We know how much you love a genuine, personal recommendation - and what better recommendation is there than someone spending their own, hard-earned cash on that something special? Each month we look back on our bank statements to see what nice things, besides food, we’ve bought ourselves and enjoyed. Like these below!

Baobei ‘Love U’ pendant, $59

I’ve wanted to buy one of the glass beaded necklaces from this local brand for a while now. I still haven’t but did pick up this fun resin pink heart recently. Most of my jewellery is super fine and classic but I like that this - a huge pink heart with red knotted string - is slightly ridiculous. In a good way of course!

Katharine Hamnett raincoat, $240, from Singular Super Store 

I Iove seeing the new and exciting spaces from collectives of young creatives, showcasing the work of emerging designers and giving them a physical retail space to sell their work - it makes me feel happy about the future of our industry, outside of the traditional and heavily PR’d road to success. I’m thinking of spots like That Looks, Bizarre Bazaar and SabotageMFG; though I’m sure there are many more (please DM me to tell me!).

Sabotage is on Auckland’s Karangahape Road and while I’m still too intimidated to visit, I do follow their Instagram and peruse their online store a fair bit. I spotted this divine red raincoat from the iconic British designer Katharine Hamnett on a recent visit, and had to have it (all of my favourite things: practicality, the colour red and British design). It’s from a subsection of Sabotage, Singular Super Store, which focuses on vintage sourced by stylist Franca Chase. She has a great eye! 

Penny Sage scrunchie, $40

Ok, is everything I bought last month pink or red? This cotton scrunchie has also been on my list for ages, and I finally hit ‘purchase now’. It’s made from Penny Sage’s signature trippy floral print (I also have the red/blue/yellow colourway as a coat), and a nice colourful addition to my ever-growing scrunchie wardrobe.

Papa Clothing ‘Bubu’ dress, $390

I’ve been on a shopping bender of late, doing my best to keep the local economy afloat and making the most of having an office to go to for the first time in a long time (long may it last). I saw this dress by Papa Clothing backstage at our Ensemble Edit digital fashion show and gasped. I knew I had to have it. It’s the perfect style for me - sack-like, easy to wear with pockets, yet with a sexy little detail (a low V-back). Buying things online is always a little risky but the minute this arrived, I knew it would be perfect and it was. - Rebecca Wadey, Ensemble co-founder‍

Intex Giant Floating Mat, $99

I know this is a giant piece of imported plastic and I hate myself for that. But it’s hands down the best pool toy in the world. My children wrestle on it and do manus off it, I attempt yoga on it to various degrees of success, and when I’m home alone, it’s the best spot for a nap. - RW‍

Naked Sunday SPF50 Hydrating Glow Mist, $43‍

It was a hot sunny day and I wanted to sit outside to enjoy lunch in Ponsonby and this was a random (although somewhat indulgent!) purchase that allowed me to do that. But I love it! It’s so refreshing and smells delicious, and the SPF provides great protection in a light application that doesn’t interfere with your makeup. - RW‍

Ima Cuisine mezze platter home delivery ‍

I’ve been on a Middle Eastern bender since the very excellent Carmel opened a bricks and mortar store in handy Newton. This past week, my family has been isolating, so to celebrate my wedding anniversary and Ensemble winning best digital brand at the Webstar Magazine Awards (which happened to be on the same day), I treated my family to a delicious feast from Ima. It wasn’t cheap but it was very delicious and we now happily have a fridge stocked with pickled vegetables, baba ganoush, labneh and hummus. - RW‍

Parrot Tulip bulbs, $88 for 100‍

Last year, inspired by Luke Edward Hall's bucolic Instagram posts, I tried to grow some tulips in an indoor pot. After dutifully wintering the bulbs in the fridge, potting and watering them all I was left with was a festering vessel of rotten bulbs and bugs. 

This year, having confidently self-diagnosed improper drainage as the cause of my woes and buoyed by YouTube videos about 'Lasagne planting' I'm determined to right last season's wrongs. I'm scaling up production and taking over a whole planter box outside. I've been warned not to sink too much money into the endeavour to save myself from heartbreak when passerby's pick my crop. If we get to a pickable stage I'll be delighted. - Tyson Beckett, publishing co-ordinator‍

Ingrid Starnes ‘Cordelia’ shirt dress, $160 (on sale)

I'm on a real shirt dress kick at the moment. Well actually, I'm on a real buy a shirt thinking it's a dress, wear it to work, flash everyone on account of the super deep side seams and have to get my mum to sew them up for me kick. Luckily that debacle didn't erode my love of the easy wearing style and I've added a cream version from Ingrid Starnes into my collection. - TB