SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Holiday Gift Guide from A to Z -- Moving on to D, E, F

Last week, we kicked off our A to Z Holiday Gift Guide coverage by taking a Sesame Street-worthy approach to the task, tackling items corresponding to the first three letters of the alphabet, with A standing for Art Deco, B for Blossoms, and C for Color Blocking. This week, we're moving on down the road to the next three letters: D, E, and F.

What does each letter stand for? Well, in our holiday wonder world, D is for Dainty, E is for Egyptian, and F is for Fur-Trimmed. Whether you want to be delightfully prim, channel Cleopatra, or fall for fur, these gift ideas will sate your appetite.

D IS FOR DAINTY

Bing Bang NYC Victorian Snowflake Earrings, $38. Available at BingBangNYC.com

Forget snowflakes that stay on your nose and eye lashes. This wintry season, our favorite things include these silver-plated, sterling-silver dipped snowflake earring studs, designed by Anna Sheffield. Each earring juxtaposes a cross shape made of bulbous, laurel-like sides, and an "X" formation with rounded, hollow, petal-like sides with dot-like studs along the periphery of each side and a trio of ball-shaped studs at the rounded outer tips.

Lush Snow Fairy Gift, $22.95. Available at LUSHusa.com

Not only does this pre-wrapped box set capture the fanciful imagination of every fairy-loving princess with it hot pink gift wrapping, its silver bow, and the jingle bell tied at the very top, but it houses equally lovable treasures — mainly, the LUSH Snow Fairy Shower Gel, a cotton candy-scented wash featuring lactic acid, a natural Alpha Hydroxy Acid that gently exfoliates, optimizes moisture levels, and helps achieve smoother, softer, more radiant skin. The 3.3 fl. oz. shower gel is accompanied by a star-shaped Angel's Delight Soap, which smells like tangerines and blackcurrants and features sweet orange oil, which has astringent an antibacterial properties, antioxidant-rich rapeseed oil, and softening coconut extract; and by  heart-shaped, white Shimmy Shimmy Glitter Bar that practically melts on the skin, living behind a creamy vanilla fragrance and coating the skin with sparkle, as if you'd bathed in magical fairy dust. 

 

Harajuku Lovers Jingle G Eau de Toilette Spray Ornament, $24.99. Available at HSN.com

The leader of the Harajuku Lovers team, G, pulls off as many costume changes as Gwen Stefani, the pop star whose countenance it mirrors. For the holiday season, the blond starlet dons a red Santa Claus-like suit with cuffed sleeves, a row of buttons, and a high collar in snowy white; a thick black belt with a square gold buckle; black boots; white gloves; and an oversize red hair bow. Her heart-shaped pout painted in Stefani's signature red hue, her black eyeliner winging out flirtatiously, and her cheeks flushed ever so slightly, Jingle G is playful and feminine to the core, with fragrance notes that include white star fruit, gardenia, tangerine, honeysuckle, orange blossom, jasmine, vanilla, and cedarwood. The display-ready bottle features a velvet loop along the top of the figural doll, so that you can hang Jingle G right on the Christmas tree or, if you prefer, keep her inside the clear, cylindrical packaging, which also includes a velvet ribbon loop attached to the red cap for use as an ornament.

 

 

Liplicious All I Want Lip Gloss, $8 each. Available at BathAndBodyWorks.com

These limited-edition lip glosses feature moisturizing vitamin E and jojoba oil, and they feature season-appropriate tube designs and scents. The Liplicious Gingerbread Giggle Lip Gloss, for example, is a sheer, bronze-tinged, coral pink with magenta glitter that enhances your pout's natural color. The sweet, gingerbread-scented gloss is packaged in a squeezable tube illustrated with a teal bow and a gingerbread cookie. The Peppermint Hug Lip Gloss, meanwhile, features a candy cane-colored, red-and-white bow with a sky blue tag dangling beneath it, bearing the gloss's name. The sweet but minty-smelling clear gloss features opalescent glitter particles that reflect aqua, pink, gold, green, and yellow tones. The Liplicious Candied Smile Lip Gloss, meanwhile, is a mauve pink color loaded with clear and pink glitter bits and featuring a licorice-tinged, gumdrop fragrance.

