SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Hugo Guinness for Coach Collection -- A Reverie with Dancing Coffee Cups, Key Rings, and Handcuffs

 

 

 

The inky, minimalist, black-and-white drawings and linoleum-cut prints by Brooklyn-based British artist Hugo Guinness often focus on inanimate objects — from garden chairs to vintage typewriters, oven mitts, architectural columns, double-decker buses, binoculars, faucets, urinals, kitchen ovens, and tractors — thereby transforming mundane miscellany into transcendental, muse status-worthy fodder, an Andy Warholian approach to creating art but minus the pomp and flash that accompanied the latter's productions. Rather than obsessing over perfectly symmetrical forms, realistic proportions and shading subtleties, Guinness seems to sketch with the impatience of an excitable 7-year-old, but it's precisely those imprecisions and imperfections that make his work so endearing, so whimsical. 

Now, you can add a hint of this playful spirit into your choice of accessories with the debut of the limite-edition Hugo Guinness for Coach, an array of handbags, wallets, and other leather goods featuring hand-cut linoleum prints designed by Guinness. 

Handbag lovers will gravitate toward the Hugo Guinness for Coach Reversible Totes ($398 each at Coach.com), available in three different designs: Coffee Cup, Boxer, and Handcuffs. Each tote is reversible, so that one side features smooth vachetta leather, while the other is made of cotton canvas and features a unique Guinness design. When you're looking for a city chic look, then, you can display the funky canvas exterior while, when you're headed to a business meeting, you can turn the purse inside out to show the prim leather side.

The Hugo Guinness for Coach Coffee Cup Reversible Tote, for instance, features a black cotton canvas exterior with a white illustration of a New York City diner coffee cup and Guinness' HG signature and date (as shown above at top). If you turn the purse inside out, however, the canvas design will then become the lining of an almond-colored vachetta leather purse with the HG limited-edition logo at top. These totes measure 13 1/4" in length, 15 3/4" in height, and 3 3/4" in width, making them roomy enough alternatives for even my fellow bag ladies. Similarly, the Hugo Guinness for Coach Boxer Reversible Tote features a black leather shoulder strap, one side covered in black leather (tucked inside the bag in the photo above), and a white cotton canvas side (shown along the exterior in the above photo) with an original Guinness linoleum print of a shrieking boxer, his hands at his sides, and his gloves practically touching his breathable shorts, the band of his shorts featuring the letters "GRRH" perhaps to signal frustration or pain. Last, there's the Hugo Guinness for Coach Handcuff Reversible Tote, which features a black leather side, a black leather shoulder strap, and a black canvas side with a linoleum print of a set of handcuffs in white. 

One of the smartest, cheekiest offerings in the collection is the Hugo Guinness for Coach Sunglass Case ($148 at Coach.com), which features an original, hand-cut linoleum print of a pair of Ray-Bans emblazoned atop a naturally tanned vachetta leather case with tonal stitching, a snap closure, and microfleece lining to ensure your shades' lenses remain smudge-free and unscratched. 

If you carry around more keys than a superintendent and train inspector combined, you'll find the Hugo Guinness for Coach Keys Zip Top Keycase ($118 at Coach.com) an ideal choice. The pouch-like vachetta leather case features a zip-top closure and a leather strap with a keyring. Adorned with a linoleum print of a set of keys fanning out from the ring to which they're attached, forming a circular shape, the case will allow you to keep all those lock-turning essentials organized and still leave you room to tuck in some loose bills, an ID, and perhaps a lip gloss tube. The key case measures 3 1/4" in length and 5 " in height.  

The simplest piece in the collection is the Hugo Guinness for Coach Coffee Cup Key Ring ($68 at Coach.com), which features Guinness' iconic coffee cup print atop a vachetta leather cut-out. This detail is, of course, attached to a short silver-toned chain with both a lobster claw clasp and a split key ring.

The collection also includes men's wallets, an iPad case, and other knickknacks, so make sure to check them all out!

Karl Lagerfeld Designs Label for Limited-Edition Grand Cru Classé Bottle from Chanel Winery Château Rauzan-Ségla

 

  

 

Forget "The Bachelor" Ben Flajnik's wimpy winery in Sonoma! The best vinos hail from France — whether it's the Burgundy, Rhône, Alsace, Bordeaux, Champagne or Languedoc regions. The land that cradled couture icon Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel has also produced some of the most robust, flavorful, juicy grapes — which, in turn, have revolutionized the cuisine arena and pleased gourmands the world over. As someone with an appreciation for the finest things in life, then, Coco Chanel would have been pleased to know that, as part of her legacy, the Chanel corporation purchases its own vineyard in the late 20th century: the Château Rauzan-Ségla. 

The 130-acre vineyard, located in the Margaux section of Bordeaux, was part of an expansive estate owned by Pierre de Mesures de Rauzan since 1662. In 1994, Chanel acquired the celebrated vineyard, best known for its Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots, and helped to elevate every single element of these wines' constitutions — from its inviting bouquet to its full-bodied structure, velvety texture, comforting warmth, and delightful finish.

To celebrate its 350th anniversary, Château Rauzan-Ségla is poised to unveil a new 2009 vintage edition of its Grand Cru Classé. Hitting fine wine retailers in March, the Grand Cru Classé comes in a collectible bottle bearing a label illustrated by Karl Lagerfeld, longtime creative director of the Chanel fashion house. To celebrate these landmarks, Lagerfeld offered his own rendition of the château itself which, with the help of New York-based architect Peter Marino was restored to its former glory, also paying special attention to the well-manicured grounds and the palatial courtyard, detailing everything from the tiled rooftop to the arched walkway, and the landscaping arrangement, with its potted shrubs, lavender flower beds, and the white frangipani blossoms positioned in between the façade's windows.

