SICKA THAN AVERAGE

New Noir Jewelry x Tokidoki x Barbie Collection -- With Imagination, Life Is Your Creation

 

Pyramid studs, enamel-plated pendants, conical spikes, clustered cubic zirconia stones, and neon-colored rope cords abound in most Noir Jewelry collections, all envisioned by New York-based fashion-stylist-turned-jewelry-designer Leeora Catalan. Despite the brand's name, then, Noir Jewelry's assertive, attention-commanding designs are anything but blacklisted, popping up in ever stylish gals must-have list. And, as if Noir's original pieces weren't desirable enough, the brand has also collaborated with such companies as DC Comics, Barbie, and Disney, resulting in special collections that capture the spirit of such pop culture fare as Batman, the Muppets, Catwoman, Supergirl, and Pirates of the Caribbean.  

Last spring, those dreaming of pink convertibles, genuine Kens, and dream houses swooned over the Noir for Barbie collection, which featured metal pyramid bracelets in a magenta color, necklaces with gold tone purse, hand mirror, and strappy sandal charms, and even a ring with a Barbie dream house positioned atop the band.

Now, Noir has unveiled the brand new Noir x Barbie x Tokidoki collection, available at Karmaloop.com. Given the involvement of Tokidoki in this particular collection, the pieces featured exude an even greater sense of whimsy — after all, this is the company that birthed such lovable characters as Mozzarella, a rifle-toting cow that extorts milk from schoolyard bullies but protects all well-behaved children; Sandy, a girl who dons a prickly cactus suit to function as armor, protecting her from the dangers of the world.

The Noir x Tokidoki x Barbie collection, then, includes visual references to the Barbie universe (plenty of pink, blond dolls in coquettish frocks, and hearts galore), while also integrating the cartoonish aesthetic and urban undertones of the Tokidoki world.

The pink "B" letter at the beginning of the "Barbie" logo, with its cursive-style swooping lines, appears etched in the gold tone hearts of the Noir x Tokidoki x Barbie Cross Bone Drop Earrings ($58 at Karmaloop.com). These heart-shaped charms are positioned directly beneath the faceted, conical cubic zirconia ear posts. These etched hearts take the place of skulls in the skull-and-crossbones iconography, so that overlapping gunmetal strips shaped like bones are located directly beneath these hearts. Lastly, golden conical spikes dangle beneath the crossbones, constituting the last element in the earrings' linear drop. The skull-and-crossbones reference, the incorporation of gunmetal, and the conical spikes all yield a tougher vibe than you'd expect from traditional Barbie fare, but the incorporation of hearts and pops of pink enamel add the requisite femininity.

Similarly, the Noir x Tokidoki x Barbie Open Ring ($50 at Karmaloop.com) has the exact same shape as the floating rings we see on the fingers of rock and pop icons like Rihanna, but instead of studs, spikes, or faceted stones on each side of the open ring, you'll find a star shape on one end and a heart shape on the other. Filled with white enamel, the heart shape again features the "B" logo, while the star shape on the other side of the open ring features the heart and crossbones motif affiliated with Tokidoki etched in black enamel.

Those who think the Malibu Dream House is the pinnacle of artistry will appreciate such pieces as the Noir x Tokidoki x Barbie Airplane Ring ($72 at Karmaloop.com). This ring features a simple golden band and a slanted bar welded to its top surface, with a pink-and-white enamel airplane detail positioned near the top of the conical shape. Reminiscent of the Barbie Glam Vacation Jet, this airplane detail inverts the jet's color scheme, so that the plane's exterior is mainly white with pops of honeysuckle pink along the bottom surface, and the Barbie logo and Tokidoki logo etched on either side of the tail. Conical golden spikes protrude out of the aircraft engines and aqua blue enamel details denote the windows on the sides of the jet.

Another darling design for true Barbie-loving belles: the Noir x Tokidoki x Barbie Girly Necklace ($92 at Karmaloop.com), which features a 30"-long gold metal chain and a miniature figurine of a child-like Barbie with her blond hair in a high ponytail, her blue eyes detailed in enamel against the mirrored gold of her visage and body, her hands tucked inside white gloves, her figure in a pink enamel A-line dress, and her feet in white booties.

The "Life is plastic, it's fantastic" philosophy couldn't ring any truer here — even if most of the pieces were made of gold-tone metal with hints of enamel.

 

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.