Ariel Gordon Jewelry Sugar Loaf Studs, $395, and Tetra Spike Necklace in 14K Rose Gold, $490. Available at ArielGordonJewelry.com

For jewelry designer Ariel Gordon, it's the small things that make all the difference. Take, for example, these 1/4-inch, triangle-shaped, iolite studs, which feature faceted, sloping, pyramid-like sides and a 14k gold setting with thick arrow-like tips along each corner. Another great choice: the Tetra Spike Necklace, which features an arrow-shaped pendant measuring 1/3" by 1/4" hanging from a slender box chain.

 

Gianna Rose Nutcracker Soaps, $22. Available at GiannaRose.com

Make Tchaikovsky proud by choreographing your own applause-worthy performance with this boxed set of five Nutcracker Prince-shaped soaps. The French-milled soaps feature clove, Balsam fir, and burnt orange notes for a slightly spicy yet woody scent. 

bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lip Collection, $28. Available at BareEscentuals.com

You'll want to sing "Amazing Grace" to these liquid lipstick shades, which are as richly pigmented as lipstick but boast the vinyl-like sheen of most quality glosses. The bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lip Collection features four 2 ml lip color tubes, each with a sponge tip applicator wand. The colors in this set are: Savvy, a toffee caramel hue; Confidence, a mauve-tinged red; Sass, a near sheer, golden peach color with clear and gold glitter bits; and Oomph, a sheer peachy pink with an icy sheen. Check out swatches here!

Back to Black -- Get Ready For These Great Black Friday Deals!

For years now, Black Friday has been the biggest day for retailers nationwide — and, in these challenging financial times, brands are offering better deals, greater incentives for shoppers, limited-time-only releases and deals, and even extended sale dates.

Below, get a sampling of what's in store this year. Stay tuned for more scoop on Black Friday deals! 

Who needs a white knight? Let your hero in shining armor be a Black Knight — specifically, the MAC Cosmetics Black Knight Lipstick.

Yes, ladies, on Friday, November 25th, M·A·C is re-releasing its Black Knight Lipstick, a creamy black color perfect for any goth-flavored look. The lipstick will be available exclusively at MACcosmetics.com for one day only, so don't miss out on an opportunity to grab this classic shade.

And, if you need tips on how to pull off this shade, just log onto Twitter and follow M·A·C Senior Artists Keri Blair (@MAC_Keri_B) and Romero Jennings (@MAC_Romero_J) — both will be offering tips on how to rock this bold shade starting today. 

 

Butterflies literally pop up and seem to flutter when you open the lid of the new Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV, which features 16 eyeshadow shades — 10 of them newly introduced hues — as well as a 24/7 Liquid Liner, a Primer Potion, and a Super Curl Mascara. Feeling butterflies in your stomach yet? Then check this out: on Black Friday, the first 1,000 customers to log onto UrbanDecay.com can purchase the Book of Shadows IV for $20 off its retail price ($44 instead of $64) by entering the code BLACKFRIDAY11 at checkout.

 

 

Why wait until Friday? If you've got your Black Friday running shoes on, then dash to the Jean-Michel Cazabat store in NYC (located at 350 Bleecker Street) and present the coupon pictured above to pre-shop the Black Friday sale.

You know what they say about the early bird!

 

For instant pre-Black Friday gratification, visit Endless.com, where today and tomorrow, you can get 25% off a selection of women's, men's, and children's shoes. Click here to browse through the selection of discounted styles, which includes the DV by Dolce Vita Larena Platform Sandal shown above (normally $109).

 

It's Black Thursday, not Friday, over at Joe's Jeans. On November 24th, visit JoesJeans.com and enjoy 25% off denim, sweatshirts, tees, and more.

 

What's rock-'n'-roll about standing in line for hours on end? Avoid the lines and instead breed your own kind of fashion mayhem with some fresh new Crash and Burn gear. From November 25th through November 27th, log onto ShopCrashAndBurn.com and enjoy 50% off on some badass graphic tees, distressed cargo jackets, cozy dolman tops, lace-trimmed leggings, and more! Just enter the code BLACK50 at checkout.

