KEY POINTS:
Sick of all those T-shirts with silly slogans? You could buy a fabric pen and make your own. Or you could go to Toy Kong, a tiny boutique tucked away in what feels like a cupboard under the stairs, beneath the Kate Sylvester store.
As well as importing
cult toys and figurines - the perfect birthday present for the person who has just about everything already - it also stocks T-shirts from San Francisco with graphics designed by the cartoon art-making, toy-designing co-operative Super7. Super cool for $50 each. Call 308-9888 or visit www.toykong.com for more.
Living dolls
As anyone who's seen photos of Japanese youth in full subcultural costume knows, Japanese street fashion can seem whacky. One aspect of this is the Gothic Lolita, in which young Asian girls dress in over-the-top French maid meets Alice in Wonderland meets Victorian porcelain doll outfits.
Yes, it looks strange, but it's also interesting in sociological terms, a youth movement for amateur anthropologists to explore - and not just because it looks so outrageous.
Which is why the Auckland Museum is putting on Loli-Pop, "a downtown Auckland view on Japanese street fashion" at the Tamaki Gallery. Until November 18 visitors will be able to explore the significance and effect of this pop culture phenomenon through photographs, models and life-size outfits.
Those red soles
In recent months a strange new disease has attacked soles everywhere. Whether a shoe cost $50 at a discounter or $500 at a boutique, there's been a proliferation of the red-painted shoe bottom. Why? Well, as foot fetishists - and devotees of now-defunct hit TV series Sex and the City - already know, a crimson-red sole on a beautifully made high heel can mean only one thing: it is the work of master shoemaker Christian Louboutin.
Until relatively recently that is. And it seems that now Louboutin has seen one fake red sole too many, because he's decided to trademark what he calls his signature look in the US.
Experts predict the case will have international repercussions.
Newest fashion
Some of the fanciest, freshest international fashion produce has arrived at local stores. Zambesi boutiques have the latest Costume National instore and at Myhart they have the new season's Elke Krammer jewellery and sunglasses by Henrik Vibskov.
Clean green flame
Greenies tell us soy burns cleaner, longer and emits less soot than the average paraffin-based candle. It's also made from a renewable resource, the soy bean, rather than crude oil, which is where paraffin comes from. If you want to trade in your paraffin candles for some prettily scented soy ones, which also have lead-free, organic cotton wicks, go to the Dalston boutique at 49 Brown St, Grey Lynn.
Its newly arrived Pacifica candles come in nose-enticing flavours such as Mexican cocoa, Indian chai, French lilac, Tibetan mountain temple and Pacific red ginger. Prices $18 to $40 at Dalston, phone (09) 378-0578.
Smell like a celebrity
Quick, cover your noses. It's celebrity perfume wars. Kate Moss goes perky nose to plump lips with the likes of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and dear wee Kylie Minogue when she launches her signature scent. She's also competing with Sarah Jessica Parker and hip-hop star Sean "Diddy" Combs.
It was rumoured the top model would be going into the perfume business with Topshop, but the business backing her bid for our olfactory glands is Coty, the same company which got Jennifer Lopez into the biz. Moss' perfume went on sale in Europe last month, and early reports say the scent is "a mix of elegant and risque with smoky rose and black undertones and a vintage English feel". Apparently this reflects the good and naughty sides of her personality.
Only problem now is Moss' boyfriend, rocker Pete Doherty. Apparently perfume bosses are worried that the musician, looks like he doesn't smell very nice.
Shoe shine
Anyone who has wandered down High St in central Auckland has probably lusted after the shoes and bags designed by French accessories designer Pierre Hardy that sit so nicely in the windows of Ashley Ardrey boutique. The good news for those of us without budgets to match our desires is that Hardy has just signed to produce a collection of shoes for The Gap.
Judging by his track record - Hardy has also designed footwear for Balenciaga, Hermes and Christian Dior - these heels will sell out quicker than a Kate Moss dress in Topshop. New Zealand doesn't have Gap stores, but anyone who is in Gap branches in America or Britain towards the end of this year should look out for the Hardy line.
New-look hut
The Sunglass Hut in Newmarket is the first of the accessories chain stores to be redecorated in line with a more contemporary look. The popular retailer, which sells eyewear from labels such as Prada, Versace, Ray-Ban, and Dolce and Gabbana, is also forming a partnership with local fashion designer Cybele Wiren.
For the time being, we'll just see things such as sunnies on Wiren's runways, but who knows what the future will bring?
