SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Paint the Town Red

Every time I look at the design embossed atop this leather bracelet, I think about the sycamore tree in The Alchemist -- maybe it's because of how powerful it feels underneath the words "Revolution," "Evolution" and "Devotion" but, whatever the case, that's always the first thing that pops into my head. It's kind of fitting, actually, given that in Coelho's novel, a young boy dreams of a buried treasure by the foot of a tree and, here, we find a bracelet with a tree design on it and the bracelet itself represents a gift of life. See, this is a limited-edition bracelet designed by Julia Roberts for Emporio Armani's Emporio Armani (Product) Red collection, which donates 40% of proceeds to the Global Fund. Every bracelet, then, represents one more step in the battle against AIDS in Africa.

Perfect for everyday wear, the leather bracelet is 0.75 inches thick and features sterling silver snap closures and tassles. Hey, if the Pretty Woman says it's certified, it must be so, right?

(Product Red) Julia Roberts Bracelet, visit EmporioArmani.com

Picture Perfect

Monica Botkier knows a little something about what looks good. After all, the New York City native started her career as a fashion photographer, shooting for mags like Mademoiselle and Surface. Perhaps it's that keen eye for detail, that appreciation for the aesthetic value of things, that makes her such a fantastic handbag designer. After launching her first collection in 2003, Botkier somersaulted to golden child status — and she's remained there ever since. Now, she's teamed up with Target to offer an affordable, limited-edition collection of totes, clutches and satchels.

Among my favorites are the above-pictured metallic hobo bags, which are made of PVC but look just like leather pieces. The gold and silver look cracked, which gives each bag a rugged, downtown feel. Each slouchy bag features an inside zipper pocket, as well as a convenient outside cell phone pocket. Also adorable are the python-print satchels -- with its two front pockets, button closure, bold hardware and sophisticated frame, the grey bag pictured above is perfect for the businesswoman whose got a bit of a naughtier side.

Botkier for Target Gold Slouchy Hobo Bag, $49.99; Gray Python Satchel, $39.99. Visit Target.com

Eye Spy Moscot

I apologize for being MIA, my lovely STA readers... Sadly, I managed to catch a helluva bug and haven't had much strength (yes, I'm apparently not just sicka than average, but also -- quite literally -- sicker than most! LOL) Anyway, I'm still trying to shake this thing off but I missed y'all, so I summoned up some energy to bring you yet some more goodies.

These quirky glasses right heeerrre (pronounce in Nelly's Country Grammar style for optimum fun) come to you courtesy of New York city-based eyewear company Moscot. The family business was first developed in 1915, 16 years after the family patriarch, Hyman Moscot, first arrived in New York City from Eastern Europe in 1899. Hyman became well-known for his optometry skills and the ready-made glasses he sold in the nabe, and eventually opened up shop. Soon later, Hyman's son Sol developed an interest in optometry and, in due time, took over the Sol Moscot Opticians company. In 1951, the flagship store moved to more spacious digs on Orchard Street (where the main store remains to this day) and the company's operation was passed on to Sol's son, Joel. Another passing of the torch occured in the 1980s when Joel's sons, Dr. Harvey Moscot and Kenny Moscot, took over the company. Now THAT's what I call a family affair, folks.

Not only do they offer top-of-the-line eyecare, but they also provide a wide selection of eyeglass and sunglass frames from noted designers and, of course, from their own signature lines: Moscot Originals and Moscot Spirit.

The Moscot Originals line is an ode to the aesthetic that first made Moscot frames all the rage in the 1940s. When you first look at some of the styles, you'll be reminded of icons like Andy Warhol, John Lennon, Malcolm X, Clark Kent (okay, so he's a fictitious character, but you catch my drift..), Capote, Lisa Loeb, Diane Keaton, and more. See, these frames have character -- they're bold, at times chunky, and undeniably nerdy (but in that sexy librarian, don't-you-wish-you-were-as-smart-as-me? kinda way). For summer, Moscot enlisted designer Chris Benz to create a limited-edition line of their Nebb frames.

The Nebb Limited Edition frames are available in four colors: peacock, cerulean (every time I say or write that, I think of that scene in Devil Wears Prada! Whoa! Who knew cerulian had such a history?!), orchid and golden olive. Only 200 pairs of each color are available and they will not be restocked, so these are truly limited (meaning don't dilly-dally). These frames are quirky as can be, and if you want to use as sunglasses, you can always get matching colored lenses with UV protection (as with the pairs shown above). Think about it: free-spirited colored frames for deep thinkers with an innate sense of style.

So are you a Scarlett-Johanssen-meets-Tina-Fey retro-loving smarty? Then show 'em what you're working with.