 

 

The Sorcerer's Apprentice --Disney Vault 28 Villains Maleficent Vinylmation Figure By Noah

Though Hollywood caught Snow White fever (as evidenced by the simultaneous filming of the fantastical, cinematically impressiveSnow White and the Huntsmen, starring Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen and Kristen Stewart as Snow White, and the campier, less sophisticated Mirror Mirror, starring Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen), Sleeping Beauty still ranks first in my list of Disney tales. And, as far as Disney villains go, none has been quite as sinister and bone-chillingly frightening as Maleficent, with her bat-like appearance, her greenish skin, the ram-like horns atop her head, her dramatic purple-and-black-robe, her pet raven, and that wretched, spell-casting staff with the electrically-charged green orb at the tip.

For the Vault 28 Villains Collection by Noah, incorporating the most malicious characters in Disney history, the evil fairy is represented as a fire-breathing dragon. The base of the design, as with all the Vinylmation offerings, is the original Mickey Mouse vinyl collectible figure from the Disney Theme Parks.

The Disney Vault 28 Villains Maleficent Vinylmation Figure by Noah ($650 at DisneyStore.com) stands at 9 inches tall and features a dark, ominous, purplish blue iris base coat with a metallic, asphalt-like finish inspired by the colors of Maleficent's garb. Orange County-bred artist Noah channeled Maleficent's essence by hand-painting acid green flames along the body of the Mickey Mouse figure, stretching upwards to the head and all the way to the rounded ears.

The poseable figure's head, meanwhile, features a fire-breathing dragon with an incandescent yellow tongue, eyes, and nostrils. The dragon motif is, of course, a reference to the menacing form into which Maleficent shape-shifts at the climax of the film. 

Each Maleficent Vinylmation figure was painted by hand so that no two are alike, and only a limited number were created, making this a fantastic investment for art collectors and Disney fanatics alike. 

 

FriendsWithYou x Sanrio Launch the "Wish Come True for Hello Kitty" Collection

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smiling is practically a reflex, an involuntary facial spasm, when exposed to the joy that constitutes the DNA of every collectible toy, art print, tee, sticker, USB drive, desk trinket, and home accent created by Miami-based art collective FriendsWithYou. Colorful characters shaped like bowling pins, Russian Matryoshka nesting dolls, awkward oversize penguins, and juicy burgers perpetually beam their charming smiles and show off the polka dots, Life Saver-esque rings, and vertical stripes covering their bodies. Bearing names like Malfi, Mr. TTT Burger, Buddy Chub, Mr. Phantom, and Super Malfi, these quirky scoundrels navigate through a magical universe filled with happy clouds, trippy rainbows, Super Mario-esque mushrooms, giant red-and-white lollipops, and picturesque homes with drawn-on faces. If you extracted aesthetic elements from Pee-Wee's Playhouse, Super Mario's Mushroom Kingdom, Candyland, Scooby Doo's Mystery Machine Van, and Twister, then blended them all together, the final recipe would be but the appetizer before the delicious entree that is the FriendsWithYou world. Oddly enough, even for us cynical New Yorkers, this psychedelic, über bright, exuberant dimension never feels annoyingly happy — it's almost as if these oddball characters are in on a mischievous secret that we become privy to when we immerse ourselves in the FriendsWithYou experience. 

Given that the FriendsWithYou mission is to provide a message of Magic, Luck and Friendship through art, the company's compatibility with Sanrio is undeniable. After all, Sanrio has earned worldwide acclaim by introducing a lovable gang of characters with unique personalities, relatable back stories, and ebullient lifestyles — among them Hello Kitty, Keroppi, Chococat, and TuxedoSam.

The stellar FriendsWithYou x Sanrio "Wish Come True for Hello Kitty" collection launching today serves as proof of the type of magic that can be unleashed when two like-minded creative powerhouses join forces. The  whimsical collection incorporates fashion accessories (from a tote bag with bow-adorned shoulder straps to a zip-top coin purse with a key chain ring), luggage (check out the sky blue carry-on after the jump), desk accessories (journals, pencils, and snow globes), plush toys, tech accessories (like a laptop sleeve and an iPhone 4 case), and kid-friendly knickknacks like metal key chains, laminated pencil cases, metal lunchbox and refillable aluminum water bottles.  

