on style, she rules

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Published: 12:00am, 2 Sep 2007

I need to find five linen or cotton casual, button-down men's shirts that don't cost too much, and I don't have time to have them made or go across the border or any of that nonsense. Please advise.

Getting Shirty, Central

The Dictator rules: Are you really in a position to define nonsense? It looks like you're asking for a quick, cheap solution for some ad hoc performance, silly uniform or groomsmen's outfits for a shotgun wedding at the beach. Hmm. I'll tell you what's nonsense: your quest to find summer clothes when the autumn collections are now in stores. Polo Jeans has long-sleeved linen shirts with breast pockets in black or white (HK$890; Seibu, Pacific Place, Admiralty, tel: 2918 0393). Too much? Our next stop was Giordano, where they have a selection of casual shirts in textured cotton (HK$280; G/F, Capitol Centre, Jardine's Crescent, Causeway Bay, tel: 2923 7486; see www.giordano.com.hk for alternative locations). Bossini does them with short sleeves (remember that high-school teacher?) for only HK$69 (G/F, 44 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2368 5866; www.bossini.com). You don't seem the adventurous type but it would also be worth visiting Stanley Market, where linen seems popular, especially with tourists in search of such, um, stylish items.

I heard there are tissues like Wet Ones but for skin? Can you tell me where to buy them?

The Good Wipe, Sheung Wan

The Dictator: Right, because wet wipes aren't normally for skin? What exactly do you need these towelettes to do for you? Let's assume you're looking for facial cleansing. The Body Shop has invigorating Tea Tree and Mint Cleansing Wipes (HK$79; shop 1083, IFC Mall, Central, tel: 2234 7791). Drugstore brands do them too. Nivea's are called Refreshing Facial Wipes (HK$49.90) while Clean + Clear's sound more serious: Deep Action Oil & Dirt Removing Wipes (HK$19.90). Both are sold at Watsons (tel: 2608 8383), where we are fans of the Watsons brand Rose Wet Tissues (HK$19.90), even if they don't promise any benefits beyond a surprisingly delicate scent. Wet wipes 'for skin' now go beyond cleansing. Dermalogica, for example, has Solar Defense Full Spectrum Wipes (HK$278; Asterspring, formerly Leonard Drake, room 801, Century Square, 1 D'Aguilar Street, Central, tel: 6655 8181), which are made to protect your skin with water-resistant UVA/UVB sunscreens and antioxidants.