SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Tadashi Shoji x Johnny Weir Japan Earthquake Relief Tee

Cartman, Kyle, and Kenny may still be asking, "What would Brian Boitano do?," but the rest of the world is focused on the newest ice king: the fur-loving, glitter-sporting, Lady Gaga-worshiping, Johnny Weir, the three-time national figure skating champion who has quickly penetrated the persnickety fashion world's elite inner circle. Not only do we relish Weir's unabashedly flamboyant demeanor, but we applaud his humanitarian efforts, particularly in this time of worldwide turmoil.

Rather than rest on his laurels and bask in the glory of his newfound pop culture icon status, Weir is using his high profile to enact change. Most recently, he teamed up with designer Tadashi Shoji, who hails from Sendai, Japan, to create a limited-edition T-shirt aimed at raising funds for earthquake relief efforts in Japan. Mirroring the Japanese flag's distinctive design, the white T-shirt features a red circle at its center. Uplifting terms that convey solidarity — among them English words like  "Love," "Hope," "Believe," "Prayers," "Support," and "Together",  as well as their equivalent in Japanese — are printed in white letters, with different font types and sizes used for each mot. The words form a heart shape, again reinforcing the idea of a loving global community.

All proceeds from the sale of this unisex T-shirt, which retails for $25, will benefit the Japanese Red Cross Society, which is hard at work trying to grapple with the damage wrought by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan on March 11th. 

So, if the question for you is, "What would Johnny Weir do?," then you already know the answer: go cop a shirt and do your part.

To order, visit JohnnyGWeir.com or call 1-877-TADASHI.

Change Your Luck With New Junkprints Good Fortune Bag

 

Remember when Harvey's seatbelt bags were all the rage? Well, Junkprints designer Chanel Kennebrew has breathed new life into this interwoven strap construction, giving the concept her own streetwise spin. Rather than reusing dowdy polyester automotive seatbelt straps, Kennebrew upcycled thick, ribbon-like, vinyl strips in yellow lemon, Sunkist orange, baby pink, and turquoise, interweaving them to yield an origami-like effect.The result: the new Junkprints Good Fortune Bag, a piece so funkadelic, it will make anone who wears it feel like Lady Luck herself.

The oversize purse itself has an oversize shape, with a zipper running vertically along either end. But here's the twist: when the black leather strap running horizontally from one end of the bag to the other is attached to the two black, golden chain-accented shoulder straps, the bag's silhouette is transformed and a fortune cookie shape emerges. When the shoulder bag is folded, the button snap closures along the top outer edges come together at the center, allowing you to set the fortune cookie shape. Once contorted into its hobo-esque form, the zippers face upward, so that they're positioned at the top rim, adjacent to each other and separated by the center snap closures.

Each Good Fortune Bag is handmade and one-of-a-kind, so no need to worry about enduring the fashion equivalent of cracking open a fortune cookie only to discover that the printed paper tucked inside bears a mantra or fateful prediction you've encountered before. Here, your fortune is yours alone!

 

 

Junkprints Good Fortune Bag, $275. Available at Store.Junkprints.com

NARS Spring 2011 Collection -- A Resort Look To Remember

 

 

After releasing two drama-ridden, enigmatic makeup collections inspired by socialite and fashion icon Daphne Guinness, François Nars seems to have decided that the current movement of his ongoing beauty symphony should have an andante tempo, one with a slower and less intense pace but with just as much charm.

The NARS Spring 2011 collection, then, centers on a rather minimalist, muted color palette, with eye colors ranging from earthy tones like sandy beige, muddy brown, and golden olive, to watery hues like a wispy sky blue and a denim-ready indigo. In usual NARS form, though, the collection remains dynamic and unpredictable thanks to vibrant pops of color like a lime green Soft Touch Shadow Pencil (aptly dubbed Celebrate). Lips, meanwhile, remain understated thanks to sheer lipsticks like the brandy-tinged, fleshy Tzigane Lipstick or the pale, lilac pink-tinge nude Madére Pure Matte Lipstick, with perky, sheer, cheerful  pink, peach and purple glosses adding a youthful vibe. Last, nails take a cue from Western flicks with a brass lacquer shade worthy of a vintage Deputy Marshal badge.

Though it's more understated than previous collections, there's an irresistible ease to the Spring 2011 collection that feels pitch-perfect for these warmer months. Below, you'll find images and info on all the pieces in the collection, as well as swatches of some key items, and a few sample looks. Enjoy!

