Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:09:02 GMT

Warmer Nails nail polish heats you up

We all know colored nails can be hot, but who knew they could really keep us warm? Japan Aesthetic Service has concocted a polish which, when applied to your nails, warms your hands and feet. The secret? A far-infrared radiation ceramic composed of capsaicin and tourmaline essence, whose warming properties can improve circulation. Try "Warmer Nails" as a base or top coat over your favorite colors.

Available in Japan for 1980yen ($18).

Via PingMag. Posted by: Sarah      Read more     Source

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:57:09 GMT

Uggs or Crocs or even Muks?

Last year controversial footwear came in the form of Uggs vs. Crocs. But what about Muks? Somehow these furry creations had a lucky escape and we cant seem to understand why. We have to admit in the past we’ve thought Muks were just as vulgar as Crocs and even some Uggs. But in desperate need of some warm and comfy boots we decided to give the Muks a chance.

As we thought many of the styles were way to fussy for our liking however we did manage to find a simple pair that we’d actually dare to wear. The only problem is they look so soft and cute we reckon we''d spend half the time stroking them! $1295 available at muklukstore.com Posted by: Michele Obi      Read more     Source

January 6, 2008, 10:16 PM CT

Wearing their art on their sleeves

MIT students are always in motion, so their projects for the advanced visual design course, Give Me Shelter, featured clothes and accessories to help navigate the gaps between work and home, self-confidence and unease, and under- or over-stimulation.

Adam Kumpf, graduate student in media arts and sciences, designed EscHome, a wearable office consisting of a chair and a desk embedded in a pair of black pants. A garment that provides the comforts of work--structure, stability, solitude--amid the pressures at home, EscHome's chair and desk are made from lightweight carbon fiber rods, aluminum joining blocks and fabric to match the pants.

Kumpf (S.B. 2005, M.Eng. 2007) deconstructed EscHome with glee. "The structural rods are hidden within small zipped pockets and situated along the femur, so they don't interfere with walking or sitting. Unzip the pockets; position the rods; in a minute, you're hiding in work".

Mary Hale, graduate student in architecture and planning, took on space, gender and mobility in her plastic dropcloth and electrician-tape pantaloons, the Monumental Helium Inflatable Wearable Floating Body Mass.

Hale, whose modeling session mandatory a 15-minute bond with the Shop-Vac to inflate Body Mass, wanted to create body-wear that functioned like a book for mental escape, subverted physics (particularly gravity), and enhanced mobility and personal ease......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:58:46 GMT

Sienna Miller and Louis Vuitton Monogram Olympe Nimbus Bag

Also available in a lighter pearl grey, but the color above is my favorite. I totally love this bag. It’s spacious, made with incredibly soft lambskin decorated with the lovely tonal monogram embroidery that gives the bag a soft and squishy cloud like look, plus the gorgeous twisted shoulder straps complete the look. It’s a great accessory choice for day or night, and even as a traveling companion. Although, not many people in the bag forum are fond of this bag.


$2,550 Posted by: Jennifer      Read more     Source

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 05:01:13 GMT

The way of the future?

Shop without leaving the house or spending a cent? Trade in those old Manolo Blahniks for a Chanel bag?
Are the fashion gods finally thanking us for our voracious shopping habits or are they playing a ''too good to be true'' trick on us? The concept of ''shwopping'' is just starting to hit the web by storm.

Similar to those clothing swap parties that have been going on with girlfriends around the world for some time, shwopping lets us strategically get rid of unwanted clothing and accessories while getting something that we would actually wear in return. This new method of shopping supports the eco-friendly and cost-conscious, while creating a bigger market for unique and hard to find garments. Posted by: Angie Omata      Read more     Source

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 13:48:32 GMT

HTML head earrings

I find these geeky earrings cool and most of all quite humorous. If you''re ready to fully embrace your html skills and have at least your head appear properly formatted to the outside world, then you have to get them.

The HTML HEAD earrings are made out of sterling silver and measure roughly 1/2" wide and 27/64" high, with an overall length of 1" including the ear wire.

