Retail therapy: Tools of the trade

The O gift set. Photo / Supplied

Cloud Nine has a great Christmas deal on its groundbreaking The O induction pod for heated rollers, with a set costing $485 instead of nearly $600. The O heats rollers in seconds and allows you to shape glamorous curls or smoothed voluminous looks.

The Cloud Nine Gift of Christmas Volume set includes the pod, 12 rollers, a sectioning comb and a case.

Or there's the Gift of Christmas Straight set, containing both a full-sized temperature-controlled Cloud Nine iron and a micro iron in a case for $390 instead of $470. For salon stockists ph 0800 252 530.

Art + Fashion

Artspace is bringing together the world of art and fashion with a range of T-shirts featuring original commissions by contemporary local artists John Reynolds, Michael Harrison and Sean Kerr. Sales of the tees will raise funds for the gallery and charitable trust, with profits going into artists' projects. T-shirts are $65 for adults and $49 for children and are available from Artspace at Level 1, 300 Karangahape Rd, Newton, ph (09) 303 4965.

Designs on it

"Your tools can be your jewels," says Dutch industrial designer Marcel Wenders who has moved from interiors to makeup in a collaboration with M.A.C cosmetics. He was given free rein to come up with the packaging and concept for the Luxe 2010 collection and met M.A.C halfway with its signature black look, but then shaped the familiar into ingenious objects, turning brushes and compacts into shiny, sculptural pieces. "We don't want minimal, we want optimal," says the man behind the Moooi group and the Droog design collective, who has crafted everything from chandeliers to chairs and lighting to luggage.

For M.A.C he drew inspiration from his Dutch heritage, specifically Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, leading to the creation of a brush roll-come evening clutch with a jewelled clasp. Lipstick, lipglosses and mascaras echo enamel chess pieces and a faceted powder compact and solid perfume look like giant jet beads. The collection ranges in price from $40 for the mascara, through to $160 for the clutch, at M.A.C Chancery or through 0800 M.A.C SHOP for a limited time.

In the pink

We love the cheerful, bright packaging of The Aromatherapy Company's latest line, Viva La Colour. Brighten up any interior with these well-priced and generously sized diffusion sets, soaps and hand and body lotions which sell from $9.99 to $29.99. "We saw a gap in the market for bright, colourful home fragrance products to sit beside our existing ranges," says company founder Sarah Townsend. We agree, and like that there are eight fragrance lines to choose from, each boldly displayed. Find the range at Living & Giving, Acquisitions and Farmers stores.

Shoe slip

An item last week about Fluevogs shoes mistakenly listed the price as $395 instead of $369.

Ahead of the field

If the Boxing Day races are on your calendar, then best get sorted soon. First in, best bonnet! Natalie Chan's Parnell store caters for the racing crowd with everything from easy-to-wear clips and headbands to more elaborate fascinators and a range of silk dresses.

Chan, who is sponsoring this year's Viva Fashion in the Fields Millinery Award at Ellerslie, is also working long hours in the lead-up to the big day. Next week she'll be holding "by appointment" bookings from Monday to Thursday for women wanting individual attention.

Cards that care

Artist Tanja Jade (formerly known as Misery) has designed a set of cards featuring her distinctive characters for Children on the Edge, a charity started by The Body Shop founder Anita Roddick to help vulnerable Burmese refugees and migrant children living in Thailand. They come in packs of six for $8.50, with all profits going to the charity. The Body Shop is also stocking gift tags and selling mini bags of rice on behalf of Children on the Edge. Each hessian sack sold represents the gift of rice for either 50 ($10), 100 ($20) or 200 ($40) vulnerable, orphaned or unaccompanied children. It contains a 500g bag of Uncle Ben's Long Grain Rice and an tag explaining to the recipient how your gift to them has made a difference to the needy.

A warm welcome

New stores opened just in time for the Christmas rush include Angela Daniel Jewellery, inside St Lukes' mall, and Wallace Cotton in the space previously occupied by Nest at 10 Como St, Takapuna.

Party time

If the dreary work Christmas buffet, barbecue or booze-up doesn't do it for you, suggest the boss try something new this year. Parnell nail bar Verdo is hosting parties with a difference. Small groups can get together and leave with the added bonus of perfectly painted nails.

Shop til you drop

Want to start your Christmas shopping but put off by Christmas parking? Sylvia Park has launched an At Your Service campaign, with valet car parking and grooming. A first for a shopping centre in New Zealand, the minimum cost is $10, and cars return with a complimentary Ferrero Rocher chocolate and hot drink offer.

You can get your car washed while you shop too, with three "grooming" options that start at $36.50 and go up to $119 for a supreme groom.

Hot pink purchase

Za cosmetics has two value packs that come in reusable beauty bags in store now. The sets cost $39 each, with the Party Essentials pack valued at $61. It contains a full-sized lip gloss, mascara and an eyeshadow in a makeup bag. The second set features skincare valued at $58 in a handy travel bag. Parent company Shiseido also has a hot deal, with any suncare purchase entitling the buyer to a full-sized tote bag.

Art meets rugby

We can't say we're too excited about the Rugby World Cup, but the new official apparel range has piqued our interest. It features T-shirts and hoodies with seven quirky interpretations of the event from artist Dick Frizzell, including a Frizzell variant of the official logo, a bowl of oranges and our favourite, the Kia Kaha Kid. T-shirts start at $72, while hoodies are $144. And for art lovers, Frizzell's prints are also available as a limited edition boxed set of art prints; only 300 of these are being produced. Available from the RWC superstore at the Viaduct.