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The Mother of Invention — A Stylish Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Legendary French poet, essayist, and playwright Victor Hugo once wrote, “A mother’s arms are made of tenderness, and children sleep soundly in them.”

This Mother’s Day try a little tenderness to celebrate the solace-providing women in your life — those who cradled you as a baby, bathed and fed you, chased away your childhood nightmares, kissed every boo-boo and nursed every cold, made sure you excelled in school, and instilled the values that transformed you into the strong, independent, beautiful entity you are today.

From fragrances and at-home spa kits to jewelry pieces, handbags, shoes, scented candles, tableware, home décor accents, and tech accessories, below you’ll find some gift suggestions to celebrate mothers’ undying love.

Marc Jacobs Python Khaki Tote, $3795. Available at Barneys.com

This roomy tote combines several of the season’s key trends — color blocking, reptile skins, and metallic details — while maintaining a timeless elegance that will transcend any passing aesthetic fads.

Votre Vu Sweep Her Off Her Feet Gift Set, $42. Available at VotreVu.com

It’s almost that time of year when we’ll all have our toes out, basking in the sunshine, far from the shelter of the boots and sneakers to which they were confined during the fall and winter months. Help your mom get her little piggies in prime condition with this indulgent foot care duo from Votre Vu, featuring the Très Magni-feet Exfoliant, a non-abrasive polish containing gentle bamboo particles that remove layers of dead skin cells, revealing smoother, more radiant skin; along with the citrus-scented, verbena oil-infused Très Magni-feet Crème, a moisturizer that features softening shea butter, antimicrobial menthol, and arnica oil, which soothes muscle pain and stimulates blood flow.

Bing Bang Abracadabra Cuff, $85. Available at Shop.BingBangNYC.com

Whether it involves sewing together a costume for a school play, packing lunchbox snacks while typing up a presentation for work, or making a plethora of Christmas gifts appear under the tree even when limited by a shoestring budget, mothers perform magic tricks on a daily basis. Celebrate her rabbit-in-a-hat ways with this adjustable brass Bing Bang cuff, which has a vintage-looking finish and features the word ”Abracadabra” embossed along its length.

Tse & Tse Vase D’Avril, $245. Available at ShopHorne.com

If only chemistry class had been this fun! The Tse & Tse Vase d’Avril features 21 lab-worthy glass tubes connected via a malleable, ring-based chain system that interlocks all the pieces together and allows you to remove any excessive tubes, stack tubes atop one another to adjust their length, and create a bevvy of shapes by moving the independent tubes to your desire. Measuring 29.15″ in length and 5.9″ in height, the Vase d’Avril is made of 21 blown glass tubes and a zinc-coated steel frame that has a slightly rusty finish, adding to its vintage-vase-meets-mad-scientist-station charm.

Lisa Hoffman Fragrance Earrings, $65 each. Available at LisaHoffmanBeauty.com

Forget roller balls, solid perfume rings, and travel-sized perfume oils. Lisa Hoffman has devised a novel way to wear your signature scent— through charming jewelry charms with cut-our designs, each enclosing solid fragrance beads which, in turn, release the aroma you desire throughout the day. The new Lisa Hoffman Fragrance Earrings feature dainty hoops and, dangling from their bottom tips, you’ll find Moroccan-flavored, spherical charms with concentric circle shapes and floral and leaf designs etched atop their surface. The Madagascar Orchid Fragrance Earrings are particularly alluring since the tiny beads you load into each earring emit a symphony of sheer jasmine, ylang dew, mimosa, and pink peony notes.

Case-Mate Tortoiseshell iPhone 4S Case, $40. Available at Case-Mate.com

Tortoiseshell sunglasses, clutch purses, earrings, and hair combs have become inextricably linke to the 1960s, when they formed part of the era’s distinctive fashion fiber. Since last year, the pattern (now recreated using synthetic materials, not by employing the shells of the endangered hawks bill turtle) has experienced a resurgence, again appearing on the runway shows of the mot prestigious designers. This Case-Mate iPhone case, then, will literally place the look of the Swinging Sixties at your fingertips.

