SICKA THAN AVERAGE

L.A.M.B. Haughton Clutch -- As Seen On "Gossip Girl"

Sometimes watching Gossip Girl can be like a game of "Where's Waldo?" with us viewers scanning the crowd for familiar faces. Those of you who summer at the Hamptons or long for a socialite-esque lifestyle might have recognized upper crust clotheshound Helen Lee Schifter and teen daughter Storey Schifter among those in the crowd of attendees at Eleanor Waldorf's runway show on Monday's GG episode. Yes, apparently, the two Schifter gals refuse to miss a good party or fashion show – even when it's fictional.

In a brief scene, Helen was seen carrying the L.A.M.B. Haughton clutch in the Bristol print (pictured above). The clutch figures an '80s black-and-white checkerboard motifs, as well as a dartboard-like print with the words "L.A.M.B." and "Love" stamped along the arc's periphery. To make the colors really pop, the clutch's upper fold features two diagonal brown leather strips that come together to form a "V" shape, with a thin strip of turquoise leather piping and zipper detailing to add a funky, rock 'n' roll edge. The brown leather piping along the edge and zipper tab, meanwhile, give the style the necessary cohesiveness and streamline its look. Part of the L.A.M.B. Handbags Summer 2010 collection, the Haughton clutch hist stores in May.

L.A.M.B. Brighton clutch, $145. Available in May at Nordstrom (and Nordstrom.com), Bloomingdale's (and Bloomingdales.com), and Zappos.com

Put A Little Love In Your Heart (And Your Closet) With Amar

 

In Spanish, the verb "amar" literally means "to love." As it turns out, the word "amar" has quite a few meanings depending on the language selected; it stands for "eternity" in Hindu, "moon" in Arabic, "strong" in Burmese, and "wolf" in Inuit Indian. Once you've discovered the deep, cross-cultural linguistic roots of the word "amar," then, deciding on this as the name of your brand means taking on a huge responsibility to embody all the attributes and phenomena embodied by the term. And that's precisely the mission Australian designers Kerri Raymond and Michael Adam embraced when launching their Amar line in 2003.

Wearable designs with bold fabric choices and flashy details translate into confident yet feminine collections. Take, for example, Amar's Autumn/Winter 2010 collection, which I had the chance to preview at the G'Day USA showcase in New York City, where a number of up-and-coming Australian designers showcased their lines for members of the media, store buyers, and fashion insiders. Dubbed "The Time Is Now," the collection includes dresses, outerwear and separates in smoky lilac and purple, charcoal, silver, and steel gray, and jet black. Pictured above, are some of my favorite pieces: from the Courage Jacket (pictured at top), a wool coat with side buttons and a leather strip along the waist for a bit of a military feel; to the Forbidden Dress (pictured third from top), a strapless leather minidress with a bustier-like construction along the bodice and an armor-like twist to toughen up the sexpot silhouette; and the Pleasure Seeker Top and Dress (pictured second and fourth from top, respectively), which have whimsical covered in shimmering sequins.

Look out for the collection on Amar.com.au and stay tune for more news as the brand makes its foray into the US. What's not to love about Amar?

Junkprints "This Or That" Rings -- The Choice Is Yours

 

As many of you know, I'm a certified Junkprints fanatic —there's just something so clever and original about the way Channel Kennebrew's funky designs reference pop culture. Take, for example, these new  Junkprints "This Or That" rings, which reference the classic Black Sheep song "The Choice Is Yours" — you know,  the joint that goes, "You can get with this/Or you can get with that/I think you'll get with this/'Cause this is where it's at." If you want to go back on the scene crispy and clean, then, you should definitely check out this set of two-finger rings.

Each "This Or That" two-finger ring was handmade using laser cut plexi  and measures 3.5" in width and 1.5" in height. The rings come as a set (so you can wear one on each hand) and are individually signed and numbered. I love how Kennebrew used bulbous, almost graffiti-style bubble letters (notice the thick black outline of each letter) to give the rings that playful '80s vibe, while the colorful cloud motifs below each word seem to nod to early subway art (think Iz the Wiz) and the glittery rainbow arcs add a hint of disco-era flash.

