SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Patti Hansen's Hung On U Bags For Barneys Get The Celeb Treatment For Charity Auction

 

If you've ever rocked a cross-body bag or even a messenger-style satchel, then you know all about the convenience of a hands free existence: how you can carry a cup of coffee in one hand and talk on your cell using the other, how you can shake anyone's hand without pausing awkwardly to set down what you're clutching, how you never have to worry about your bag slipping off your shoulder or out of your fingers. But there are certain challenges involved in finding the right cross-body bag -- you need the right balance between roominess and bulkiness, and you don't want anything that will steer too far away from the body. Model and actress Patti Hansen is hoping to offer just that type of convenience with her new Hung On U handbag line, which focuses on versatile pieces that fall close to the hip, much like baby slings, and which can transition from day to night.

The Hung On U collection will be available exclusively at Barneys New York starting October 12th and, in celebration, the two brands teamed up on a massive charity auction. Twenty guest designers -- among them Simon Doonan, Debra Messing, Donna Karan, Patricia Arquette, Gavin Rossdale, Christian Louboutin, and Elle's Joe Zee -- personalized their own Hung On U bags to create one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art. These unique, customized designs are being auctioned off on CharityBuzz.com/, with all proceeds being donated to the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation, which helps scientists research the causes and find treatment options for those suffering from EB, a genetic skin disorder involving blister formations. Interested parties have until October 12th to bid on their favorite designs.

Pictured above are some of the designs featured in the Charity Buzz auction. At top, you'll find Debra Messing's Polynesian-flavored tribal design (notice the silhouettes of little men along the side), while immediately below it, you'll see Joe Zee's unisex camo design and, third from top, you'll find the familiar Louboutin pump illustration, replete with the designer's trademark red sole detail. For a more adventurous interpretation, check out Simon Doonan's design (fourth from top), which has hair trim for a creepy-but-fascinating shaggy effect. We also love Donna Karan's artful design (shown fifth from top), which features hand-painted foliage and branch-like silhouettes in earthy sepia, ochre, mud brown, and russet tones.

 

 

Fashion's Night Out Countdown — The Fun Begins Tonight!

We've already told you about the events at Ash Footwear, Caudalie, Jo Malone, Kiehl's, MAC Soho, the NARS flagship store, and Rebecca Taylor going down this Thursday, as well as the festivities at Saks, Macy's, Mackage, Sephora, Searle, Dylan's Candy Bar, and Scosha —and now, we've got even more to dish about!

Below, find our final round of Fashion's Night Out 2011 event picks for your perusal.

So now that you've got our top selects for the evening, tell us: where will you be heading? And don't forget to upload photos of all your FNO fun onto our Facebook page: Facebook.com/SickaThanAvg!

 

Meet Drop Dead Diva's Brooke Elliott at Avenue

Who better to make an appearance at plus-sized retailer Avenue (711 Third Avenue) on FNO than Broke Elliott, the star of Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva? Stop in between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to meet Elliott, get style advice from expert Jacqui Stafford, and emerge feeling like a drop dead gorgeous diva. The first 100 guests will also receive an Avenue gift bag, and they'll be entered to win a $500 shopping spree.

 

Learn all about the new Velvet Eyes eyeliner patches and get a complimentary makeover at Dior

Step inside the Dior boutique (19 East 57th Street, between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue) between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and get a makeover courtesy of celebrity makeup artist Ricky Wilson and scoop up the new Velvet Eyes reusable eyeliner patches available in four different shades exclusively on September 8th at the artistry station inside the boutique. 

 

 

Enjoy a performance by Estelle at DVF

Let British singing sensation Estelle serenade you at the Diane Von Furstenberg Studio (440 West 14th Street) where, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., guests will be able to enjoy a DVF Home Installation, sample the new fragrance Diane, enjoy cocktails and finger foods, and receive a free gift with any purchase.

 

Check out the new Kenny Scharf for Jack Rogers collection

Brooklyn-based, California-born painter Kenny Scharf has created a new capsule collection for Palm Beach-flavored footwear and accessories brand Jack Rogers which will be unveiled on Thursday between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. at the Jack Rogers store (1198 Madison Avenue).

 

Stop by the Joe's pop-up store

To toast Fashion's Night Out, Joe's will be opening a pop-up store at 77 Mercer Street in Soho. Founder Joe Dahan will be hosting the evening's festivities alongside Something Navy’s Arielle Nachmani and her sister, celebrity stylist Danielle Nachmani (who has worked with the Olsen twins, among others). Guests can get the scoop on fall denim trends from the Nachmani sisters and vie to create the most stylish ensemble in order to win a $1,00 gift card. DJ Alex Daniel will supply the tunes, Ward III mixologists will serve up drinks, and Rickshaw Dumpling, the Gorilla Cheese Guy, and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream trucks will be parked outside the pop-up store to sate customers' appetites.