We're loving the 12-inch Hello Kitty plush toys (particularly the "Rainbow King" design, in which Hello Kitty is shown wearing a Super Malfi-like helmet), the 13" printed neoprene laptop case pictured above (valued at $45), and the adorable coin purse shown last above (priced at $20). But, as the name suggests, this co-branded collection is a wish come true for anyone with a child-like imagination and an appetite for joy.

Make sure to visit Sanrio.com and FriendsWithYou.com to shop the collection and check out more images after the jump. 

 

Kidrobot For Swatch Collection -- Watches And Dunnies For Honeys

Synchronize your Swatches, ladies! With the new Kidrobot for Swatch collection, you'll be on more of a winning streak than Parker Lewis himself. The limited-edition collection consists of eight vinyl watches, each designed by an artist, illustrator, graffiti writer, or graphic designer within the Kidrobot family. Among the featured artists, then, you'll find such recognizable names as Frank Kozik and Tristan Eaton, along with other cult favorites like Kansas-based illustrator MAD, French graffiti icon Tilt, and New York-based designer SSUR.

Each vivacious timepiece comes with the 3-inch Dunny figure that served as the corresponding artist's inspiration. Take, for example, the Kidrobot for Swatch Shout Out 3-Inch Dunny Set ($70 at Kidrobot.com), designed by MAD, which features a bright pink watch with a screaming face and a lovable matching Dunny. In this piece, the genius is in the details. The Dunny's bright pink body is covered with playful illustrations in white -- from tiny stars to ice cream cones on his rabbit-like ears -- while his face is completely covered by black oval shape meant to resemble the dark inside of an open mouth, with a blue tongue sticking out and white pearly teeth framing the shape. The Swatch design mirrors the concept, with the screaming face integrated into the watch's round face. What is there to scream about? We're thinking ice cream!

Our personal fave, though, is the camo-dipped Kidrobot for Swatch Tic Tic Boom 3-Inch Dunny Set ($70 at Kidrobot.com) by Russian-born, New York-based artist and designer SSUR (pictured in detail after the jump). The Dunny's combat-ready stance says it all -- this little guy is a warrior, and he's ready to put up quite the fight with a collage of US Woodland, Jungle Digital, and Sandy Desert camo patterns covering his body. The matching watch features a green camo band and watch case, along with a red face with the outline of Che Guevara in black and the words "You Are Here" printed in yellow at the center.

For a whimsical option that marries street art and the color schemes of a delicious candy necklace, check out the Kidrobot for Swatch Love Song 3-Inch Dunny Set ($70 at Kidrobot.com) by French spray can artist Tilt. The Dunny figure features lyrics of love in bubble letters circling his body while, on the watch, the lyrics run in concentric circles along the face of the watch, running into the band area.  

Another favorite: the Kidrobot for Swatch The So Far Away 3-Inch Dunny Set ($70 at Kidrobot.com) Tby Australian artist Jeremyville. For the Dunny, Jeremyville created a new character named Ibbity Pop, a bunny-like critter with wide eyes encircled in bubblegum pink, a bulbous nose, and strong black lines meant to resemble fur along his body and forehead. The accompanying Swatch features Ibbity Pop's face on the dial and long black lines covering the band.

Each set features the artist's signature printed on the watch band and comes in a clear box so you can display your piece proudly.

 

 

Momiji x Hello Kitty Collection -- The Cutie Kitty Committee

 

 

It's a small world after all, folks!

They may fit in the palm of your hand but Momiji's hand-painted dolls have plenty of heart. Each adorable figurine holds a hidden treasure at its core so that, when you flip the doll upside down, you'll find a tiny folded card with a secret message of friendship and love. 

If you're kooky for all things kawaii, you'll adore the new limited edition Momiji x Hello Kitty collection, a band of six dolls in the Japanese-inspired Momiji aesthetic, each sprinkled with a dash of Hello Kitty flavor and given a unique story and personality. The punk-y Astrid doll (pictured above at top), for example, features Lady Gaga-esque white hair, a colorful frock worthy of Rainbow Brite, red star designs on her cheeks and an electric guitar shaped like Hello Kitty on which she can jam all night long. The adorable Stella (pictured second from top), meanwhile, is described as loving Edgar Allan Poe and fondue, and she complements her pleated pink skirt an purple batwing blouse with a cross-body Hello Kitty purse (in which, perhaps, she carries her copy of The Raven). A fan of roof parties and detective novels, Chihiro (shown fourth from top) is shown wearing a sweatshirt dress with Hello Kitty's visage emblazoned across the front and, for a saucy twist, kitty ear details sewn into the hood of the dress. Birthday girl Kipi (shown above, last) longs to play with the new pet inside her purple polka dot box, which resembles a Jack-in-the-box due to Hello Kitty's desire to climb out and meet her new owner. And the winking, lip-licking, bob-sporting Aya (shown second from top) can't let go of her favorite Hello Kitty doll, which she clutches with both of her hands.