 

Kitchen Confidential -- VIPP Introduces New Line Of Kitchen Tools

Tired of all those "shabby chic" kitchen wares, like those woven rattan and wicker bread baskets and those homely dishwashing towels with floral appliqués? Ready to toss that '60s diner-style Tablemaker salt shaker? Then here's something to quell your anxiety, my modernity-embracing mavens: Vipp has just launched a new line of sleek kitchen tools in monochromatic tones. The collection includes a bread box, salt and pepper mill set, and dishwashing set — all designed to maximize functionality while also emphasising Vipp's trademark aesthetic, via simple shapes, minimalist motifs, and clean lines.

The Vipp salt and pepper mill set, for example, is available in a black-and-white color combination for a nod to the Art Deco period. Each of the cylindrical ceramic mills features a stainless steel top lid with serrated edges. When you twist the cap, you'll hear a grinding noise that gives the experience a more authentic feel. The salt and pepper set comes with a painted black aluminum base that fits both mills, making storage both easy and stylish. This elongated, slim, elliptical-shaped base features rubber inserts that can be removed to simplify the cleaning process.

Next, there's the dishwashing set: a slim black bracket that can be mounted onto your kitchen wall and which features a stainless steel bar through which to loop towels (like the white cotton cloth included in the set), as well as unobtrusive notches on either side of the bracket on which to hang the dish brushes. The bracket's design alone eliminates the inconvenience of damp sponges or brushes that leak all over your sink and kitchen counter, accumulating bacteria and eventually getting a not-so-fresh odor. Once you hang the brush on its bracket, you can let it air dry, eliminating clutter and keeping the sink area clean and dry.

The dishwashing  brush, meanwhile, boasts a slightly curved design that makes it easy to reach the bottom of tall glasses and deep pots. The perforations along the rubber-coated handle lighten some of the steel core's weight without compromising the brush's sturdiness. Best of all, the rounded brush heads can be removed as needed, so there's no need to keep buying new brushes whenever the bristles look frayed and stiff.

Last, there's the Vipp bread box, a 3-gallon, rubber-and-stainless steel container measuring 16.3" x 7.5" x 8.9". Available in black or white, the elliptical-shaped bread box features a metal lid with a slim slit along the center and small ventilation holes all over the surface. The bread box also comes with a cotton bag in which to tuck your bread (or any other food you plan to store in the container) so as to keep it dry, fresh, and ready to eat.

Check out detailed images below, along with pricing info!

Save The Date: Katherine Kwei Sample Sale in NYC on April 14th and 15th

       

 

Forget taxes being due! April 14th and 15th are marked on our calendars not because of Uncle Sam and the Big Bad IRS Wolf but because, on these two days, Chinese handbag designer Katherine Kwei will be hosting a not-to-miss sample sale, with assorted styles at discounted prices (some even 50% off!). To check out all the offerings, New Yorkers can drop by 611 Broadway, Suite 742 (at the corner of Houston & Broadway) from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and take in all of the Bohemian-flavored, eternity knot-accented snakeskin, leather, calfskin, and lambskin satchels, clutches, cross-body bags, hobos, shoulder bags, and wallets.

Want to be certain the trip will be worth it? Well, here's a taste of the type of deals you'll discover. Let's start with the Donna Snake Clutch in Zebra (pictured at top), a black snake skin number with shimmering, undulating, gold and silver, zebra-like stripes that appear hand-painted; slashed leather strips along the bottom half of the envelope-shaped clutch; tiny eternity knots along the bottom ridge, and a sleek, magnetic frame closure. Normally, the Donna Snake Clutch retails for $935 but, during the sale, you can nab it for just $460.

If you prefer a roomier purse, check out the Teresa Tote (pictured second from top), a wrinkled calfskin shoulder bag with sliced black and metallic silver leather strips that extend from one side to the other, tied into eternity knot motifs at the center. Four eternity knots are stacked atop one another along the front panel, while smaller eternity knots adorn the sides. Aside from two sturdy handles, the zip-top bag features a detachable shoulder strap which enables women to wear the purse as a cross-body. Though it bears a retail price of $625, the tote will go for $350 during the Katherine Kwei sale.

Is your stomach in knots with anticipation of this eternity knot-laden event? Then we'll see you there!

For more information, call (646) 476-7665.

