NATIONAL POST, SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2005 WEEKEND...

Natalie, in Princeleather, $288

You really meant to reapply sunscreen, but that Kelly Clarkson songcame on and you really got into it when you thought no one waslooking, and then there was that Dukes of Hazzard mash-up, so youjust totally forgot. Luckily, Daily Resurfacer, by Dermalogica, is

the end-of-summer anti-dote for dehydrated skin

and hyper-pigmen-tation. The sleek tincontains 35 individ-ual doses of leave-on facial exfoliant,each in a hermeti-cally sealed pouchthat has its ownsponge applicator.Hydroxy acids and

enzymes illuminate,Japanese Unshiu citrus peel brightens and evens out skin tone, andantioxidants — South African rooibos extract and green tea —soothe the skin. It’s totally goof-proof — just don’t forget the sun-screen next time. ❚ Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer, $96, 1-800-997-6799 and derma-logica.ca for nearest retailer.

NATIONAL POST, SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2005

It’s so simple, Roots really shouldhave thought of it sooner. Thecompany has returned its focus toleather, which is what it knowsand does best. Not to knock thatred Olympic cap famouslydonned by Prince William, but it’sabout time.

Roots’ fashion cred re-emergedthis spring with the Emily bag,clearly influenced by Marc Ja-cobs’ trend-setting two-pocketleather shoulder bags, and withleather tassels inspired by theBotkier “Trigger.” Available inbright leathers like poppy red andKelly green, the bags were a run-away hit. Sure, it helps that Emilywas heavily promoted with adver-tising, but there was also plenty ofword-of-mouth: It was simply agreat little designer-esque bag.

Overall, the Roots Leather col-lection for fall pays more atten-tion to designer details, like em-bellished zipper pulls, closuresand storage, and to fashioncolours such as teal, raspberryand aubergine. Indeed, the de-signs are borrowing the best ele-ments of the big-bags trend —grommets, studs, jewel tones,skins and chain handles — andapplying them to simple leathershapes on a smaller scale. Thelook is utility-inspired, with mili-tary brass and antique gold studs,and that warm antique feel comesstraight from the runway, via theRoots archive: The company’sfirst bags more than 30 years agowere made with brass hardware.

The subtle application of trendelements means these bags willhave a shelf life. Where Prada cov-ers the body of an of-the-momentand astronomically-priced suedepurse with grommets (and even asimilar suede hobo at Banana Re-public is $248), Roots limitsgrommets to a leather strap, so itlooks like hippie eyelet — for ex-ample, the slouchy Boho Sac($168), which one can easily seeCameron Diaz slinging across ashoulder.

From Marc Jacobs’ quiltedchain handle bag (a salute to theiconic quilted Chanel), Rootstakes only the chains.

While big-name designers, likeGucci and Alexander McQueen,have purses in jewel-tone skins ofcrocodile and alligator — Rootseschews reptile and uses Deside-rio, an embossed leather thatlooks like ultra-luxe croc minusthe sticker shock. Even the signa-ture braided leather of BottegaVeneta is interpreted in the braid-ed handle of the Tuscany bag($198).

Luxe contrast comes fromcombining different textures ofanimal hide with the company’ssignature pebbled Prince leather.In the mix is goat, which is lightand supple but also incrediblydurable, and bison — inaubergine and hunter green, fall’skey fashion colours. Dyes are veg-etable, or otherwise natural, liketree bark, which gives the leathera soft patina of age.

There’s a deep red called Shi-raz, a shimmering mahogany,rich burnt orange, raspberry, co-coa, hunter green and pale neu-trals like vanilla and caramel.

A likely fall hit will be Roots’Editor bag ($228), a softly struc-tured shape that resembles a vin-tage camera bag with pockets.While the Editor’s Tote is theroomier version ($298), for in-terns clawing their way up themasthead, there’s the Junior Edi-tor ($168).

Unlike hard-to-find designerbags, the full Roots range is in atleast 90% of their stores (yes,even in Charlottetown). Andthere’s another big difference: theprice. As the collection’s style quo-tient has gone up, so has the aver-age price — but you can still getsix Roots bags for the price of justone designer model.