Holiday Shopping From A To Z -- Let's Start With The ABCs

You're probably getting ready to rock around the Christmas tree which, of course, means finding just the right gifts to place underneath those fragrant branches. For this year's Holiday Gift Guide, we're giving you the scoop on the best gift options out there, moving from A to Z — literally.

Using the alphabet as our road map, we're picking an aesthetic, theme, or trend for each single letter and amassing items that work within those parameters. To kick off the fun, we've started with A, B, and C. What does each of these letters stand for? Well, in our gift guide, A is for Art Deco, B is for Blooms, and C is for Color Blocking.

Excited yet? Then wait until you see our selections!

A-B-C really is as easy as 1-2-3!

A IS FOR ART DECO

Howard Elliott Collection Wilmette Mirror, $839.99. Available at BronsonDesign.com

You'll be saying, "Mirror, Mirror" way before Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsmen with this  glass mirror, which resembles Superman's Fortress of Solitude with the three layers of faceted, pointed, stalagmite-like glass slices surrounding the rectangular-shaped mirror at the center. Measuring 37" by 52", this sunburst-flavored piece will practically beckon you to stare at your reflection.

 

 

Sylvie Collection Something Hue Earrings, $1,365. Available at SylvieCollection.com

Nothing quite says Art Deco like the combination of glossy black and gleaming silver or gold.  These earrings capture that aesthetic perfectly with elongated, teardrop-shaped onyx stones, capped with 14k white gold. The drop earrings dangle from earlobes by 14K gold fish hook closures adorned with diamonds along their rounded curves and featuring dainty, diamond-embellished chain strands between the closures and the onyx drops .

 

Gio Diev Phoenix, $875. Visit GioDiev.com for store information. 

As if the contrast of black and mirrored gold Nappa leather weren't enough to make Art Deco fanatics salivate, public-relations-expert-turned-footwear-designer Gio Metodiev added a sculptural, futuristic quality to his Phoenix shoe via mountain-shaped cut-outs along the sides and, most importantly, a trio of leather straps fanning out at the top of the shoe in an accordion-like manner. The pointed toe and straight heel, meanwhile, balance out the more rounded design elements. You can pick between a glossy black leather number with mirrored gold leather details or a soft gold shoe with black leather details — either way, you'll be attaining style immortality.

 

Jill Milan Art Deco Clutch in Silver, $2500. Available at JillMilan.com

This boxy, Italian stainless steel clutch measures 4.25" in height, 7" in width, and 1.5" in depth, and it has a silver, mirrored sheen that makes it look glamorous without being ostentatious. The square closure at the top of the clutch is engraved with the JM logo, adding a nice detail to the otherwise minimalist design.

 

Lulu Frost for J. Crew Wide Deco Bangle, $98. Available at JCrew.com 

True to her vintage-influenced aesthetic, Lulu Frost designer Lisa Salzer created this rounded bangle for her limited-edition, affordable jewelry line for J.Crew. The glossy black resin bangle measures 2 1/2" in diameter and features a gold-plated, brass buckle-like accent at the center, with a rectangular, faceted, smokey quartz-like center stone housed in the metal detail's interior. The stone's gold-plated frame is further embellished by handle-like strips along along the length, at the top and bottom of the stone, and arc-like details along its sides  — all encrusted with pavé-set Czech crystals.

 

 

 

Salvatore Ferragamo Varina Mosaic Shoes, $270. Available at Couture.Zappos.com 

Dorothy would've chucked her ruby red slippers had she seen these bow-accented, mosaic-style, mirrored gold flats from Salvatore Ferragamo, which feature a sensible 3/8" heel and rounded toe.

 

Kilian "Night Jewels" Collection, $425 for one bottle filled with any scent from the L'Oeuvre Noire or Arabian Nights collection. Available at RonRobinson.com

Fragrance expert Kilian Hennessy titled his Holiday 2011 collection “Joyaux de Nuit” (“Night Jewels”) after the four jeweled bottle designs he envisioned, all of which are meant to capture the black of night and the sparkle of the lights and stars during the evening hours.