 The Château Rauzan-Ségla Grand Cru Classé will retail for $129 and is available for pre-order right now!   

 

 

Einstein USB Flash Drive Mimobot -- A Quantum Leap In File Storage

 

The man behind the theory of relativity, Nobel Prize-winning scientist and physic pioneer Albert Einstein, once said, "out of clutter, find simplicity." These words could have guided the making of the new Einstein Mimobot (available at Mimoco.com), a cartoonish, irreverent, playful USB flash drive modeled after the iconic man of science. 

The Einstein Mimobot is the first installment in the new "The Legends of Mimobot Series," which commemorates some of the most influential, trail-blazing figures in history. And who better to kick off the series than the man behind the famous E=MC2 formula?

Available in 6 different storage capacities — 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB (ranging in price from $22.95 to $119.95) — this collectible figurine captures both the studious and the playful sides of Albert Einstein. When the USB drive is covered, the caricaturesque depiction of Einstein bears a stern expression, his lids half closed, his mouth closed, and his lips fully covered by his white mustache. Once you remove the cap, however, you'll giggle as you see your Einstein Mimobot bearing an entirely different expression, one inspired by perhaps the most widely replicated image of the "mad scientist," the photograph Arthur Sasse snapped on March 14, 1971, the night of Einstein's 72nd birthday, in which the German intellectual is depicted with his eyes widened and his tongue sticking out mischievously.

Like all Mimobots, this one comes pre-loaded with character-related content, with Einstein-themed wallpapers, icons, and avatars to complete your quantum quest.

 

 

New Case-Mate x Marvel iPhone Case Collection -- They're The Best At What They Do

 

By the hammer of Thor! As if Case-Mate didn't already offer an array of iPhone cases boasting both special style powers and superhuman strength, they've now released the Case-Mate Marvel Collection, which consists of 15 superhero-centric models for comic book enthusiasts and pop cuture fanatics alike.

The Case-Mate Marvel collection can be divided into five categories, each centered on a Marvel character or crime-fighting unit: Thor, Spider-Man, X-Men, Iron Man, and Captain America. Featuring authentic Marvel illustrations, the iPhone cases will protect your smartphone, much like the heroes depicted on their exteriors protected planet Earth. 

The Spider-Man collection, for example, includes three iPhone designs: "Flight," in which he's depicted leaping off of tall buildings, with long spiderwebs shooting out of his fingertips to ensure his safe descent (as shown last above); "Dive," in which the arachnid-human hybrid plummets down, head first, as if diving into the ocean's depths; and "Victory," in which Peter Parker's alter ego is shown standing in front of the Green Goblin, Chameleon, and Doctor Octopus, presumably toasting his triumph over these villainous characters.

The X-Men collection includes three of the most colorful and dynamic designs: first, there's "Battle," in which Wolverine, Storm, Angel and Jean Grey are shown facing off against Iceman (shown second from top); "Shred," in which Wolverine's wields his hatchet-like claws mercilessly while battling an enemy; and "Conquer," in which Gambit and Angel stand against a fiery backdrop, presumably the explosive results of Gambit's ability to change latent energy into kinetic one.

The three Thor cases are also impressive, particularly "Hammer" (shown third from top), in which the Nordic warrior raises his Mjolnir hammer, a lightning storm lighting up the sky behind him. In the brutal "Destroy" design, meanwhile, Thor rumbles with the assistance of Iron Man, both having teamed up to form The Avengers. In the "Blast" case, meanwhile, we see a close-up of the blond god, his mouth agape as if he were shrieking a combat call, his blue eyes bloodshot with rage, and his silver helmet with the wing details positioned atop his head.

Another three cases were designed in honor of Iron Man and Captain America, respectively, each showcasing the superhero of choice in action, with Tony Stark slipping into his armored suit and unleashing his repulsor blast as needed and Captain America clutching his star-emblazoned shield while dodging enemy fire. 

Each case in the Case-Mate x Marvel collection retails for $40 and stands as a true collector's item, particularly for those of you with an appreciation for the classic battles versus good and evil staged in comic books since their inception. Visit Case-Mate.com to buy.

Think Fabricate Gets Into A New York State of Mind

 

For Brooklyn-based architecture and design collective Think Fabricate, the "big lights will inspire you" bit in the hook of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind" proved prophetic. After all, the latest addition to their "Not Your Mother's" furniture collection is a modern, wooden chest of drawers with a laminated depiction of New York City's majestic skyline (as shown above).

The new design adds a cosmopolitan edge to the "Not Your Mother's" collection, which itself was inspired by the notion of juxtaposing easily recognizable, iconic or historically relevant imagery against modern shapes and silhouettes, making sure to frame the visual references as one would a canvas or other work of art. 

Made of lacquered ash wood and featuring a maple base and a lacquered black frame, this particular bureau measures 42" in height, 36" in width, and 21" in depth, and it features laminated drawer fronts in a honeysuckle pink color, with an intricate skyline inset positioned atop the first of the three drawers. Customers can modify the design by selecting other color options or by favoring mirrored, glass, or stone insets as opposed to the lacquered ones shown here. 

With this treasure chest, you'll feel like quoting Nas, who famously said that "nothing's equivalent to the New York State of Mind." 

 For pricing details, visit ThinkFabricate.com

 

 

Urbancase Camera Candles On Sale At Fab.com!

