In our latest holiday gift guide round-up, we're celebrating the London-rocker-meets-California-easy style of Katie White, the lead singer and guitarist of the pop/dance duo The Ting Tings. With her choppy, bleached blond 'do, platinum eyelids, striped dresses, newsboy hats, graphic T-shirts, star- and heart-print cardigans, patterned leggings, and ankle boots, Katie White has shimmied her way the hearts of music lovers and style hounds since she first skipped around in the "That's Not My Name" video.
Do you know someone with a similarly on-trend, girlish but edgy look? Then check out these gift ideas, inspired by the "Shut Up And Let Me Go" singer.
Osborn Ashes To Ashes Booties, $165. Available at Shop.OsbornDesign.com
When pairing oversize, Flashdance-esque sweatshirts and graphic tees with leggings and snug pants, White adds a nice kick with eye-catching boots and kicks. These Ikat-inspired, woven cotton, ankle high boots from Osborn Design would not only complete her ensemble but, with their 1/2-inch, rubber-and-leather heel, they'd make it easy to dance around on stage while belting out dance-flavored pop tunes.
Wildfox I Love You Baggy Beach Jumper, $108. Available at WildfoxCouture.com
This oversize, vintage-looking sweatshirt from Wildfox Couture captures the laid-back, beachy California cool that the British singer and guitarist integrates into her looks. The sweatshirt's varsity blue color is reminiscent of the shade of tights White wore in the "That's Not My Name" video, and the letters' 3D shading makes them snap, crackle, and pop. Word to Rice Krispies.
Genie by Eugenia Kim Wallace Wool Newsboy Cap, $130. Available at LordAndTaylor.com
Like a stylish Mad Hatter, White certainly knows how to put a cap on it — the "it" being her blond head, of course. Her hat style of choice: the timeless newsboy cap. This plaid-like, 100% wool number from Eugenia Kim, then, would have her feeling like a rock-loving, Newsies devotee.
Burt's Bees Lip Balm Tin Ornament, $10. Available at BurtsBees.com
Whether you dangle it from a Christmas tree branch or tuck it inside a festive stocking, this Burt's Bees Lip Balm Tin Ornament will make mouths happy come Christmas Day. Each tin case is filled with four all-natural lip balms enriched with coconut oil, safflower seed oil, soybean oil and rosemary extract: two Classic Beeswax Lip Balms, a Honey Lip Balm, and a Pomegranate Lip Balm (our fave).
Arcade Striped Scarf, $68. Available at ArcadeBoutique.com
Whether they're inspired by nautical ensembles, vintage barber's poles, zebras, or candy canes, striped patterns appeal to Katie White types, who understand their genial simplicity. This gray-and-black scarf, an Arcade Boutique exclusive, will keep users warm thanks to a combination of modal and sorona, while also adding a dash of cheekiness to their outfits.
Beautyblender Stocking Stuffer, $23.95. Available at Shop.BeautyBlender.net
Whether posing for a photo shoot, hitting the red carpet, or rocking out on stage, White has to make sure her complexion looks flawless. With the teardrop-shaped Beautyblender sponge, she can evenly apply any concealer, tinted moisturizer, foundation, or cream powder and hit even hard to reach spots like the area around the nostrils and the inside corners of eyes. This special holiday set includes a Beautyblender sponge, along with a 3 oz. cleanser bottle in an adorable, sheer, cinched pink pouch.
Mighty Fine Hello Kitty "Deal With It" T-Shirt, $26. Available at WeLoveFine.com
Not only does Hello Kitty's red jumper remind us of White's "That's Not My Name" outfit, but those pixelated black sunglasses are so hip, they make Kanye's "Stronger" shutter shades look dated and tired.
