On style, she rules

Reading Time:2 minutes

Published: 12:00am, 23 Oct 2011

I was recently reminded of the convenience of Sunpocket folding sunglasses and how little space they take up. I saw them in local magazine Trendson (it was lying around a waiting room), but I don't read Chinese. So, are they back in fashion and on sale in the city? I've looked but haven't seen them.

Ready to Fold, SoHo

The Dictator rules: What do you need to save space for? Like you don't tote around a handbag big enough to carry the kitchen sink as every other style-conscious woman in town does! Here's another revolutionary storage idea for your shades: the top of your head. (Please ignore that last tip if you are currently indoors, particularly in an office setting.) And who cares if you like leafing through a product catalogue of the Trendson ilk? So, Sunpocket, huh? How very retro of you. Founded in France in the late 1970s, it made those foldable sunglasses we all thought were cutting-edge circa 1982. As the 80s has spawned many of the biggest fashion trends in the past few years, we're not surprised everyone's made the baby step from the now ubiquitous Ray-Ban Wayfarers to Sunpockets since they are similar in shape and ethos. Business buffs will be interested to know the brand was bought and relaunched by a Swedish company this year. Which style are you considering, anyway? If you're looking for the Sunpocket Sport or the popular Sunpocket II (HK$650 each), visit Hong Kong-based online retailer Gizzy & Nacho (www.gizzynacho.com). There are more local retailers listed on the brand's official website, www.sunpocketoriginal.com, but call in advance as not all the ones mentioned carry them at the moment. Fashion brands, such as Burberry (IFC Mall, Central, tel: 2234 7168), have been quick to adopt the trend. Oh, and back to those Wayfarers; Ray-Ban makes foldable shades, too, as do Persol, Porsche and quite a few others.

I'm afraid I overpicked a pimple and now it's gone but left a dark spot. Do you know of anything that can sort out this sort of thing at home?

Out Damn Spot, Magazine Gap

The Dictator: Yes. It's a little thing called self-control. Picking always seems like a good idea at the time, but it will invariably cause more problems than it solves. Due to the alarming obsession with whitening skin these days, the market has been flooded with products that promise to lighten, brighten and erase signs of hyperpigmentation. (Take the claims with a grain of salt.) Here are some products we like: SkinCeuticals Pigment Regulator (HK$880; Tower 1, Causeway Bay Plaza, Causeway Bay, tel: 2573 1109) is made with kojic acid, emblica and other lightening agents that reduce the appearance of dark or brown spots, as well as freckles and blotchy skin. If you prefer botanical formulas, try 3Lab's Perfect Glow Complex (HK$990; Joyce Beauty, 16 Queen's Road Central, tel: 2869 5816). It's made with a derivative of vitamin B3 (niacinamide), which is supposed to block excess melanin production, that is dark spots. If those prices are daunting, head to Mannings, where you'll find the La Roche-Posay Sensi White range's Triple Action Intense Whitening Essence for sensitive skin (HK$370; Queensway Plaza, 93 Queensway, Admiralty, tel: 2299 3381); and Vichy's Bi-White Reveal line, which includes the Deep Cell Whitening Spot Intervention (HK$245). Here's another thing that will sort it out: a laser. I'm not a doctor, so go ask a dermatologist about your options, would you?

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