SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Cash Rules Everything Around Me: 55 DSL's Cash In Hand Logo

In honor of its 15th anniversary, streetwear brand 55 DSL invited design-savvy fans to participate in an online contest revolving around reinterpreting and reinventing the brand's classic shield logo in a manner that represented the brand's identity and underscored its values and history. Over 1,000 entries were submitted during a three-month period, and each design was examined and scored by an experienced panel of judges that included 55 DSL's Creative Director, Andrea Ross.

Last week, the winner of the "55 DSL Logo Remix Challenge" was finally announced. Jake Holloman won the top prize for his "Cash in Hand" design, pictured above. Holloman not only nabbed a hefty cash prize of f 1,055 €, but his design will be showcased in 55 DSL's 2010 Spring/Summer 10.55 Limited Edition T-Shirt collection.

All you crafty readers who are nice with the colored pencils or who can work magic using Photoshop and Illustrator Illustrator, you can still seize the opportunity to submit your work for consideration. 55 DSL's Digital Design Tour lands in NYC's Webster Hall on March 21. For more information about this event, visit 55Dsl.com/blog/cut-and-paste.

To learn more about Holloman, the contest, and the other winning designs, visit LoroRemix.55DSl.com

Dare To Bare Your Skin (This Is NOT A Stripper Contest!)

You exhibitionists may think the "Dare to Bear Your Skin" campaign is some kind of national stripper outreach program, but nope, nope, nope. Famed dermatologist Dr. Patricia Wexler is encouraging girls to wipe off the make-up and show off their visages. What Wexler hopes is that young women will feel so comfortable in their own skins that they won't feel the need to hide behind their foundation, powder and lipstick.

But, of course, Wexler understands that, in order to go bare, women must feel like their skin is radiant and healthy, so she's providing them with the tools to attain this goal. Confident about the effectiveness of her skincare products, Wexler is challenging women to try her products for 30 days and experience naturally beautiful skin.

To enter, customers need to visit BathandBodyWorks.com/WexlerDaretoBare from January 29 to February 28, and purchase the (pictured above) or the Anti-Acne Solution Kit — both skin treatments that will help you obtain clear, rejuvenated, radiant skin in 30 days.

Three grand prize winners will receive a $500 shopping spree at Bath & Body Works and a year's supply of Patricia Wexler MD Dermatology products. Also, 25 first prize winners will receive the Patricia Wexler MD Dermatology Universal Anti-Aging Solution Kit.

Boston Celtic Legal: Reebok "Dee Brown" Pump Omni Lite

Right in time for NBA All-Star Weekend, Reebok is unveiling its new "Dee Brown" Omni Pump Lite model which commemorates the former Boston Celtics player's storied career as well as the classic Reebok Omni Pump Lite model Brown himself wore when he won the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest. Those of you yung'uns who don't remember Brown's deft "No See Dee" dunk maneuver, during which he dunked a ball with one hand while covering his eyes with the other, check out this link. Brown was the first Boston Celtic to win the dunk-off contest — an even more considerable feat considering he was a relatively unknown rookie at the time. His creativity, finesse and confidence on the court transformed him into a household name and, as his profile increased, so did that of his prized Reebok Omni Pump kicks. After all, who could forget the sight of Brown pumping up his shoes before performing that magical move?

Eighteen years later, Reebok is unveiling this limited edition version of their famous Reebok model, which is named after Brown and features the Boston Celtics' green-and-white colors. Inside the tongue, you'll find an illustration of the front and back of Brown's Celtics jersey (he wore the number 7 from 1991 to 1998 which, interestingly enough, is a seven-year span.) On the sockliner, meanwhile, there's an illustration of the parquee basketball court with the number and team of the final four players Dee beat in the fateful contest. At the top of the foul line is Dee's number 7 and atop it is a crown and the words "Dee Brown: Slam Dunk Champion."

These kicks drop February 14th at Shiekh Shoes in Arizona at the store's Arizona Mills Location (5000 Arizona Mills Circle #158, Tempe AZ). Only 360 pairs are available.

