Retail Therapy: Kiwi conquest

Mid Century Designs. Photo / Supplied

Trelise Cooper has opened her first standalone store in Sydney and Kate Sylvester is doing the same next week. Cooper held an opening party in Queen St, Woollahra, last Wednesday, the same day Zambesi's Liz Findlay was in town to host her staff Christmas party. Sylvester's Paddington store officially opens on December 16. It's just a block up Oxford St from the fashion central Glenmore Rd corner, where you'll find Zambesi and World a short walk off the main drag.

Fashion's superheroes

The designer line-up for the 2010 Glassons Breast Cancer Research Trust T-shirt campaign has been announced. Lonely Hearts will join Karen Walker, Trelise Cooper, Zambesi, Cybele and Stolen Girlfriends Club, each of whom will design a special T-shirt based around the theme of "Become a Superhero" to help raise funds for the trust. The T-shirts, which will be available in Glassons stores from mid-January, will sell for $29.99, with $10 going towards the charity.

Cool designs

Set against the concrete walls of the old Aalto space at 8 Railway St in Newmarket, you'll find Mid Century Designs latest shipment of goodies - it's a modernist's dream. Ph (09) 522 85861 or visit www.midcenturydesign.co.nz

Wedding bells

Wallace Cotton has launched a wedding registry, just in time for the wedding season. With a range of bed linen, kitchen and bathroom linen and accessories, there's something for every taste and budget. It's easy to organise, by visiting one of the two Auckland stores, calling 0800 222 122 or emailing info@wallacecotton.co.nz. Gift registry cards are supplied to be included with wedding invitations, and guests are able to shop in store or by visiting the Wallace Cotton website.

Charity to a T

Eco-advocate and Starfish fashion designer Laurie Foon has teamed with Project Crimson, a charitable trust dedicated to protecting pohutukawa and rata trees in New Zealand. The pair have collaborated on a T-shirt that will raise funds for the charity, with profits going back into putting more trees into NZ soil. Called the Bloomer T-shirt, they retail for $55 and can be bought from the Starfish stores in Wellington and Christchurch, or through the Project Crimson website www.projectcrimson.org.nz.

Christmas countdown

Not long to go now until the 25th! 3WiseMen is counting down to Christmas with a special Smells like Christmas promotion. Visit www.smellslikechristmas.co.nz for special discounts on shirts, ties, cufflinks and more - the offer changes daily, so keep checking back on the website for more bargains.

Give rice

Children on the Edge, Uncle Ben's and The Body Shop have teamed up to offer The Gift of Rice this Christmas. Visit The Body Shop stores and purchase a bag of Uncle Ben's long grain rice, a symbol of a gift of food for a hungry child in need. Feed 100 children with a $20 bag, or 200 for $40. The perfect, conscientious gift for those hard-to-buy-for friends who already have everything.

Cover girl

Good news for local label Federation: its "Ryder" T-shirt from the summer collection features on the cover of the December issue of Nylon - worn by actress/recording artist Hilary Duff, who is starring in Gossip Girl in the United States.