We caught up with Elle Pugh, Co-founder of fashion label Elle + Riley to see how she spends a day in her life. Elle + Riley was founded in 2016 by Elle Pugh and Yolande Ellis to change the landscape of luxury knitwear and deliver elegant, and carefully designed cashmere pieces, suitable for every season.

5.30-7.30AM My morning routine revolves around embracing the early hours with purpose. As a recent convert to becoming a morning person, I rise before the sun to kick start my day and head to the gym for a workout - either a weight session with my PT or a spin class to get the blood flowing. Afterward, my husband and I usually take our dog George for a walk.

8AM As I prepare for the day I select my cashmere looks that reflect my confidence and self expression, setting the stage for a productive and full day. At the moment my favourite is our Luxe Mock Neck in Butter - the perfect shade of yellow paired with a classic black trouser and a matching Cashmere Travel Wrap. I feel the cold so I always need layers on to add or remove throughout the day.

9AM Every day brings a new challenge as I navigate the diverse facets of my professional life. My mornings typically begin with a couple of focussed hours working from the comfort of my home where I clear emails, host meetings with offshore advisors and suppliers, and catch up on any urgent tasks.

11AM Today I’m visiting our beautiful stores. I always stop for  coffee at my local, before heading to Newmarket and Remuera to engage in training sessions with my team and serve customers in store.  I also pick up orders for clients that are to be hand delivered - I couldn’t get around Auckland in such comfort and style without the help from our partners at Winger Maserati. My Levante SUV is perfect for transporting stock, and is spacious enough to work as a mobile office.

Lunch time If I’m in Newmarket for lunch I’m either heading to the Candy Shop or &Sushi for a quick bite to eat. I usually take my laptop with me so I sit there for an extra hour to fire off any urgent emails or dive into creative tasks. We are currently working on our Spring/Summer collection so design feedback, reporting and forecasting is at the top of my list.

3PM Over a year ago I dropped caffeine out of my daily routine (I still drink decaf) and it has done wonders for my mental clarity! I can sometimes get really bogged down with a task and lose my train of thought, I find the best thing to do then is to get outside in fresh air for 5-10 minutes and reset or have some play time with my dog.

5PM If I’m home early enough I head out for another walk with my husband and our dog, it’s a nice way to connect  at the end of the day before preparing dinner - I’m a real foodie but during the week I keep it simple with meat and salad or vegetables.

8PM After dinner I usually sit down and watch an hour of tv with my husband then start getting ready for bed. I am very strict with my skincare routine so this takes a good amount of time each night. I’m in bed by 9pm (early I know), with a book (usually a crime fiction novel) and lights out before 10pm. I need at least 8 hours sleep to function so ensuring I achieve this is a big part of my self care routine.

To view the latest collection and to find out more about Elle + Riley, click here.

Elle + Riley
32 Osborne Street

www.elleandriley.com