Gypsy Lady: Devon Leigh's Boho Earrings

Last Sunday, Jessica Simpson rocked Devon Leigh's Gold Dipped Hammered Bronze Gypsy Earrings while performing at the 99.9 KISS FM Country Chili Cookoff in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The former Newlyweds star looked like she'd been burying her own trough in some vats of chili (either that, or she's retaining an Atlantic Ocean's worth of water), and her newfound plumpness was only accentuated by the high-waisted Grey Ant jeans she chose to wear. But hey, at least she had some amazing earrings to pull the look together.

Devon Leigh Designs Gold Dipped Hammered Gypsy Earrings, $475. Visit DevonLeighDesigns.com

Shower With Praise: Kontextur's Curtain Rings

Who knew shower curtain rings could actually be sexy? I mean, I've seen some rings that are average-looking and maybe even pretty (though that might be pushing it), but sexy? Not so much. Geesh, it's hard enough to fins an actual shower curtain that's not covered in some hideous Little House On The Prairie-esque flower print or with childish neon fish designs and atlas-like maps. Fortunately, the New York City-based design line kontextur is bringing a discerning eye to the bathroom, giving this oft neglected space its groove back.

Specializing in modern, sleek and incredibly attractive shower rings, kontextur offers consumers three basic options to select from: the Bamboo Series, featuring grooved acrylic in stark hues like black, white or clear;  the Neon + Squared series, boasting playful rings with square-cut tops in vivid neon hues such as red, green, orange, purple and blue; and the Aura Series, featuring high-gloss, acrylic oval rings with metal-colored inserts.

Pictured at top are some rings from the lust-worthy Neon + Squared series (my personal fave), while below it, you can check out the modern, flossy Aura series rings. Don't they make a steamy shower seem like a much sexier proposition?

Kontextur Neon + Squared shower rings, $95 for set of 12; Aura shower rings, $85 for set of 12. Visit Kontextur.com

 

Thriving Ivory: Jennifer Belton's jb dzyne Jewelry Line

 

Before all you zealous animal rights activists come after me with clubs and burning torches, allow me to clarify: no elephants, walruses or mammoths were killed or maimed in order to produce these ivory-centric jewelry designs (nor were any harmed in the writing of this post... okay, that last part was a joke!).

In fact, the walrus ivory used in Jennifer Belton's original pieces range from 1,000 to 12,000 years old, while the mammoth ivory dates back 11,000 to 40,000 years. By using these ancient materials, Belton transforms every work into a valuable, almost magical, ancient artifact.

Belton decided to launch her jb dzyne line after spending the past eight years traveling throughout Europe, North Africa and Alaska, and discovering  different kinds of ivory than what she'd previously seen. First, there's walrus tusk ivory, which is found mainly in two places: it's either excavated from old village sites (and hence varies in color depending on the amount of time for which it was buried and the color of the soil surrounding it), or it's discovered underwater or along beaches. The second type of ivory, mammoth bone and tusk, is also excavated from various sites and varies in color from a creamy white to  deep brown.

In the jb dzyne line, Belton experiments with combining these rare materials with gold, silver and precious gems, yielding one-of-a-kind, exotic, intriguing and majestic works of art.

Pictured above are two of my favorite offerings: the "Amoebas" ring, which features 14k gold, sterling silver and fossilized walrus ivory and the stunning 14k gold, sterling silver, diamond and fossilized walrus ivory "Valdez" ring.

jb dzyne "Amoebas" ring, $2800 and "Valdez" ring, $5500. Visit jbdzyne.com

Sporty Style: United Nude x K-Swiss

Can't get away with wearing sneakers to work? Want a shoe that's as comfortable as your favorite pair of kicks but is a bit more sophisticated and elegant? Check out these five styles from the new, limited edition Spring 2009 K-Swiss x United Nude collection. Each shoe features the classic K-Swiss stripes, while the more streamlined, sleeker lines are a nod to United Nude's architectural designs.

$200 each. Visit KSwiss.com or UnitedNude.com.

Mrs. Bright Eyes

The trend towards flashier, look-at-me-now eye color is in full effect for 2009. From sunshine yellow eye shadows (like the one Solange Knowles sported on the promo materials for her sophomore album) to turquoise, teal and aqua shades that have a whimsical, tropical feel and sultry jewel tones like amethyst and emerald green, this is the time to infuse those eyes with some vibrant bolts of color.

