SICKA THAN AVERAGE

WeSC x Bing Bang Capsule Collection -- A Beautiful And Slightly Twisted Fantasy

 

 

Designer Anna Sheffield's distinct aesthetic hinges on her ability to intertwine the delicate and the coarse, incorporating feminine and masculine motifs, and toying with the contrast between hard and soft. In her Bing Bang line, braided mixed metal chains and tarnished-looking, hammered copper and brass pendants are mixed with Bohemian-flavored feather motifs, vintage-looking tassels, dainty star and heart charms, and tribal-tinged wood beads. This boundary-pushing, category-defying, tough-but-sweet style is precisely what drew the attention of city slick Swedish fashion and headphones brand WeSC. The recently released WeSC x Bing Bang collection, then, incorporates the irreverent, brassy, take-no-mess spirit of WeSC and combines it with the lethal but lovely Bing Bang look.

The collection, of course, incorporates a pair of hefty headphones (for which WeSC is known). Part of the WeSC x Bing Bang Box Set, the black headphones feature gold-plated ear cups adorned with golden heart motifs and a gold-and-black adjustable headband and  incorporate 40mm power drivers for excellent sound quality. The headphones come in a sleek black box with a foil-like golden heart detail placed off center on the top of the box so that it wraps along the side of the lid. A chain strand with a heart frame dangles from the headphone chord, adding a cheeky accent. In addition, the box set incorporates a sterling silver bracelet with a hollow heart shape threaded through a loop.

On the jewelry front, pieces include the sharp, dangerous-feeling WeSC x Bing Bang Bar Ring ($88 at WeSC.com/BingBang), a two-finger piece made mainly of copper, fused with a hint of zinc and tin. As its name implies, the top of the ring has a completely flat and mirrored surface with a sword-like etched detail. The sides, meanwhile, have a hammered, almost honeycomb-like finish. Another similarly tough piece is the  WeSC x Bing Bang Pocket Knife Necklace ($92 at WeSC.com/BingBang), a copper-based pendant resembling a folding blade, with the words "Til Death" engraved along the tamarind-like curve of its top surface adding an ominous, almost gothic feel. Since there is an actual blade inside the pendant, make sure not to rock this when heading for the airport or any other situation that may involve a security check (hey, no one wants to be escorted into the infamous little room!)

Those with more of a prim disposition will adore the WeSC x Bing Bang Forever Nameplate Necklace, which features the word "forever" in cursive, gold-tinged copper letters and a hefty, oxidized-looking chain link strand ($79 at WeSC.com/BingBang). Another great option: the WeSC x Bing Bang Mixed Chain Bracelet ($72 at WeSC.com/BingBang), which features a silver-toned bracelet combining two chain link styles, as well as a copper-based, heart-shaped locket in a framed shape.  

DC Shoes x Skullcandy Sneaker Collaboration -- Keep Your Ears To The Ground

 

A favorite among sneaker aficionados and die-hard skateboarders alike, DC Shoes has been expanding its range of lifestyle-driven designs without sacrificing the comfort provided by its foam-padded tongue and collar and the stability yielded by its pill pattern sole. Over the last four years, then, DC has joined forces with such cult brands as SSUR, JB Classics, and Atmos and pop culture influencers like tattoo artist Darren Brass, photographer Mike Blabac and musician Mike Shinoda. Next month, DC Shoes will unveil a new co-branded footwear collection with headphone and earbud company Skullcandy. 

The DC Shoes x Skullcandy collection consists of two sneaker designs: the Spartan Hi ($100), a black-on-black nubuck suede and leather hi-top sneaker with a foam-padded collar, black laces, gold contrast stitching, the DC and Skullcandy logos stamped in gold along the heel counter, and gold-trimmed glossy black enamel logo plates with the interlocking DC letters featured on the uppers; and the Stack ($95), a low-top style in back leather with black suede along the side panels, eyestay, an heel counter (which features the DC and Skullcandy logos in white), perforated quarters with a mesh-like quality, and silver-toned strips with tonal stitching running diagonally across the quarters and up to the top sections of the eyestays. 

Those of you who love the audio quality of Skullcandy's headphones will love this detail: with every sneaker, you'll automatically receive a free pair of Skullcandy earbuds. Sweet!

