Retail therapy: WOW, that's incredible

The Brancott Estate World of Wearable Art Awards will be held in Wellington. The two-hour show will be a spectacle which fuses art and fashion. Photo / Supplied

Tickets are now on sale for one of the most spectacular events of the year - the Brancott Estate World of Wearable Art Awards in Wellington. Bringing together art and fashion, this two-hour show is a must-see and if you've never been you don't know what you're missing out on. Entries come from all over the world for a night of magic and amazement. With incredible sets, music, lighting and dance it's a fashion show like no other. And this year will include a celebration of Kiwi icons and feature the Royal New Zealand Ballet. The event runs from August 25 to September 10.

Shop to help

Local label Sherie Muijs has launched an online store with select pieces from her winter collection available - including our favourite, this fuchsia waterproof raincoat ($655). Designer Sherie Rai will give $20 from each online purchase to one of her most loyal retailers, Christchurch boutique Victoria Black, who have been closed for business due to the earthquake earlier this year.

Jetset jet sets

Grey Lynn boutique Jetsetbohemian is expanding again, opening a new store this week just around the corner from the original. The new store will continue to stock vintage pieces alongside the store's own Jetsetbohemian line, while the original store will stock more one-off vintage pieces. Find the new store at 551 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland, ph (09) 378 9100.

Last name only

Designer Hussein Chalayan is dropping the first name from his label, which will now be known as Chalayan. Er, why? He told Women's Wear Daily, "Now people can focus on one word. On a graphic level, it's much clearer and easier to remember."

Frosty fashion

The comfy Kathmandu puffer jacket has travelled far, with Katie Holmes recently spotted giving it an outing. Even celebrities need to cover up sometimes, but we think the New Zealand company's longline duck down jacket would be best sideline at the sports ground or worn on wintry weekends. The windproof jacket comes in black and silver and costs $599.98.

Southern spirit

Christchurch department store Ballantynes, which is out of action in the earthquake-hit CBD red zone until at least late October, is doing everything it can to keep its customers. It has been putting on "girls day out" buses to take shoppers the two hours south to its Timaru store, and last week it held a massive stock clearance at the CSB Canterbury Arena. By using its email database it was able to hold its much anticipated winter sale, but for many Cantabrians, until Ballies reopens its City Mall store, it will be hard to believe inner-city shopping can be saved.

Fashionable time waster

If you want to kill half an hour then this is for you: online luxury fashion retailer Net-a-Porter.com has launched Net-a-Porter Live, which offers a global snapshot of who is buying what, and where. The real-time, interactive experience flashes up what customers around the world are buying, adding to their wish lists and sharing with friends - inspired by the screens at the Net-a-Porter offices which show purchases as they happen. It's surprisingly addictive, watching as someone from Las Vegas buys a Marc by Marc Jacobs Jumble-embossed iPad sleeve, another from Saudi Arabia goes for a Michael Kors cotton top and someone from Bondi, Australia, buys an Alexander Wang bag.

Huffer's vodka

Huffer's latest creative and corporate collaboration is with Absolut Vodka, the two teaming up to release a limited edition Absolut NZ giftpack designed by the fashion brand. The bottle features a silver map of New Zealand made up of Huffer's three-dot logo, and is the first-ever New Zealand limited-edition giftpack. 1L is $54.99, and available from leading liquor outlets.

The two have also created a special Absolut Huffer cocktail, made up of 30ml Absolut Original, 20ml Kahlua, 30ml freshly brewed espresso, 15ml maple syrup and a dash of Fee Brothers bitters. Stir ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with three white chocolate buttons - arranged in the shape of the Huffer symbol.