Philosophy Peppermint Bark Duo, $15. Available at Sephora.com
Think of Christmas time treats: gingerbread men, pumpkin pie, candy canes, pecan pie, turrón, buñuelos, red velvet cake and, of course, peppermint bark. Indulge your senses in the shower with the Philosophy Peppermint Bark shower gel, which features a blend of creamy white chocolate and sweet candy cane notes, or add a hint of gloss to lips (and some yummy flavor) with the Peppermint Bark lip shine. This delicious duo comes packaged in a vintage-flavored, candy cane-like, striped tin case with a clear window pane and a nostalgic image of a child on a sled.
AllSaints Polyxena Jumper Dress, $230. Available at US.AllSaints.com
How do you make cupcakes look rocker chic? Take a cue from British brand AllSaints, the mastermind behind this chunky cashmere-and-wool blend sweater dress, which features a ribbed hemline, ribbed cuffs, and a ribbed scoopneck. In addition to the cozy-looking, open-stitch crochet pattern, the sweater features all-over knitted "X" shapes and a whimsical cupcake pattern.
Jonathan Adler for Barnes & Novle Peace/Love NOOK Case, $20.96. Available at BarnesAndNoble.com
Whether she's on an airplane or a tour bus, White probably spends a fair amount of time trying to distract herself while en route to the next gig. If, like most other avid readers, she's discovered the wonders of the Nook eReader, she'll need a stylish case to protect her beloved device. This Jonathan Adler-designed, purple-and-orange, cotton canvas Nook case features a heart on one side and a peace sign on the other for a Jerry Garcia-approved look. As an added plus, the interior flaps contain a side pocket and a window business card holder to keep users organized.
CND Scentations Sweet.Sparkling.Spicy Trio. Visit CND.com for a list of retailers.
This stocking-ready gift set features a delicious trio of hand lotions: the Sparkling Champagne Lotion, which smells like an intoxicating glass of bubbly; the Black Cherry & Nutmeg Lotion, a succulent, slightly spicy treat; and Cranberry Lotion, a fruity, zesty, sugary scent.
Hello Kitty x Aerial7 Tank Headphones, $80. Available at Shop.Sanrio.com
Aerial7 and Sanrio have teamed up to create a limited-edition set of headphones donning Hello Kitty's image along the center and exterior of the red-and-black swivel ear cups. The black foam cushions along the inside of the rubberized ear cups feature an all-over, white Hello Kitty pattern. In addition to an adjustable, cushioned headband with the words "Hello Kitty" stamped in block letters along its length, these sturdy headphones include a thick coiled label with an output designed for compatibility with most iPods and MP3 players, as well as a smaller straight cable for use with iPhone and Blackberry phones.
Vince Striped Tee, $95. Available at Barneys.com
This slouchy, pima cotton blend tee features a boat neckline, three-quarter dolman sleeves, and thin horizontal stripes, all of which help to create a seafaring spunkiness.
Love Express Gift Set, $49. Available at Express.com
Since she's always on the cusp of all style and beauty trends, we imagine Katie White would love the of-the-moment styles available at Express stores. And, like its apparel offerings, the Express brand's first-ever fragrance, Love Express, captures the adventurous spirit of the modern woman. Juicy notes of blackberry mingle with feminine lily of the valley and tiare blossoms, while vanilla musk adds a tender sensuality. For the holidays, give the Katie White-like gal in your life an express ticket to empowerment with a Love Express gift set packed with a 1.7 oz. bottle of Love Express EDP and a 3.4 oz. tube of Love Express Shimmer Body Lotion.
Topshop Bow Beret, $16. Available at US.Topshop.com
In the opening sequence of The Ting Tings' "That's Not My Name" video, White rocks an ashy gray newsboy cap with a bow accent along its side, right at the edge of the brim. This wool-and-angora beanie hat ushers the look into the winter season, providing added warmth while maintaining the playful cutesy quality yielded by the bow motif.
Kahlúa Peppermint Mocha, $21.99. Available at select wine and liquor stores. Visit ArlingtonWine.net or check out Kahlua.com for retailers in your area.