Check out close-up images after the jump and make sure to keep a look out for the collection, which will hit DCShoes.com in November.

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.

 

Nixon x Beastie Boys Watch Collection -- Fight For Your Right To Floss

Twenty-five years after the release of their debut album Licensed to Ill, Mike "Mike D” Diamond, Adam “MCA” Yauch, and Adam “Ad Rock” Horovitz — collectively known as seminal rap trio Beastie Boys — are hoping to bring together the music and fashion worlds via a new limited-edition collection of Krush Groove-flavored timepieces designed vis-a-vis timepiece brand Nixon.

True to the Beastie Boys' spirit (think of the riotous, defiant, punk rock-infused edge of their "Sabotage" single or the Animal House-ish feel of their  "Fight For Your Right (To Party!)"), the group insisted that the proceeds of the Nixon Beastie Boys watch collection benefit WKCR-FM, Columbia University's student-run radio station, thereby enabling these youngsters to continue voicing their original ideas, unrestricted as they are from commercial interests and advertiser regulations, and sharing their musical selections with eager listeners.

A funky interpretation of Nixon's Time Teller watch, the custom model at the center of the collection features a 20mm-wide polyurethane band emblazoned with the word "Beastie" outlined in bold, '80s-style bubble letters on one side and boasting a printed quote from Mike D on the other side o the strap (his words of wisdom, if you will). The dial, meanwhile, features a campy image of Mike D in a sailor outfit worthy of a Love Boat episode (but set to a Beat Street soundtrack, of course), and is set inside a polycarbonate and hardened mineral crystal case measuring 47.75mm x 39.25mm. Each watch is packaged inside a box with illustrations of nautical paraphernalia like lifesavers and ship steering wheels.

Available in white, red, green, and blue, the Nixon Beastie Boys watches are available until supplies last — and, if these follow in the footsteps of the group's multi-platinum album sales, that won't be very long.

 

Nixon Beastie Boys Watch, $85 at NixonNow.com

Run The World Like Beyoncé In Laruicci's Power Earrings And Claw Rings

Jay-Z may have been on a "Run This Town" trip last year, but his leading lady, Beyoncé, has set her sights on a much larger target: the world. In her new female empowerment single, "Run The World," Bey gives props to other ambitious, independent, driven women, with lyrics like, "Boy, you know you love it, how we're smart enough to make these millions, strong enough to bare the children, then get back to business." In keeping with the female domination theme, the video for the "Run The World" single features Beyoncé in a besieged, post-apocalyptic, desert universe sporting a series of regal warrior ensembles that reference Cleopatra, Aunty Entity (Tina Turner's character in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome), and Joan of Arc-worthy armor.

In one scenario, she is surrounded by an army of women wearing colorful scarves as harem pants, their black bustier bras peeking out from underneath military-style jackets, black caps propped atop their heads — all facing off against a gang of leather-clad men rocking thick gold chains.In another scenario, Bey stands behind two menacing hyenas, one leash in each hand, all while wearing a red carpet-ready, flowing white gown. But perhaps the most dramatic moment, from a fashion perspective, involves Beyoncé wearing a sleeveless mini dress covered with mirrored, diamond-shaped, golden paillettes stacked atop one another to resemble a futuristic, geometric-style armor. In that moment, Bey complements her ensemble with some stunning jewelry pieces by Laruicci. With her hair in a messy updo, onlookers can focus on the Laruicci Power Earrings (pictured above, third from top) dangling from her lobes. Each of these mammoth earrings features a gold metal post; three elongated, cylinder-shaped bars arranged into a triangle shape and attached via a golden chain; a chunky gold metal bar dangling below it, laying horizontally; and two large, faceted glass beads in trapeze-like shapes cascading down to the shoulders.

If the Power Earrings feel like an ode to trigonometry via jewelry, the Laruicci Man Eater Claw and Transformer Claw rings Beyoncé sports in this scene infuse a lethal, feline, savage quality to her look. The Laruicci Man Eater Claw (pictured at top) fits on the top half of the finger, but the band allows it to rest in place securely so that it won't just fall off the hand. The mixed metal ring is designed so that the pointed part of the teardrop shape rests below the knuckle, while the slanted, wider curve practically reaches the top of the finger. The ring's hollow interior, meanwhile, creates a peek-a-boo effect that's sexy and enigmatic.