I say you get with the "This" ring and the "That" ring because, when it comes to sassy jewelry, you can't beat that with a bat.

"This Or That" Ring Set, $200. Available at Junkprints.com

Mighty Fine Keith Haring Collection -- Celebrating An '80s Street Art Icon

Though he's now regarded as an iconic, trailblazing artist, Keith Haring was once considered a renegade. His work, which often depicted dancing figures, heart shapes, and musical references, has now been featured on everything from Swatch watches to Adidas sneakers, but in the '80s, New York City officials considered Haring a nuisance and a detriment to New Yorkers' "quality of life." After all, Haring's biggest claim to fame were his subway drawings, which he sketched using chalk atop the blank advertising paper panels he found lining the walls of train stations. Because his work was illegal, then, city authorities and law enforcement officials were quick to denounce it — not quite as vehemently as they did the work of graffiti writers, but still rather forcefully. It's baffling how short-sighted these officials were (and continue to be, seeing as they still persecute graffiti artists with the type of single-minded furor they could channel to rapists and arsonists). After all, had Keith Haring's work not been placed in these high traffic locations, the public would never have had the opportunity to discover his genius. Haring's public pieces, then, helped to democratize artistic output, making beautiful art accessible to all. It's what I continue to love about street art: how it allows all of us to enjoy beautiful forms of expression without having to enter some museum (or pay an admission fee).

The new collection of Keith Haring tees by Mighty Fine celebrates both his creative genius and his dedication to themes of unity, love, and acceptance. The tees feature some of Haring's most iconic designs — the "Lovers" tee (pictured at top), for example, features two figures holding up an enormous red heart (a classic Haring image) and boasts a black velvety trim along the V-shaped neckline and the square "frame" enclosing the design. The"Robotic Lovers" tee (pictured third from top), meanwhile, depicts two pink, R2-D2-esque droids in a friendly embrace. I also love the hip-hop flavored, Radio Raheem-esque "Boom Boom" tank top (pictured second from top), a groovy black tank with a yellow figure featuring a boombox head.

The new Mighty Fine Keith Haring tees range in price from $22 to $31. The collection hits stores in Mid April and will be available on WeLoveFine.com so be on the lookout for them!

MAC Spring Colour 2 Forecast -- Join The Coral Line!

Coral is making a big splash this spring, with everyone from Bobbi Brown to MAC Cosmetics exploring the shade's nuances. MAC's spot-on Spring Colour 2 Forecast collection features a range of cosmetics that play upon the subtle differences between peach, coral, apricot, salmon pink, tangerine, and orange. Whether you want a peachy, sunkissed glow on your cheeks or a dose of creamy coral color on your nails, this collection has orange-tinged shades in bountiful variations, as well as some complementary gold, chartreuse and warm rose colors.

Check out the collection below, as well as swatches of some of the products!

BLUSH OMBRE COLOR:

When you think of blush, you mostly think of pink or plum shades (with a few exceptions, such as Benefit's Peach, a shimmering soft peach color). That's why the Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach is such a pleasant surprise. I particularly love the gradient color, how the powder blush compact moves from a light, sunny, golden peach shade to a deeper pink coral color. You can dip your brush into either end of the compact depending on how subtle an effect you're going for, or you can blend the hues together for a really rich and complex hue.

MAC Cosmetics Blush Ombre in Ripe Peach, $25. Visit MACcosmetics.com

Here's what the blush looks like on the skin (it's not blended in this pic, so that you can make out the lighter hue at the left and the darker hue at the right):

NAIL LACQUER HUE:

Though it's named "Malibu Peach," this creamy nail lacquer hue is brighter than what you'd typically associate with the color peach, boasting a tangerine orange kick. What I love most about the nail lacquer, though, is how it manages to have this deliciously creamy texture without being goopy or sloppy (which is so often the case with lighter shades). It's the type of eclectic shade you can wear to an Easter get-together and rock straight into the summertime.