Giveaway Time! Win These Sparkling Carolee Earrings

                

What better way to kick off a new week than to launch a new giveaway? That's just how we roll, ladies! This time around, we're offering you a chance to win these Carolee Make My Day or Night Pierced Teardrop Earrings, valued at $32.

An affordable but glamorous accent to complement any cocktail party frock, black tie affair gown, or princess-perfect prom gown, these Carolee earrings are as versatile as they are chic. The silver-toned Make My Day or Night earrings measure 1 1/2 inches in length and feature encrusted clear crystal accents all along the perimeters of the elongated teardrop shapes and the rectangular ear posts.

So how can you get some teardrop earring magic in your life? Follow these steps:

• Visit our official page at Facebook.com/SickaThanAvg and "like" us there.
• Follow us on Twitter (@sickathanavg)
• Leave a comment below answering the following question, "On what occasion would you like to wear these earrings?" You could mention your prom, wedding, a date night, an office party, a night out on the town — anything!

Once you've completed these steps, you'll officially be entered to win. Simple enough, right?

The giveaway ends Wednesday, April 7th at 11:59 PST. One winner will be chosen at random and announced by April 9th at 11:59 PST  both in the comments section below and on our official Facebook page.

Only US readers are eligible to enter the giveaway. All entrants must post their comments using an e-mail address at which they can be contacted should they be selected as the winners.

Good luck, everyone!

 

Stuck On New Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips

 

 

I was initially skeptical about the efficacy of the new Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips — not because of any hyperbolic marketing claims but, rather, because of my disappointing experience with the Sephora by O.P.I Chic Prints nail appliqués, which were also nail strips with funky prints that, when pressed onto nails, would theoretically look as if they were melted onto nails for a Minx-like effect. Sadly, the Sephora by O.P.I Chic Prints frayed easily (we're talking a single dish washing session) and chipped even faster (opening an envelope seemed like a hazardous operation), so that a full "manicure" lasted 2-3 days tops. After that debacle, I was inclined to scoff at any products offering similar results. But, I'm woman enough to admit my mistakes — and, ladies, when it comes to the Sally Hansen Salon Effects polish strips, I'll admit my leeriness was completely unwarranted. These stick-on strips adhere to nails easily and make your hands look like they'd been wallpapered with the utmost precision (in the best, most modern way, of course), plus your jaunty manicure will last over a week, making it a bargain-priced alternative to Minx (one box of Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail strips retails for $9.99 at drugstores and at Ulta.com, while a Minx application can cost about $50-$60).

Each boxed kit contains a miniature nail file/buffer, a double-sided wooden cuticle stick (one pointed and one flat and angled), step-by-step instructions, and 16 nail polish strips in various sizes so as to fit an array of nail types. To apply, you need to start off with clean and dry nails so that the DBP-, toluene-, and formaldehyde-free color on the strips can fully adhere to nail plates. For best results, you should also buff nails using the light pink side of the mini nail file and push cuticles back ever so slightly. Next, you should sift through the box until you find the polish strip that best fits the fingernail on which you wish to apply it. Now here comes the tricky part: you'll want to peel the white plastic film off the bottom of the nail strip and place the polish strip on your nail, aligning the rounded bottom ridge with the base of your cuticle line. Once the strip is aligned, peel off the clear top layer covering the polish strip. Next, press the strip onto the nail, gently running the flat part of the cuticle stick over your nails to remover any air bubbles, tuck the sides in, and create a smooth surface. Any excess material will hang past the tips of nails, so you'll want to fold it over, pressing down as you do so. To remove the excess, file the bottom of nails using the light pink side of the nail file (the excess will literally fall right off), then finish buffing the tips until the ridges look smooth and even.

The Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips are available in shiny neon shades (like Red-y for Trouble, a Fiat-appropriate red, or Squeezed!, a fluorescent yellow), glitzy metallics (like Blue Ice, a sparkling teal and aquamarine design, or Bling It On, a violet-tinged rose with purple, magenta, and fuchsia sparkle), and several cheeky patterns (among them Kitty Kitty, a leopard print design; Check It Out, a black-and-white houndstooth pattern; Girl Flower, a '60s-esque, hippy-flavored floral motif;  Booty Camp, a pink camo print; and Wild Child, a zebra print motif).