The Transformer Claw (pictured second from top), meanwhile, boasts a diamond shape, with each side slanted so precariously, the edges so steep and the metal so resplendent and mirror-like, that it gives the piece a three-dimensional feel.  This, to me, is the One Ring — the piece that dominates all the other Rings of Power.

 

Laruicci Maneater Claw, $68; Laruicci Transformer Claw, $78; and Laruicci Power Earrings, $268. Available at Laruicci.com

 

Recap Of Sicka Than Average's "Fashion Blogger Forecast" Bash At Stone Rose Lounge

Above, from left: Celia San Miguel, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sicka Than Average; Eloy Hernandez; Sowmya Krishnamurthy of ICED Media; and Izzy Ruiz, Contributing Editor at Sicka Than Average.

Above, from left: Sowmya Krishnamurthy and Celia San Miguel

Gift bags with goodies from sponsors Physicians Formula, Redken, Junkprints, and Sally Hansen, as well as giveaway items from Katherine Kwei, SOBRAL, Swatch, Clarisonic, and FromTheBronx.com

 

Katherine Kwei Cleo handbag raffled during the party

Above, from left: Adriana Nova of Ideeli.com and Yana Lusher of MyOwnJudge.net

From left to right: Sowmya Krishnamurthy, Adriana Nova, and Celia San Miguel

Last Sunday, May 15th, we celebrated Sicka Than Average's third anniversary and the conclusion of Time Warner Center's amazing "Fashion Blogger Forecast" initiative (in which we were featured, to great fanfare, alongside three other NYC fashion bloggers). The cocktail party was held at Stone Rose Lounge in Time Warner Center from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. DJ Uri Adal presided over the wheels of steels, spinning a mix of dance, hip-hop, pop, and R&B, with a set that included everything from Usher's "OMG" to Bjork's "The Hunter," Robyn's "Dancing On My Own," Rihanna's "Only Girl in the World," Shakira's "She Wolf," and Lykke Li's "I Follow Rivers" (check out his full playlist here). Guests grooved to the music, enjoyed cocktails and appetizers, mingled, and took in the gorgeous view of Central Park from the sky-high windows lining the venue's walls.

Among those present were Malak Atut, founder and designer of ZAIKEN jewelry; rapper/producer Mike Jaggerr; jewelry designer Susan Suh; up-and-coming fashion designer Tori Nichel; super publicist Jourdann Lubliner of Kaplow PR; ICED Media Marketing and PR Specialist Sowmya Krishnamurthy; Nicole Newsum of Bratskeir PR; seasoned hip-hop journalists Jayson Rodriguez and Alvin Blanco; Cacy Forgenie Culture Editor at GlobalGrind.com; Adriana Nova, Social Media Manager at Ideeli.com; Raquel Huston, Integrated Marketing Specialist at TV One; beauty bloggers Paula Wade of OlderGirlBeauty.com, Meredith Edwards-Cornwell of RetrodivasBeauty.com, and Yana Lusher of MyOwnJudge.net; Public Relations maven Real Hamilton-Romeo; and many more.

All VIP guests received Sicka Than Average gift bags filled with goodies from our sponsors Redken (each bag contained either a bottle of Redken Glass 01 Smoothing Serum or a tube of Fresh Curls Curl Recovery); Physicians Formula (who provided us with their amazing Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Pressed Shimmer Bronzer, the answer to a healthy, summer-ready glow); and Sally Hansen (who graciously blessed us with their brand new, buzz-y Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips so we could give guests a special treat).

To add some excitement to the evening, we raffled off special prizes from more fabulous sponsors, with the key items being: a Clarisonic Mia in Garnet; a pair of SOBRAL Chick Shock Encanto Earrings in blue (priced at $58); a SOBRAL Pop Art Bangle (worth $50); a chic Katherine Kwei "Clea" Cross Body purse, which has a retail price of $300; a zebra-striped Swatch watch worth $60; two graphic tees from the brand new apparel line FromTheBronx.com; and two gift cards from Stone Rose Lounge worth $75 each.

