Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: 2021 Wrapped

ଘ(੭˃ᴗ˂)੭ [ WEBDINGS ] ଘ(*. .)

Damn last year sucked. The Angel’s Rhapsody was created, more Covid came, it was a year of W’s and L’s, redemption and exile.

But we’ve learnt that there are always two sides to a coin, and if you spin it around fast enough it all blurs into one and you can’t tell the difference!

We have emerged from our extended sabbatical and have done lots of research on life, love, loss, mental illness, pain, health and wellbeing, how to write a thesis, and oral retinoids.

Love and jokes aside, 2021 was a great year for ART<>CULTURE<>FASHION, and most importantly, it was the year that our new best friend The Art Paper was conceived ♥

ଘ(੭˃ᴗ˂)੭ A Year in Review….. ଘ(*. .)

⭑•̩̩͙⊱••••✩••••̩̩͙⊰•⭑

It was a big year for artist turned musical superstar Emmanuelle, with multiple music videos with thousands of views! (We knew him before he was famous BTW)
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Lockdown; We started well, not to incriminate anyone but let's just say that as soon as we were allowed outdoor chills and a few beverages were consumed… It was all over. Anyway, whatever. It was so long ago, it was a dark, dark time, let’s just forget about it!
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So many art shows! We actually don’t remember our favourite because we got too drunk but great work guys. Our personal non-biased faves; Nayan Patel at Parasite, Meg Porteous Stars at Micheal Lett, Selena Gerzic, Euphoric Recall at Neo Gracie, Ali Senescall The World is Yours at satchiandsatchiandsatchi, Shiraz Sadikeen, Securicraft at Coastal Signs (sorry if we missed anyone it’s actually really hard to remember these sorts of things - we were also really drunk). The biggest art drama that kept on giving post 2020 was the show that will not be named. You know what we’re talking about!
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Many parties were held, many friendships were made, many enemies revealed. Most memorable party award goes to former girlboss-of-the-month Eleanor Woodhouse, a totally insane night, so many people got injured, it was a night to remember! If you’re gonna measure parties by casualties, Miss Woodhouse takes the crown!
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Sabotage MFG and NVV opened. Finally there are stores in Auckland where we can buy fingerless gloves and crocheted bikini’s < 3 We’re saving up ATM for a staple item. Great to see young people rising, grinding and taking over NZ fashion one Krd building at a time!
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Everyone. Broke. Up. It’s a cyclical thing, every year when Spring is around the corner something major happens to the brain. It’s a circadian rhythm, the call of mating season which leads to an extremely eventful next few months! R.I.P to all the couples we lost, being single in Auckland is looking a lot better than it was this time last year though, maybe it’s time for us to make an updated eligible Bachelor/Bachelorette list!
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It was a great year for all of our chaotic and sexy young Auckland writers who are taking over the Auckland literary scene! Highlights and beautiful intellectual stars Millie Dow, Connie Brown, Beth Clemens, Becky Hemus and The Angel’s Rhapsody - the new “alt-lit” is on the rise! Sam Te Kani releases his first novel Please, Call Me Jesus, while we don’t support Satanic imagery we love Sam. Buy it at Time Out!
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Former girlboss-of-the-month Daniel Sanders becomes curator of Artspace Aotearoa, major win, Daniel is fully endorsed and loved forever by The Angel’s Rhapsody!
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New Years Eve: Seems like we all had a super time, really proud of everyone for pulling it together and peacing it for the New Year!

˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ Most Memorable Fashion Moments ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗

Ode to the ballet flat: ballet/indie came back in a big way and with it followed the most fucked blisters of 2021. You know your girl’s hopped on the ballet flats when her feet are covered in corns, blisters and plasters. The ballet flat takes the award for the most debilitating trend of 2021, accessorising with a bloody plaster is indie chic though!

