The Studio with Gigi Kingi

We recently sat down with Gigi Kingi from Honey Room to hear about her favourite Superette selects from our latest collection; The Studio.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Well, a little bit about me… ko Gigi ahau, ko Ngati awa toku iwi. I am a māma, a creative, a lover of adventure, nature, dressing up, dressing down and everything in between. I have always been passionate about fashion, beauty and women feeling great in the skin they’re in. In 2020 I opened my business ‘honeyroom’ a brow, lash and skin studio to draw on my many years experience in the makeup and cosmetic industry. My main drive was to create a space where women can feel beautiful, celebrated and like they’re taking a load off.

What does your day-to-day look like?

My day to day looks like, waking up and getting my body moving - either at the gym or a light jog followed by lunch box making and getting my kids ready for Kura. Then it’s my turn - getting myself ready with skincare, hair and dressing myself is my alone time (even if it’s rushed) it feels good to have a moment before a day full of chats and laughs with clients and my team.

How would you describe your approach to beauty & fashion?

I’ve admired people who can have a simple capsule wardrobe and rotate the same few items but after years of testing it I’ve realised it’s really not me. I just love what I love. I love colour & prints yet sometimes plain and sleek. My fashion sense in season and mood dependant and inspired by everything around me. What trumps everything for me over and over again though is quality. My Italian Nona and my Maori Koro both had their own flair for fashion and the importance of beautiful natural fibres as well as the way an item sits with our body has been familiar to since a wee one.

What does your studio look like — in work or in mindset?

When designing my studio ‘honeyroom’ I wanted something that felt light yet grounding. Often clients comment saying it looks and feel ethereal. I want the space to be a haven for people taking a break out of their busy schedule to come in, lie down and RELAX even if it’s only for a short time.

Describe your style in three words.

Feminine. Quality. Diverse.

What pieces are on high rotation in your wardrobe?

My lime green American apparel cardigan has been a favourite of late. I LOVE the colour and shape. My Superette black floor length trench coat which I can wear with basically anything - to sport over activewear or dressed up it’s been a great staple! I love my Agolde denim shorts with heels and have a few pairs of baggy longer shorts I love dressing up.

Where do you find inspiration — in fashion, people, or places?

I guess I mostly use social media for inspiration these days. I love watching fashion catwalks from European fashion weeks also. I take a lot inspiration from overseas but I love to wear local brands.

What’s a daily ritual you never skip?

To be honest, there’s nothing I never skip lol I wish I could say I have one but with our lifestyle needing to stay flexible due to many variables with my partners career nothing stays the same for long. The thing I try to be most consistent with is exercise and skincare though. I lapse on both often but they’re the two things that when I’ve been consistent with, I feel a million times better and am all around better for it.

Is there anything exciting coming up?

We a have a few exciting things in the pipeline but I can’t share details yet.