Retail Therapy: Quick and easy gift

3 Wise Men cufflinks, $60. Photo / Supplied

Father's Day is approaching fast. If you're still on the lookout for a quick and easy gift, try 3 Wise Men's wide range of cufflinks - including this quirky pirate skull pair. Each pair is $60 each.

Order Little Brother

The new Little Brother collection will arrive in Barkers stores later this month, but in the meantime you can pre-order pieces from barkersonline.co.nz. Prices start from $69.90 for a T-shirt, with shirts at around $119.90 and trousers around $149.90.

Vote for fashion

The voting for the Westpac Young Fashion Designer 2010 Awards is still open until September 5. There are 10 talented young designers vying for $5000 from Westpac to go towards furthering their fashion career, mentoring from a New Zealand fashion designer for a year and business banking advice from Westpac for a year. The three designers with the most public votes will be selected as finalists and get to showcase their garments on the runway as part of the Westpac Red Collection show at New Zealand Fashion Week. Voting is open at their Facebook fan page at facebook.com.

Win with Viva

If you fancy yourself as bit of a Gordon Gekko type (a la Wall Street), then get yourself to Barkers and make the most of their special Wall Street promotion which includes buying a tailored suit, a shirt, tie and extra pair of trousers for just $499. Plus, every package bought puts you in the draw to win a trip to New York. There are four new suit styles in stock, see them at barkersonline.co.nz. If you want to be one of the very first to see Wall Street, we have four double passes to an exclusive Barkers preview screening on Monday, September 20. To enter, write your name address and phone number on the back of an envelope and send it to Barkers Competition, Viva, NZ Herald, PO Box 3290, Auckland. Entries close September 8.

Time for a clean out

The Starship Spring Clean is a cute way to raise money to help build the Level 6 Neurological and Medical Specialty Wards at Starship Children's Hospital. All you have to do is clean out your cupboards and sell your unwanted things on Trade Me and pledge all or some of the sale proceeds to the charity. Now that's the perfect motivation to sort out all that stuff that's been sitting around. Go to Trade Me.co.nz.

Tip top track-record

Paul Serville has friends in very high places. How many former prime ministers open hairdressing salons, particularly when their day job these days is No.3 at the United Nations? But Helen Clark was happy to do the honours at the official opening of the new Servilles Academy and head office in Auckland last week. Serville has quietly cut Clark's hair for years and coped with the comments, given her habit of chopping her own fringe when she didn't have time to come into the salon. Servilles this year won an industry award as best Australasian educational organisation and has turned out hundreds of graduates. Its new inner-city facilities provide more scope for the business, and despite having 40 years in the industry under his belt, Serville is showing no signs of slowing down. On the contrary, his team are currently working on New Zealand's Next Top Model and planning their Fashion Week shows.

Beat the bills

Tucked into the new Servilles premises at 131 Queen St is an academy salon on level 4. This well-kept secret operates as a commercial salon in the heart of the CBD, where the public can book in for affordable services provided by a skilled graduate student. A men's cut and style costs $25. Best to book, ph (09) 308 0670, if you want to beat the bargain hunters.

More for men

East Day Spa has introduced East Man, a dedicated menu of treatments for its growing number of male clients. "Although women remain the core of spa clientele, more and more men are frequenting day spas and are looking for results-focused treatments to reap both the rejuvenating and cosmetic benefits," says spa managing director, Ina Bajaj. Men now make up a high 30 per cent of the clientele across East's four spas in Auckland, Wellington, Melbourne and Bali, with attendance growing steadily each year. Other big spas also offer men's menus and report that relaxation massage is the most popular service, especially with travelling businessmen. Personal grooming bookings are on the rise, with an increasing interest in facials and manicures.

East's new men's menu, which is offered in addition to access to waxing and tinting services and treatments on the regular spa menu, comprises nine specially developed options, including sports style and Thai and Balinese massages, a grooming facial and the "Balinese bacial", a treatment to relieve muscle tension in the back and shoulders combined with a deep cleanse and deep-heat experience. See eastdayspa.com.

Claws out

Best be off with a hiss and a roar to your nearest M.A.C counter if you want to secure any of its Fabulous Felines collection next week. The new range, inspired by pedigree pussies, is on sale from Monday and like most of the brand's limited edition offerings, isn't likely to last long. Regular Viva readers will remember we featured a piece on the pulling together of the collection a month or so back. Key items include three new eye quads at $105 each, new lip colours and the Super Slick Liquid Eyeliner, essential for making cat's eyes. It's precise, water-resistant and super shiny, and comes in nine colours for $42 each.

Step by step

Auckland company Primal Earth makes men's skincare from natural ingredients at entry-level prices. You can find their range in supermarkets. We like the Skin Essential pack ($34.99) which comprises Wash, Shave and Protect products for an easy three-step introduction to a basic skincare regime.

Raid the wardrobes

The Couture Car Boot Sale is happening again, in Auckland tomorrow night at the Team McMillan BMW in Newmarket. The event, which benefits the Liggins Institute, features a range of new local and international clothing donated from brands and stores like Trelise Cooper, Zambesi, Liz Mitchell, EGG Maternity, Workshop, Helen Cherry, Browns, Pearl, Muse, Briarwood, Alannah Hill and more. All will be available to buy on the night at incredible prices, alongside pre-loved designer items donated by various fashionable women. Think of it as a high-end garage sale. There will also be a silent auction with items from BMW, Elizabeth Arden, Rawlence & Horton stationery and more. There are two ticket types to the event: a VIP ticket for $55, with access from 6pm; and a standard ticket for $30 with access from 7pm. Each ticket includes a glass of Nicolas Feuillatte champagne and canapes on arrival. Get your ticket now from friendsofliggins.org.nz.

VIP Viva competition

The latest accessory for the car is, of course, the TomTom GO950 GPS device. It's packed with all the best features including the new Advanced Lane Guidance, IQ Routes (which plans the fastest route, whatever the time of day), Map Share (TomTom users all participate in keeping maps up-to-date by making the changes and uploading them) and the Latest Map Guarantee - ensuring all new TomTom users get the latest GeoSmart map of New Zealand. It also comes with maps of 45 countries so you can take it travelling with you. Plus you can load different voices on it - choose from the likes of Kim Cattrall, John Cleese, Billy Connolly and Snoop Dogg! Valued at $849, Viva is thrilled to have a GO950 to give away to one lucky reader. To go in the draw, simply write your name address and phone number on the back of an envelope and send it to Tom Tom GO950 Competition, Viva, NZ Herald, PO Box 3290, Auckland. Entries close September 8. Winner announced September 15.