A user's guide to fashion
Net returns
From pornographic T-shirts and punk credibility to Madame Pompadour dresses and the perfume counter, British designer Vivienne Westwood (left) has come a long way since she opened her first shop, Let It Rock, on London's King's Road in 1971. And now, from the woman who wore stockings - with nothing underneath - when received by Queen Elizabeth II, comes a collaboration with Austrian hosiery giant Wolford. Comprising a cardigan, short-sleeved shirt, string body, knee-highs and two pairs of tights, the collection subverts the traditional Scottish argyle in typical Westwood style: part net, part lace, they are worn reversed with visible threads wrapping and tangling around the body. Buy them from Vivienne Westwood (55 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay) and Wolford shops from September. Also in store: Westwood's trompe l'oeil Seduction Manual. Disguised to resemble an erotic journal, the box opens to reveal a slim, glass-roller pen, capped with the designer's signature orb, containing Boudoir eau de parfum; $310 from Seibu and Wing On locations.
Even Kiehl's Kiehl's, the 150-year-old pharmacy-turned-cult beauty brand, rarely launches new products, so when one hits the shelves it's worth taking notice. Creamy Eye Cream With Avocado Oil, the latest addition to the range, uses the fatty acids found in avocados and shea butter to moisturise the eye area without irritation. Unique in texture (it is applied as a thick lotion before it evaporates into a silky second skin), it can be worn under make-up; $210 from Joyce Beauty locations.
Back to school
Whether you're crazy for customisation, going to a costume party or have never recovered from not being named head prefect, Fee Ling (63 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui) is a treasure trove to titles lost ... and found. This street stall stocks vintage badges and school pins with titles ranging from Librarian and Captain to Math Club and Monitress. Stick them on a bag, lapel or epaulette, but stop short of wearing them with short pants and knee socks.
Time out
In its latest collaboration with an international artist, Rado teams up with iconic Swiss graphic designer Karl Gerstner to create Carpe Diem. Latin for 'seize the day' (it was the Roman poet Horace, not Robin Williams, who invented the expression), the timepiece takes inspiration from its name. Made up of coloured dials, its face changes form and colour as the seconds pass. Wait too long, it seems to say, and time might run out to buy the limited-edition watch - there are only 2,002 in the world, which costs $9,100 from Rado dealers. For more information and stockists, call the Swatch Group on 2510-5171.