Three of the four bottles were inspired by the L'Oeuvre Noir fragrance family: a heart split in two by a silver strip lined with rectangular smoky crystal stones and round clear crystals captures the heartache associated with "Love and its Prohibitions;" a shifting, distorted version of the square shape of the Place Vendôme in Paris channels the regal quality of "The Temptations" scent; and a futuristic design consisting of two staggered semi-circles facing one another, then adorned with vertical strips of faceted jewels resembling tower formations, captures the naughty, salacious spirit of "The Artificial Paradises" scent. The final bottle deviates aesthetically from the others by incorporating gold accents and Swarovski crystals, all of which are meant to capture the opulent spirit of the Arabian Nights fragrance collection.

All of the handcrafted bottles are refillable, making them timeless treasures worthy of the most extravagant boudoir. 

Best Coast(ers) -- Out of Print Introduces New Coaster Sets

 

 

Like any modern gal, I have a love-hate relationship with technology. I can't imagine riding the subway without my iPod tucked inside my pocket, delivering sweet tunes to my ears but, at the same time, I still haven't been able to chuck my extensive collection of CDs and mixtapes — even though I've imported many of them into my digital music library. Part of my desire to cling to these CDs stems from my fascination with their sleeves, with the composition of the photographs, the typography, and the illustrations adorning these glossy pamphlets, not to mention the careful annotations and acknowledgements typed on their pages. 

Whereas my feelings regarding technology and musical mediums waiver, when it comes to books, I'm still a traditionalist. I savor the smell of old books, the tranquility of libraries, the majestic stature of wooden bookshelves lined with rare titles, the rustling sound of turning pages, the creases left behind by dog-earing, the water and coffee stains on paper pages lovingly pored over by avid readers, and the yellowish tint of weathered paper. And, of course, there's the matter of book covers -- how they can capture the spirit of a novel, the aesthetic sensibilities of an era or genre, or even the author's spirit. 

With classic titles that have been reprinted over and over, sometimes the original book art fades into obscurity, replaced by more ordinary fare. Luckily, the founders of Out of Print, a clothing and accessories line, share my romanticism regarding classic literature. Since 2010, then, they've been designing tees and sweatshirts bearing the hard-to-find artwork that appeared on the first editions of such groundbreaking novels as Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Joseph Heller's Catch-22, Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita, and many more.

Now, Out of Print is not only expanding its array of book cover art, but it's also finding new canvases on which to emblazon these historical works. Aside from clothing, then, Out of Print is now offering bibliophiles tote bags, phone cases, eReader jackets (for those of you who love the convenience of digital readers but still appreciate the magic of the printed word) and, as of this week, coasters.

The new Out of Print Coaster Set, available for $20 at OutofPrintClothing.com starting this week, contains eight waterproof coasters, each featuring the graphics of a classic book. Packed in a square, hardcover-style, cornflower blue case, the eight coasters in the set feature artwork from the following titles: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Heller's Catch-22, Alduous Huxley's Brave New World, Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita, Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, and Jack Kerouak's On the Road.

Whether you love the explosion of peacock feathers on the Pride and Prejudice coaster or the cryptic quality of the Invisible Man graphics, you can now gaze upon the artwork corresponding to some of your favorite reads while sipping a glass of wine or entertaining friends at home. 

 

 

Ligorano/Reese Shake Things Up With New "The History of Art" Snow Globes

 

 

A premature snowstorm left the East Coast blanketed in white frost this past weekend, only two days before candy-seeking trick-or-treaters were poised to visit their neighbors carrying pumpkin-shaped baskets. The first snowfall of the year may foretell a harsh and lengthy winter but, while the plump flakes floated in the sky on Saturday, many of us marveled at the magical view with the type of wide-eyed fascination you'd expect from a child who, after years of experiencing snow only via domed crystal globes, finally felt some real flakes falling on his nose.

In their latest endeavor, Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese of Ligorano/Reese have redefined the meaning of the snow globe, a symbol of Christmas joy and childlike wonderment, by manipulating the images within these transparent spheres. In their heavily conceptual The History of Art Snow Globes collection, Ligorano and Reese celebrate the most groundbreaking art periods in history, using the snow globe as a medium through which to celebrate a specific aesthetic associated with one of these movements. Instead of a depiction of Santa Claus at the North Pole, each snow globe houses the name of an art movement. The placement and color of these laser-cut acrylic letters, along with the font style used, work to convey the main aesthetic principles of that art period. 