Want to experiment with a wilder, more electric palette, check out these fantastic eye shadows, liners and mascaras and tap into your own technicolor goddess.

EYE SHADOW PALETTES

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics "Bobbi Brights" Palette, $70. Visit BobbiBrownCosmetics

Smashbox Artist Eye Palette in Muse, $48. Visit Sephora.com

NP Set by Napoleon Perdis "Seattle" Gray/Navy Eye Palette, $20. Visit Target.com

Tarte Cosmetics Spring Greening Limited Edition Reusable Straw Palette, $38.50. Visit Sephora.com or TarteCosmetics.com

 

Tropez "Opposites Attract" Eyeshadow Quad in Ocean Breeze, $2.99. Visit Walgreens.com

MASCARAS

 

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara in Brun Remix, $17. Visit Ulta.com

Vincent Longo C_scope Vibrant Eye Waterproof Mascara in Verde (green), $24. Visit VincentLongo.com

Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara in Purple Haze, $17. Visit Sephora.com

 

NYX Cosmetics Mascara in Electric Blue, $5. Visit NYXCosmetics.com

 

Styli-Style Colorlash Mascara in Green Shock, $7.99. Visit StyliStyle.com

 

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara in Blue Disco, $17. Visit Ulta.com

 

Vincent Longo C_scope Vibrant Eye Waterproof Mascara in Giallo (yellow), $24. Visit VincentLongo.com

 

Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara in Electric Blue. Visit Sephora.com

Smashbox Bionic Mascara in Black Violet, $19. Visit Sephora.com

 

Styli-Style Colorlash Mascara in Blue Shock, $7.99. Visit StyliStyle.com

EYE SHADOWS

 

JK Jemma Kidd Hi-Design Eye Color in Urban, $18. Visit Target.com

 

CoverGirl Eye Enhancer in Indigo Impact, $3.47. Visit Drugstore.com

 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Purple Haze, $16. Visit Sephora.com

 

LORAC Eyeshadow in Green Room, $17. Visit Sephora.com

 

NYX Cosmetics Single Eyeshadow in Irises, $5. Visit NYXCosmetics.com

 

Becca Jewel Dust in Feeorin, $24. Visit BeccaCosmetics.com

 

JK Jemma Kidd Hi-Design Eye Color in Modernist, $18. Visit Target.com

 

Everyday Minerals Eyeshadow in "10 Items or Less," $6. Visit EverydayMinerals.com

 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Chronic, $16. Visit Sephora.com

CoverGirl Eye Enhancer in Lime Alive, $3.47. Visit Drugstore.com

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Electric, $16. Visit Sephora.com

 

Trish McEvoy Glaze Eye Shadows in Azure, Kiwi, and Iris, $16 each. Visit Nordstrom.com

 

JK Jemma Kidd Hi-Design Eye Color in Dramatic, $18. Visit Target.com

 

LORAC Eye Shadow in Glamorous, $17. Visit Sephora.com

 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Green Goddess, $16. Visit Sephora.com

 

 

LORAC Eye Shadow in Celebutante, $17. Visit Sephora.com

 

NYX Cosmetics Single Eyeshadow in Violet, $5. Visit NYXCosmetics.com

LINERS

 

Vincent Longo C_Scope Vibrant Eye Waterproof Liner in Verdino (green), $18. Visit VincentLongo.com

 

LORAC Eye Shadow/Liner in Blue Topaz, $16. Visit Sephora.com

 

Tarte Cosmetics Eyeliner in Mona Lisa, $18. Visit TarteCosmetics.com

 

Bourjois Liner Clubbing in Violet Laser, $16. Visit Ulta.com

 

Styli-Style Line & Seal 24 in Spring Green, $7.99. Visit StyliStyle.com

Vincent Longo C_scope Vibrant Eye Waterproof Liner in Gialliano (yellow), $18.Visit VincentLongo.com

 

Bourjois Liner Clubbing in Electro Blue, $16. Visit Ulta.com

 

Estee Lauder Duo-Tone Eye Pencil in Aquateal. Available in March. Visit EsteeLauder.com for more information.