From their long lashes to their colorful frocks, picaresque facial expressions, and stylish 'dos, these 3-inch-tall rascals have the adorability arena on lock. 

Each Hello Kitty x Momiji doll is available for $15.95 at www.sanrio.com and www.lovemomiji.com

New Kidada for Disney Store Jewelry Collection Lets You Wish Upon A Star

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does Jiminy Cricket visit Kidada Jones at night, parachuting down from the heavens with his red umbrella, then landing on her shoulder as she sleeps, whispering stories of princesses and their precious trinkets into her ear? Is the structure of the Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle etched into her brain? How exactly does Quincy Jones' daughter retain her nearly encyclopedic knowledge of Disney-related trivia? Whatever the explanation, Kidada Jones is so knowledgeable in matters pertaining to Cinderella, Pocahontas, Sleeping Beauty, Mulan, Pinocchio, Snow White, and the rest of the Disney gang that these classic characters might as well be part of her extended family. In fact, it's her familiarity with these fairy tales, her child-like sense of wonder, that makes her jewelry designs so charming.

The new Charming Collection by Kidada for Disney Store explores the theme of hidden treasures and unexpected surprises via the collectible Wish-A-Littles ($39.50 each at DisneyStore.com), cherub-like resin dolls that double as jewelry boxes, with small charms hidden inside of them. For Fall 2011, Jones designed four Wish-a-Littles: Cinderella, Snow White, Tiana, and Belle. Each figure measures 3 1/2" in height and features the designated princess in her most well-known frock: Snow White in her royal blue blouse, yellow skirt, and red hair bow; Cinderella in her sky blue ball gown and matching opera-length gloves; Belle in the yellow gold dress she wore when Beast spun her around the dance floor; and Tiana in her light green dress and tiara. In keeping with the wish-making theme, each princess is depicted with her eyes closed, arms lowered and hands clasped together, and mouth open, as if voicing a hopeful dream or fanciful request. 

When you carefully detach the top section of the figurine from the "stand" portion, you'll find two charms in a hollow compartment: one, a 14K gold-plated charm pertaining to the specific character's tale (a glittering red enamel apple charm for Snow White, a pumpkin coach charm with a light blue crystal stone for Cinderella, a light blue bell for Belle, and a golden star with a green center stone for Tiana), threaded through a polyester cord necklace measuring 18" in length; and the second, a gold-plated, nickel-shaped charm with the words "Love, Kidada" etched on it.

Each miniature princess character comes in a picturesque box with illustrations of glass slippers, poison apples, and floral blooms. The figure within each house-shaped box is revealed via a round, mirror-like window pane. And, at the top of the box's roof-shaped lid, a ribbon is tied into a dainty bow that underscores the treasure-worthy nature of each collectible figurine. 

These Wish-A-Little figures will make you want to croon the "When You Wish Upon A Star" tune like a wide-eyed toddler at Fantasyland.

 

A Peek At The Kidrobot Dunny Azteca II Series -- Muy Machos!

At this point, the Dunny Azteca II series is to the vinyl toy world what Dr. Dre's Detox is to rap enthusiasts — a highly anticipated, near-mythical release shrouded in secrecy. Fortunately, we've seeing more signs that the Azteca II series will, in fact, drop in the near future — even if the exact release date remains TBD. Over the holidays, the blogosphere was a-buzzin' thanks to leaked preview images of four designs from the collection by Marka 27, Oscar Mar, Jesse Hernandez and The Beast Brothers.

The Marka 27 design is consistent with many of the artist's illustrations, which covey a toughness derived from the hip-hop generation and yet reference ancient Mexican aesthetics, particularly ancient Aztec warriors and their take on body art and physical adornments. The Marka 27 Dunny design, then, features ear spools along the lobes, turquoise stripes meant to symbolize war paint, an elaborately sculpted  headdress that frames the figure's head like a crest, and intricate tattoo-like body paint, including an arrow running down the center of its forehead — all in a punchy aqua, chartreuse, fern green, black, and gray color scheme.