Fashion-oriented flash sale sites are multiplying at a higher rate than Starbucks locations in the '90s. But while the Goliaths of the flash sale universe —such as Gilt and Ideeli — have launched divisions dedicated to home furnishings housewares, and interior décor accents, these haven't matched the level of success of their parent sites. But one of the new kids on the flash sale site block, Fab.com, is quickly showing itself to be the mighty David in this particular niche, offering a vast array of modern goods with an urban sensibility, an emphasis on artistry, and an irreverent feel. I've quickly become smitten with the site, where I can scoop up shower curtains bearing manipulated images of cityscapes, poster-sized art prints, sleek coffee pots, baroque-looking bed frames, graphic toss pillows, colorful hand-woven blankets made by artisans in South America and Africa, and much more. 

One of today's highlights: the sale of two candles designed by Seattle-based collective Urbancase, consisting of Darin Montgomery and Trey Jones. Both of the Urbancase candles currently on sale at Fab.com were inspired by vintage cameras. First, there's the Camera Candle pictured at top (now $19.50 from $30), a 100% beeswax piece with a cotton wick fashioned after Polaroid's 1977 One Step camera model. Measuring 3.75" in height, 4" in width, and 5" in depth, this quirky camera comes in a bright yellow color and offers 40-50 hours of burn time.

Those with more of a vested interest in moving images will appreciate the Super 8 candle ($19.50 from $30), an ode to the handheld Kodak video camera model by that name. Measuring 5.5" in height, 3" in width, and 5" in depth, the Super 8 candle also comes in a bright, Play Doh-worthy yellow hue.

If you're a professional or recreational shutterbug, you'll appreciate how these modern candles manage to fuse together a fun-loving energy with a reverence for the evolution of photography and cinematography. 

 

Holiday Shopping From A To Z -- Arriving At X, Y, Z

Over the past few weeks, we've escorted you through an alphabet-themed safari of holiday gift ideas in which each letter corresponded to a theme, pattern, style or art movement, color, aesthetic, or trend.

We began with the ABCs, guiding you through a coded world in which A stood for Art Deco, B for Blossoms, and C for Color Blocking. We picked up momentum with the next installment, in which we focused on letters D through F, with D standing for Dainty, E for Egyptian, and F for Fur-trimmed. Next, we sped along to the G through I round-up, in which G stood for Green, H for Haute Hippie, and I for Ikat. A glamorous excursion followed as we embarked on the J through L piece, in which J stood for Jewel-Toned, K for Kabuki, and L for Leather and Lace. Things took a modern turn in the M through Q installment, in which M alluded to Metallics, N referenced Neons, O corresponded to Op Art, P stood for Polka Dots, and Q alluded to Quirky. A sea of scarlet followed by pops of black-and-white ensued in the R, S, and T round-up, in which R stood for Red, S for Stocking Stuffer, and T for Tuxedo. Most recently, we started winding down the tour with a parade through the streets of U, V, and W, in which U stood for Urban, V for Velvety, and W for Western.

Today, our alphabet adventure comes to an exciting end with the final three letters: X, Y, and Z. What do they stand for? Read on!

 

X IS FOR XOXO

 

Finn Jewelry Carved Ox Blood Heart and Arrow Studs, $795. Available at Finnjewelry.com.

Robb Bass said it takes two to make a thing go right, but no one has ever claimed that the two people or items in question have to be identical. The opposites attract theorem is one of the guiding principles behind this whimsical pair of stud earrings by designers Soraya Silchenstedt and Candice Pool, the duo behind 6-year-old fine jewelry brand Finn Jewelry. 

Buxom More To Love Gift Set, $42. Available at Sephora.com 

There may be a shortage of mistletoe this year, but that doesn't mean there won't be plenty of smooching going on this season. To make your pout look all the more enticing, create smoldering bedroom eyes, and extend those lashes for an added coquettish factor, gals need to look no further than the Buxom More To Love set, which includes: a Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Clair, a reddish mauve saturated with ultra-fine gold glimmer; a Big & Healthy Lip Tarnish pencil in Scandal, a glaze-like plum-meets-mauve color; a jar of Stay-There Eyeshadow in Collie, a sparkling champagne nude; an Insider Eyeliner in Onyx, a stark black; and a Buxom Lash Mascara in Blackest Black for statement-making lashes. 

Lisa Pearl Black and White Striped Pillow with Bright Red Lips, $190. Available at RonRobinson.com

The faded black-and-white stripes atop this pillow conjure up memories of rockabilly style, while the plump red lips graphic atop these adds a decidedly Pop Art feel to the decorative piece.  

Doe Feather Heart Tee, $24.50. Available at Delias.com

We've seen a billion heart designs over the years, but this one is among the smartest, freshest renditions of the classic shape. We love the watercolor-esque quality of the colored feathers creating the heart graphic and how they add a Bohemian charm to the tee.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Kisses On My List Lip Gloss Set, $30. Available at Sephora.com

Formulated with Anastasia's Balkan Botanical Infusion, these lip glosses rely on conditioning sunflower seed oil, vitamin E-rich jojoba oil, firming brown algae, and soothing camellia extract to moisturize, soften, and smooth lips, allowing for any gloss color to go on smoothly, without feathering, smudging, or dehydrating lips to ultimately create a cracked and flaky pout.