MAC Cosmetics Nail Lacquer in Malibu Peach, $12. Visit MACcosmetics.com

Here's what Malibu Peach looks like on nails:

LIPGLASS SHADES:

The Spring Colour 2 Forecast includes three lipglass shades: Ember Glow, a creamy light apricot color; Kumquat,  frosty tangerine; and Cha Cha, a golden mid-tone pink. I had the chance to check out the Kumquat Lipglass and thought the shade was rather unique. Though the orange color can seem intimidating when applied on the skin (check out the swatch below), once you brush it onto your naturally pink lips, it's way more subtle and the orange tones liven up the complexion quite a bit. My only reservation was that I found it extremely sticky (to the point of excess) and so, every time I wear it, I make sure to moisturize my lips thoroughly before application.

MAC Cosmetics Tinted Lipglass, $14 each. Visit MACcosmetics.com

Kumquat Lipglass swatch:

LIPSTICK SHADES:

One of the collections' biggest surprises were the four lipstick shades offered. Sure, the collection includes two hues that aptly relate to the overall coral theme (the Colour Me Coral, a frosted light coral hue, and the Fresh Shadow, a sheer bright pink orange), but the remaining two colors are considerably closer to the pink range (as opposed to the orange end of the color spectrum). I checked out the Victorian lipstick, a frosted carnation pink shade with gold undertones, and the Rose Maiden, a succulent raspberry sorbet color.

Check out the swatches of the two shades below, as well as the photo showing what the Rose Maiden looks like on the lips.

MAC Cosmetics Lipstick, $14 each. Visit MACcosmetics.com

Below, check out the Victorian (pictured at top) and the Rose Maiden (pictured at bottom) lipstick shades:

MAC Rose Maiden lipstick on my lips:

CRUSHED METAL PIGMENT - STACKED 2:

I'm usually gun shy when it comes to playing with pigments, but as soon as I laid eyes on these crushed metal pigments, I had to delve in. These four shades come in pots that can be stacked atop one another, which minimizes any bulk in your makeup bag. The pigments have more of an iridescent sheen than a puddle of oil under the desert sun. The shades include a light champagne gold hue and a slightly deeper rose copper color, as well as a vintage yellow gold shade, and a golden chartreuse green color. I'm particularly smitten with the golden green shade (check it out at left in the second photo below).

MAC Cosmetics Crushed Metal Pigment: Stacked 2!, $32.50. Visit MACcosmetics.com

Check out swatches of the pigment shades:

EYE SHADOW HUES:

 

Like the rest of the collection, these eye shadow hues flirt with the way pink, yellow, and orange can be fused together to create a multitude of distinct shades. The collection includes: Perky, which is billed as a salmon pink; Straw Harvest, a golden apricot color with tons of sheen; Hot Hot Hot, a coral shade with a satin finish; and Nanogold, a sheer yellow beige with pink undertones.

I had the chance to check out the Straw Harvest and Perky shades. I loved the metallic finish of the Straw Harvest eye shadow and the way the color incorporates an orange tint without going into Halloween territory. Though it's not particularly unique, the Perky shade does have a soft, chalky finish which makes it a good base color for any spring look.

MAC Cosmetics Eye Shadow, $14.50 each. Visit MACcosmetics.com

Here's what the Straw Harvest (pictured below, at top) and Perky (pictured below, at bottom) eye shadow shades look like on the skin:

Here's me wearing the Straw Harvest eyeshadow (I applied the darker brown hue in Smashbox's Sexy/Demure eye shadow duo to contour the eye):

 

Modo For Jasun Wu "Seberg" Sunglasses -- As Seen On Diane Kruger

Though he was already a star on the rise, Manhattan-based designer Jason Wu became an international darling after a newly minted First Lady, Michelle Obama, wore a dreamy, floor-length, one-shoulder gown custom made by Wu to her husband's inaugural ball. And when opportunity knocked on Wu's door, he not only invited it in, but he served it a three-course meal and offered it some coffee. For his Spring 2010 collection, then, Wu focused on building upon this momentum, expanding his line by adding versatile knitwear and outerwear, as well as a limited range of sunglasses.