Not only will these designs win you plenty of curious stares, but you'll be impressed with their longevity. I washed dishes, did laundry, unsealed boxes, scrubbed floors, dusted cabinets, and performed all sorts of odious housework, and was amazed at the fact that my nails remain unscathed. I figured there had to be a catch -- were these strips suffocating my nails? Would I get some kind of fungus? Would my nails be debilitated to the point of breaking? Amazingly, once I removed the strips (which can easily be done by sweeping a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover over nails), my nails looked just as healthy and strong as they did prior to the strips' application. The Salon Effects strips, then, have lasted me longer than most regular manicures, but they're way more fun!

Below, check out some photos showing what the Girl Flower, Kitty Kitty, and Check It Out patterns look like on nails.

China Glaze Anchors Away Collection -- A Nautical Nail Adventure

 

The abundance of wide leg pants with parallel rows of gold sailor buttons, rope-trimmed jackets and hats, striped blue-and-white tops, and anchor motifs all suggest that we're drifting out to sea for Spring 2011. Even nail lacquer companies are picking up on these maritime motifs — prime among them China Glaze, which recently released its Anchors Away collection. The 12-color collection, however, doesn't simply hone in on Popeye-worthy blues and Olive Oyl-approved reds (though it does include these touchstone shades via the candy apple Hey Sailor color and the navy blue First Mate shade), nor does it focus on running the gamut between dark aquamarine and shimmering, mermaid-worthy turquoise for an under-the-sea manicure experience.

Instead, the Anchors Away collection explores everything from punchy shades like those you'd find on the spinnakers raised during regattas (Starboard, a creamy bell pepper green, fits the bill perfectly) to the colors of common deck supplies (chief among them Knotty, a slightly peachy, pale golden camel shade reminiscent of a braided hemp rope, but with a sophisticated, almost candlelight-like shimmer) and the shades of maritime safety essentials (such as Life Preserver, a diced tomato color with a creamy finish).

Other shades, meanwhile, capture the nuances of the sailing experience. The Sunset Sail shade, for example, almost fits into the "mannequin hands" trend of wearing nude, flesh-like colors that practically mimic one's own skin tones, virtually nullifying the existence of nail plates. The color's warm, light peach undertones, however, create a feeling of warmth that does, in fact, remind one of the sky right as the sun seems to kiss the horizon. The White Cap polish, meanwhile, captures the dynamic, misty white ridge at the top of an ocean wave crest. The shade, then, feels dewy and resplendent, with a clear color saturated with microscopic white glitter particles that reflect any oncoming light, radiating like soft white bulbs in certain light, then appearing more muted and snow-like in other scenarios. The Sea Spray shade further delves into the oceanic navigation process, attempting to capture the color of the watery mist that splashes onto the deck as a boat's prow cuts through a watery expanse. This creamy color is a mix between an icy light blue and an ashy gray shade, yielding a beautiful and unexpected color that feels like it was plucked from a photo of Alaska's Glacier Bay.

Below, you'll find photos of what the colors in the collection look like on nails. We're particularly smitten with Sea Spray, Pelican Gray, and Below the Deck (a creamy, grayish mauve shade). Check them out!

 

John Frieda Full Repair Collection -- Doing Damage Control

 

You may want to change your hair color more often than Rihanna, or you may cling to your flat iron and blowdryer as if they were the last life rafts on the Titanic, but don't think these frequent makeovers come at no cost. If you're shedding more than a Saint Bernard puppy, the strands framing your forehead define gravity, or your ends are as frayed as the fur of a comic book cat after a dizzying twirl inside a clothes dryer, then it's time to take a long hard stare at your hair care regimen and figure out how to mend the cycle of destruction. The John Frieda Full Repair collection consists of a range of haircare products that help women with dry, damaged, color-treated, and sensitized manes achieve their desired looks while protecting their hair from further damage.

Kao Brands was courteous enough to provide us at Sicka Than Average with a full range of products from the John Frieda Full Repair collection so we could offer you readers our honest opinion on what the line is all about. So, ladies, here goes.

The entire John Frieda Full Repair collection consists of hair care products enriched with Inca Inchi oil harvested from the Inca Inchi plant indigenous to the Amazon forests in Peru. This oil boasts an extraordinarily high concentration of essential fatty acids (84%), with over 48% of this figure consisting of Omega-3, which penetrates hair follicles, nourishing hair from deep within rather than simply coating it with nutrients that can't quite move past the topical level. Not only does Omega-3 help to fortify hair and to boost luster, but it can stimulate hair growth and nourish the scalp.