This holiday gift set contains six Hydrafull Gloss shades: Barely, a beige-tinged peach cobbler color; Nectar, a pale seashell pink with tonal shimmer; Lychee, a sheer, near-clear pink with golden shimmer; Sugar, a mid-tone honeysuckle pink; Guava, a coral pink nude with opalescent shimmer; and Cameo, a sheer pearl color with silver shimmer that's strikingly similar to the Lychee shade but lacks the subtle pink undertones. Each gloss features a clear, rubbery applicator top that feels surprisingly soft against lips and that won't run the risk of fraying like a brush tip would.

Check out swatches of all the shades here!

 

Knock Knock Sweet Nothing Sticky Pad, $3.75. Available at KnockKnock.biz

Don;t just whisper sweet nothings into your beloved's ear. Put those thoughts on paper with these sticky 3" x 3" sticky notes from Knock Knock, which feature dotted lines for you to write your original thoughts, along with boxes you can check such as "I'm Proud Of You," "Go Get 'Em," and "Just Breathe." Each sticky pad features 100 sheets, so you'll have plenty of reassuring memos to offer your honey.

 

 

Ban.do Heart Clips, $15 each. Available at Shopbando.com

Put a little love in someone else's heart with these sequin-covered, heart-shaped metal clips, which feature a dual hair clip and brooch closure along the back so that they can be pinned onto clothing, scarves, shoes, and handbags or worn as hair accents.

 

 

Rebell Yell Te Amo Rocker Tee, $69. Available at ShoptheTrendBoutique.com

Give someone your corazón with the Rebel Yell "Te Amo" tee, a 100% cotton, short-sleeved, slouchy top with two rows of large black block letters and two red hearts framing the "Te" word to bring the amorous message home.   

 

Rachel Rachel Roy Heart Key Doorknocker Earrings, $38. Available at RachelRoy.com

 These funky heart-shaped earrings measure 2 1/2" at their widest point, with a skeleton key extending from one half of the heart shape to the other, its surface divided into mosaic-like square slots filled with red enamel.

Here Comes Santa Claus -- Win A Holiday-Themed Lolita Martini Glass!

 

Getting ready to rock around the Christmas tree? Then break out the festive décor with one of Lolita's hand-painted glasses, which feature whimsical, season-appropriate motifs. Each of her Holiday 2011 martini glasses holds 7 1/2 ounces of liquor and features a special recipe printed on the bottom of the glass.

This season's designs include the Holiday Diva Martini Glass, pictured at top, in which the stem is used to represent the svelte figure of a woman clad in a glittery red frock, her hips and bosom widening as one's gaze moves upward to the V-shaped top section, a furry white trim giving her strapless frock a Mrs. Claus flair. The words "I'm a Holiday Diva" are hand-painted in green cursive lettering below the rim and white snowflake shapes cover the base of the glass. 

Another standout is the Santa's New Hat Martini Glass, shown second from top, which features a base covered in a fluffy-, feather-like trim mimicking the furry puff tip on Santa's classic red hat. Most of the V-shaped top, along with the stem, is painted a holly red shade, with white "S" letters and glittery star embellishments and a thick strip of white paint, stippled to create a textured feel, references the furry trim on Santa's hat.    

For a more traditional aesthetic check out the Lolita Naughty & Nice Martini Glass, pictured third above, which nods to the patterns we associate with red-white-and-green starlight mints via the swirls of color on the base of the glass and the dot atop the "nice" word painted in stencil-like letters across the glass.  

Now, here comes the fun part: since 'tis the season for giving, we're offering THREE lucky readers the chance to WIN ONE OF THESE LOLITA MARTINI GLASSES!

We will be giving away one of each of the above-mentioned Lolita Martini Glasses, so that three winners will each receive one of the hand-painted glasses – be it Naughty & Nice, Santa's New Hat, or Holiday Diva. 

The giveaway begins now and ends Sunday, December 25th at 9:00 p.m. EST. We will announce the winners on December 26th — as a special post-Christmas treat! To enter, you must be 18 or older and you must live in the United States. 

Here's how to enter our giveaway:

1. Like Sicka Than Average on Facebook (Facebook.com/SickaThanAvg 

2. Like Designs by Lolita on Facebook (Facebook.com/DesignsbyLolita)

3. Follow Sicka Than Average on Twitter (@sickathanavg)

4. Follow Lolita on Twitter (@DesignsbyLolita)

5. Leave a comment below telling us which of the designs is your favorite

6. For additional entries, tweet the following message: "I just entered to win a @DesignsbyLolita Holiday Martini Glass from @sickathanavg"

 

You must complete all these steps to enter!

That's it! Good luck and I hope you'll be toasting your win very soon ;)

Holiday Shopping From A To Z -- Easing On Down To M, N, O, P, and Q

With Christmas exactly 10 days away, our style elves are busy scouting out the most amazing, imaginative, exciting gift ideas out there. And, since they like to stay organized, this year they convinced us to have an A to Z theme for our Holiday Gift Guide.

Over the past few weeks, we've covered great gifts in the A to L spectrum of the alphabet, and now we're rapidly moving towards the finish line, with this gift guide installment focusing on the categories corresponding to the letters M, N, O, P, and Q. 

Below, you'll find a see of sparkling and shimmering goodies in the M is for Metallics category, a parade's worth of bright bits in the N if for Neons portion, and an illusion-casting group of gifts in the O is for Op Art section, then you'll mingle with the dotted denizens in the P is for Polka Dots category and geek out with the eccentric sorts in the Q is for Quirky section. Get ready for more alphabet-themed amusement!