Laura Mercier Le Petit Patisserie Trio, $45. Available at Bloomingdales.com

You may have to stamp on “Do Not Eat” labels on the three items in this delectable Laura Mercier set, which includes: a 3 fl. oz. Almond Coconut Milk Body Wash, a 3 fl. oz. Almond Coconut Milk Soufflé Body Cream; and a o.5 fl. oz. Almond Coconut Milk spray fragrance. Featuring a mélange of coconut, almond, milk, vanilla, heliotrope, and musk notes, the products’ scent has the right degree of sweetness, brightening your spirits and making you feel a childlike sense of enthusiasm (like the kind you experienced before biting into an eclair or digging into a cup of coconut helado), while the milky and buttery undertones provide a warm, comforting, all-enveloping sensation.

Lia Sophia Looking Glass Cut Crystals Ring in Matte Silver or Matte Gold, $48 each; and “Beautiful” and “Je T’Aime” Necklaces, $38 each. Visit LiaSophia.com to find a Lia Sophia Advisor in your area.

Scoop up one of the Lia Sophia Looking Glass rings, which feature a clear, mirror-like rectangular stone at their center, framed by clusters of round colored stones on either side, and give it to your mom with a note that reads, “There’s no need to ask this mirror — you’re the most beautiful one of all.” Another way to say it with jewelry: snatch up one of these necklaces, which feature envelope-shaped pendants engraved with feel-good phrases and words like “Je Taime” or “Beautiful.”

Chloé L’Eau de Chloé, $65 for 1.7 oz and $85 for 3.4 oz. Available at Sephora.com, Nordstrom.com, and Macys.com

A younger, brighter take on the classic, rose-anchored Chloé scent, the Chloe L’Eau de Chloe is classified as a floral green chypre. Developed by Michel Almaira, L’Eau de Chloé features citrus top notes, a rose water heart, and patchouli base notes. Airy, fresh, summery, and green, the scent is the olfactory equivalent of a ray of sunshine on a lush meadow.

Rablabs New York Lia Bottle Stoppers, $64 each. Available at RabLabs.com

Break open a bottle of Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay, then let your mom seal the bottle with one of these jewel-encrusted bottle stoppers. Assembled in the United States, each bottle stopper features a conical-shaped glass stem and a top surface made with clustered, unrefined, translucent amethyst and crystal stones unearthed in Brazil.

Kara Ross Sidra in Black Wash Mixed Berry Python with Gold Hardware and Black Onyx, $1495. Available at KaraRoss.com

This luxurious Kara Ross handbag features a trapezoid-like shape, with sides that slope outward as they move from the top to the bottom of the bag. Made of black wash mixed berry python, the Sidra bag features a rectangular, faceted black onyx stone clasp to seal the goldtone rectangular frame closure; a slim, frame-style top edge; and a goldtone twist rope chain.

Belle Etoile Daisy Pink Ring, $260. Available at MyBelleEtoile.com

This sculptural flower ring features undulating petals crafted using nickel-free, rhodium-plated sterling silver, their interiors coated with blush pink Italian enamel. Clusters of tiny round crystal stones lined into stacked rows adorn two of the petals, both shaped as if curling inward, for a touch of sparkle, while a single white pearl is positioned at the center of the ring, constituting the piece’s powerful core.

Martha Stewart Collection at Macy’s Domed Ceramic Cake Stands, $36-$58. Available at Macys.com

These quaint cake stands will transform any kitchen into a confectionery wonderland, with their combination of glossy white ceramic and clear glass, their vintage-flavored domed shapes, and their Snow White-worthy bird details.

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Posted at 09:04 AM in Beauty, Fashion, Food and Drink, Home Decor, Jewelry | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 05, 2012

Mighty Fine Unveils New Star Wars Tees — Feel The Fashion Force Flow

Nearly 35 years after the original release of George Lucas’ 1977 classic Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , science fiction fanatics continue to quote Yoda-isms (“May the force be with you,” “Do or do not…There is no try,” and “Beware of the dark side” instantly come to mind) and to reference such indelible visuals as Carrie Fisher donning her ear-cupping buns Princess Leia Buns, her figure covered by a celestial, flowing white frock (take, for example, Liz Lemon’s penchant for donning a Princess Leia disguise to avoid jury duty on NBC’s 30 Rock). To continue commemorating this groundbreaking film franchise, leading T-shirt brand Mighty Fine has just launched a new design initiative whereby fans of the Millennium Falcon brigade can submit their original Star Wars-inspired artwork for a chance to win cash prizes and have their masterpieces mass produced and sold via WeLoveFine.com.

