Queue proves popularity of annual 'girlie weekend'

Elaine Page couldn't resist getting her nails looked after by Linda Hoang from Professional Nail and Beauty while at the Women's Lifestyle Expo at the weekend. Photo / Andrew Warner

Women of all shapes and sizes flocked together to take part in one of the Bay's biggest ever "girlie weekends".

The Women's Lifestyle Expo attracted throngs of women, and a few men, keen to check out the latest in health, beauty and fashion from nearly 140 stalls at the ASB Arena on Saturday and Sunday.

The queue waiting at the door to get in to the event on Saturday morning was the longest in the Tauranga expo's history, general manager Renee Murray said.

"It was a huge queue. It was really good but we moved it on quickly so people didn't have to wait," she said.

Companies showcased goods ranging from jewellery and fashion to crafts, fitness, travel, art, beauty products, food and wine sampling, and more.

Ms Murray said the expo also offered something a little different this year.

"There's the usual things in the expo such as beauty and skin care but there's also different things like eco light bulbs and roller derby. These are things that are a bit different but that some women are still interested in. Not all women want beauty and fashion," she said.

"It's a great day to come out and pamper yourself and shop and have fun with friends."

Tauranga woman Elaine Page said she could not resist the chance to have a girlie weekend with friends and get her nails done.

Ms Page said she returned from overseas about a year ago and had been meaning to get her nails done since "but I've never quite gotten around to it".

"All of my colleagues said 'let's go and have a girlie weekend', so I thought 'why not?'."

After spending the day in the garden on Friday, Ms Page was keen for some TLC.

"I like it all. I love that you can come and pamper yourself and not worry about chores and jobs," she said.

"It's just nice to be able to do the things you don't get around to doing."