Retail therapy

Time for T

When Penelope Rayner arrived from Britain four months ago, one of the first things she did was go shopping. She didn't find what she was looking for, so she created it herself - a store dedicated to T-shirts.

"There weren't any shops that did just T-shirts. They all combined with something else, mostly smoking paraphernalia. I wanted a shop that I would be happy about my daughter going into."

The result is Killa Tees, one of the city's hippest new clothing boutiques.

When you walk in, your eye immediately goes to the giant wall mural of K Rd with prostitutes, chopper bikes, low riders and a graveyard of famous faces - including Kurt Cobain, Bob Marley, Elvis and Tupac.

But be sure you pay equal attention to the T-shirts. There are men's and women's ranges, including the hip tokidoki brand. Killa Tees is the only Auckland stockist of the popular international label.

"Tokidoki T-shirts are refreshing in their simplicity," Rayner says. "I love the male cheeky themes, they cause attention and inspire guys to step out of the box ... the girls' range is thought-provoking, with beautiful Japanese girls sporting tattoos."

Killa Tees is at 539 Karangahape Rd, City, ph (09) 302 0193.

Right in touch

Clothing brand Untouched World has scored a fashion coup. American fashion guru Cameron Silver - named by Time as one of the 25 most influential people in world fashion - has joined the New Zealand label as creative adviser.

Silver fell in love with Untouched World's luxury casual wear last year when he was a guest at New Zealand Fashion Week and bought some of their garments to take home with him.

Now he's working with head designer Emily Drysdale as Untouched World develops a range for the Northern Hemisphere.

"Untouched World has great global potential to be the definitive modern luxury casual brand for the active and conscious globetrotter," says Silver, who owns the Decades vintage boutique in Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, where clients include such Hollywood heavyweights as Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Julia Roberts, Jada Pinkett Smith and Chloe Sevigny.

Star quality

If Tyra Banks hasn't turned you off the world of modelling, here's your chance to take a turn on the catwalk.

Next month, Cadbury Dream Model Search starts looking for New Zealand's next modelling star.

They will visit seven cities to find the 12 finalists who will compete in the July final. The competition is open to women aged 14 to 25.

The winner will have her career launched by Nova Models, Talent & Actors, and will be flown to Sydney to meet top modelling agency Vivien's Model Management for a test shoot with a leading fashion photographer.

The prize includes a $1000 Jeans West wardrobe, a $500 Schwarzkopf gift basket and a scholarship for travel with model placement agency Michael Hooker International.

Rising star Grace Hobson, 14, was discovered through the search last year. The South Auckland schoolgirl has worked on modelling assignments overseas and was the youngest on the runway at last year's Air New Zealand Fashion Week.

The winner will be announced on July 6. More information at www.nova-models.co.nz (see link below).