 

Take in a Nicholas K trunk show, pre-shop the latest Bijules collection, and jam alongside School of Seven Bells

In addition to grub from Taim Falafel and food trucks Kimchi Taco and Wafels & Dinges, guests who drop by Treasure and Bond (350 West Broadway) can check out a Nicholas K trunk show and purchase new jewelry pieces from Bijules from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., then chill out and enjoy a performance by electronica-laced indie rock band School of Seven Bells from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

 

Shop for Paige Novick jewelry and benefit the NYC AIDS Fund

Jewelry designer Paige Novick has joined Bergdorf Goodman's "Wheel of Fashion" event, going down between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., during which guests can buy a ticket to spin a giant Price Is Right-style wheel and, if they get lucky, score a special prize. Robert Verdi will host the event and designers like Michelle Smith from Milly, Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia, jewelry designer Eddie Borgo, Libertine's Johnson Hartig, and Tibi's Amy Smilovic. All of the proceeds form ticket sales will benefit the New York City AIDS Fund of the New York Community Trust.

 

Snatch up pieces from Seville Michelle Anastos, M.Y.O.B., and David Dalrymple for House of Field at the Patricia Field Boutique

Professional model Byrdie Bell will be co-hosting the FNO festivities at the Patricia Field Boutique (302 Bowery, between Houston and Bleecker), where you can shop for jewelry from designers Seville Michelle Anastos and M.Y.O.B., and scoop up some gear from David Dalrymple for House of Field.

 

 Have you hair dry-styled at the Redken Gallerie and Exchange

From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., swing by the Redken Gallerie and Exchange (on Fifth Avenue between 46th and 47th Street) and give your hair a pick-me-up. When you spend $20 or more, you'll be gifted with another star products from the Redken line and, if you spend upwards of $40, you can have your mane dry-styled into one of the looks seen on the New York, Milan, and Paris runways. The hair stylings are available on a first come, first serve basis, so make sure to prioritize this spot, chicas!

 

Pamper yourself with full face makeovers and complimentary manicures at Ricky's NYC

Unlike the Victoria referenced in the Victoria's Secret name, the Ricky mentioned in Ricky's NYC is a real person — and, on Fashion's Night Out, you'll have the opportunity to meet this famed entrepreneur in the flesh at his Upper West Side store (2387 Broadway, between 87th and 88th Street). Shop for beauty supplies, get a blow-out for just $25, and score a free makeover and complimentary manicure by Patricia Yankee, Katy Perry's nail artist, when you spend $40 or more. 

Get a mini manicure and eyebrow shaping from a Sally Hansen expert at Talbots

From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. get style and beauty advice from Mary Alice Stephenson and let Sally Hansen experts pamper you with mini-manicures and brow shapings at Talbots (525 Madison Avenue, between 53rd and 54th Street). If you're an early bird and you happen to be among the first 100 folks to drop by the store, you'll score a gift bag stuffed with Sally Hansen items.

 

Get a skincare consultation from Tata Harper at Space NK

Explore one of the leading organic skin care lines, Vermont-based Tata Harper, at Space NK (99 Greene Street) between 7 and 9 p.m. The line's founder will be on site to offer skin care consultations, plus guests will be able to sample the calendula, borage, and arnica oils harvested from Tata's farm. 

 

Raise funds for HIV/AIDS patients alongside Zero + Maria Cornejo

Rather than simply focus on turning a profit, designer Maria Cornejo is looking to give back to her New York community, donating 5% of the evening's sales to Housing Works, an organization that works to deliver proper medical services and living conditions to HIV positive patients. In addition to shopping, guests who stop by 33 Bleecker Street (between Lafayette and the Bowery) or 807 Greenwich Street (at Jane Street) can enter a raffle to win a set of rare Polaroid photographs and art books by Mark Borthwick. Customers who spend over $500 will receive a large Zero + Maria Cornejo silk scarf in the new book print introduced for Fall 2011.