 

M IS FOR METALLICS

 

Love ADAM Long-Sleeve Sequin Wrap V-Neck Dress, $129.99. Available at HSN.com

The lights in your Christmas tree won't be the only thing twinkling this year! This satin-lined, long-sleeved, below-the-knee, V-neck dress — part of designer Adam Lippes' apparel line for HSN, Love Adam — features satin accents at the cuffs and a wrap-around sash to cinch the waist.

 

 

Lia Sophia Arrow Necklace with Black Diamond Crystals in Matte Gold, $450. Visit LiaSophia.com to find an adviser in your area. 

Nylon editor Dani Stahl designed this statement-making necklace for her Lia Sophia Boudika collection. The choker-style piece features sculptural, arrow-shaped pieces linked together, with half of each arrow encrusted with black diamonds and the other half left stone-free, with matte gold alone on that surface.

Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Silk Eyeshadow in 5 and 16, $32 each. Available at Nordstrom.com

Beloved by makeup lovers with moxie everywhere, Armani's Eyes To Kill Intense Silk Eyeshadows come in small round pots and feature a mousse-like, fluffy, lighter-than-cream consistency, and they glide onto the skin with ease. On lids, the shadows have the shimmer we associate with powder and the pigment concentration we associate with cream colors. Plus, thanks to Armani's Color-Fil technology, a bi-polymer that cushions the skin on the lids, the eyeshadow colors look smooth and clump-free. Each shade features a base color and a secondary pigment that yields a multi-dimensional, shimmering, nuanced effect. If you're seeking a gilded look, snatch up the 5 and 16 shades — the former is an Etruscan gold-meets-bronze color with gold shimmer, while the latter is a platinum shade with silver glitter. Check out swatches of these two shades here.

 

 

 

Toywatch Metallic Indigo Watch, $195; Toywatch Metallic Violet Chrono Watch, $225; and Toywatch Metallic Green Watch, $195 . Available at ToywatchUSA.com

Having mastered the art of making plastic resemble ceramic, Toywatch has now ventured into new territory with the release of its first-ever watch made entirely out of metal. This aluminum watch is available in 15 colors (like the Indigo, Violet and Green pictured here) an comes with a chronograph dial or a time only dial (as with those pictured above). If you want to keep it simple, opt for a time only dial with dot markers or pick up one with crystal markers for an added bling factor.

 

 

Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Whipped Perfume, $72. Available at NeimanMarcus.com and Bloomingdales.com

If you're a fan of Cashmere Mist, then you already know that part of the fragrance's charm is its sensuality, how it envelops the skin like a cozy sweater, how the amber and woody notes evoke a sense of warmth and comfort while the light jasmine and lily of the valley notes add a touch of powdery femininity. The new Cashmere Mist Whipped Perfume builds upon this sensation, working up the cozy tactile sensibility of this acclaimed fragrance by allowing you to gently massage the scented, frothy, foamy lotion onto the skin, focusing on pulse points. 

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Cool Party Eye Palette, $45. Available at BobbiBrownCosmetics.com

There's an Ice Queen-worthy sophistication to the frosty blue, gray, and silver shades in Bobbi Brown's Cool Party Eye Palette. The holiday palette features six shades: White Eye Shadow, the type of velvety white you associate with cloud formations; Iced Blue Metallic Eye Shadow, a pale, silver-tinged, glacial blue; Rockstar Metallic Eye Shadow, a shimmering, lavender-ish steel shade; Sterling Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, an aluminum-ish metallic gray; Gunmetal Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, a near-black metallic shade with a soft, wispy quality; and Onyx Eye Shadow, an asphalt black with a hint of gold and silver shimmer. These swatches will help you become better acquainted with these must-have colors. 

Cubannie Links Candela Earrings in Gold, $62. Available at CubannieLinks.com

If you tuned into Season 805 (well, fine, it was actually Season 9) of Project Runway, then you might remember the oversize, braided leather hoop earrings that finalist Kimberly Goldson chose when accessorizing the ensembles in her debut collection (and which she herself rocked while taking her final bow during New York Fashion Week). Measuring 3" in length and 3" in width (including ear hooks), these Candela earrings are, as their name implies, pure fire. To make them, Brooklyn-based Cuban designer Annie Basulto  twisted together two thick strands of 100% braided genuine leather. You can pick between a solid gold or silver or opt for a two-toned design like the one pictured above.

 

Sonia Kashuk Holiday 6-Piece Brush Set, $22.99. Available at Target.com

Would you ever thing this brush set cost less than $25? We're stunned! Leave it to makeup guru Sonia Kashuk to release yet another must-have brush kit as part of her ongoing collaboration with Target. Housed in a glittering, rectangular, box-shaped silver clutch with shimmering, glitter-packed fibers and a pillbox closure, this set includes six of Kashuk's top-notch makeup brushes: a Powder/Blush Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, Small Duo Fibre Brush, Eyeshadow Brush, Angled Contour Crease Brush, and Pointed Eye Liner Brush — all featuring sparkly handles and silver-toned metal accents.

 

Balenciaga L'Essence Candle, $65. Available at NeimanMarcus.com

From Tom Ford Beauty's Violet Blonde to Balenciaga's L'Essence, violet stands at the forefront of some of this winter's most intriguing scents. Though many florists and gardeners view wild violets as unwanted weeds, Balenciaga actually relishes their tarnished reputation, their almost illicit quality, taking the opportunity to reintroduce these blooms as coveted fragrance notes, worthy of inclusion in the most precious of aromatic elixirs. L'Essence, then, revolves around violet as an intense bloom found in the wilderness, dewy, mossy, and reminiscent of mysterious woodlands. Leather and wood notes complete the effect. Housed in a silver-toned jar with a matching lid, the Balenciaga L'Essence Candle incorporates stronger moss notes than the eau de parfum, allowing your home to be transformed into a virtual forest thanks to the lush aroma diffused into the air. 

