Retail therapy: Art investment

Over 400 artists from around the country will be selling their works at the annual Original Art Sale, Auckland's largest art market, this weekend. Held at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau, there will be more than 1400 artworks, priced from $100 to $5000, on display. It's a wonderful opportunity to invest in something original for your walls without breaking the budget. The event runs from Friday June 25 to Sunday June 27, with a charity event tomorrow night raising funds for the Kidz First Children's Hospital. For more info, go to theoriginalartsale.co.nz.

Lashings of talent

With a prize that includes a trip to New York and the opportunity to work back stage at Karen Walker's fashion show, it's no wonder the Newmarket Young Fashion Designer Award has received a record 72 entries. Now in its fourth year, the competition is open to those aged from 15 to 18. Thirty-five finalists will be chosen and have their work displayed at the Rialto Centre at the end of September. The public will be given the chance to vote, with the winner announced in mid-October. The winning designer will also receive a tuition grant towards studying at Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design, and a two-week design assistant internship with designer Vicki Taylor.

Happy birthday Superette

Auckland boutique Superette is turning 8 this weekend - and you get the presents. From Friday they are having a three-day celebration at their Newmarket and Ponsonby stores, with giveaways, prize draws and special treats. Each day there will be something special in store: on Friday there is an exclusive Stolen Girlfriends Club and Superette collaboration; spend $100 or more and you can get a limited edition SGC T-shirt for $30. Spend over $250 on Saturday and you'll get a Deadly Ponies travel wallet; and on Sunday there is a gift with every purchase. There will also be music, treats and vouchers from Mecca Cosmetica and Red Bull gifts throughout the weekend, as well as the official launch of the Deadly Ponies for Superette bag, with only a very select number of the bags being released for purchase from the Newmarket store.

Be quick

The pop-up shop of Australian label Sophie Boxer selling 100 per cent Mongolian cashmere is open for only a few more days. On offer is a range of delicate and fine cardigans, sweaters, gloves, scarves and throws in a number of colours and styles. And if you buy two items, you'll get a third garment (from selected stock) of equal value free. 10am-4pm, last day Saturday June 26: 4a Mamie St, Remuera, ph 021 304 919 or sophieboxer.com.

Get in the game

We love these cute little soccer ball rubbers from mall stationery store Smiggle. At $1.20 each and available in five colours, they're probably the cheapest item we've featured in Viva but, as every second school kid knows, Smiggle is the place to pick up affordable and useful items. Canny adults have also cottoned on to the charms of the Australian chain. Its brightly coloured storage containers look great on desks and the slimline pens are a stylish bargain.

Sunglass Hut is also in World Cup mode, with a line of Oakley limited edition Fuel Cell sunglasses, carrying the national flags of various participating nations, including New Zealand. The lightweight, high-performance sunglasses are just the thing for sporty spectators wanting to show their true colours.

Star quality

Former ballet dancer turned international makeup artist Michael Brown epitomises artistic flair and he's twirling up a storm in Auckland this week.

Lancome Australia's national makeup artist has popped over the Tasman for a series of customer workshops at Smith & Caughey's Queen St store, where he will impart tricks of the trade learned with working on the likes of Gisele Bundchen, Juliette Binoche and Margarita Missoni. A limited number of bookings are available with Brown who is in store from today until Saturday. A makeover session, including tips on how to accentuate your best features, costs $90, redeemable on product, ph (09) 916 0896.

Luxe facials

Starting tomorrow super premium skincare line La Prairie is offering facials in conjunction with Face Facts Beauty Therapy Clinic in Remuera. It's a first for New Zealand, with the Swiss-developed skincare range previously only available through top department stores.

The La Prairie Art of Beauty Facial costs upward of $200, but as a special introductory offer until the end of July, the indulgent facials will be 20 per cent off.