue Dude resides at 6 Durham st East, lying between Queen St and High St.
Here’s a few Q’s and A’s with our local swimwear specialists!
How long have you been in business here in the District?
John: I started Blue Dude in 1972 and we moved into Queen Street, around High St in 75.
What should we be wearing on the beach this summer?
What we are seeing in the moment in the shop this season includes many beautiful bright colours! There is a huge amount of orange/coral, bright purple and mint green. There are lots of clean stripes and brazilian style bikinis with lettuce edging. There is also a trend growing in terms of busy aztec prints, in deep reds, browns, oranges.
Your favorite spot in the city?
Salene: I’ve grown up spending the majority of my time in the triangle formed by Blue Dude in Durham Street East, Mezze Bar and my other longterm workplace, the unbelievable Tango, both in Little High St.
Best beach in Auckland?
John’s pick would be Tawharanui, his closest favourite beach to Auckland. I would have to pick Onetangi for east, and Piha for west.
What would you grab if you’re house was on fire?
I’m afraid we would be attempting to haul John’s pride and joy, his family history cabinet, out the front door, from its fire safe position next to the exit!
Favourite sunday activity?
John would rather be away at the beach all day, having a surf. I would like to be away from work at Blue Dude, preferably, having a lazy lunch by the beach on Waiheke, or going on a cafe hop with my best friend.
What would you be doing if you weren’t designing and operating Blue Dude?
John: I would be gardening, fishing etc. But probably inventing/designing something, holiday homes perhaps?
Salene: I would probably be spending more time on my own university study haha!
If you could get anyone to model your swimwear who would it be?
Although we don’t have one brand of our own to be modeled per say, the dreaaam would be our very favourites, the Knowles sisters.. Beyonce and Solange. The very coolest, most talented, most fantastic of all.
The most exotic place a Blue Dude swimsuit has graced the beach that you know of?
We couldn’t say any place in particular, but our winters are spent selling swimsuits to New Zealander’s traveling to exotic locations worldwide.
Favourite food in the district?
Salene: Again, I do spend an awful amount of time at Mezze Bar, drinking coffee, eating cake or feta, chilli and turkish bread.
Emma-Jane.
Manager of Pauanesia, 35 High St.
How long have you worked here in the District?
Five years, but I’ve been hanging around the district since I was a kid; I used to go to The Box and Deschlers (thought I was pretty cool with my sister’s ID… in my Principals halter-tops, I definitely was not).
The best place to buy lunch in the District?
Renkon – the katsu is the best, plus I can ring ahead and order so I actually get to finish it (world’s slowest eater).
And the best place to eat it?
The steps at Pauanesia! I still have a view of Freyberg Square but don’t have the wind blowing up my skirt, or ant attacks, or people instagramming their food around me.
What would you be doing if you weren’t managing Pauanesia?
Writing full time, or if I could do anything, choosing music for movies? But I would actually probably be doing more study, or up the duff. I’d be happy to be up the duff though.
Five facts about you if you please!
1. I have forty-four first cousins.
2. My favourite band is The Clash.
3. I almost never buy clothes that aren’t second(or more)-hand.
4. I frequently cry while watching Campbell Live.
5. I unequivocally support gay marriage.
Do you collect anything?
Crown Lynn tea cups, Kimono dressing gowns, and vintage fur coats (although I only have two; that’s a new one, and I kind of just call it a collection so I can keep buying them).
Whats your favorite thing that is stupid?
Animals dressed up as other animals? Although I don’t think that’s stupid at all, so maybe Emergency 111 and Road Cops? Or my friends who don’t care about politics or other people; they are the stupidest, but I love them anyway.
The best thing about summer?
Long evenings, Christmas, and wearing togs instead of undies.
What do you want for Christmas?
A donkey, a caravan (I’ve asked for these the last two Christmases, and nothing), books and a turntable.
How do you get to the District?
I walk (it’s two minutes from my apartment – one minute if I jaywalk and am wearing chucks).
Please draw a poster for your favourite movie.
The Black Fridays Black Ticket competition was redeemed last weekend… Grant and Nat Patterson said they had a fantastic time spending up large in High Street. “Everyone has been great to us, all the shops really getting into the spirit of it. We’ve had the best time.”
From a big breakfast at Rakinos where they were also given a bottle of wine, to spending vouchers at Ruby, Pauanesia, Jewellers Workshop and Smoove (where they made the purchase that won them the prize), to a gourmet pizza dinner at Cassette Nine and a beautiful room on the 26th floor at Metropolis residences… it was a High St day to remember.
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The High Street District, (encompassing O’Connell Street, Chancery, Vulcan and Durham Lanes) has a long and proud history as a wellspring for so much of New Zealand’s best modern creative culture.
Through the years, the district’s laneways and basements have played host to some of this country’s most notorious night spots while it’s streets have fostered many of our greatest designers.
Always a leader, the district’s pioneering attitude and entrepreneurial spirit can be traced from the building of the city’s first store in 1841 to the appearance of New Zealand fashion on the runways of the world.
Behind it promoting the District is the High Street Guild, founded by a collective of local business people passionate about the district. The High Street Guild was formed to ensure the area’s proud legacy lives on. Our aim is to encourage excellence, culture and community while attracting like-minded people to shop, work and play in the High Street District.
The High Street District Gazette is our window into the High Street world, where we celebrate our stories, our happenings, our characters and our style. Join us on our journey through New Zealand’s most fashionable district, High Street.
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