I, of course, tried to look my very best for the big event, so I slipped into a va-va-va-voom, minimalist but ultra sexy, flesh-toned dress from Onno, reached for a pair of gold and aqua blue Kendra Scott earrings and SOBRAL's Cantalago Rio-inspired bangle bracelet, and Pour La Victoire's light aqua Aria slingback platform pumps. To add a dash of color, I selected a turquoise-colored handbag for the evening: the incomparable Katherine Kwei Clea in Turquoise, an embossed lizard lambskin cross-body bag with gold trim along the front flap and edges, a slim gold shoulder strap, and the designer's signature Chinese eternity knot motif along the top flap. To finish the look, I slicked my hair back, pulled it into a bun and accessorized with Colette Malouf's stunning Crystal Net Mother of Pearl Headband. Chck out the complete look in the photos here!

Overall, the nice was a huge success, and we're looking forward to putting together many more events in the near future. Take a look at some pictures from the event above and after the jump!

 

HEX Watch Bands For iPod Nano -- The Time Is Right!

         

           

 

When it comes to electronic gizmos, size matters — and this is one realm in which bigger is rarely better. The new touch-screen iPod Nano, then, is 46% smaller and 42% lighter than its predecessor — heck, it's even tinier than a Cheez-It cracker! But, when you have something so precious and so petite, you have to be extra careful about safeguarding it. If you toss it inside your hobo bag, you might spend hours searching for it to no avail (our purses tend to be bottomless pits, after all!).  If you tuck it inside your pant pocket, it might slip out and leave you in music-less tears. And do you really want to clip this tiny device to your shirt or jacket, practically taunting would-be pick-pockets, luring them to swipe it off your body and head for the hills? 

Thankfully, HEX provided the missing piece to this tech puzzle, creating a watch band that integrates the iPod Nano into its design. Rather than some dowdy nylon strap on which to clip on your petite portable music player, each HEX Watch Band is designed so that you can pop the iPod Nano into the watch case and secure it in place (and, of course, you can pop the device out when necessary). Each watch is made of premium silicone and features honeycomb-like grooves all along the strap, integrated control buttons, and an audio port for headphones. 

The HEX Original Watch Band is available in nine funky colors ranging from a periwinkle blue to a neon lime green and a tangerine orange. Fashion, function and a modest price tag? Believe it!

 

HEX Watch Band for iPod Nano, $29.95. Available at ShopHEX.com

It's The Finale Of Our Weekend-Long Earth Day Extravaganza!

Our eco-friendly fête is still going strong on its third consecutive day! Today, we'll be schooling you on everything from TSA-approved organic skincare travel kits to cozy and colorful 100% bamboo scarves. Check out our latest environmentally friendly picks below!

 

 

iWave Grass Roots Headphones, $29.95. Available at iWaveAudio.com

How can you make a sonic experience eco-friendly? Well, you can start by switching up the way you listen to music on your iPod or MP3 player. The new iWave Grass Roots collection features headphones and iPod cases constructed using renewable materials like bamboo, recycled wood, and hemp and packaged in recycled paper with graphics printed using natural dyes. The headphones pictured above, for example, feature recycled wood accents along the ear cups.

 

Nepali by TDM Design Bambi Bamilla Scarf, $100. Available at TDMDesignInc.com

This ultra soft, 100% bamboo scarf was hand-made and hand-dyed in Nepal. Measuring 28" in width by 80" in length, the Nepali by TDM Bambi Bamilla scarf features Boho chic stripes with a restrained tie-dye feel. Our favorite colorway is the deep eggplant purple with the blush pink contrast pictured above.

 

 

 

Davines Well-Being Natural Tech De Stress Yogurt Buffer Gel, $21. Visit Davines.com to locate a salon.