Weekend Post

retailtherapy@nationalpost.co

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S T E A L S & D E A L S

Today and tomorrow only, Jeremy PotvinAgency, 90 Wingold Ave. (416-203-7980; jpa.ca), isholding their annual Back-To-School sample sale,offering 50%-80% off brand name merchandiseand “a lot of stuff at $5”, says Jeremy Potvin.Includes outerwear, sweaters, t-shirts and hoodiesfrom brands like Paul Frank, Dish Jeans, Chip &Pepper and CBGB. Open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Home decor items are up to 60% off at SimoneInteriors, 1605 Queen St. W. (416-530-2948). Thesummer stock sale includes hand-knotted ham-mocks from Nicaragua at $165 (orig. $225), silksfrom Thailand to hang in a window, on a wall, orat the foot of a bed, at 40% off $45-$75. Summerdrinks glasses in hot orange and lime green are$4 each (reg. $8). Alice-in-Wonderland- style teasets and matching plates are 25% off.

The annual summer stock sale at Frock, 97Roncesvalles Ave. (416-516-1333), offers up to 75%off designer items. Look for Free People tops at$39 (reg. $47) and Damzels In This Dress frocksat $55 (reg. $110). The sale will continue until thefall merchandise starts rolling in. “Then I’ll putwhatever’s left away for next summer”, said storeowner Cathryn Dajka. Open Tuesday to Friday 11a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

— Jennifer Marron

OBSESSION OF THE WEEK

R E T A I L T H E R A P Y

S T Y L E H A P P E N I N G S

The Experience Thailand festival, at The Bay’sQueen Street location (416-861-9111), features avariety of products directly from Thailand. Findsilk purses ($19.99-$59.99), hand-painted orien-tal umbrellas ($19.99), wood carvings of ele-phants ($11.99-$39.99), and home decor itemssuch as hand-carved jewellery boxes, tables andincense kits. Also on display: clothing designedby Ryerson students, made with authentic Thaisilks that are woven and draped in a traditionaltechnique called charrette. Closing tomorrow.

At The Shoe Company’s Pay No Tax, Trade andSave promotion, if you bring in a gently used pair ofshoes to donate to charity, the company will donate$2 to the United Way and you’ll avoid paying thatnasty sales tax on purchases. Not bad, seeing as theprices are already 50% off. At 15 locations in the GTA(theshoecompany.com). Offer ends Sept. 11.

Sweden-based clothing retailer H&M has justintroduced its new menswear collection calledH&M Man Modern Classic. Look for flannel,wool, and tweed suits, solid or pinstripe, inbrown, black and grey, as well as handmade silkties from Italy. Prices range from $19.90 for hand-kerchiefs to $249 for suits. The collection isavailable at both the Eaton Centre and Yorkdalelocations (hm.com.)

One hit wonder

Tapping into the big designer trends, Rootsrefocuses on what it does best: leather

N A T H A L I E A T K I N S O N

They’ve got it in the bagA returnto roots

Sex and the City may be over, but Sarah Jessica Parker’s oft-copied personal style is still cashing in: The clotheshorse is

the cover girl of Vogue’s hefty September issue, just as her signature scent, Lovely, debuts on counters this week. Like

Carrie Bradshaw’s loopy fashion sense, Lovely combines seemingly disparate fragrance notes — paperwhite, man-

darin orange, lavender, bergamot, orchid, musk, cedar and white amber — into a feminine and surprisingly pleas-

ant scent, while the elegant flacon and packaging in blush pink are a nod to SJP’s ballet background. Manolos not

included, alas. Lovely, $86 at drugstores and department stores nationwide. —Nathalie AtkinsonWHAT

Tuscany, in vanilla, with-braided leather, $198

Lindsay, in teal bison, $158

Junior Editor’s bag, $168

Madeline, $148

Emily, small, metallic, $138

Dawn, small, in teal bison, $138

Editor’s bag, inPrince leather, $228

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