Zoe Walker Ahwa

Editorial Director at Ensemble Magazine

Style Editor at Stuff.co.nz

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Articles

Katey Mandy's botanical life in beauty

1 week ago | ensemblemagazine.co.nz | Zoe Walker Ahwa

Katey Mandy isn’t one for trends, though she’s seen plenty in her own journey. “These days I prefer rituals to trends,” says the founder of Raaie, who embodies the quintessential female founder look of glowing skin and a fabulous head of hair. She spent years living in London and New York working in account strategy and consulting for global heavyweights like ghd and Unilever Prestige Beauty (think Armani and Tom Ford Beauty).
You need a big snuggly sweater

2 weeks ago | ensemblemagazine.co.nz | Zoe Walker Ahwa

FashionIt's officially gremlin girl winter and all I want to wear are big, snuggly sweaters. The kind that feels like a hug and makes you look like you know how to make soup from scratch (I don’t). They're my new working from home uniform; the comfort of pyjamas, with more dignity.
Reference Points: The making of Jimmy D

3 weeks ago | ensemblemagazine.co.nz | Zoe Walker Ahwa

When I first started planning this new fashion column – asking interesting people for five style references that have helped define their wardrobe, work and style perspective – a few names immediately came to mind. People who I knew would have lists that were generous, educational and a combo of fashion nerd, art obsession and pop culture junkie.
This new portrait series celebrates African creatives in Tāmaki

1 month ago | ensemblemagazine.co.nz | Zoe Walker Ahwa

This is some text inside of a div block. This is some text inside of a div block. This is some text inside of a div block. - This is some text inside of a div block. This is some text inside of a div block. - This is some text inside of a div block. This is some text inside of a div block. PeopleStill Here: Celebrating our Local African Talent of Tāmaki is a new photographic series honouring the vibrance, creativity and continued presence of Black and African communities in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Reference Points: Inside the (re)making of Sylvester

1 month ago | ensemblemagazine.co.nz | Zoe Walker Ahwa

In an age of algorithm-driven macro trends that flatten personal style until everything starts to look the same, how do you develop a point of view that’s truly your own? For most of the genuinely stylish people I’ve met, fashion isn’t about trends, or what’s on Instagram or TikTok. It’s often not even about the clothes. It’s about a rich mix of references and inspirations they interpret, and make entirely their own. References are the backbone of the fashion industry.
You need a zip-up hoodie, like Lorde and Addison Rae

1 month ago | ensemblemagazine.co.nz | Zoe Walker Ahwa

They’re everywhere, once you start looking. On pop stars working with conversation-starter stylists: Addison Rae in a hipstercore American Apparel-coded purple zip-up (styled by Dara for her Headphones On video), or Lorde in a minimalist grey version adorned with brooches (styled by Taylor McNeill). On Romy Mars, daughter of Sofia Coppola, in her charmingly bratty TikToks. On the streets of Tāmaki Makaurau, worn by cool young things with low-slung jeans.
Thank god Air NZ has finally updated its uniforms

2 months ago | ensemblemagazine.co.nz | Zoe Walker Ahwa

This story was originally published on our Substack for paid subscribers. Read the full story, and help secure the future of Ensemble, by becoming a paid subscriber for $7 a month or $75 a year. In March 2023 I wrote an opinion piece bluntly declaring, “It’s time for Air NZ to update its uniforms”. Two months later, the airline announced exactly that: after 12 years, they were looking for a new designer to give it an update.
You need… a zesty dress

2 months ago | ensemblemagazine.co.nz | Zoe Walker Ahwa

A few weeks ago we popped into Kowtow’s Newmarket store, where Rebecca and I gravitated towards two dresses that really summed up our individual vibes: me, A-line polka dots and her, a bright yellow “sack” (not an insult, she’d describe it and many of the dresses in her wardrobe that way). She loved it so much that she bought it on the spot, wore it out of the store and later packed it for her trip to Hawke’s Bay.
Rewind, repeat: 'Having it all, all, all' is a feminist archive on tape

Mar 23, 2025 | ensemblemagazine.co.nz | Zoe Walker Ahwa

A purple curtain sits in the middle of the main room of Gus Fisher Gallery Te Whare Toi o Gus Fisher, with vintage television sets on either side playing video works from nine iconic feminist artists. The curtain is the centre of Having it all, all, all, a powerful and entertaining exhibition exploring the activism and identity politics of Second Wave Feminism and its critiques.
You need… some sparkle in your life

Mar 8, 2025 | ensemblemagazine.co.nz | Zoe Walker Ahwa

The sparkling heart is my most-used emoji, I own Collina Strada’s rhinestone-covered water bottle and rhinestone collars for my two cats – but my actual wardrobe is entirely free of sequins, glitter or embellishment (I’m clearly more of a minimalist than I thought…). So when we hosted our Ensemble Presents screening of The Last Showgirl last month, I knew that our ‘razzle dazzle’ dress code would be near impossible.