 

 

Nissa Jewelry Calumet Stoned Earrings, $104. Available at NissaJewelry.com

Part Blade Runner, part The Scorpion King, and part Cleopatra, these 3"-long earrings feature triangle shapes dangling beneath round discs with iridescent, color-changing stones as their centers. Made by hand in New York using recycled metal and iris-colored crystals, these earrings not only juxtapose geometric shapes but also textures, with half of each disc and triangle having a smooth metallic surface and the other half being fully granulated.

 

 

Essie Luxeffects Collection Nail Lacquers, $8 each. Available at salons and beauty destinations nationwide.

Finally, a reprieve from all the creamy nude colors and chocolate-y browns we've been seeing this season! Essie's Luxeffects Collection is about as shy and understated as a samba dancer in Rio de Janeiro's carnival — and we love it! Each lacquer can be applied to clean and dry nails or, for a truly baroque effect, layered atop another color. Shades include: As Gold As It Gets, a near-clear nectar gold hue with gilded lamé sparkles; Shine of the Times, a near-translucent white with tiny pearl particles that reflect sunset orange, coral pink, light green, and blue tones, yielding a sparkly mother-of-pearl effect (check out the effect in this photo); Pure Perfection, an icing-like, translucent, iridescent white with silver shimmer; A Cut Above, a pink-tinged clear color saturated with metallic pink pearls and sequined bits of varying sizes (here's how it looks on nails); and Set in Stones, the silver counterpart to A Cut Above, with chunky mirrored silver flakes (which create an Icecapades-worthy effect, as shown here).

Anya Hindmarch Mini Huxley Woven Leather Tote, $1595. Available at Net-a-Porter.com

Silver woven leather strips and a near-blinding shine allow this tote to skate into high glamour territory. Featuring two top handles, a detachable taupe-and-silver grosgrain shoulder strap, and a tasseled top zipper, this Anya Hindmarch tote proves silver doesn't have to mean coming in second.

 

Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Gold Absolute Limited Edition Eau de Parfum, $85. Available at NeimanMarcus.com

Since incense, amber, and wood scents are all associated with Christmas, there was no better time for Issey Miyake to release its L'Eau d'Issey Gold Absolute, a robust, woody scent that leaves behind a warm amber scent as it settles on the skin. The limited-edition fragrance features watery osmanthus and lotus top notes, lily and jasmine middle notes, and white cedar and amber base notes. Despite the floral notes, however, amber reigns supreme in this fragrance composition, making this an ideal gift for women who love oriental floral perfumes.

Sachin + Babi Rorschach Emblem Cuff, $235. Available at BergdorfGoodman.com

It's hard to believe that looking at a stack of inkblots can yield a proper personality assessment or psychological evaluation, but at least the Rorschach technique can inspire amazing works of art, such as this intriguing cuff from Sachin + Babi. Measuring 6 1/4" in length, this hammered cuff is made of pewter with an electro-plated 14K yellow gold coating. The amorphous cut-outs, meanwhile, recall the vague blobs seen in standard Rorschach tests, begging the question: what do you see when you look at this piece?

 

 

MAC Cosmetics Dazzlesphere! Mini Nail Lacquer Ornament x4, $25.50, and MAC Cosmetics Dazzlesphere! Neutral Ornament x4, $32.50. Available at MACcosmetics.com

Inspired by glitter and ice, MAC's Holiday 2011 collection features enough glitter, silver metal, and icy motifs to make Johnny Weir beam with pride. Among the most clever offerings are bubble-shaped, ornament-inspired spheres containing mini nail lacquers, loose pigments, or lip glosses. The contents of each ornament are visible through the clear plastic top half of the sphere, which rests upon a silver-toned base and which can be removed to safely open and close your space-aged makeup set.

The Dazzlesphere Petite Nail Lacquer Ornament, pictured at top, will woo manicure addicts with the versatile shades Style Tip, a pink-ish nude; Much Adored, a sheer, whitened pink with pearly shimmer; and Mistletoe, a light gold color with an even sheen. The MAC Dazzlesphere Neutral Ornament, meanwhile, is just as versatile, with various nude and wine-tinged lip gloss colors, some sheer and creamy and others with a fun infusion of sparkle. The Dazzlesphere Neutral Ornament features two Cremesheen Glass shades (Boy Bait, a light peachy nude, and Over Indulgence, a mid-tone, coral-tinged flesh shade) and two Dazzleglass shades (Bare Necessity, a brandy shade with plenty of sparkle, and Get Rich Quick, a date-like brownish red with tons of shimmer). Click here for swatches of all four shades!

Baby Phat Women's Crop Sequin Jacket, $69, and Sequin Mini Skirt, $54. Available at BabyPhat.com

Sparkle brighter than a Supreme with these chic pieces from Baby Phat. The amethyst purple skirt measures 14" in length, so you can show off those toned stems and the hemline is adorned with a lace detail for added sophistication. The cropped sequin jacket, meanwhile, features a modern, collarless, open front silhouette, with 3/4 length sleeves adding a youthful and urban vibe. 

Holiday Shopping From A To Z -- Parading Through J, K, and L

We've been making holiday shopping as easy as 1-2-3 with our gift-getting ABCs, quite literally taking you through an alphabet-themed tour of present ideas. For our latest installment, we're focusing on the letters J, K, and L, with J encompassing jewel-toned goodies, K inspiring an assortment of kabuki-influenced treats, and L immersing us in a feast of leather and lace. 

