SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Holiday Gift Guide Part 3 -- For The Girl Who Wants To "Smile" Like Lily Allen

For the third installment of this year's gift guide, which is inspired by female music icons (as you know from last week's ode to Pat Benatar and the previous tribute to Janelle Monae's equestrian-meets-funk style), we're focusing on British pop star Lily Allen. Since making her debut in 2006 with the kiss-off break-up song "Smile," which features Allen's sugary vocals over a calypso-laced, melodic track but boasts deceivingly mischievous lyrics about sweet revenge, the daughter of musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen has emerged as a vintage-loving style icon. Like her songs, her wardrobe choices mix naughty and nice, at first appearing very traditional but then showing hints of defiance upon closer inspection. Traditionally girlish pieces like floral print frocks and preppy chic headbands are paired with street-savvy, hip-hop flavored accessories like oversize doorknocker earrings, layered gold necklaces, and high-top sneakers for a cheeky and coquettish end result.

Below, you'll find some great holiday gift ideas for the woman in your life who reveres Allen's signature style.

 

 

Rachel Comey Stinger Dress, $201.50. Available at LaGarconne.com

A-line dresses are a vital part of Allen's fashion repertoire — and, given her petite upper body, bustier styles are particularly flattering. This Rachel Comey cotton-and-silk dress features buttons all along the front placket, a playful circle skirt, an underwire bustier bodice, and adjustable spaghetti straps. And, since Allenistas like feminine things with a bit of a twist, they'll appreciate the hidden pockets at the side seams of the skirt, which are perfect for stashing lip balm, keys, or any other knick-knacks.

 

Links of London Mini Blue Metallic Heart Charm, $60. Available at LinksofLondon.com

Aside from doorknocker earrings and oversize hoops, Allen enjoys layering gold necklaces adorned with a variety of pendants. As a woman of contradictions, Allen is likely to pair naughty and nice motifs, complementing gun-shaped pendants with prim, sweet charms such as this metallic, baby blue, bubble-shaped heart number from Links of London.

Philosophy "Christmas Morning" Holiday Set, $20. Available at Philosophy.com

A glazed donut is about as universal a treat as they come. The Philosophy Barely Glazed holiday set features an 8 fl. oz. Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath and an 8 fl. oz. Body Lotion, both featuring a vanilla-tinged, milky, sugary and slightly buttery scent that has just the right amount of sweetness. And, in typical Philosophy fashion, the bottles feature a recipe for making delicious glazed donuts at home. Yum!

 

 

Alex and Ani "I Heart Rock N Roll" Hoops, $68. Available at Endless.com.

Though heart-shaped doorknockers, oversize hoops, and triangle-shaped bamboo earrings tend to be Allen's preference, we think she'd swoon over these Alex and Ani "I Heart Rock N Roll" hoops, which measure 1.5" in diameter and feature small Russian silver beads threaded through the thin golden hoops, as well as icicle-like rhombus shapes and large Russian gold spikes dangling from the hoops' center.  These spiked charms add a bit of edge to the earrings without giving them so tough a vibe as to take them into Siouxsie Sioux territory.

 

Tocca Crema Mani Viaggio (Hand Cream Trio), $18. Available at Tocca.com

The three hand lotions in this set all feature coconut oil, shea butter, avocado oil, and jojoba seed oil to moisturize, soften, and smooth hands. The lotion isn't greasy or balmy, but is absorbed rather quickly, making it ideal for on-the-go use. And, since girls love variety, this set features three scents: Stella, Tocca's juicy Blood Orange fragrance; Cleopatra, a zesty grapefruit and cucumber scent; and Florence, which has a romantic English Rose aroma.

Ray-Ban RB2140 Original Wayfarer, $159. Available at Ray-Ban.com

Whether she's performing at an outdoor summer festival or a prestigious fashion show (like she did at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2010 show), sashaying down the streets of London, or making her way through an airport or hotel, chances are you'll find Lily Allen donning a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers. The multi-colored button print of this Wayfarer frames has a festive, carnival-ready feel that will perk up any ensemble.