 

Styli-Style Liquid Liner 24 in Green, $7.99. Visit StyliStyle.com

 

JK Jemma Kidd I-Tech Liquid Eyeliner in Drama, $18. Visit Target.com

Tarte Cosmetics Eyeliner in Ballet Dancers, $18. Visit TarteCosmetics.com

Styli-Style Line & Seal 24 in Deep Purple, $5.99. Visit StyliStyle.com

Origins Eye Brightening Color Stick in Ice Blue, $14. Visit Origins.com

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Liner in Air Guitar, $18. Visit Sephora.com

Sand Jewelry: Feel Like A Natural Woman

Here's a look at some of the marquis items from Sand by Therese, a jewelry line that focuses on celebrating organic shapes and materials found in nature. The bohemian-flavored line boasts necklaces, earrings and rings made of mother of pearl, jade, citrine, onyx, agate, colored freshwater pearls, green chalcedony, and more — all for less than $100 (most styles fall in the $30 range).

Beyond the materials used, what's intriguing about this line is the sculptural shapes given to each handcrafted item. The "Leafy Earrings" pictured at top, for example, feature small, pea-sized jade stones at the very top (which instantly make us thing of nature), then mother of pearl frames in undulating leaf shapes followed by dangling smokey quartz stones cut in more precise oblong shapes. The "Disco Earring," pictured second from top, feature a dangling strand of three pearls framed in hematite for a very peas-in-a-pod design. And lastly, there's the "Waterfall" earrings, which use a dainty strand of pearls falling along the interior of the mother of pearl frames so as to imitate the look and feel of falling water.

If you want your jewelry to commune with nature, check these out.

Leafy earrings, $36; Disco earrings, $34; Waterfall earrings, $46. Visit ShopSandJewelry.com

Need A Support System? Try Sassybax

If your cup runs full (or it runeth over, for that matter), then you've more than likely become acquainted with the shortcomings of strapless bras — they never seem to stay in place, forcing you to shift, tug, and adjust every few minutes; they can show through your clothes; they're often padded in the strangest ways; and they never seem to raise your breasts to the right height so that they look perky without looking Cathouse-ish. Strapless bandeau bras (theoretically) solve some of these problems but, in reality, the top elastic never seems to hold tight enough to prevent the bra from rolling down (and how annoying is it to have a bulky, rolled-up bandeau bra laying under your breasts, creating a lump that protrudes through your clothes?). So what's a woman with a full bosom to do when she wants to show off her new strapless dress or that plunging camisole top?

Well, what she needs to do is stock up on some Sassybax goodies.The shapewear line offers a variety of bra and bustier options that provide excellent support and focus on smoothing and slimming the female silhouette (and what woman can't dig that?!).

Pictured at top is Sassybax's Underwire Bandeau Bra. Ladies, this bra is hands-down the best strapless bra I've ever tried — and trust me when I tell you that I've tried many. The bra stays in place for however long you wear it: you can bend down, run around, and dance all over the house without having to tug at it even once. Meanwhile, the underwire and the elastic construction places your breasts at the perfect height, reversing the sagging effects of gravity and age. Seriously, my breasts looked so perky when I wore this bra, that I wanted to run around going, "Don't my boobs look great?!" Random story: I had a friend who, thanks to some implants, went from being completely flat-chested to having some nice little bumps and, for a period after the surgery, she'd flash anybody willing to look. It wasn't a sexual thing or even a deliberate attempt at exhibitionism — she was just THAT excited about her new boobs. After wearing Sassybax's Underwire Bandeau Bra and having my breasts lifted and tightened, I think I have an inkling of what she must have felt!

And the bandeau bra is just the beginning. If you want to wear a curve-hugging top and you're a bit frazzled by that extra flesh around your midsection, you'll love the Strapless Underwire Torso Trim, a bustier-like piece that will make you look slimmer and will give your shape greater definition (without cutting off your circulation or air supply!).

Other products available include the Peek-A-Boo Torso Trim, a stretchy undergarment with a plunging V-neck line that falls right by your hips so as to smooth out your entire upper body (it's perfect for slinky cocktail dresses), and the Bralette, which is perfect for wearing underneath thin T-shirts for a seamless look (no visible bra lines and, hence, no pinched back fat or other debacles). All the bras are available in nude or black and fit cups ranging from A to DD.

Sassybax Underwire Bandeau, $48; Sassybax Strapless Underwire Torso Trim, $75. Visit Sassybax.com