KEY POINTS:
It's difficult to find an organic shampoo that works as well as the multitude of more chemical conditioners and shampoos around. There are some good ones, but most are imported. Happily, Trilogy, a Wellington beauty company specialising in products made with certified organic rosehip oil, has come up
with its own hair care line. It has products to smooth frizzy hair, to revitalise and clarify tired locks and to nourish damaged and dry hair, and an enriching botanical masque for dry hair. They don't foam as much as chemical products, but they work just as well and as they come in environmentally friendly packaging, you can have beautiful hair and a good conscience.
RRP $24.90 for shampoos and conditioners and $29.90 for masque. Check www.trilogyproducts.com for stockists.
Sole music
Shoe addicts should get to Mei Mei, the Ponsonby boutique specialising in designer footwear. Its summer sale has already started, and it has taken between 20 and 40 per cent off summer stock to make way for the European winter stock arriving shortly. Get yourself a new pair of heels for the Christmas parties. Ph (09) 376 0201.
Bling for blokes ...
Fans of Stolen Girlfriend's Club clothing may like to investigate its jewellery collection. Chunky chain links, T-shirt-able slogans on pendants and images such as a miniature Eiffel Tower or a silver guitar pick make for an excellent line in fashionable but masculine style for the fellows and jewellery with a rock'n'roll tinge for the ladies. Pieces are made in New Zealand from silver, and cost from $165 to around $700. For stockists, see www.stolengirlfriendsclub.com
... and clothes too
The Marvel menswear store recently re-opened on Ponsonby Rd, and is once again stocking a range of great local labels for guys.
Skinny dipping
With all the options around these days, almost everyone who wanted to should have been able to find their perfect pair of skinny jeans. But for those who haven't, the Kate Sylvester stores will be stocking Superfine denim, the label favoured by the likes of Kate Moss and Scarlett Johansson.
Spreading out
Glamorpuss, the cute and small but perfectly formed cosmetics store in Nuffield St, Newmarket, is opening a shop-within-a-shop at the Farmers department store in Albany. In its own dedicated space, Glamorpuss will be selling hard-to-find beauty brands (none of which is tested on animals), including BECCA, blinc, Mario Badescu Skincare, DuWop and products from the delightfully named Rosebud Perfume Company.
Outer-edge style
The shoe we all love to hate - the Croc - is expanding its range at both ends of the aesthetic scale. That's the pretty and the pretty ugly. Nice-looking Crocs include the adorable Mary-Jane and ballet slipper-style shoes, as well as retro-inspired wedges and Jandals. Made in rubber and very comfortable, these are a fashionable, vegetarian-friendly footwear alternative.
At the other end of the scale, Crocs are lining their original beast with chunky sheepskin and calling it "Mammoth".
Then again, who are we to tell you you shouldn't wade around town in gigantic clouds of rubber and fluff?
To see the lot, check out the new Crocs specialist store at 142 Broadway in Newmarket, where they plan to have more than 180 styles of Croc available next year.
For mothers, with love
Forget the burlesque-style lingerie Bendon's been encouraging New Zealand women into lately. Its latest offerings are far more sensible. The underwear giant has a new collection called Motherlove for women who are nursing or expecting. The bras in this range have superior technology such as the Flexiwire, an underwire that is supportive without restricting growth, and the new night-nursing crop top, in which mums can get a comfortable night's sleep and still get up at 3am to breastfeed. For more information call 0800 BENDON or go to www.bendonmotherlove.com
Smell good, feel wonderful
Are you smelling charitable? You will be if you're perfumed with any item from the Jo Malone Red Rose collection. The perfumery is donating $10 from the sale of any Red Rose product to the Look Good, Feel Better fund. This is a charity that teaches patients undergoing cancer treatment beauty techniques to help them look and feel good through the rough ride towards better health. The donations will be made year-round. For more, ph (09) 309- 4418 or check www.jomalone.com.au. Jo Malone delivers nationwide.