Retail therapy: Last chance

Lennox T-shirt. Photo / Babiche Martens.

Now is your last chance to get your hands on a piece of Laurie Foon, with the last-ever collection on sale in store now at Starfish. Both Starfish stores, in Wellington and Christchurch, have 50 per cent off Laurie Foon, Descendant Denim, Kowtow Tees, Standard Issue, Kathryn Wilson, Terra Plana Shoes, Nancy Bird bags and selected pairs of Veja Trainers.

VIPs only

Barkers are having a special VIP sale day tomorrow, offering a further 15 per cent off sale prices - plus a $20 voucher. There are discounts on Barkers and Little Brother, but only VIPs get the chance to get in first before the sale starts on Friday. To become a VIP, simply visit barkersonline.co.nz and sign up.

Reading rules

Reading is sexy, so up your sex appeal and support a good cause at the same time at the Variety Monster Book Fair. The annual book fair, which features rows and rows of glorious second-hand books as well as games, jigsaw puzzles, DVDs and CDs, begins on Thursday July 31 and runs until Sunday August 2 at the Alexandra Park Function Centre in Greenlane. On opening night there's a $10 entry fee, with free entry for the rest of the weekend. Funds raised will go towards Variety's Child Literacy Programme, which provides grants for books, computers and literacy aides to benefit children around the country. Variety Monster Book Fair, Alexandra Park, Thursday July 30 6pm-10pm, Friday July 31 8am-10pm. Free entry Saturday August 1 8am-5pm, Sunday August 2 8am-1pm. For more information visit variety.org.nz.

New and cute

Lennox is a T-Shirt range designed and printed in New Zealand, and the latest collection features a range of simple but cute designs and prints. The designer behind the label, Lisani Lennox, likes clean subtle lines and muted colour, with three standard tee shapes for men and women. Unfussy and simple, we like that. For more info or to buy a tee of your own, visit designlinecollections.com. Lennox T-Shirt (left), $65.

Back in town

Esprit childrenswear is now on sale in New Zealand, only at the revamped Takapuna Esprit store in Westfield Shore City. Saves a trip to Sydney for their skinny jeans and cool tops for girls and boys. The good news is spring is in store along with sale items too.

More for men

Real men do like skincare, if we're to judge by the growing range of products out there. L'Oreal has just expanded its Men Expert range with the Mineral Sensitive line for those with sensitive skin in the 25-50 age bracket. It's alcohol and colourant free and pH neutral and includes a wash, shave products and protective moisturiser. Nivea for Men has added to the nation's top-selling supermarket range, with Revitalising Q10 Gel, a light, absorbent version of the soothing moisturiser, already available as a cream. Lab Series has brought out new larger sizes of its Multi-Action Face Wash and Age Rescue Face Lotion. For the organically minded, hot on the heels of the launch of Trilogy's men's range, Pacifica Organics has a hydrating moisturiser, which was formerly only available for Air New Zealand Premium passengers but is now a retail release.

Helping hand

The Body Shop's latest charity fundraiser is to help safeguard children from exploitation. They're selling a Soft Hands, Kind Heart Hand Cream for $15, with money going towards the Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People campaign, run in partnership with global campaigner ECPAT, which in New Zealand has a profile for, among other things, speaking out on sex tourism and internet child pornography.