From May 4th through May 25th, unofficially dubbed Geek Pride Day, space-loving design gurus are invited to submit their designs and vie for a grand prize consisting of up to $2,500, along with judges’ prizes valued at $400 each, and gift certificates worth $150 for selected runner-ups. Once announced by the Mighty Fine team and the yet-to-be-unveiled panel of guest judges, the winning designs will be put into production and added to the ever-expanding Star Wars T-shirt catalog at WeLoveFine.com.

If you’re hardly a designer mastermind but you’re eager to add some Jedi juice to your tee stash, you can also check out the latest additions to the Mighty Fine Star Wars family: the Mighty Fine Leia Rebel tee ($25 at WeLoveFine.com), a striking piece featuring the classic image of a weapon-toting Princess Leia framed in a Western-style Wanted poster, the word “Rebel” printed above her image, and five-point stars floating above the word and decorating the top corners of the yellow- and sepia-tinged “poster” frame; and the Mighty Fine Wookie Cookies ($25 at WeLoveFine.com), an irreverent design featuring hairy Chewbacca clutching a box of “Wookie Cookies,” with a red speech bubble positioned right below his mouth, the words “Extra Chewie!” encapsulated within it, yielding an adorable and chuckle-inducing pun on words.

To purchase these tees, visit WeLoveFine.com/50-star-wars and, to enter the design contest, visit WeLoveFine.com/contest.php.

To infinity and beyond!

Posted at 11:21 PM in Fashion, Film | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 03, 2012

Anna Dello Russo Designs Accessories Collection For H&M

Touches of Liberace-esque flamboyance, Donatella Versace-worthy swankiness, Iris Apfel-like eccentricity, and Daphne Guinness-y experimentalism coalesce in the iconic style sensibility of Milan-based fashion editrix and blogger Anna Dello Russo. With nearly twenty years of experience developing the voice and look of such premiere publications as Vogue Italia, L’Uomo Vogue, and Vogue Japan, Dello Russo favors baroque ensembles that often involve elaborate headpieces (a headband adorned with faux cherries the size of tennis balls, headbands adorned with veils, peony-like flowers, and clustered feathers arching upwards in a gravity-defying manner, and spectators covered with rosettes framed by a halo of feathers), over-the-top fur coats in a rainbow of colors, and feather-adorned dresses and coats.

Steering away from its usual collaborations with fashion designers (including, of course, the budding talent on the reality competition show Fashion Star) and with photographers and illustrators (as with the “Your Art Here” project), retail chain H&M invited the beloved Dello Russo to design a collection of affordable accessories inspired by her personal aesthetic.

Hitting stores on October 4th, the Anna Dello Russo for H&M collection will include grandiloquent, audacious, fantasy-inspired, rococo jewelry pieces, sunglasses, shoes, and handbags. The photo above offers a sneak peek of some of the designs — from an aqua leather minaudiere with rounded edges and a figural gilded top clasp to black cat eye sunglasses featuring crystals along the top rim, strappy golden sandals with a cagework pattern along the uppers, a baroque golden minaudiere with sculptural details along its façade and a cameo-like turquoise stone at the center, and coiled enamel bracelets.

Stay tuned for more details!

Posted at 01:53 PM in Fashion, Jewelry | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

May 02, 2012

Privet House Settles into The Shops at Target

Privet House at Target Bowls, $3.49 each at Target stores and Target.com

Privet House at Target Round Trays, $19.99 each; Privet House at Target Large Wicker Glass, $5.99; and Privet House at Target Small Wicker Glass, $5.49. All available at Target stores and Target.com

Privet House at Target The Privet Dream House Wirework Centerpiece, $24.99 at Target stores and Target.com

Privet House at Target Fleurs Vase, $14.99, and Privet House at Target Bloom Planter, $9.99. Available at Target stores and Target.com

Privet House at Target White-Washed Baskets, $34.99 each at Target stores and Target.com

Privet House at Target Stationery and Rubber Stamp Set, $12.99 at Target stores and Target.com

Privet House at Target Wine Totes, $9.99 each at Target stores and Target.com

If you’ve been following Target‘s merchandising (and marketing) strategy over the years, you’re probably well aware of the retail chain’s long history of teaming up with designers and tastemakers in various realms — from its strategic partnership with the interior design and architecture gurus at the Michael Graves Group, a collaboration forged in 1999 that enjoyed 13-year run, to an alliance with fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, which launched in 2003 and lasted a full five years, helping to establish Target as a prime destination for fashionable but frugal fare. Limited-edition collections with buzz-y fashion, jewelry, accessories, and home accent designers like Proenza Schouler, Paul & Joe, Erickson Beamon, Calypso St. Barth, Liberty of London, Anya Hindmarch, Hollywould Shoes, Luella Bartley, Jason Wu, Mulberry, Gryphon, and many others have followed, sending bargain-hunting fashionistas into a tizzy.