On the cleansing front, then, you have the John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo and the Full Repair Full Body Conditioner, both of which feature Inca Inchi oil. But what's the cleansing experience like, you ask? Well, when you apply the shampoo to your hair and massage it into your scalp, you'll notice that it foams quite a bit. This rich lather is the result of the sodium laureth sulfate in the formula, but here's the puzzling part: this controversial chemical has been proven to dehydrate hair and strip it of its color (being SLS-free has been a vital part of the philosophy behind lines like Wen by Chaz Dean and Pureology) so why would it be included in a cleanser specifically designed to repair damaged tresses? That being said, the shampoo does eliminate any dirt, oil, and residue, while also detangling strands thanks to the Inca Inchi oil in the formula. The detangling effect is essential in that, oftentimes, wen we shampoo hair that's already overtaxed, we run the damage of incurring further breakage and aggravating the problem. When you follow up with the conditioner, your strands should be completely untangled and hair should feel silky, smooth, and a bit plumper. Once it dries, you'll notice even more volume and bounce rather than hair looking toasted or fried.

The remaining four products in the collection focus on protecting hair when using hot tools to style it and on taming frizz and fly-aways. The Perfect Ends Sheer Mist, for example, is formulated to protect fine strands and should be sprayed throughout the hair, with a bit extra spritzed directly onto ends. The Perfect Ends Deep Infusion, meanwhile, is a slightly heavier product designed for women with hair of a medium to thick texture. You hence need to use this concentrated serum a bit more sparingly, pumping out a pea-sized amount onto hands and rubbing it between palms, then smoothing evenly onto hair. If your hair has bravely ventured to the front lines in the battle for style, combating the evils of excessive heat exposure and harsh chemical dyes, then it will most likely need the type of intensive therapy provided by the Perfect Ends Deep Infusion. The serum won't just sit atop your mane, weighing it down and making it look like an oily mess, but it will instead penetrate strands, moisturizing the hair from within and hence making it look plumper and more voluminous. Will it somehow magically reattach split ends? Nope. But it can at least make them less visible and ward off future damage. If your main concern is restoring volume to limp tresses, then you'll appreciate the Protecting Root Lift Foam, a mousse-like product that adds some oomph to hair while also protecting it from potential heat damage.

The most jaw-dropping, star-power-worthy product in this collection is the Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer, the handiest, most purse-ready haircare offering since Ted Gibson's Hair Sheets. This slim tube features a mascara wand-like applicator that you brush onto trouble spots when you're out on the town, so that you can instantly manage those pesky broken and frizzy hairs that seem to poke their heads at the most inopportune of times. The gel-like substance dispensed by the wand keeps tresses in place without drying them out further (as gel would, in fact, do) or leaving any flaky, dandruff-like residue. A magical wand for less than $10? Believe it, ladies!

 

Caudalie Vinotherapie Vine Body Butter -- It'll Butter Your Biscuit!

               

 

Winter isn't leaving without a fight — if anything, it's making a rather dramatic exit, kicking and screaming via final snowfall spats and frozen rain tantrums. In addition to more weeks of trudging through icy sidewalks in unflattering shoes and avoiding being stabbed in the eye by other people's umbrellas, the extended winter weather conditions mean more of a beating for already dehydrated, flaky, itchy, parched skin. And, while aTahiti spa vacation may not be a viable option at the moment, you can always recreate the massage portion of a luxury treatment by smoothing on some Caudalie Vinothérapie Vine Body Butter all over your body.

Now, before applying to skin, do remember that this is a body butter and therefore, by design, its consistency is noticeably thicker than most traditional lotions. Even squeezing it out of its silver-colored tube will require some effort (think of it as squeezing a stress ball, and you'll get an idea of the amount of pressure you need to apply). The cream itself has a consistency similar to whipped apple butter, but it melts onto the skin faster than Parkay on hot toast. 

The Vinothérapie Vine Body Butter gets its rich consistency from moisturizing shea butter, while grape seed oil delivers anti-aging benefits, stimulating collagen production, fighting free radicals, and firming skin thanks to its high concentration of vitamin E, polyphenols and linoleic acid. Most importantly, the balm was formulated with Caudalie's proprietary Vinolevure technology, which holds 100 times its weight in water, helping the skin retain moisture. A botanical-based hydra-complex, meanwhile, infuses the skin with moisture.

When you first massage it onto your skin, it will feel slightly greasy, but just be patient. Though it will take a few minutes for the moisturizer to be fully absorbed, once the skin is free of any balmy residue, it feels replenished and velvet soft.

 

Caudalie Vine Body Butter, $28. Available at Caudalie.com