 

You Got It Made! -- "Desks for Kids of Kathmandu" Auction Features Table By MADE

When envisioning their honeymoons, most couples fantasize about tropical islands, where they'll be greeted with leis, shack up in cozy wooden cabanas, and be served Piña Coladas and Frozen Margaritas with paper umbrella decorations while lounging on folding chairs at the beach. Or perhaps they dream of visiting Europe, of locking lips near the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris or listening to Spanish guitar while sipping café con leches in a quaint Madrid restaurant. But, then,furniture designer Andrew Raible and photographer Jami Saunders aren't your typical couple. The two Brooklynites exchanged vows in Mexico in January 2010 and, rather than remain in their own private happiness bubble (as so many couples do), they decided to celebrate their good fortune by giving back to those in need. With the help of International Volunteer Headquarters, Mr. and Mrs. Raible orchestrated a two-week stay in Nepal that involved living and working with the 41 children residing in a Kathmandu orphanage. They documented their stay with plenty of images and, upon their return to the U.S., held a photography show to raise funds for the children. The event's success, and their concern over the children they had left behind, prompted them to launch the non-profit organization Kids of Kathmandu, which relies on photography, art and design to raise awareness about the needs of these orphaned children and to raise funds for their educational, nutritional, health and wellness needs.

This month, the power couple unveiled their first official fund-raising initiative: The Desk Project. Eleven children's desks were designed specifically for this initiative, each by a notable contemporary furniture designer or firm. The desks are being auctioned off on 32Auctions.com, and the proceeds will be used to subsidize the children's education in Nepal. Since the sale of each desk could potentially fund a child's education for an entire year, each of these furniture pieces is literally an investment in someone's future.

Participating companies include Uhuru (which specializes in sustainable design), Daniel Moyer Design (whose work boasts a crafty feel thanks to the cut-wood joinery method employed in his hardwood pieces), and Cambium Studio (which celebrates nature with pieces that showcase the exquisite beauty of natural wood), among others.

Our favorite children's desk is the piece pictured above, designed by MADE, which features small, colorful blocks (like those kids would use to build castles, forts, and cities) stacked atop one another to form the table's legs, then pieced together like a giant jigsaw puzzle along the top surface. The various types of woods utilized, the different sizes of the rectangular blocks, the pops of turquoise color, and the whimsical nature in which the components were arranged all make the piece absolutely endearing.

To check out all the pieces in the Desk Project, bid on your favorite, or even buy it immediately (for a Buy It Now prize of $4,500), log onto 32Auctions.com. The auction ends tonight, so hurry and get those bids in!

 

Bid On A Bugaboo Cameleon Stroller Custom Designed By Gwen Stefani

 

When it comes to strollers, Bugaboo has established a reputation for simplifying mothers' lives, offering sturdy models that take into account their active lifestyles. The Bugaboo Cameleon, for one, features a reversible bassinet, so that you can position your infant so that he or she either faces you or looks outward (you can also remove the bassinet if you get home and your baby is sleeping soundly inside it). An adjustable seat, meanwhile, takes the stroller from infant-ready to toddler-appropriate, while an adjustable canopy provides your child with the desired amount of shade from the sun. The smaller swivel wheels along the front make it easier for you to squeeze in through tight spaces (which, if you life in a city, is pretty much everywhere), while the big, multi-terrain wheels help you handle rougher territory (grassy expanses or dirt roads, for example). And, since you can reverse the handlebar, you can decide which foot, or wheel, to put forward!

As a fashion mogul, pop star, fragrance empress and mother of two, Gwen Stefani knows all about how essential the right stroller choice can be. In honor of World AIDS Day (observed today, December 1st), and as the fruit of its partnership with (RED), Bugaboo invited Stefani to design this one-of-a-kind Cameleon stroller. The stroller's canopy features one of the prints seen in the latest L.A.M.B. fashion line, a feminine floral motif with the word "L.A.M.B." scrolled atop it in a graffiti style, so that it looks like the material was tagged using hefty Krink or Molotow markers in aqua blue or glossy black. The drips add to the hurried effect, which recalls the illicit, urgent nature of graffiti writing. The front and back of the stroller, meanwhile, feature a brown Vachetta leather trim.

This custom Bugaboo Cameleon stroller is being auctioned off on Ebay, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Global Fund, a financing institution that funnels funds from governments, non-profit institutions, and private corporations into large-scale HIV treatment, prevention and patient care programs in locations with at-risk populations. The auction ends on December 5th, so make sure to enter your bid at Ebay.com.

Alex Monroe x Burt's Bees Honey Bee And Flower Ring

 

 

To celebrate the launch of the Burt's Bees Radiance SPF 15 Day Lotion, the leading natural skincare line approached British jewelry designer Alex Monroe, commissioning him to create a special bee-themed ring in the vein of his best-selling Bumblebee Necklace. The result of this collaboration, unveiled today, is the above pictured Honey Bee and Flower Ring, a one-of-a-kind, gold plated piece featuring four daisy-like silver flowers. The three smaller blooms feature small round diamonds at their core, while one larger bloom houses a honey sapphire in its center. An exquisitely detailed bee is positioned at the very top of the ring, looming over the daisy with the honey sapphire stone, as if entranced by it. The ring itself, meanwhile, features conjoined branch-like bands, adding to the nature motif.