 

Rachel Roy "Kindness Is Always Fashionable" Tote

All you rude, seat-hogging, neck-swiveling, line-cutting, crowd-pushing urbanites take heed of the message Rachel Roy is promulgating in her new limited-edition tote: "Kindness is Always Fashionable." Made of 45% linen and 55% cotton, this lightweight tote was designed to help the U.S. Fund for Unicef provide relief for the more than 13 million people in Pakistan affected by the devastating monsoon rains in and subsequent flooding that washed away bridges, submerged croplands, destroyed over 300,000 homes, claimed the lives of over 1,600 people, and left over 10 million children in need of food, shelter, and medical supplies. Since disaster struck in July, the global community has failed to pledge sufficient aid funds to address such a large-scale crisis. And so, Rachel Roy, has vowed to do her part to help by designing a limited-edition tote and vowing to donate 100% of the proceeds from their sale to UNICEF.

This natural, un-dyed tote features contrast stitching and frayed edges along the bottom for an earthy, laid-back look. The front of the tote features the phrase "Kindness Is Always Fashionable" along the center, in black block letters. The back of the bag, meanwhile, features a peace sign symbol, the outline of which, upon closer inspection, is formed by illustrations of tiny children. All around the peace sign, you'll find the signatures of more than 88 celebrities — among them André Leon Talley, Diane Von Furstenberg, Iman, Jay-Z and Oprah.

 So what do you say? Feel like being fashionable through a kind gesture of solidarity?

Rachel Roy "Kindness Is Always Fashionable" Pakistan Tote, $20. Available at RachelRoy.com

Mondo Guerra x Piperlime Tees Set To Debut On World AIDS Day

Like most avid Project Runway viewers, I was ready to chuck a dinner roll at my TV screen when Heidi Klum announced that Gretchen Jones had beat out Mondo Guerra as the Season 8 winner.

The judges' determination that Jones' collection — which recalled Sedona-based psychics hawking magic crystals and proselytising about energy vortexes — was somehow more innovative or artful than Guerra's vibrant, pattern-mixing, rule-breaking designs can only be attributed to old-fashioned snobbery and a hefty dose of stodginess (or perhaps some yet-to-be-detected cataracts!). Clearly, most Project Runway fans stood alongside me in the Team Mondo camp as venomous and befuddled blog posts, editorials, and tweets flooded cyber space immediately after the finale.

Fortunately, Mondo might just have a Jennifer Hudson moment where the runner-up winds up outshining the anointed winner. His first design project since the show's conclusion consists of a joint venture with online shop Piperlime. Just in time for World AIDS Day, observed on December 1st, Piperlime is unveiling two limited-edition T-shirts designed by the Project Runway alumni and printed on Nation LTD blanks. One T-shirt bears a psychedelic skull graphic (perhaps a Día de los Muertos reference) with festive, folkloric floral and heart motifs embedded therein and a quirky black bow tie bearing star burst shapes in vibrant colors. The second T-shirt design, meanwhile, features a simpler design: a barren tree with one heart shape dangling from its branches and the words "Vive y Ama" (Live and Love) printed underneath it in cursive letters.

Twenty dollars from the sale of each T-shirt will benefit amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, a cause close to Mondo's own heart given his HIV positive status.

Mondo Guerra x Piperlime T-Shirts, $50 each. Available at Piperlime.com starting December 1st.

Lady Ness x Miss Wax Jewelry Collection — To Have And To Hold, To Spike And To Stud

Tired of all the quaint pearls, precious bracelets, and dainty charms being displayed in stocking-ready, holiday-themed boxes? Are you more likely to revel in a darker, Tim Burton-esque aesthetic this winter? Then check out the new two-piece jewelry collection co-designed by Kylee Fauss of Miss Wax and Vanessa "Lady Ness" Diaz of event production agency Rawthentix.

The capsule collection nods to the sinister, fetish-loving, punk-meets-goth aesthetic of Siouxsie Sioux, the British singer who shocked the '70s bourgeoisie with her spiky black hair; theatrical, feline-shaped eye makeup; dominatrix-style, thigh high leather boots; vamp-y red lipstick, applied to make sharp points along the Cupid's bow area of the mouth; studded leather cuffs; metal harness belts; and see-through mesh and lace tops. Other influences include Wendy O of The Plasmatics, who is often referenced as the "Queen of Shock Rock" and the "Dominatrix of Decibels" and who defied all social conventions with her tall platinum blond Mohawk, bondage-style leather bikinis and corsets, exposed breasts with X-shaped nipple covers, and dominatrix-ready boots. Add a pinch of Grace Jones toughness and Tina Turner gumption, and you've got the ultimate tough-as-nails inspiration board.

