KEY POINTS:
At the M.A.C beauty counters this week you'll find the latest in the Icon series of colour collections. This time they're honouring va-va-voom movie star Raquel Welch, who's still a bombshell in her mid-60s. The limited-edition colours come complete with glam, signature tiger-print packaging. Grrr.
Designs to a T
Young actor Jaxin Hall, who is on our telly screens at present in Rude Awakenings, the new show about the perils of Ponsonby's gentrification, has many more roles in real life. He plays in a band and designs clothing. His label, Broken Heart Clothing Co, specialises in T-shirts featuring graphic design. Any fans interested in offerings by the young chap are best to check out his MySpace page: www.myspace.com/brokenheartclothingco
Have a heart
Those Valentines who want to splash out on some bling for their loved one but don't want to go down that old-fashioned diamond route, take note. First are the heart-shaped pendants from good old Karen Walker. And then, just arrived at Drop Dead Gorgeous boutique in Newmarket are two lovey-dovey offerings from contemporary French jewellery label Ginette NY, two pretty gold pendants inscribed with endearments.
Kids' stuff
New Zealand designer Miranda Brown, who specialises in organic clothing and artistic hand-dying - as well as sustainable business practices - is launching her own line of childrenswear. The mainly merino range, featuring stripes and cute graphics, will fit children aged 3-5. For stockists, go to www.mirandabrown.co.nz
He's the man
The latest edition of the Italian fashion industry magazine Collezioni, features positive reviews of several of this nation's street and menswear labels. The menswear special comes out four times a year and January's publication features two pages on New Zealand design by international fashion journalist Stefan Hottinger-Brehmer, one on the menswear at New Zealand Fashion Week and the other, a profile on local streetwear label Federation. Hottinger-Brehmer described Huffer as edgy and urban, Nom*D as neo-grunge, Zambesi menswear as concise, and Hailwood as going with an 80s feel. He seemed to like the guys at Federation most, saying the label results from "the nicest possible people making the nicest possible clothes". How sweet. He can come again.
Crystal clear
Have you ever complained that paying around $40 for a T-shirt was ridiculous? Then don't go looking at the couture customisation section of London Denim's website (www.londondenim.com) because you will see the denim customised by the label's creative director, as well as what is possibly one
of the most expensive T-shirts in the world. It features a cool-looking guitar made out of 2700 Swarovski crystals - and it will set you back only around $1860.
Fitting farewell
In London it's the end of an era. British label Jean Muir, established in the 1960s and known for its understated elegance, will close after the European summer season. With her pale skin, trademark dark bob and damson lippie, Muir always said she would rather be known as a dressmaker than a fashion designer and her motto was "evolution, not revolution". But after the designer died of cancer, aged 66, the minimalist label known as the Chanel of England has been on the decline. Muir was opposed to franchises and her husband, who took over the label, believed there was "a virtue in quitting while we are ahead and keeping her name untarnished".