Nebb Limited Edition sunglasses, $260 a pair ($220 for frames only). Visit Moscot.com

We Are Marshalls

Sure, we all like Louboutin heels and Delman ballet slippers, but we can't always afford to buy these beauties (however loud they might be calling us!). But don't get it twisted, ladies: you don't have to resort to shopping at FabCo Shoes (not trying to diss, but their shoes pinch your feet in every possible place!). And, sure, you can shop at Aldo Shoes, Nine West, Banana Republic, and Steve Madden, but then you run the risk of bumping into a thousand other women teetering around in the same shoes. Which is why I'm always singing the praises of discount chains like Daffy's, Century 21 and Marshalls -- you can find high-quality footwear from top designers (from Sam Edelman and Jeffrey Campbell to Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Giuseppe Zanotti, Cole Haan and more) at ridiculously reasonable prices. Sure, they might be from last season, but who is really on it like THAT?! And, best of all, there's a limited amount of pairs for each style, which means less folks who have your shoes (two thumbs up for exclusivity). Out of all of them, though, Marshall's is nearest to my heart, as their selection tends to be way bigger and their price points tend to be much lower than the other chains.

I recently ventured to a nearby Marshalls and, of course, spent about 2 hours in the Shoe Megashop area, a new 5,000-square-foot shoe section installed within specific retail stores. The Shoe MegaShop feels like a stand-alone shoe store (minus the annoying sales people having to trekk to the supply area to find your size and taking 45 minutes to do so). Each aisle is set up so that the shoes are displayed on a top shelf and, once customers find a style they like, they can search underneath for the box with their respective size. In one aisle alone, you can find shoes by Miss Me, Enzo, Guess, Vera Wang, Delman, Nine West, Stuart Weitzman, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and more. During my recent field trip, I picked up these sexy patent-leather Anne Klein pumps, which go from a deep pink to a blush pink (they kind of remind me of Gwen Stefani's Galliano-designed wedding gown -- remember that?). Wanna be pretty in pink too? Find a Marshalls near you!

Anne Klein pumps, $29.99. Visit MarshallsOnline.com for store locations.

Artists Get Shady

We've had Project Runway, Project Greenlight, Project Mayhem (get up on Fight Club, people!) and now... drumroll, please... Project Colorize. So what is this extravaganza of which I speak? Well, Marie Claire, Henri Bendel and Ray-Ban are coming together to transform the Big Apple into an outdoor museum through the usage of billboards as both advertising/marketing tools and artist forums. It's an interesting commentary on art becoming a corporate commodity and the increasingly fuzzy line between public and private space (after all, if a private corporation can, in essence, "own" a piece of public space, is it still public? Think about the legality of a graffiti artist tagging up versus someone being commissioned to do a billboard for a major corporation or organization). Socioeconomic issues aside, though, it's fantastic art that we can all gaze upon without having to pay any sort of admission fee.

Ray-Ban commissioned five New York City-based artists, including the acclaimed Ron English, to emblazon five billboards with huge, dynamic works of art (each artist gets a billboard). The billboards debuted on July 1st (there was an after-party at Henri Bendel and all artists were on hand) and will remain up for one month's time. The pieces featured on the billboards incorporate the season's biggest fashion trends — painterly, floral, tailored and day glow — and are inspired by the new collection of colored Ray-Ban Wayfarers (which, of course, means more eye-poppin' shades than a Crayola box, Risky Business, Miami Vice, and Corey Feldman references, '80s motifs and more). Take your cameras out and start click-click-clicking, ladies, 'cause this is one of those fleeting NYC exhibits you'll want to remember.

But don't get it twisted: Project Colorize is about more than art -- this is a celebration of Ray-Ban's iconic Wayfarer style and its reemergence in fashion and pop culture (Lily Allen, Drew Barrymore, Sienna Miller and a ton of trend-setting celebrities have been spotted rocking the remixed shades in funky pink, yellow, red, lime green and blue hues).

Here's to art imitating life and to life being full of color!

Ray-Ban colored wayfarers, circa $125. Visit Amazon.com

I Need A Hero (More than Pat Benatar Does!)

Last time I leafed through a Delia's catalog I felt older than Methusaleh. Sure, they've got tons of cute goodies, but let's face it: I'm a bit too old to be coppin' dinosaur-covered boy short undies and heart-shaped pile rugs. That being said, I can't front on their selection of T-shirts; after all, they carry certified brands like Junk Food (known for their vintage-looking tees of music idols like Blondie, Motley Crue, the Rolling Stones, and more, not to mention their renditions of old-school characters like Rainbow Brite, Mr. Bubbles and the Tootsie Roll, how-many-licks owl) and Doe (which tends to focus on cartoon-based designs, like renditions of Snoopy and Woodstock).

I just recently, however, became acquainted with Heroes & Thieves, a UK-based T-shirt line sold at Delia's stores. The line of ultra-soft cotton tees features eye-catching silkscreen art (just peep the portraits of the women on the above styles) that looks carefully sketched and hand-painted (always a good thing when you want your shirt to be the statement-making piece of your outfit), as well as more run-of-the-mill, everyday pieces (such as the gray "Live Love Peace" design pictured above). These three designs are available at select Delia's stores, so do your homework and get that T-shirt game right!