The collection consists of twenty snow globes, each measuring 7 1/2" in height and 6" in diameter, signed and dated, and retailing for $400 a pop at ArtwareEditions.com. The twenty movements mentioned in the collection are: Abstract Expressionism, Bauhaus, Conceptual Art, Cubism, Dada, De Stijl, Expressionism,
Fauvism, Fluxus, Futurism, Minimalism, New Media, Op Art, Performance Art, Photo Realism, Pop Art, Superflat, Surrealism, Video Art, and YBA.

The Cubism Snow Globe pictured above, for example, features square, 3-dimensional, black-and-white letters arranged in an abstract manner as opposed to running along one straight line. Likewise, the Surrealism Snow Globe features light aqua letters suspended along the center of the globe, the font size increasing as one's gaze moves from left to right, so that the final result feels dreamlike and fantastical. The Video Art Snow Globe even features letters inside a plasma-like blue screen.

By manipulating font styles and dimensions, Ligorano/Reese capture the DNA of each art movement and, by communicating their visions via snow globes, they make each object feel all the more precious and, in so doing, amplify the magnificence of the art period it encapsulates.

 Check out more of these snow globes after the jump!

More Halloween Treats For Those Plotting Stylish But Spooky Tricks

Make your wicked games all the more bewitching with these Halloween-themed, ghoulish accessories, home accents, and body products. You'll be casting such a powerful spell, everyone in your wake will be left singing Electric Light Opera's "Evil Woman."

 

 

Noir Jewelry Bat Girl Dome Ring, $300. Available at NoirJewelry.com

As part of its collaboration with DC Comics, Noir has designed this two-finger ring as a nod to Gotham's finest: the Dark Knight. The gunmetal-plated, solid brass ring features a slightly domed shape that follows the natural curve of the hand, with the wingspan being so wide that it covers most of your knuckles and the back of your hand. Black cubic zirconia stones are encrusted into the iconic Batman logo for a glam twist. Who needs Robin when you've got this piece as your sidekick?

 

Bath & Body Works Travel-Size Body Lotion, now $1.25 each from $5 each. Available at BathAndBodyWorks.com

Bath & Body Works really does have something for every occasion. This Halloween, it released a limited-edition collection of travel-sized body lotions bearing cheeky labels with pumpkin silhouettes covered with white gothic letters, illustrated carnival-esque backdrops, and spiderweb and Frankenstein themes. New, season-appropriate scents were introduced — among them: Black Candy Apple, a sweet mix of apple, caramel, and vanilla notes; Plum Potion, a tantalizing blend of ripe plum, zesty blood orange, and succulent black raspberry; Wicked Spiced Pumpkin, which smells like pumpkin pie with a hint of nutmeg; and Scream-A-Colada, a more tropical aroma that mixes coconut, pineapple and just a bit of rum for that naughty kick. 

 

D.L. & Co. Deft Skull Brights Votive Set of 4, $45. Available at DLcompany.com

Part of its Memento Mori collection, these candles feature skull illustrations meant to remind onlookers of their own mortality and of the need to live life fully. The bright colors of the glass votive jars — which range from an ultraviolet color to a freesia pink and a fiery yellow — infuse a playful spirit into the otherwise macabre designs. 

 

 

Delfina Delettrez x Alain Mikli Spider Sunglasses, $800. Available at OpeningCeremony.com

Insects, medieval motifs, gothic overtones, Tim Burton-esque creatures, and creepy but fascinating universes abound in designer Delfina Delettrez's work. A fourth-generation member of the Fendi family, Delettrez has mastered the art of making the weird whimsical, of transforming the macabre into the merry. Now, she has collaborated with eyewear brand Alain Mikli on a series of sunglasses, including these square frames, which feature a printed spiderweb at the top corner of one of the lenses and a han-painted, silver-toned accent at the temple.

 

 

Let It Rain With A Color-Changing Squidarella By SquidLondon Umbrella

 

Every gal who has survived adolescence can remember a period when she was fascinated by mood rings, when she waited eagerly to see if their stones would change from an eerie, galactic, alien-esque green to a neon, Tron-worthy turquoise or a fiery red — a transformation that, promotional charts notwithstanding, depended solely on body temperature fluctuations. But what fascinated us wasn't necessarily the reason behind the color change — it was the transformation itself that proved exciting (and the surprise element of not knowing when it would do so).