The new Jason Wu shades come in four classic silhouettes: the Earhart, an aviator style aptly dubbed after female pilot Amelia Earhart; the Jett, a Wayfarer-esque silhouette that nods to rocker Joan Jett; the Mia, a Bohemian style inspired by Mia Farrow's Foster Grant shades; and the Seberg, a slightly retro style with a feline edge, which was presumably named after the late actress Jean Seberg. The collection of sunglasses was produced through a collaboration with Modo Eyewear and is available exclusively at Modo boutiques.

Pictured above, you'll find images of the Seberg shades, which Inglorious Basterds actress Diane Kruger was spotted rocking last week. The sunglasses feature square-ish lenses with rounded edges, and the acetate frames are contoured so as to create a "cat eye" effect along the top thanks to an elongated upper rim and the usage of metal accents along the upper corners, not to mention the slight indentations at he temples. The shades are available in the following five color schemes: tortoise with gradient gray/amber lenses, opal with gradient brown/purple lenses, aqua with gradient brown/purple lenses (pictured at top), topaz with gradient brown lenses, and onyx with gradient gray/amber lenses (pictured second from top).

I'm particularly fond of the aqua Seberg shades since the translucent blue really captures the whimsy of the feline shape and the breeziness of spring, and the brown metal accents along the upper corners add an unexpected twist to the classic silhouette. The world will just look a bit sunnier through these frames, don't you think?

Modo for Jason Wu Seberg, $275. Available at MODOshop.com

Echo Design's Modern Art Scarves -- They Win By A "Neck"!

Pop art meets fashion history in these new Modern Art scarves from Echo Design, which feature baroque Roman/Grecco-inspired prints akin to those in the now iconic scarves designed by the late Gianni Versace. Unlike Versace's designs, however, the interlocking, wing-like curves and floral details in these scarves are much bigger and are arranged in an almost kaleidoscopic manner. Plus, they're imbued with the whimsy, humor, and vibrancy of a Roy Lichtenstein painting thanks to the strategic use of microscopic, checkerboard-like squares, which create an almost pixel-like effect.

These 36" x 36" silk scarves are available in Warhol-ready colors such as purple, cobalt, gray and orange, which adds to their gallery-ready appeal. I'm particularly fond of the purple scarf, with its contrasting yellow, black and white hues. The way the yellow motifs are contoured with thick strips of black color reminds me of Warhol's famous Banana, 1966 painting while the purple backdrop reminds me of his 1986 self-portrait.

Talk about accessorizing being an art form!

Echo Design Modern Art Scarf, $78. Available at EchoDesign.com

GIVEAWAY ALERT!: Win A Pair of Converse "Splatter "Chuck Taylors AND A Lady Foot Locker "Spring Love" Tee

As we cruise right into spring, it's time to add splashes of color into your wardrobe. That's right, missies: start tucking away those dreary gray and black sweaters! We at Sicka Than Average have an overwhelming case of spring fever, and we just want to take a bucket of pant an throw it over all things somber and sullen. So to spread the love, we're kicking off a fun new giveaway featuring some funky, sporty goods. Are you ready for the detes? Here goes!

One lucky reader will have the chance to win a pair of low-top Chuck Taylors from Converse's Splatter collection (as pictured second from top) and a Lady Foot Locker "Spring Love tee" (pictured at top). The white V-neck "Spring Love" tee features a colorful heart graphic that makes the color wheel look positively wimpy. The low-top Converse sneakers, meanwhile, boast a deliciously impetuous, haphazard feel thanks to the drips of paint along the canvas uppers. It's a classic shoe style with a funky twist. The lace-up kicks are available in neon pink with turquoise and lime green paint drips, black with fluorescent pink and highlighter yellow drips, and gray with purple and lilac drips.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below, answering the following question: Why do you love Chuck Taylors? Also, make sure to note which Converse Splatter color you prefer. The deadline to enter is April 7th. A winner will be selected at random and contacted via e-mail by April 10th, and an announcement with the winner's name will be made on the site!