Launching in mid December,  the collection consists of the "Hold Me" Harness, which is centered on a curved, black leather shoulder embellished with nail heads, studs and spikes, and featuring adjustable chain strands that loop around the arm and drape across the torso, hanging loosely from the hip. The harness is available in sizes Small (42") or M/L (48") and in Gunmetal or 14K Gold. Those looking for a more affordable and slightly more understated option will lust after the "Spike You!" Stud Earring, a one-piece acrylic stud with black pyramid stud details and multiple 11-inch chain strands adorned with 14k gold or gunmetal grooved metallic bar or arrow-like spike charms. The piece is so in-your-face, so imbued with bravado, that you only need one earring to make a statement.

Get ready for some Red Light style!

"Hold Me" Harness, $130, and "Spike You!" Stud Earring, $36. Available in mid-December at MissWax.com and Rawthentix.com.

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Shusu Sleek Collection -- Nice and Smooth

 

 The seeds of the Nigella Sativa (black cumin) plant, which is believed to have originated in the Middle East, have long  been heralded for their medicinal, culinary, aromatic, and therapeutic benefit. When King Tutankhamen's tomb was unearthed, archaeologists discovered a notable amount of black cumin buried with his remains, which probably indicates that the Egyptian pharaoh deemed the herb so precious that he wanted it to travel with him into his next life. The Prophet Muhammad even wrote in regards to the plant's black seeds, "Shooneez is cure for all ailments except death.”  To this day, black cumin seeds are boiled and used in teas to cure stomach ailments.

As it turns out, black cumin can also aid in restoring coarse, damaged and unruly hair to a silkier, smoother state. The new Shu Uemura Art of Hair Shusu Sleek collection features three products — the Shusu Sleek Smoothing Shampooo, Shusu Sleek Smoothing Conditioner, and Shusu Sleek Treatment — aimed at accomplishing precisely this feat. All of the products contain black cumin oil, which contains over 100 elements, ranging from vitamins A, C, E, B12, B6, and K, to minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium, and fatty acids like omegas 3,6 and 9. Given its high concentration of antioxidants and nutrients, black cumin oil helps to protect hair from free radicals, while the fatty acids in its composition smooth and soften the hair cuticle. When combined with jasmine oil (which adds luster to tresses), musk rose oil (which helps to prevent oxidation and keeps your color looking vibrant), and camellia oil (a lipid-rich moisturizing agent), black cumin oil restores vivacity to hair, while also making it softer to the touch.

After using this product line for a few months, I've noticed my hair feels silkier. In fact, other people commented on my hair's softness — a noteworthy occurrence given its rarity.  During a recent event, I met hair accessory designer Colette Malouf, and she styled my hair using some of her gorgeous headbands, hair pins, and barrettes. As she twisted, fluffed, and finger combed my hair, she complimented me on its velvety feel. At that point, I felt like, if I lived in Egyptian times, I'd pull a King Tut and be buried with a lifetime supply of Shusu Sleek products.

Not only has the texture of my hair improved, but the amount of flyaways and frizz have lessened, so that I can wear my hair straight or curly and keep the look controlled and polished. I'm particularly fond of the Shusu Sleek Treatment since it leaves hair feeling as soft as rose petals.

And here's yet another reason to fall in love: the products smell so good (a mix of gardenia with green leaves and spicy, earthy notes) that, if the scent were bottled and sold as an eau de toilette, I'd probably purchase it. The fragrance is feminine but exotic, as if the spices used to season an Arabic entree were wafting through the air and mixing with the freshness of the cypress and elm trees in a Middle Eastern garden. If you lay your head on someone's shoulder, then, your hair alone will titillate their senses, so that you'll literally smell exquisite from head to toe.

 

 

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Shusu Sleek Smoothing Shampoo, $45; Shu Uemura Art of Hair Shusu Sleek Smoothing Conditioner, $55; and Shu Uemura Art of Hair Shusu Sleek Smoothing Treatment, $65. Available at ShuUemuraArtofHair-USA.com

Case-Mate iPhone 4 Quartet Case -- Radder Than A Rubik's Cube

Remember the Rubik's cubes we obsessed over as '80s children? If you were a sore loser (like myself), then you might have tried to clandestinely peel off the colored stickers and press them back on to the cube's surface so that it would appear as if you'd solved the insufferable puzzle. Whether you were a Rubik's cube Rain Woman or a riddle-loving rabble rouser, chances are these toys were an integral part of your childhood or adolescence.

