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Does anyone know where I can buy a nice, wrap around lightweight robe in Auckland? Please don't say Rubens, I've recounted my recent experience with them in another thread! I got my winter one at Farmers but I need a lightweight one to take away with me. Any suggestions? Cheers Nicola

Sorry you had that bad experience - doesn't sound like Rubens usual way of doing things. I know there were several members who used to use them regularly at one time, but I think they did become a bit too expensive for many. You don't mind paying a higher price for something for a special occasion, but I wouldn't want to spend to much on a brunch coat, or summer robe.
Have you thought of going along to Spotlight, if there is one near you, and buying yourself some nice summer print and then taking it along to one of the many Indian or Thai Tailors or seamstresses who are popping up all over the place in and around Auckland now.
I am sure that they could run you up something plain, practical and pretty , in no time at all, and you should be able find the fabric at sale price at this time of the year as well. That is of course if you are living somewhere reasonably populated where you will find there are plenty of these people working from their homes. Most of them do not even require a pattern, so all you need to buy is twice the length you need your robe, to be plus about extra for sleeves if you want sleeves. I personally can't be bothered with lots of fiddly buttons to do up, so I just have mine as a loose pull- over style, like a shift dress, with splits up each side . My favourite one is in seer sucker, which never needs to see an iron.

My three recent ~ over two years ~ lightweight robes have come from Sussan. Surprisingly, perhaps. But they are beautiful. The first was a fullweight cotton in a mid (granny smith apple) green with small floral in red/blue and bue piping. The next a lightweight black with a self spot and a soft black lace around the hem and sleeves with a pink satin piping trim. The last a lightweight cotton in very pretty red and black print, ~ wee red roses and white dots.
All of these were a classic robe with no buttons, a tie belt and fell just below the knee. In their original design the Large would have fitted say, a 14, with a decent amount of fabric needed for the wrapover. But with buttons an extra two or so sizes could be eeked out.
BUT Suse doesn't do tie belt robes. So all three went off to my favourite Vietnamese alterations ladies ~ never to the extortionate alterations places in the malls ~ for buttonholes. Then I ~ not they ~ attached buttons.
I have loved these robes ~ for I still call them this. "Housecoats" sound too drab for their beauty. I now have all three, each with loads of wear left. Three is very adequate but no doubt I will fall in love with another colourway at Sussan next summer.
All up these have cost $60 at most, though usually around $40 on sale. Not cheap as chips, but for me well worth the cost.

I should say that I do this de-robing/buttoning of winterweight dressing gowns as well. I found a gorgeous plush ~ but wrapover so, for me, hateful ~ robe last winter. So off it went to my alterations darling with some matching buttons. I denuded it of the side loops for the belt ... and now it is a lovely gown with five ~ always an uneven number of ~ buttons.