Please note that if the tee and/or sneakers are not available in the winner's size, a gift card valued at that piece's retail price will be supplied.

Good luck, gals!

**Full disclaimer: Lady Foot Locker is not a sponsor nor a co-sponsor of this promotion.

Diesel Successful Living Home Collection -- Rockin' The House

 

Diesel wants to make it into your home — and they won't stop at your closet or jewelry box. Its most recent endeavor, Diesel's Successful Living Home collection, has just arrived stateside. The collection encompasses floor and table lamps (the result of a licensing agreement with modern lighting company Foscarini), an array of textiles and a limited number of furniture pieces (produced through a collaboration with Moroso): a sofa, coffee table, bar stool, and chair. Diesel's creative team, led by Wilbert Das, came up with three themes to describe the design styles explored in the debut collection: Music, Retro, and Discovery.

Pictured above are two of my favorite pieces in the collection: the Bar Stud Stool, which features wooden legs painted black and a round seat made of polyurethane foam and covered with black leather and detailed with metal studs along the seat's periphery. The stud detailing, of course, imbues the stool with a rock 'n' roll edge, recalling everyone from the Sex Pistols to Billy Idol. The XRadio Table, meanwhile, features a 12mm glass surface with a film inlay depicting vinyl records and tinted an iridescent blue-ish hue that recalls the way an Xray print looks when displayed against an illuminated white backdrop. The V-shaped black metal legs, meanwhile, add that sleek modernity that we associate with the Diesel brand.

I sense a Diesel homecoming party in the future of many home decor lovers!

XRaydio Disc Table, $1,195, and Bar Stud Stool, $995. Available at the Diesel 5th Avenue and Soho stores in New York City, the Diesel Melrose Avenue store in Los Angeles, and the Diesel Market Street store in San Francisco.

Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum -- A Trip To A Violet Hill

Oftentimes, a perfume bottle's packages speaks to the fragrant elixir contained inside: from the whimsical, free-spirited, youthful daisy-adorned cap of Marc Jacobs' Daisy fragrance to the mysterious, sexy, black lace-covered orb of Valentino's Rock 'N' Rose Couture scent. When you first behold the  Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum, you might be struck by the understated elegance of its blown glass bottle, which has an umbrella dome-like shape, with the silhouette widening as you move down from the bottle's neck. Classic and sleek, the glass bottle juxtaposes soft and strong, rounded and angular — though it has an overall bell jar-esque form, it incorporates five faceted sections, like the vaults separating the segments inside a temple or gallery dome.The rounded ivory cap, meanwhile, recalls palatial marble floors. There's an old world feel to the bottle which recalls such iconic French landmarks as the Paris Opera house, the St. Louis des Invalides church, and even the Pantheon in Paris.

Fittingly then, the Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum is sophisticated and old-fashioned without being dated. The top notes incorporate violet, a bloom that has a decidedly rich history in France — in fact, it's believed to have been Napoleon's favorite flower and has been used in both perfumery and the preparation of sweet confections (like bonbons, violet jam, and candied violets) for centuries. Peppery and mossy wood notes (like cedar and patchouli) then surface, adding a dose of sensuality to the scent. For me, it's the pepper note that makes all the difference, giving the scent a nice kick and balancing the sweetness of the violet (the end effect is much more lush and green).

What's fascinating to me about this fragrance is how familiar it smells. A deja-vu feeling sweeps over me every time I spray it on, and yet Balenciaga Paris doesn't mimic any perfume in the market. This familiar sense, then, is the result of the associations I make when I smell the fragrance, the childhood memories it conjures up: the Para Mi Bebé Agua de Violetas scent my mother tenderly rubbed on my flesh when I was a toddler, the smell of the trees and the grass in my grandma's yard after a heavy rainfall, the peppery scents wafting out of restaurants in Old San Juan...

Balenciaga Paris, then, is a delightfully classy fragrance — just don't expect an edgy or envelope-pushing scent. This is an old-fashioned perfume to bring out the belle dame in you.

Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum, $95 for 1.7 oz., and $130 for 2.7 oz. Available at BergdorfGoodman.com