The Jesse Hernandez design, meanwhile, features paisley-like red swirls with a shadowy outline to give them depth and dimension, as well as white vortexes symbolizing eyes. To give the design a more primal feel, Hernandez gave it a toothy grin by hand-painting curved fangs in an upturned smile arch.

Monterey, Mexico-born Oscar Mar went for a Skeletor-like, comic book-inspired feel with his Dunny design, which is significantly more ghoulish than the other two pictured above. The figure features long brown hair tied into a top knot, like the type of style sported by Otomí warriors, as well as blackened, hollow eye sockets, crooked teeth, and a skeletal outline. The greenish brown and black colors used to detail and shadow the Dunny's head add to the earthiness of the figure, giving it a weathered feel.

Stay tuned for more news on when these will drop!

Holiday Gift Guide Part 8 -- For Katie White Types Who Demand You Know Their Names

In our latest holiday gift guide round-up, we're celebrating the London-rocker-meets-California-easy style of Katie White, the lead singer and guitarist of the pop/dance duo The Ting Tings. With her choppy, bleached blond 'do, platinum eyelids, striped dresses, newsboy hats, graphic T-shirts, star- and heart-print cardigans, patterned leggings, and ankle boots, Katie White has shimmied her way the hearts of music lovers and style hounds since she first skipped around in the "That's Not My Name" video.

Do you know someone with a similarly on-trend, girlish but edgy look? Then check out these gift ideas, inspired by the "Shut Up And Let Me Go" singer.

 

 

Osborn Ashes To Ashes Booties, $165. Available at Shop.OsbornDesign.com

When pairing oversize, Flashdance-esque sweatshirts and graphic tees with leggings and snug pants, White adds a nice kick with eye-catching boots and kicks. These Ikat-inspired, woven cotton, ankle high boots from Osborn Design would not only complete her ensemble but, with their 1/2-inch, rubber-and-leather heel, they'd make it easy to dance around on stage while belting out dance-flavored pop tunes.

Wildfox I Love You Baggy Beach Jumper, $108. Available at WildfoxCouture.com

This oversize, vintage-looking sweatshirt from Wildfox Couture captures the laid-back, beachy California cool that the British singer and guitarist integrates into her looks. The sweatshirt's varsity blue color is reminiscent of the shade of tights White wore in the "That's Not My Name" video, and the letters' 3D shading makes them snap, crackle, and pop. Word to Rice Krispies.

Genie by Eugenia Kim Wallace Wool Newsboy Cap, $130. Available at LordAndTaylor.com

Like a stylish Mad Hatter, White certainly knows how to put a cap on it — the "it" being her blond head, of course. Her hat style of choice: the timeless newsboy cap. This plaid-like, 100% wool number from Eugenia Kim, then, would have her feeling like a rock-loving, Newsies devotee.

 

Burt's Bees Lip Balm Tin Ornament, $10. Available at BurtsBees.com

Whether you dangle it from a Christmas tree branch or tuck it inside a festive stocking, this Burt's Bees Lip Balm Tin Ornament will make mouths happy come Christmas Day. Each tin case is filled with four all-natural lip balms enriched with coconut oil, safflower seed oil, soybean oil and rosemary extract: two Classic Beeswax Lip Balms, a Honey Lip Balm, and a Pomegranate Lip Balm (our fave).

David Weeks Cubebots -- They're So Hip, They're Square

 

   

Forget about those dopey stickers on old-school Rubik's cubes! For fun squared — or rather, cubed — indulge your inner child in one of these new David Weeks Cubebots, which were inspired by Japanese Shinto Kumi-ki puzzles. Available in small (which fold into  2.5" x 2.5" cubes) and medium (which fold into 3.5" x 3.5" cubes) sizes, these wooden, robot-like figures can be contorted into a series of clever poses then collapsed into compact shapes that will draw no more attention than a paperweight on your desk.

You can make your Cubebot flip over and do a headspin, walk like an Egyptian, raise the roof, or do the Macarena – anything your silly little heart desires. And when it's time to act like a grown-up again, you can fold the puzzle pieces back up into their neat cube shape. Who needs Transformers?

David Weeks Medium Cubebot, $35 each, and Small Cubebot. Available at Areaware.com