Building upon the company’s history of encouraging up-and-coming designers and on-the-verge retail entities, Target has launched its The Shops At Target initiative, officially launching this Sunday, May 6th. To kick off the design-driven initiative, Target’s merchandisers and brand strategists hand-picked five independent boutique stores and collaborated with their owners to create an assortment of goods consistent with each company’s heritage and aesthetic, all bearing lower price points that will appeal to Target shoppers. The first flight of The Shops at Target features five collections from five specialty US stores: San Francisco’s The Candy Store, Miami’s The Webster clothing boutique, Boston’s quirky pet store Polka Dog Bakery, Aspen’s apothecary Cos Bar, and Connecticut’s housewares and home accent shop Privet House.

The Privet House for Target collection includes everything from pouf-style rope ottomans to charming white-washed wicker baskets, rustic wine totes made of a burlap-like material, galvanized metal watering cans, and plates, glasses, trays, and bowls featuring charming Boho-chic patterns (from a Chinese-inspired geometric pattern involving conjoined manji symbols to lush floral illustrations and ’70s, Palm Beach-esque prints involving rows of circle outlines or a country chic wicker-style pattern). Much like Suzanne Cassano and Richard Lambertson’s store, the collection’s offerings feel like they were picked up from bazaars all over the world. While the tableware includes some Asian motifs, for example, hammered metal vases and flower pots feature words like “Fleur” emblazoned across their exteriors for a quaint Parisian feel and straw baskets and ottomans add a Moroccan or even Turkish vibe to the full spectrum of goods. The color palette — which focuses on warm coral red, lime green, neutral tan, sand, and beige tones, white, black, and jade green — adds a retro feel to the collection that increases its appeal, making the goods feel like treasures from eras past (and, of course, the faded stamp effect on the exterior of the canvas totes and wine covers also up the antique-y vibe, making the goods feel lived-in and rife with history).

Above, you’ll find some of my favorite pieces in the collection — from melamine plates and round serving trays to roomy baskets, a wire centerpiece resembling a bird cage, and a stationery set with rubber stamps bearing messages like “Cheers!,” “Happy Birthday,” and “Thank You.” After the jump, you’ll find even more treasures — among them canvas totes, lightweight outdoor rugs, and a two-tiered tray for displaying baked goods.

Check out the entire selection and make sure to visit your local Target store on May 6th!

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Posted at 06:33 AM in Fashion, Food and Drink, Home Decor, Journals, Agendas and Paper Goods | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 30, 2012

A Southwestern Sole — Keds Champion Tribal Collection

Cross symbols, thick stripes, single and double dashes, geometric lines resembling rows of staggered bricks, and arrowhead icons all reference the Navajo-steeped culture of Southwestern textiles. March to the beat of the fashion world’s ongoing love affair with Native American iconography by slipping on a pair of Keds Champion Tribal ($45 at Keds.com) sneakers, a new limited-edition style available online only.

These streamlined kicks feature cotton canvas uppers, a lightweight twill lining, four eyelets with basic white laces, and a flexible white rubber outsole, making them idea for warmer spring and summer days when you’ll want your feet to breathe freely. If you want to capture the rich sepia, russet, coral, khaki, ochre, mud brown, and turquoise of the desert landscape, opt for the brown colorway, which features the most traditionally Southwestern combination of hues. For a more fashion-forward, bolder, more kaleidoscopic take on the tribal motif, opt for the navy pair, which feature touches of incandescent fuchsia, vermilion and cyan blue. Last, for a crisp look that will complement khaki-colored capri pants and white sundresses alike, choose the white sneakers, which incorporate pops of chartreuse, seafoam green, and royal blue.

Posted at 04:10 AM in Fashion | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)