Available on Etsy for $20.00. Posted by: Sarah      Read more     Source

December 12, 2007, 10:12 PM CT

Greater agreement on the attractiveness of faces

A new study from scientists at Harvard University shows that friends, siblings and spouses are more likely than strangers to agree on the attractiveness of faces. Recent research regarding facial attractiveness has emphasized the universality of attractiveness preferences, and in this study there was some agreement among the strangers - but the close relations were in even greater agreement regarding facial attractiveness.

The study appears in the current issue of the journal Perception, and was led by Richard Russell, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, and Matthew Bronstad a postdoctoral researcher at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. The work was done while Bronstad was with Brandeis University.

While there are some universal standards of beauty, this study shows that perception and standards of attractiveness are more likely to be shared among individuals who know each other well, says Russell.

In the study, 113 participants were asked to rate 74 faces on a scale from one to seven, from very attractive to very unattractive. Among the participants were 20 pairs of spouses, 20 pairs of siblings and 41 pairs of close friends. Each of the pairs completed the test separately, so that they could not influence each others ratings. The participants ranged widely in age, but were of a similar background, and were all North American and caucasian. The faces rated were all young and caucasian......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:26:38 GMT

In Which Menswear is My Homeboy

It''s no secret that menswear-inspired trends have been catching my eye lately. The obsession started with the Blogging Society Challenge (although I suspect its roots may be in my tomboy childhood) and continued from there with tuxedo chic, Balenciaga-inspired looks, and Balenciaga-inspired looksas fashion inspiration. I took Nina Garcia''s Balenciaga-inspired looksfrom the Little Black Book of Style to heart when she raved that every woman should have a white button-down shirt in their wardrobe, and I have been searching for the perfect one. Now, the above photos from Hint have my attention. I would fall head-over-heels for any boy in one of those outfits (especially if they looked like the model....yum!), but more than that, I would love to dress like that! I have a sudden desire for a white blazer with dark trim, and I have resolved to some day wear white on white as was done in the first photo. Since my shopping time has currently been sucked up by gift shopping (not that I''m complaining), I decided to satiate my need for menswear-inspired looks with things from my current wardrobe. Here''s what I came up with:

The only white button-down in my possession was a huge one that used to be my father''s. Oh well. I paired it with a black sweater, straight-leg jeans, and black flats to add femininity. I took a cue from the Balenciaga-inspired looksand carried a quilted bag. Also, I used a tie belt from a black tunic as a tie.

To be honest, the look isn''t me. It''s a bit boring, no? Not enough color!

I untucked the shirt, threw on my Luella pink suede motorcycle jacket, and immediately felt better:

There''s still a bit of menswear in the look, due to the tie and white shirt, but it''s definitely more me. I might actually wear this out! Posted by: Kori      Read more     Source

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:16:27 GMT

DSUK BIBA Christmas Sale

Grab your diaries and pencil in one of the most anticipated sales of the season. Designer Sales UK are hosting an exclusive BIBA Christmas Sale event on the 14th and 15th of December at at The Music Rooms in Mayfair, London.

With up to 80%-90% off Biba’s Autumn/Winter 07 collection, you won’t want to miss out! The sale is by invite only. Invitations can be obtained by signing up to the DSUK mailing list over at  www.designersales.co.uk

Be sure to think ahead and pick up lots of blouses. They’ll be your trusted friends come Spring! Posted by: Michele Obi      Read more     Source

December 6, 2007, 8:04 PM CT

Can Shopping Behavior Indicate Your Personality Type?

The holiday season is the busiest shopping time of the year. In fact, more than 147 million shoppers hit the stores on Black Friday weekend this year as per a survey by the National Retail Federation. And annually during this time, economists pay close attention to the shopping trends.

One such economist, Dr. Paul Albanese, Kent State University associate professor of marketing and author of The Personality Continuum and Consumer Behavior, has taken it a step further. Albanese examined shopping behavior and classified it into four levels of personality development: Normal, neurotic, primitive and psychotic.

"Normal consumers spend less than they earn and save for future purchases they cannot afford in the future, while neurotic shoppers spend an excessive amount of time shopping, often not buying anything," says Albanese. In addition, he observed that compulsive shoppers commonly fall within the primitive personality type, while psychotic personalities go overboard in spending, commonly resulting in serious financial and legal problems......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source