☆.。.:・°☆.。.:・°☆
Ribbed Singlets: Calvin Klein, Cotton On Body, K-Mart, H&M the ribbed singlet is the staple for summer. Not only is she accessible r, comes in a variety of colours and length, the ribbed singlet can be paired with anything, jeans, skirts, shorts… The list goes on. The ribbed singlet has carried us all through summer, stopping us from having noticeable disgusting sweat stains on our T-Shirts.
☆.。.:・°☆.。.:・°☆
Athleisure: The athleisure/preppy combination had a major comeback this summer. Adidas shorts paired with a biz shirt, lycra leggings with a cute little top, sweatpants and singlet…This trend may seem practical but also sends out the signal that you’re fit, sexy and smart, you feel?
☆.。.:・°☆.。.:・°☆
Return of the Sneel: We all definitely ripped on the sneel, but the internet did its work and they’re back, slowly but surely we’re seeing all of our baddie friends posting the Nike sneels or the iconic Isabelle Marrants… You pair it with a dress, jeans, skirt, it’s sexy either way. Sneels make your legs look way longer without the admin of getting a permanent foot injury through high heels. Epic moment.
☆.。.:・°☆.。.:・°☆
Huge Handbags: Massive moment, great for those of us who are carrying around a pharmacy, skincare and makeup cabinets, headphones, diaries and our whole wardrobes around with us. It’s giving I just got back from my boyfriends and I’m carrying all my shit back with me. The hardest part is actually finding one but we believe in all of you and send you good luck and tidings in your search.
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Fast Fashion: We know that it's cool and trending to try and be ethical and sustainable, but not everyone can or wants to drop $500 on a Paris Georgia T-Shirt. Retailers such as H&M, Glassons and Cotton On Body have straight up been pulling through this summer. Cheap bikinis, singlets, underwear and shorts are the main staples you should be searching for at fast fashion retailers. Everything is permitted if you can justify it!

¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸ 🎀 𝒱𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓈 𝒟𝒶𝓎 𝒢𝒾𝒻𝓉 𝒢𝓊𝒾𝒹𝑒 🎀 ¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸

With Valentine's Day steadily approaching we thought we’d give you all some ideas for those of you struggling to find something to do for your special someone <3

Dinner date at Papas Italian Eatery in Sandringham; So cute, Italian is just romantic AF, great excuse to get dressed up and not have to bump into anyone you know! Pro Tip: STAY AWAY FROM KRD FOR A VALENTINES DATE
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Flowers, obviously. They’re so timeless and they’ll make your beloved’s room smell amazing <3
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Perfume. Get an exchange voucher for this one though. And find out if she has a Mecca beauty loop and put it on her account!
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Little soft toys such as bears, cats, anything cute and small! Angel 2 personally loves a little soft toy to put up on a shelf, it’s cliché and so romantic.
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Handmade card or a love letter in cursive, depending on your skillset. Anything handwritten and from the heart is extremely beautiful (and it’s free)
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If you’re still in the courting phase, create a mixtape. It’s sentimental but demure. Safe. Also a genuinely nice way to get to know someone.
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If you’re in neither relationship nor courting phase but just have a crush, send anonymous flowers. You literally can’t go wrong. There is nothing more romantic, BOYS we can’t emphasise this one enough - Angel 1 loves this kind of thing.
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Chocolates. Heart shaped.
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Gift of life (getting pregnant)
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Candles or natural bath-related products. Anything scented with lavender, musk.
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If you don’t have a romantic/sexual interest pick the next closest thing and make someone's day!

**☆ The Angel’s Rhapsody January/February Agenda ☆

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Nayan Patels new gallery Freedoom Freedoom Freedoom opened on the 28th of January with its inaugural show by Jingcheng Zhao, High Sun Summer Nap. We loved it! Great afterparty too!
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Obviously the top of our list is our play The People V The Angel’s Rhapsody, which will be performed for one night only on the 26th of February! We’re clearly mad biased but it’s going to be excellent and so funny so come and see it!
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Our Manic Pixie Dreamgirl of the month August Ward’s show Transvestite Paintings at mysterious new gallery Lover Lover Lover on the 11th of February. This new gallery is shrouded with mystery, we’re not really sure what to expect but knowing August it’s going to be sexy and dramatic. Love!
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Coastal Signs is starting up the year with Taylor Wagstaff (mfa, phd, ppa, nft) Smooth Signs opening on the 10th of February. It’s been a big month for Taylor, lots of beautiful girls writing things about him and featuring him in their publications, being the centre of attention irl. Go Taylor!

𝒜𝒩𝒢𝐸𝐿 𝒫𝑅𝐸𝒟𝐼𝒞𝒯𝐼𝒪𝒩𝒮 𝒜𝐹𝐹𝐼𝑅𝑀𝒜𝒯𝐼𝒪𝒩𝒮 & 𝑅𝐸𝒮𝒪𝐿𝒰𝒯𝐼𝒪𝒩𝒮

It’s a good time to cement your resolutions. Everyone is on fire right now. Fortune favours the bold, there's no time like the present, forgive but never forget, better to have loved and lost, etc, etc. Relinquish your egos to creative fervour and good times. Everyone is getting really wasted and being really nice to each other… Good omen or a warning for things to come? Our take is that February is gonna get messy! The humidity is off the charts disgusting, and we all know that humidity brings plague, pestilence and famine. Stay safe out there! < 3
Until next time,
Angel 1 & 2

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