This special ring is currently being auctioned off on Alex Monroe's site, with all proceeds benefiting the British Beekeepers' Association. The winning bidder will have the ring custom made in her size and will also receive a election of products from Burt's Bees Radiance collection.

Visit AlexMonroe.com/Blog/Auction to place your bid and bring this busy bee home to your finger!

The CFDA Barbie Charity Auction Kicks Off Today!

As a kid, I rarely ever played with Barbie dolls. Sure, I went through my stage where I had a couple of Barbies and even a cutesy Dream House, but my older brother (who had nothing better to do than taunt and torture his kid sister) would often decapitate my dolls and throw the heads out the window or something equally mean and ridiculous. Besides, even back then, I was pretty demanding about my dolls' sense of style, and there just weren't enough Barbie outfits to fit my finicky fashion tastes (not to mention that their "ethnic" dolls just looked like tanned versions of the original). Over the years, however, Barbie has become quite the trendsetter, inspiring A-list designers and makeup artists. And thankfully, the dolls available reflect the multicultural nature of our society — just looking at the dolls pictured above, I marvel at the array of skin tones, hair colors, and hair types. If Barbies had looked like this when I was a little girl, it would've been an altogether different story.

To reflect the brand's new modern flavor, Mattel just released the Barbie Basics collection, which features twelve dolls, with each model wearing a different interpretation of the little black dress (LBD). Check out the Iman look-alike (pictured at top, second from left), with her knee-length, one-shoulder dress or peep the retro-loving diva to her right with her funky beehive. If you look closely, you'll notice even the Barbie dolls' makeup is risky and sultry — some dolls have dramatic cat eyes or blood red lips, while others are rockin' a smokey eye or nude lipstick. Heck, I may have to really stare at these Barbies for some hairstyling inspiration! Bottom line: these LBD-loving gals are ready to take on the town!

In celebration of the new Barbie Basics collection's launch, twelve CFDA fashion and accessories designers were asked to create a couture ensemble for a Barbie doll and to ensure that the final look was consistent with his/her aesthetic and point-of-view. Among the designers involved, you'll find Rachel Roy (whose doll is outfitted with a one-shoulder teal blouse and a flirty yellow skirt), Tory Burch, Isaac Mizrahi, Monica Botkier, Kate Spade's Deborah Lloyd. These one-of-a-kind, custom-made Barbies will be auctioned off on Ebay starting today, December 28th, at 10 pm EST. The auction runs through February 7th, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting CFDA education and internship programs and initiatives.

Bids start at $100. Visit Ebay.com to check out the dolls and vie for your own runway-ready doll!

UGG Australia's 7th Annual Art & Sole Auction -- Haute Boots For A Good Cause

 

Zang Toi Classic Tall Ugg Boots — Women's Size 7

LaRok Classic Tall Ugg Boots — Women's Size 6

 

Rafe New York Classic Tall Ugg Boots— Women's Size 8

Jenni Kaye Classic Tall Ugg Boots — Women's Size 6

For its 7th Annual Art & Sole auction, during which one-of-a-kind Ugg boots customized by various celebrities are auctioned off for charity, Ugg Australia enlisted some venerable luxury designers and brands to use Ugg boots as their canvases. In the past, Ugg has worked with such celebrities as Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson and Eva Longoria but, this year, they eschewed the pop culture names in favor of high-end designers — which means the final results are truly museum-worthy pieces.

Footwear gurus Manolo Blahnik and Stuart Weitzman, handbag brand Rafe New York, sweetheart hat designer Eugenia Kim, and fashion designers like Jenni Kayne, LaRok, Pamella Rolland, Christian Siriano, Leanne Marshall, Zang Toi and Betsey Johnson all joined in on the fun, adding their own unique twists to the classic Ugg boot.

The designs they revealed are as varied as their individual aesthetics. Christian Siriano, for example, utilized ecru-colored buttons and created a cascade of buttons running along the shaft and toe of a sand-colored Ugg boot. Rafe New York, meanwhile, opted for more of a rock-n-roll feel by adding studded, buckled straps to a classic black boot. Zang Toi meanwhile, added black sequins and pink bow details for an ultra feminine look.

The Art & Sole online auction went online yesterday and will run through Dec. 14th. All proceeds from the auction benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which works to find cures for pediatric cancer patients. Pictured here, you'll find a sampling of some of the one-of-a-kind boots being auctioned off.