Read on for more on these great categories and the products contained therein!

J IS FOR JEWEL TONES

 

Kotur For J. Crew Colony Green Briar Sequin Clutch, $425. Available at J.Crew Collection and Bridal Boutique and at JCrew.com

We've raved about the Kotur for J.Crew collection in the past, but this clutch crystallizes the reason behind our fervor with its envelope-shaped metal frame and the clusters of forest green sequins covering the front and back — not to mention the rectangular, pillbox-style closure adorned with a dark green jewel. 

NYX Cosmetics Slide On Pencils, $8 each. Available at NYXcosmetics.com

These new eyeliners from NYX Cosmetics glide right onto the lids, leaving behind lines of deliciously rich, creamy, shining color. Available in 18 shades, our favorite include the jewel-toned shades — among them: SL 17 Green Papaya, a light green tourmaline shade with a golden sheen; SL 12 Azure, a deep turquoise; SL09 Tropical Green, a dark malachite shade; and SL 10 Purple Blaze, a deep amethyst purple. Click here for swatches of our favorite shades!

Moritz Glik "Kaleidoscope" 18K Gold and Floating Colored Sapphire Earrings, $5230. Available at Endless.com

Pink and orange sapphires seem to float inside each double white sapphire cube of these two-tiered dangling earrings from Moritz & Glik, which measure 0.53" in width at their widest point and hang 1.38" long.

 

 

 

Giuseppe Zanotti Shoe Boot, $711. Available at FarFetch.com

Tastier than freshly squeezed OJ, these orange chalcedony-colored suede heels feature a rounded peep toe, a banded strap running across the vamp, sexy cutouts along the sides, a T-shaped ankle trap, and a staggering  5.5" heel.

 

 

Madstone Hoop Earrings, $1500. Available at the Diana Heimann Jewelry Salon at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in White Plains, NY. For more info, call 914.467.5880 or visit MadStoneDesign.com

These oxidized sterling silver hoop earrings feature slanted sides so that, instead of a rounded hoop, they resemble open-ended octagons and, in keeping with the geometric theme, feature an oversize, octagonal amethyst stone along the front, with effervescent bubble-ike details within the faceted stone's surface, Smaller amethyst stones, meanwhile, are encrusted into the metal hoop frame like smaller stars next to a supernova. 

 

 

LORAC Bejeweled Lip Gloss Collection, $25. Available at Sephora.com

Gemstones inspired LORAC's Holiday 2011 collection, which includes this six-color lip gloss set. Each of the LORAC lip glosses is enriched with cooling peppermint oil (which also gives them a minty smell), antioxidant-rich grape seed oil, toning rosemary extract, and wound-healing castor oil, so that they hydrate, soften, and plump up lips. Each tube's gunmetal-colored cap is encrusted with tiny clear rhinestones, so as to heighten the jewelry box-worthy feel of the collection.

The shades themselves, meanwhile, shine like the most precious gems and colors range from Red Ruby, a blue-toned red with light red pearl particles, to Peach Moonstone, a pale, brownish peach shade; Bronze Topaz, a brown citrine shade with hints of bronze and warmer amber-y undertones; Hot Pink Sapphire, a delightful fuchsia shade chock full of iridescent silver and pink pearls; Rich Garnet, a deep raspberry red with purple undertones; and Pink Diamond, which looks like a milky white color in its packaging but, when applied, transformed into an ultra-sheer light pink with a darling opalescent quality. Click here for swatches of all six shades!

 

 

Christian Louboutin Loubi Croissant Satin Clutch, $795. Available at Net-a-Porter.com

He may be known for his sky-high stilettos and trademark red soles, but Christian Louboutin is strutting into the handbag realm with pieces as exquisite as this croissant-shaped clutch, which features ruched teal satin and a gold metal frame with a red twill interior lining and a double heel clasp closure for an added wink-wink.

 

Dannijo Multi-Stone & Snake Chain Cuff, $343. Available at NeimanMarcus.com

Bohemian, tribal, and rocker converge in this 3"-wide, golden oxidized brass cuff from jewelry-making duo Dannijo. Yellow gold snake chains slither around and weave in between a trio of jewel accents running vertically down the front and center of the cuff. Each jewel-toned station features a brass cube with a round, faceted, Swarovski crystal at its center and, on either side, square stones in contrasting shades.

 

 

Laura Mercier Luxe Colour Portfolio, $98. Available at Sephora.com

Not only does it include sparkling wine and violet, along with rich brown and soft cream eye shadows and liners, but Laura Mercier's Luxe Colour Portfolio (part of her limited-edition Holiday 2011 collection) features three of her acclaimed makeup brushes — all packaged in a box clutch with silver-and-black faux snakeskin trimming the edges of the portfolio and adorning the flap closure, which itself features a concealed magnet to ensure the palette stays safely shut.

As soon as you open up the portfolio like you would a book or agenda, you'll find three brushes tucked into their slots on the left-hand side: the Pony Tail eye shadow brush, the bushy Crease brush, and the Flat Liner brush.

On the right-hand side, meanwhile, you'll find six eye shadow shades in rectangular pans: Primrose, a fleshy pink with golden sparkle and a soft, satin-like finish; African Violet, a unique violet shade with rose gold undertones saturated with copper pearl particles for a high-wattage shine; Merlot, a mostly matte, deep burgundy wine shade with just a hint of rose pearl shimmer; Truffle, a velvety soft brown shade with a matte finish reminiscent of ground espresso beans; Topaz, a taupe-ish gray, smokey quartz-like color with an all-over metallic sheen; and Stellar, an ethereally light champagne gold color with silver shimmer. To view these shades for yourself, check out swatches of all six eyeshadows.