Now, you can experience this sense of rapture once again — without adopting a gecko or sporting jewelry that looks like it came from a plastic egg in a supermarket vending machine. In addition to its own original handbag, scarf, and apparel designs, Hayden-Harnett is offering hand-picked goods from some brands like SquidLondon, which specializes in color-changing graphic umbrellas. 

Each Squidarella by SquidLondon umbrella is made of a waterproof black fabric and features a print that appears white at first but morphs into a halogen-like scenario when soaked in the rain. The Squidarella by SquidLondon Umbrella in NYC Skyline ($38 at HaydenHarnett.com), pictured at top, features dominant images of the Big Apple all along its periphery in a collage-like formation: the Statue of Liberty, yellow taxis, a pedestrian traffic light, the Empire State Building, and more. The pattern looks stark and Mod when the skies are clear but, as the rain trickles down and the green, yellow, red, blue, and gray tones surface, the entire cityscape pictured in the umbrella comes to life. 

For a design that's not so geographically specific, check out the Squidarella by SquidLondon Umbrella in Bird Splash ($38 at HaydenHarnett.com) pictured after the jump, which features splatter-like blotches and soaring bird shapes. As you might discern from the pattern's name, the Bird Splash is a humorous take on the mess created when winged creatures, uhm, relieve themselves on windshields, window panes, shoulders, rooftops, and canopies. When soaked in moisture, the white splotches take on a technicolor feel, with each blotchy, spidery stain appearing like it consists of two or three juxtaposed smears in harmonizing hues: a sky blue over a Play-Doh green, an electric blue atop a pale blue over a sunshine yellow, and a creamy tangerine over a peony pink.

With these Squidarellas, you'll be setting fire to the rain, blazing through the stormy skies.

 

Fashion's Night Out Countdown — The Fun Begins Tonight!

We've already told you about the events at Ash Footwear, Caudalie, Jo Malone, Kiehl's, MAC Soho, the NARS flagship store, and Rebecca Taylor going down this Thursday, as well as the festivities at Saks, Macy's, Mackage, Sephora, Searle, Dylan's Candy Bar, and Scosha —and now, we've got even more to dish about!

Below, find our final round of Fashion's Night Out 2011 event picks for your perusal.

So now that you've got our top selects for the evening, tell us: where will you be heading? And don't forget to upload photos of all your FNO fun onto our Facebook page: Facebook.com/SickaThanAvg!

 

Meet Drop Dead Diva's Brooke Elliott at Avenue

Who better to make an appearance at plus-sized retailer Avenue (711 Third Avenue) on FNO than Broke Elliott, the star of Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva? Stop in between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to meet Elliott, get style advice from expert Jacqui Stafford, and emerge feeling like a drop dead gorgeous diva. The first 100 guests will also receive an Avenue gift bag, and they'll be entered to win a $500 shopping spree.

 

Learn all about the new Velvet Eyes eyeliner patches and get a complimentary makeover at Dior

Step inside the Dior boutique (19 East 57th Street, between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue) between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and get a makeover courtesy of celebrity makeup artist Ricky Wilson and scoop up the new Velvet Eyes reusable eyeliner patches available in four different shades exclusively on September 8th at the artistry station inside the boutique. 

 

 

Enjoy a performance by Estelle at DVF

Let British singing sensation Estelle serenade you at the Diane Von Furstenberg Studio (440 West 14th Street) where, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., guests will be able to enjoy a DVF Home Installation, sample the new fragrance Diane, enjoy cocktails and finger foods, and receive a free gift with any purchase.

 

Check out the new Kenny Scharf for Jack Rogers collection

Brooklyn-based, California-born painter Kenny Scharf has created a new capsule collection for Palm Beach-flavored footwear and accessories brand Jack Rogers which will be unveiled on Thursday between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. at the Jack Rogers store (1198 Madison Avenue).