Which is why iPhone 4 users will indulge their nostalgic sentiments with the new Case-Mate Quartet case, masterminded by Portland-bred industrial designer Erik Arlen. Each of these iPhone cases features 6 modular pieces, so that you can pick four of your liking, then slide and lock them into place. The Quartet case is available in four colorways: High Contrast (pictured above, at top), a Mondrian-worthy combo of fire engine red, squash orange, sky blue, and walnut brown; Sensuous Silk (pictured above, second from top), a creamy pastel mix of painterly peach, cake batter yellow, vivid turquoise, grape candy purple, moss green, and brink pink; Vintage Flannel (pictured below), a combination of marine blue, slate gray, asphalt black, royal purple, and bright turquoise; and Rustic Tweed, an earthy mix of khaki brown, grayish blue, light mauve, fern green, and sap green.

And, unlike the Rubik's cube, you'll never get stumped over these puzzle pieces!

 

 

Case-Mate iPhone 4 Quartet Case, $34.99. Available at Case-Mate.com

Butter London Marrow Nail Lacquer -- Bad To The Bone

 

Every season, Butter London founder Nonie Creme joins fellow trend-setters Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai, the brilliant duo behind the Vena Cava NYC line, to create a custom nail color exclusively to debut during New York Fashion Week. And while Creme always keeps nail trend spotters on their toes, she outdid herself at the Vena Cava Fall/Winter 2010 show in New York City, when she debuted the nail lacquer Marrow (pictured here). 

Made exclusively for the Vena Cava FW10 show and named "Marrow" by the designers themselves, the nail lacquer is a deep, mysterious purple with an unusual twist. While backstage at the Vena Cava show, Creme explained that, when creating the lacquer, she started with a dark, vamp-y burgundy base. When they applied the shade to their nails, however, the color felt dated, and so they began to experiment with new iterations. Branching out from that burgundy base, then Creme added black and tons of navy blue, and the latter helped give the pigment an eggplant purple color. Not content to simply have a deep purple lacquer, Creme pondered, What if she added tons of white pigment to the lacquer? Sure enough, by mixing in a hefty dose of white pigment, she imbued the Marrow lacquer with an eerie, foggy quality that makes it distinct from its brethren.

Below, you'll find photos showing what the Butter London "Marrow" Nail Lacquer looks like on nails. Though the shade does have a semi-shiny finish to it, the white pigment in the formula yields a foggy quality that makes it look slightly spooky. Personally, however, I think the shade looks best when coated with a mattifying top coat (such as the CND Super Matte Top Coat). See for yourself!

 

DKNY Be Delicious Eau De Toilette Giveaway And New Core Club Application

Seeing as it's Thanksgiving weekend, we're showing how grateful we are to you, our readers, by launching a new giveaway. But first, we want to share some exciting news. As die-hard fans of DKNY and members of the DKNY Core Club (a dedicated space on the DKNY Fragrances page on Facebook where users can discuss what they love most about DKNY Be Delicious, find out about upcoming promotions and events, design their own apple-shaped fragrance bottles, and much more), we're happy to share the launch of the brand new Core Style application on Facebook. To check it out, you have to first "Like" the DKNY Fragrances page on Facebook, then click on the "Core Club" tab.

The new application is designed so that it scans a Core Club member's Facebook posts and, if authorized, his/her tweets, highlighting keywords that are, in turn, assigned to a specific list of attributes. Based on the types of posts made by the user, and the language used therein, the application creates a personality profile using  descriptors like "Spontaneous," "Stylish," and "Romantic" and designating a number of percentage points for each that add up to a whole. In the screenshot below, you'll find an example of our latest Core Style results: 33% Everyday Inspired, 26% Lively, 15% Stylish, 13% Romantic and 12% Super Spontaneous. Once your fragrance personality is calculated, you can post the results to your wall and share with your friends.

To celebrate the Core Style application kick-off, we're giving one lucky reader the chance to win a 3.4 fl. oz. bottle of DKNY Be Delicious Eau de Toilette Spray. The giveaway kicks off today and ends December 6th at 11:59 p.m. EST. To enter, you must be over 18 years old and a U.S. resident.