Moving on, next you'll find a row of three Tightline Cake Eye Liner packed into round pans. Though they can be applied in their dry form, they look more intense when you wet the brush first and then swirl it atop the liner pans. The three colors included are: Ground Espresso, Black Ebony, and Burgundy Wine. Check out swatches of these shades here.

Last, you'll find two large squares of cheek color: Rose Petal, a light peachy pink, and City Pink, a bold peony pink. To view the colors, click here.

 

Badgley Mischka Rosette Silk-Satin Dress, $222.75. Available at TheOutnet.com

This 100% silk dress will make your eyes light up thanks to the raw-edged rosette details all over the fabric, the wide ruched waistband, and the frock's pink spinel shade. A strapless cut and boned corset along the fully lined interior guarantee you'll have a gorgeous and well-defined silhouette. 

 

Bobbi Brown Black Ruby Sparkle Eye Palette, $45. Available at BobbiBrownCosmetics.com

For Holiday 2011, venerated makeup artist Bobbi Brown masterminded a color palette peppered with jewel tones, infused with shimmer and sparkle, and enriched with metallic overtones. One of our faves: the Black Ruby Sparkle Shadow Palette, which includes four colors that shimmer like tiny icicles: the Pink Rose Sparkle Eye Shadow, a muted mauve-ish pink with tons of white and silver pearls; the Crushed Silver Sparkle Eye Shadow, a Jack Frost-approved silver with tonal glitter; the Black Ruby Sparkle Eye Shadow, an intriguing, blackened merlot shade with pink and silver pearl particles; and the Onyx Sparkle Eye Shadow, a black cherry shade with white gold sparkle. Check out swatches of all four eye shadows here.

Lauren Merkin Ava Clutch in Amethyst/Black Shiny Python, $295. Available at LaurenMerkin.com

Like Ava Gardner, Lauren Merkin's Ava clutch belongs among Hollywood royalty — especially the latest iteration of the style, which features a glossy amethyst and black python print. Measuring 12" in width and 6" in height, this smart clutch features delicate pleats, slanted edges, rounded corners, and a top flap with a silver-toned closure.

 

 

Bounkit Blue Topaz, Citrine, and Blue Cat's Eye Convertible Earrings, $395. Available at CharmandChain.com

These 3"-long dangling earrings by Moroccan-born designer Hassan Bounkit feature rectangular blue topaz stones at the post, oval citrine stones dangling directly beneath them, and bulbous, teardrop-shaped blue cat's eye stones dangling from the bottom. Since these earrings are convertible, you can detach the citrine or blue cat's eye stones and wear the blue topaz studs alone or choose to attach either the citrine or the blue cat's eye sections and transform them into single drop pieces.

 

 

Bare Escentuals Box of Gems 20-Piece Color Collection, $88. Available at QVC.com

The gleaming golden tone of this makeup treasure chest is perfectly appropriate as it houses an assortment of stunning mineral eye shadows, lip-plumping glosses, and richly pigmented, all-natural glosses. When you flip back the top lid, you'll find 10 eye shadows: Sparkling, a snow powder white with scattered multi-dimensional glimmer; Gleam, a pale peach hue with a satin finish; Glow, a warm tan color with golden undertones; Jewel, an aptly named violet-tinged rubellite tourmaline; Solitaire, a smoky, silvery shade; Gem, a dazzling emerald green color with a metallic finish and scattered shimmer; Twinkle, a sepia shade with scattered golden sparkle; Locket, an amethyst shade with violet sparkle; Incandescent, a bronze-y topaz hue with antiqued gold shimmer; and Beam, a bewitching sapphire blue color. By clicking here, you'll find swatches of the Sparkling, Gleam, and Glow colors. Next, feast your eyes on the beauty of the Jewel, Solitaire, Gem, and Twinkle shades by clicking here. And last, click here to wonder over the Locket, Incandescent, and Beam shadows.

One you pull out the bottom drawer using the ribbon tab, you'll find five Buxom Lip Polishes: Kanani, a sheer pink; Betty, a crimson shade; Dani, a berry pink; Gabby, a grape wine shade; and Sandy, a pink nude. For a better idea of what these look like on skin, check out these swatches.

In the bottom drawer of the golden box, tou'll also discover five Natural Lip Glosses: Sprinkles, a sheer color with just a hint of yellow gold and plenty of clear pearl particles; Cranberry Sorbet, a creamy guava shade; Angel Food Cake, a sheer peachy pink saturated with mutli-dimensional shimmer; Energy Drink, a pink lemonade shade with golden undertones and an all-over sheen; and Apple Butter, a brownish fig-like hue with hints of red and tiny gold pearl particles.

Elva Fields Gamine in Green Necklace, $328. Available at Shop.ElvaFields.com 

This handmade wonder features three strands of polished teardrop-shaped turquoise beads painted an emerald green color, each bead separated from its neighbor by a gilt brass bead. A vintage emerald rhinestone brooch positioned at the center of the necklace adds a regal touch.

 

 

 

Santi Audrina Clutch, $140. Available at Endless.com

This envelope-shaped clutch has more cubes than a game of Tetris. Measuring 10" in width, 4.5" in height, and 1.5" in depth, the Santi Audrina Clutch features a fabric body covered by square beads in multiple tones of blue, ranging from midnight blue to aqua, turquoise, and indigo.