 

Stop by the Joe's pop-up store

To toast Fashion's Night Out, Joe's will be opening a pop-up store at 77 Mercer Street in Soho. Founder Joe Dahan will be hosting the evening's festivities alongside Something Navy’s Arielle Nachmani and her sister, celebrity stylist Danielle Nachmani (who has worked with the Olsen twins, among others). Guests can get the scoop on fall denim trends from the Nachmani sisters and vie to create the most stylish ensemble in order to win a $1,00 gift card. DJ Alex Daniel will supply the tunes, Ward III mixologists will serve up drinks, and Rickshaw Dumpling, the Gorilla Cheese Guy, and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream trucks will be parked outside the pop-up store to sate customers' appetites.

 

Take in a Nicholas K trunk show, pre-shop the latest Bijules collection, and jam alongside School of Seven Bells

In addition to grub from Taim Falafel and food trucks Kimchi Taco and Wafels & Dinges, guests who drop by Treasure and Bond (350 West Broadway) can check out a Nicholas K trunk show and purchase new jewelry pieces from Bijules from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., then chill out and enjoy a performance by electronica-laced indie rock band School of Seven Bells from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

 

Shop for Paige Novick jewelry and benefit the NYC AIDS Fund

Jewelry designer Paige Novick has joined Bergdorf Goodman's "Wheel of Fashion" event, going down between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., during which guests can buy a ticket to spin a giant Price Is Right-style wheel and, if they get lucky, score a special prize. Robert Verdi will host the event and designers like Michelle Smith from Milly, Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia, jewelry designer Eddie Borgo, Libertine's Johnson Hartig, and Tibi's Amy Smilovic. All of the proceeds form ticket sales will benefit the New York City AIDS Fund of the New York Community Trust.

 

Snatch up pieces from Seville Michelle Anastos, M.Y.O.B., and David Dalrymple for House of Field at the Patricia Field Boutique

Professional model Byrdie Bell will be co-hosting the FNO festivities at the Patricia Field Boutique (302 Bowery, between Houston and Bleecker), where you can shop for jewelry from designers Seville Michelle Anastos and M.Y.O.B., and scoop up some gear from David Dalrymple for House of Field.

 

 Have you hair dry-styled at the Redken Gallerie and Exchange

From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., swing by the Redken Gallerie and Exchange (on Fifth Avenue between 46th and 47th Street) and give your hair a pick-me-up. When you spend $20 or more, you'll be gifted with another star products from the Redken line and, if you spend upwards of $40, you can have your mane dry-styled into one of the looks seen on the New York, Milan, and Paris runways. The hair stylings are available on a first come, first serve basis, so make sure to prioritize this spot, chicas!

 

Pamper yourself with full face makeovers and complimentary manicures at Ricky's NYC

Unlike the Victoria referenced in the Victoria's Secret name, the Ricky mentioned in Ricky's NYC is a real person — and, on Fashion's Night Out, you'll have the opportunity to meet this famed entrepreneur in the flesh at his Upper West Side store (2387 Broadway, between 87th and 88th Street). Shop for beauty supplies, get a blow-out for just $25, and score a free makeover and complimentary manicure by Patricia Yankee, Katy Perry's nail artist, when you spend $40 or more. 

Get a mini manicure and eyebrow shaping from a Sally Hansen expert at Talbots

From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. get style and beauty advice from Mary Alice Stephenson and let Sally Hansen experts pamper you with mini-manicures and brow shapings at Talbots (525 Madison Avenue, between 53rd and 54th Street). If you're an early bird and you happen to be among the first 100 folks to drop by the store, you'll score a gift bag stuffed with Sally Hansen items.

 

Get a skincare consultation from Tata Harper at Space NK

Explore one of the leading organic skin care lines, Vermont-based Tata Harper, at Space NK (99 Greene Street) between 7 and 9 p.m. The line's founder will be on site to offer skin care consultations, plus guests will be able to sample the calendula, borage, and arnica oils harvested from Tata's farm. 

 

Raise funds for HIV/AIDS patients alongside Zero + Maria Cornejo

Rather than simply focus on turning a profit, designer Maria Cornejo is looking to give back to her New York community, donating 5% of the evening's sales to Housing Works, an organization that works to deliver proper medical services and living conditions to HIV positive patients. In addition to shopping, guests who stop by 33 Bleecker Street (between Lafayette and the Bowery) or 807 Greenwich Street (at Jane Street) can enter a raffle to win a set of rare Polaroid photographs and art books by Mark Borthwick. Customers who spend over $500 will receive a large Zero + Maria Cornejo silk scarf in the new book print introduced for Fall 2011.