Eco-friendly and socially responsible, Italian haircare line Davines specializes in products that incorporate all-natural ingredients into their formulas. But rather than sticking to tired and true botanicals associated with healthy hair, Davines insists on exploring the potential benefits of plants, herbs, and fruits through its ongoing research initiatives. Because of this, then, you'll find such ingredients as fig leaf, tomato extract, pistachio oil, carrot extract, and barley extract in its potent formulations. We're currently loving the Davines Well-Being Natural Tech De Stress Yogurt Buffer Gel, which gives any style hold without damaging strands or leaving behind any unsightly flaky residue. Whereas most gels dry out your hair, this one nourishes strands with a combination of collagen, which defends hair from stresses like salt water, UV rays, and chlorine; and yogurt, which boasts a high concentration of replenishing minerals and vitamins, among them zinc, calcium, lactic acid, and Vitamins B1, B2, B-6 and B-12.

 

Collective Wellbeing Carbon-Balanced Travel Kit, $25. Available at CollectiveWellbeing.com

Though we appreciate all the efforts the TSA has made to ensure the safety of flight passengers, every woman who has sauntered down a security checkpoint at an airport can attest to being confused by the rules regarding the acceptable sizes of liquid and cream personal hygiene products. This handy kit from Collective Wellbeing features TSA-approved, travel-sized versions of its best-selling products: a 0.25 oz. tube of its Weightless Daycream, a 0.25 oz. tube of its Night Quenching Cream, a 1 oz. bottle of its Corrective Cleanser, a 1.5 oz. tube of its Dry Skin Relief Body Butter, a 1.5 oz. bottle of its Right to Shine Shampoo, and a 1.5 oz. bottle of its Quick Fix Conditioner.  Not only are all the products formulated with certified organic natural ingredients like aloe vera juice, ilipe nut butter, jojoba oil, pomegranate seed oil, and chamomile, but they're packaged in a jute and organic cotton pouch manufactured with a zero carbon footprint. But Collective Wellbeing's commitment to the environment goes a step further: for every travel kit sold, the company will purchase enough clean energy credits to offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by one round-trip, cross-country flight.

 

 

 

Unite Smoothing Shampoo. $22.95, and Unite Smoothing Conditioner, $24.95. Available at Shop.UniteHair.com

Not only are Unite's haircare products sulfate- and paraben-free, but they contain no gluten (remarkable in and of itself) and are 100% vegan. The  Unite Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner both focus on eliminating frizz and fly-aways, boosting shine, and keeping hair looking straight and lustrous. To that end, then, they rely on guar gum to tame frizz, moringa seed extract to protect hair color, panthenol to condition strands, and botanisil to moisturize and protect hair from heat exposure. 

Hawaiian Prints Abound In New Amy Winehouse For Fred Perry Collection

For a while there, it seemed like Amy Winehouse was a walking cautionary tale for those even contemplating experimenting with drugs (I mean, a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum singer going toothless? Huh?). The harrowing images circulating the Web were way more effective scare tactics than any egg-cracking, "This is your brain on drugs" commercial (in fact, we can now refer to them as the "These are your teeth on drugs" pics). But things seem to finally be looking up for the gravelly-voiced chanteuse.

Those of us cheering her on, hoping she'll "win" (and we mean in the true sense of the word, not Charlie Sheen's twisted interpretation), finally have some reassuring signs, including some very flattering photos of a healthy-looking Winehouse shot for Look magazine (props to Idolator.com for sharing them with us). And, while a formal statement regarding her sophomore album has yet to be released, rumors pertaining to it are reaching the deafening decibel range.

For now, we can at least get our Winehouse fix (horrible pun intended) on the fashion front with the release of her second collaborative collection with Fred Perry. The Spring 2011 collection features short-sleeved polo shirts, jaunty zip-up track jackets, coquettish halter tops, cropped bowling shirts with front ties, sporty bermuda shorts, fitted knee-length skirts, cropped cardigans, and shift dresses in gingham, argyle, and a cheeky Hawaiian print. The entire collection stays true to the athleticism of the Fred Perry brand, while incorporating the 1950s feel we associate with Winehouse via Grease-ready silhouettes. Both a cropped, button-up, red cardigan sweater and a figure-hugging, short-sleeve red sweater with black stripe accents along the cuffs and the rounded neckline would look right at home inside the halls of Rydell High School. A black-and-white gingham cami top, meanwhile, channels the look of '50s era swing dresses.