Circa $24.50 per tee; Visit Delias.com

The Final Straw

H&M has been steadily picking up its purse game over the last few years and, now, among the throwaway bedazzled clutches and flimsy canvas totes, you'll also find some fantastic faux leather hobo bags, linen carry-alls, and chic clutches. A recent stroll through H&M's bag section left me feenin' like Jodeci, particularly for this leather-and-raffia doctor's frame bag with wooden handles (needless to say, I was in the cash register minutes later.... So much for self control, right?!). The colorful raffia pattern feels like a wink-wink to Missoni (the fashion house that made luxurious cotton and silk multicolored prints its signature, not to mention a look synonymous with haute hippie chic). The H&M bag takes an aesthetic associated with haute couture and flips the paradigm through the usage of raffia, which is clearly an inexpensive, beach-ready, summer-only textile. Which brings me to the next point -- this bag is so much more sophisticated than your average straw purse (the top leather part and the buckles on the sides add elegance and finesse) AND it's quite roomy (so you can carry your trashy summer romance novel, suntan lotion, wallet, keys, glasses, flip-flops and more). And since it's bursting with more colors than a Skittles pack, it will match pretty much any bathing suit you choose to wear -- making it perfect for us indecisive types.

$30. Visit Hm.com for store locations

Snake Eyes

Though I hate myself a little bit for taking any sort of style cue from Paula Abdul, she's been hauling this fabulous black Lockheart bag around — and I gotta admit I'm loving it (cue the Burger King jingle). The Serpentine, Angelina Hobo features embossed snakeskin, covered rings that plunge into a deep V-shape along the bag's front, two subtle diagonal pockets on either side and a detachable, lengthy cross-body strap. As some background, Lockheart was founded in 2006 by the same team behind Isabella Fiore, Jennifer Tash and Trang Huynh. Though Tash and Huynh always use top-of-the-line materials for their wares, they also have a penchant for bold, irreverent, in-your-face designs -- from mod leather patchwork motifs to Western-influences calf hair-and-leather constructions to punk rock hardware embellishments like gold rope chains and zippers. And, if you need a boldfaced name to give the line added credibility (shame on you!), then rest assured: Katherine Heigl, Denise Richards, Kate Bosworth and Jessica Simpson are all avid fans.

Black Lockheart Serpentine, Angelina Hobo bag aAlso available in burgundy and grey), $750. Visit Lockheart.com

The Patriot

Feeling a little patriotic this year, what with Obama making history as our first black Democratic presidential candidate? Or maybe you're rooting for the good ol' war vet, Mccain? Well, whatever the case, do the whole Jackie Kennedy, First-Lady-in-the-wings bit with a scarf that represents your party. After all, even though Michelle Obama's been rockin' 'em lately, pearl necklaces went out with Nancy Reagan. These vintage-looking neckchierfs from Echo Designs feature each party's signature animal: elephants for the Republican party and donkeys for Democrats. Why are these the animals associated with each party? Well, I did a Google search and found a few interesting factoids. Apparently, when Andrew Jackson ran for president back in 1828, people referred to him as a jackass because of his populist voice; and, go figure, Jackson ran with it and printed up campaign posters featuring donkeys, cementing the symbol's place in Democratic lore. As for the Republican elephant, this association dates back to 1874 when cartoonish Thomas Nast used the ivory tusked mammal to represent the Republican vote in a strip[ that ran in Harper's Bazaar. I'm still trying to figure that one out 100% (the story's a bit convoluted and crazy) but yeah, blame it on the cartoonist. In any case, it's an interesting alternative to the Rock the Vote tee, ain't it?

Echo political cotton scarves, $25 each. Visit EchoDesign.com

Flower Power

Sure, they're a little juvenile. Think about it: they're plastic, Powerpuff Girls pink hair clips! But there's also something so fun about these that I just can't knock 'em. Now that Carrie struck box office gold with her Sex and the City movie, flowers (her signature since Season One) are popping up everywhere -- woven straw and raffia ones are adding some spunk to straw and canvas handbags, silk and cotton creations are being tenderly glued to pins in order to produce gorgeous brooches, etc., etc.

Whether they're dramatic and oversized, dainty and cute, or unapologetically girly and retro, all things floral are in full bloom -- and these H&M hair clips are just another manifestation of that trend. So I say work that middle part and pin these on either side for an adorable schoolgirl-gone-bad look. And, if you're a crafty little thing, you can always think of creative ways to wear these (maybe pinning them on a scarf or to a tank top strap)... Just think: what would Carrie do?

$2.99 per pair. Available at select H&M stores. Visit http://www.hm.com for stores.