Here are the steps you need to take to enter:

1. Leave a comment below describing why you like the Be Delicious fragrance.

2. Log onto Facebook and "Like" both the DKNY Fragrances page and the Sicka Than Average page.

3. Send an e-mail to [email protected] with "DKNY Giveaway" in the subject line and, in the body, the comment posted below. Make sure to leave an e-mail address where you can be contacted should you win.

The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via e-mail.

How delicious is that?

 

 

 

A-to-Z Guide To Black Friday And Cyber Monday Deals

 

You're probably pre-heating your oven for that juicy Butterball turkey, boiling the pasteles, or peeling the candied yams for Thanksgiving dinner so, as a way to express our gratitude towards you lovely readers, we've rounded up some of the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals out there. From special Cyber Monday makeup collections to free gifts with purchase, discount codes, and sale items, here's a recipe for stress-free holiday shopping.

 

ALICE + OLIVIA BLACK FRIDAY BELLINI BREAKFAST

Are you a fan of Alice + Olivia on Facebook or Twitter (@alice_olivia)? If so, you might have noticed that Alice + Olivia is offering its social media fans the chance to shop an hour earlier than other customers on Black Friday. From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., you can stop by Alice + Olivia retail stores and enjoy an additional 15% off all merchandise (excluding sale items). To get on the list, make sure to follow A+O on Twitter and "like" the brand on Facebook, then RSVP at [email protected].

 

AMRITA SINGH 50% OFF SPECIAL

Until November 26th at midnight, enjoy 50% off all orders (no restrictions, ladies!) at AmritaSigh.com when you enter the coupon code black10 at checkout. If you spend $100 or more, you'll also get free shipping and a free gift: the Amrita Singh Dune Necklace in Turquoise.

 

BAN.DO BLACK FRIDAY SALE

From Friday, November 26th through Sunday, November 28th at midnight enjoy 25% off all hair accessories at ShopBanDo.com. Just enter the code blackfriday at checkout.

 

BING BANG NYC BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL

In keeping with the Black Friday motif, jewelry designer Anna Sheffield is gifting customers with a free pair of gunmetal Vivienne Tiny Studs earrings (which retail for $48) when they make any purchase of $45 or more at BingBangNYC.com.

 

Free Endearment Spring 2011 Handbag Collection -- Color It Beautiful!

The best way to bounce back after a particularly eviscerating break-up? Think about something you've always wanted to do — a hobby you wanted to take up, a hair color you wanted to try, a trip you meant to take — and then dive in head first, throwing caution to the wind and eradicating all possible excuses. You may find that jumping down the rabbit hole is the quickest route to feeling fulfilled and gratified. Just look at Jaclyn Morse, who launched her handbag line Free Endearment in October 2007, after a failed relationship and a seminar that left her feeling invigorated. In just three years, Morse has created a robust collection of youthful clutches, hobos, and satchels, transforming a flight of fancy into a thriving business.

For Spring 2011, Morse is experimenting with brighter colors, leaving aside the monochromatic schemes and toying with color-blocked styles that recall the Mod fashions seen in the 1960s. Some of these color-blocked styles are fairly subdued, such as the Kristina satchel, pictured at top in a supple beige leather with a fern green tapered bell shape along the center framed by slim hot pink stripes. The exterior pockets along the sides of the bag also feature a green leather trim, as does the top handles. Others saunter into groovier territory — among them the Corinne clutch (pictured second from top) in Fuchsia/Blue/Green, which features puckered flamingo pink leather panels surrounded by a deeper fern green trim and accentuated with a light sky blue hue strip along the bag's center and outlining the cut-out handle. Another great pick: the Julie hobo in Red/Blue/Grey (pictured below, last), which features slanted bands of color that overlap to accentuate the piece's "V" shape.

The bags pictured here, as well as the rest of the pieces in the collection, will be available in January, so mark your calendars and bring in 2011 with a positively endearing purse.

Pictured above: Kristina in Bone/Green/Fuchsia, $297, and Corinne in Fuchsia/Blue/Green, $265; available at FreeEndearment.com in January 2011

Pictured below: Dana in Red, $365, and Julie in Red/Blue/Grey, $275; available at FreeEndearment.com in January 2011.