In terms of fabrics and patterns, the highlight is a vibrant Hawaiian print (shown above), which features a tomato red backdrop covered with white and yellow floral motifs. Small white-and-yellow Chrysanthemum flower illustrations form curved ribbon shapes or the  C-shaped Fred Perry laurel wreath logo, while an aloha-worthy splash is infused via larger Chinese hibiscus blooms featuring petals in gradient shades of sunset yellow and vermillion. The print even features an illustration of Amy Winehouse herself, posing coyly among a bouquet of tropical flowers, her tresses coiffed in her signature towering beehive and a lei necklace draped around her neck.

The Hawaiian print pops up in such pieces as a halter-neck, button-front dress, a short-sleeved bowling shirt, a barrel-shaped handbag, and the above-pictured silk scarf, so you can choose how far you want to take your retro island look. We love the idea of wearing the Fred Perry Amy Hawaiian Scarf as a hair accessory (just as Winehouse herself would do), folding the scarf and wearing it as a headband, our bangs peeking out from beneath it, or wrapping it around at the base of a beehive and tying the scarf's ends into a knot at the side of the head.

 

Amy Winehouse for Fred Perry Amy Hawaiian Scarf, £31.00. Available at FredPerry.com

Invention Inception -- Problem Solving Gadgets From Quirky At HSN

 

 

 

Wouldn't it be fantastic to have one revolutionary, life-changing, Mark Zuckerberg- or Steve Jobs- worthy "Eureka!" moment that translated into a patentable and highly profitable invention? The closest most of us have come is reenacting that scene from Romy And Michelle's High School Reunion in which Romy claims she invented the ubiquitous, office-ready sticky notes to impress her former classmates. And yet design brand Quirky specializes in offering consumers everyday solutions to little inconveniences and nuisances — many of which you might not have considered prior to encountering these gadgets. HSN is applauding Quirky's forward-thinking ethos by carrying a range of gadgets from the brand, all of which aim to lessen clutter, aid in multi-tasking, and simplify daily tasks.

One of our favorite offerings is the Scratch-N-Scroll (pictured at top), which fuses together the mouse pad structure with the reusable writing slate provided by such groundbreaking toys as the Etch-A-Sketch. This rectangular rubber-and-plastic pad measured 9 1/2" in length, 8 1/2" in width, and 1/4" in height and features a non-slip rubber base, a slim stylus for quick note taking, and a semi-transparent sheet on which you can write tasks, phone numbers, and memos. Using the accompanying stylus (which has its own nook on the side of the mousepad), you simply write down anything you desire, then grasp the parchment-like top sheet at the curved bottom edge and lift it from the base until  you erase those scribbled notes. The invention is rather handy when you need to jot something down and simply can't find a piece of paper or a ballpoint pen — just know that it's not the ideal space for data you'll need to accent on a semi-permanent basis since the weight of a mouse rolling over the sheet is enough to speed up any note's disappearance (hey, this isn't a tattooed reminder for Memento-like protagonists). Also, the sheet does tear so try your best to be gentle with it. Otherwise, you'll likely be pleased with its durability as a mousepad and the convenience it provides as a reminder-packed tablet.

Need another example of a handy gadget? Check out Quirky's Wrapster Earphone Cord Wraps, which come in punchy colors like turquoise and purple, as well as basic black and white. Sold in sets of four, the Wrapsters are designed so that you can slide each ear bud through a slim, vertical plastic tube and then wrap it around a central bar to prevent any tangling and messiness when earphones aren't in use. And, if you have an iPhone, you can even use a Wrapster tube as a stand for your mobile device.

In addition to offering consumers organizational solutions, Quirky is also rolling out the red carpet for would-be inventors: as part of its partnership with Quirky founder and CEO Ben Kaufman, HSN is providing a space through which consumers can submit product ideas and have them evaluated by the Quirky team for possible development. Since the company unveils a new invention on HSN every month, there's a fair chance that some resourceful consumer will see his/her idea come to fruition and enter the marketplace — and, of course, that lucky goose will get bragging rights and the opportunity to cash in on the finished product. Ka-ching!

Quirky Scratch-N-Scroll Rewritable Mouse Pad, $14.95; Headphone & Earbud Wrapsters (Set of 4), $19.95. Available at HSN.com