Retail Therapy: Go to a dark place

A creation by Bernhard Willhelm. Photo / Supplied

Go to a dark place
Children of Vision, General Cucumber and Jimmy D are joining forces to open a "guerilla sale store" for three days only, selling discounted samples, one-offs, as well as past and current season stock. The Dark Room will have daily drops from designers including A'N'D, Bernhard Willhelm, Romance was Born, Gary Bigeni, TV, Jimmy D and designers stocked at General Cucumber.com (including Cybele, Deadly Ponies, Deborah Sweeney, Jaeha, Lonely Hearts, Nom*D, Salasai and Zambesi). The store will be open from 10am on Friday July 17 through until Sunday July 19, at Shop 16, St. Kevin's Arcade, 179-183 Karangahape Rd. For more info, ph: (09) 379 8930 or visit www.childrenofvision.blogspot.com.

Heavy metal
Jewellery label Metal Couture Collection is now available in New Zealand, exclusively from The Tattooed Heart studio. The label, inspired by tattoo art, biomechanics and gothic architecture, features necklaces, rings and earrings made of precious and semi-precious metals and stones. The designer behind the label, William Llewellyn Griffiths, has created pieces for high-profile clients like Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, and has also collaborated with the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood. Prices for the jewellery start at $85, from The Tattooed Heart studio, 202 Karangahape Rd, Auckland, ph (09) 379 2662.

Birthday presents
The Body Shop is celebrating its 20th year in New Zealand by giving to its chosen charity, Children on the Edge. The charity, set up by Body Shop founder Dame Anita Roddick, initially to help Romanian orphans, now works with vulnerable children worldwide and the New Zealand end supports the forgotten children of Burma, many refugees living in Thailand. By buying one of these colourful charity purses next week, an extra $5 on top of the purchase price will be donated to the charity.

Tubal ligation
Operate on your split ends with the cunningly packaged Fudge Ends, a test tube containing conditioning creme that you can apply after straightening. The matching Gloss tube contains a serum to give a smooth, silky finish to dry, damaged hair. We like how easy they'd be to pack. $24 each from selected salons. For stockists, ph 0800 456 426.

Model mania
The obsession with catwalk celebrities is behind the launch of a new perfume called Elite. Named after the top international agency, this new fragrance is for girls who've moved on from cans of Impulse but still have to get out of bed for a lot less than $10,000 a day. Elite Model Attitude eau de parfum costs from $29.99 from Farmers. The relaunched Impulse is about a fifth of the price and the violet Romantic Spark doesn't smell too bad either.

Big girl you are beautiful
Gossip singer Beth Ditto has long been a favourite of the fashion scene, performing at Fendi parties, appearing on the cover of LOVE and being spotted front row at every fashion show worth being seen at. But it's always sat rather awkwardly seeing as she's plus-sized and most designers simply wouldn't consider making clothes in her size. But now the singer has teamed up with British chain store Evans to release a plus-sized fashion collection. Unfortunately for New Zealand girls it isn't available here, but if you want to look at the collection, visit www.bethdittoatevans.co.uk.

Alexa loves Karen
We've loved British It-girl Alexa Chung for a long time and now she's hit the big time, hosting a show for MTV in America, her fashion influence is getting even more serious. She loves her designer fashion: she's been seen wearing everything from Luella to Louis Vuitton to Lover, and now she is crushing on our own Karen Walker. Chung has been photographed twice wearing Walker's sunglasses, a Karen Walker owl ring, and more recently has been spotted on TV wearing a Karen Walker high-waisted denim skirt. This combination of Chung and Walker makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.