This new, limited edition Kahlúa flavor takes the innate 100% Arabica coffee bean flavor of the beloved liqueur and fuses them with hints of peppermint and dark chocolate for a truly indulgent, slightly boozy peppermint bark taste. You can serve a bit on the rocks, mix it with a hint of milk, or stir it into some hot cocoa and garnish with marshmallows.
Hello Drama Drip Drop Necklace, $25. Available at HelloDrama.BigCartel.com
Hello Drama's punk-y, laser-cut lucite jewelry is imbued with a defiant, rebellious spirit that's perfect for any child of rock 'n' roll. This bold cross pendant measures 3" in height and features paint-like drips along one side. Our favorite detail: the playful heart cut-out shape created by the drips along the bottom corner of the cross shape.
New Balance V74 Sneakers, $64.99. Available at ShopNewBalance.com
The black hi-top kicks White wore in the "That's Not My Name" were just a bit too busted for our taste. To freshen up her look, we'd recommend White check out the New Balance V74 kicks, new for the Holiday 2010 season. These snowboarding-inspired kicks feature an extended tongue, canvas uppers with exposed stitching, a charcoal gray piping along the ankle collar and matching laces, and a white rubber sole.
Echo Quilted Driver Echo Touch Gloves, $35. Available at EchoDesign.com
You don't have to wrap your hands around a steering wheel to don some chic driver's gloves. These quilted, wool blend Echo gloves are available in perky colors like candy apple red, bright aqua, and peony pink. But, beyond being a great accessory, these Echo Touch gloves are designed to address the needs of tech-savvy youngsters who are constantly tapping at their iPhones, iPods, and iPads, thanks to the eLink fabric tips adhered to the thumb and index fingers on each glove. These tips, then, allow users to interact with digital devices without having to remove their gloves and leave their little fingers out in the freezing cold. If you've ever worn leather gloves and tried to tap on a digital screen, only to realize you typed a string of rubbish like "xxyyaab," you'll appreciate this innovation.
Ooh La La Candy "Sweet Spots" and "Zebra Stripes" Candy Cupcakes, $6.95 each. Available at OohLaLaCandy.com
She may watch her figure, but this girl isn't about to refrain from the occasional indulgence. These candy confections make an excellent stocking stuffer. Ooh La La Candy's candy cupcakes consist of chocolate balls, candy corn, chocolate coins, gumballs, jelly beans and other tiny tasty treats, with colors that fit a chic theme, all packaged in clear plastic bags which are then tucked inside cupcake holders of matching patterns or prints. Katie White types would particularly love the Candy Cupcake couture collection, which features the delicious Zebra Stripes cupcake, pictured second above, which features teeny spheres of chocolate candy in white and black hues, all tucked into a zebra-striped paper cupcake holder.
Paul & Joe Sister Bombay Merino Wool Fair Isle Cap, $165. Available at Net-A-Porter.com
Though White (and her style twins) love newsboy hats, she'll need a heftier interpretation of the silhouette to get her through the chilly winter months. This Paul and Joe Sister merino wool cap features a structured peak and a Fair Isle design in gray, white, mustard yellow and black.
eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm Holiday Gift Bag, $9.99. Available at Walgreens stores.
They say good things come in threes, and that's certainly applicable to the eos Smooth Sphere Holiday Gift Bag, which features three of the brand's organic lip balms, each packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, hydrating shea butter and softening jojoba oil. Because of their orb-shaped containers, users can twist off the top half of these lip balms and, cupping the bottom half, simply roll the dome-shaped balm inside along the lips, removing the need to use fingers (often a germ-ridden experience). These three full-sized spheres come packaged in a zippered mesh pouch with glittery silver accents. For a cooling, crisp flavor, you can opt for the Sweet Mint lip balm (packaged in a a light aqua color), while you can treat lips to some fruity flavor with the Honeysuckle Honeydew sphere or the new, limited edition Pomegranate Raspberry (which we hope will be introduced into the permanent collection!).