To check out all the designs and maybe even place a bid, visit UggAustralia.com

Christian Siriano Classic Tall Ugg Boots— Women's Size 7

 

Stuart Weitzman Classic Tall Ugg Boots — Women's Size 7

 

PPQ Classic Tall Ugg Boots — Women's Size 7

Pamella Roland Classic Tall Ugg Boots — Women's Size 6

Versace Is For The Children -- Versace Charitable Totes On Sale At Gilt.com

If these totes look like they were made by children, that's because they were. See, these handbags are the result of a collaborative effort between Versace, the Starlight Children's Foundation and the Whitney Museum of American Art — together, these three entities have created Art Unites, a non-profit organization that donates art supplies to sick children around the world, giving them an outlet for creative expression.

Starting today, sample sale site Gilt.com will feature a number of Versace totes for purchase, each featuring a friendship-themed design created by a child who has survived a natural disaster (such as an earthquake) or who is bravely battling a grave illness. A hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of these bags will benefit the Starlight Foundation, which creates and sponsors programs that educate, inspire and lift the spirits of sick children, and the One Foundation, which assists the young survivors of the 2008 earthquake in China.

And here's a nice bonus: any customer who purchases one of these bags between now and December 1st will receive a discount of 20% at all Versace boutiques in the U.S. For more information about Versace's involvement in this initiative and the charitable sale, visit Gilt.com.

Versace "Girls and Butterflies" and "Friends Forever" totes, $250 each. Visit Gilt.com

Can It!!! Vipp's 70th Anniversary Charity Auction

Golden anniversaries are quite the milestone, so imagine the kind of celebration a 70th anniversary would merit. Danish design company Vipp is pulling out all the stops for its 70th birthday this month, holding a gala and charity auction alongside Design Within Reach (DWR). To commemorate the occasion, Vipp enlisted 35 designers, artists, illustrators, musicians and celebrities to recreate and reinvent their classic pedal bins — among them: Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, graffiti artist Lady Pink, noted architect David Rockwell, model and activist Helena Christensen, event planner Jes Gordon, and The Raveonettes guitarist Sune Rose Wagner. The designs range from Lady Pink's homage to getting up, a  bin with a pink, brick-like backdrop covered with graffiti tags (pictured above at right), to Michael Aram's gold, pear-shaped piece (pictured at bottom).

These custom bins can be viewed by the public at NYC's DWR Store in Soho (at 142 Wooster Street) from October 15-28. Any consumers who bid on the bins will be invited to the gala auction on the 28th, which will be hosted by model Veronica Webb.Proceeds from the auction will benefit Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA).

I really loved the designs from last year's Vipp auction (a collaborative effort with Helena Christensen), but while those designs were more fashion-forward (hence why I loved them so much), these run the gamut from quirky and whimsical (such as Shelly Sabel's piece, which is fashioned entirely out of Lite-Brights) to colorful and hip (such as the purple bin designed by Swathi Ganta for Kidrobot, which is covered white Dunny and Munny silhouettes), sleek and chic (such as Oscar de la Renta's understated, striped design) and kitschy and a bit loony (such as David Stark's cactus-shaped piece, pictured below). Here, you'll find a small sampling of the designs created for this special event, but there are so many more to see so, if you're in the NYC area, make sure to drop by DWR and take a look-see.

For more information, visit Vipp.com

Neck and Neck: Career Gear Celebrity Tie Auction

I hardly ever feature men's apparel or accessories since I'm catering to all my sisters out there, but when I heard about Career Gear's Celebrity Tie Auction, I couldn't resist: I just HAD to let you ladies know about it. Besides, I know some ladies who can work the hell out of a bowtie or even a traditional tie (Madonna? Check. Janet Jackson? Absolutely. Janelle Monae? Yessir!), so perhaps some of you also know how to make the androgynous aesthetic work for you.

Here are the details. On June 5th, the nonprofit organization Career Gear is launching an online auction featuring ties donated by such celebrities as André 3000 (who designed the bowtie pictured above), Jack Nicholson, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Eric Bana, Kevin Spacey and Linda Fiorentino.

Career Gear's mission is to assist economically disadvantaged (or down-on-their-luck) men who are looking to enter the professional sphere and need some help building a wardrobe that will not only get them in the door, but will boost their confidence and their ability to perform at their fullest potential. The proceeds from the auction, then, will benefit the organization, which provides suits and ties to so many people in need.

In these difficult times, it's particularly important to help organizations like Career Gear, so here's your chance to do your civic duty and score a Father's Day gift, nab an impromptu present for your man, or bid on a tie for your own self!

The Career Gear Celebrity Tie Auction launches June 5th on CareerGear.org