 

Get Ready For The Missoni For Target Collection

 

 

You've likely heard the hullabaloo and frenzied hubbub over the Missoni for Target collection, which will land in Target stores and on Target.com on Sept. 13rd, bidding customers adieu on October 22nd. The expansive collection includes women's, men's, and kid's apparel, as well as accessories, footwear, beauty supplies, home accents, linens, pillows, furnishings, tableware, stationery, luggage, and even a bicycle. Many of the pieces in the collection, as might be expected, incorporate the chevron patterns that have become synonymous with the 58-year old Italian couture brand, as well as kaleidoscopic floral prints and mosaic-like geometric shapes.

So does the collection live up to the hype? Yes and no. Though many a fashion blogger has raved about the clothing options in the collection, I was disappointed by the drab coloring and the overly preppy shapes (tons of dainty cardigans, bulky sweater dresses, and frumpy maxi skirts. Sure, there are a couple of highlights: a sharp, slightly retro, black sweater dress with grayish teal vertical stripes and beige, mustard, and brown strips of color zig-zagging across the waist and hemline; a matching sweater coat that's for a polished look and a versatile color palette; and a V-neck, chevron-print chiffon sweater with matching knit shorts. Still, you won't find anything as funky as the low-cut cardigan Kate Moss donned for the brand's SS11 ad campaign or the bell-sleeved chiffon dress with the pleated skirt she flaunted for their Fall 2004 ad campaign. And you can forget about anything akin to the tribal-inspired pieces showcased in the Missoni Resort 2011 show. Basically, the Boho chic look that I associate with Missoni and that I so relish is rather absent from this buttoned-up, soccer mom-like clothing cluster. Even the footwear options are limited, as customers can basically pick between a blah pair of ballet flats like those pictured above ($24.99) or shapeless, albeit cute, rain boots ($34.99).

The collection's saving grace, then, is its colorful array of home offerings, which include such standouts as the 5-Piece Espresso Set pictured at top ($39.99); the Chevron Toss Pillow ($29.99) and Loops Toss Pillow ($29.99) pictured fifth from top; the whimsical Laptop Sleeve shown sixth from top ($29.99); the Floral Boxed Candles pictured last above ($12.99 each); the painterly bath towels and Mod shower curtain (as shown after the jump); and the various appetizer trays, stoneware plates, cereal bowls, tumbler glasses, and serving trays (some of which are shown after the jump). A simple throw blanket over a brown leather couch is likely to liven up an otherwise minimalist living room, and a set of square-shaped, chevron-patterned plates and striped glasses with pops of burgundy, aqua, brown, coral, khaki, yellow, and gray will make family dinner feel like a true fête.

Also of note are the glass photo frames, cosmetics cases, hostess-ready wine boxes, and plush towels _  all of which exude the joie de vivre that we associate with Missoni.

Check out more pieces from the collection after the jump!

D.L. & Co. Skull With Mandible Candle -- A Mortal Scent

No, we're not encouraging you to turn your abode into a spooky haunted house, adorning it with macabre skulls meant to frighten candy-hoarding children. These skull-shaped candles are far from scary, partly thanks to the bright colors used to craft them: an electric pink, a tangerine orange, a chartreuse green, and a perky coral red. Rather than glorify death or celebrate the occult, the sculpted D.L. & Co. Skull With Mandible Candle ($90 at DLcompany.com) and the five-piece Bright Mini Skull Gift Set ($75 at DLcompany.com), with its mandible-less votives, are designed to instill a hunger for life on onlookers.

The inspiration behind the candles was the mantra "Memento Mori," a Latin phrase that translates to "remember your mortality" or even "remember you will die." The phrase dates back to Ancient Rome but has been used in a number of different contexts and artistic movements, with related motifs like skulls, hourglasses, candles ready to be extinguishes, and flowers with dried out or missing petals. All these symbols are related in that they all underline the temporal nature of life.

Memento Mori artwork, then, encourages people to live full, rich, passionate lives. By utilizing the skull motifs so closely associated with Memento Mori artwork and infusing the with psychedelic colors, these candles capture the carpe diem essence of the movement, how it values risk-taking and emphasizes the need to lead inspired lives.