Fad*ish- fashion and design

It is almost as if someone tweaked something that didn’t particularly need tweaking, but came up with something genius. I doubt that when you looked at your lamp you wished it were a sweeper, or when you looked at your ashtray you wished it were a plant pot, and yet Vitamin has created these very things.

To say that they but a new spin on otherwise mundane objects is an understatement. They put spins and twists on things that I didn’t even know required spinning or twisting, yet somewhere in the middle of it all they manage to hit something right on the mark. Their I.V., a self watering plant pot, might be a bit unsettling to look at (especially if you know someone in intensive care), but can be an absolute staple for those plant loving multi-taskers, who have little time to breathe let alone water something. Their urban gnome, doesn’t do anything particularly special, but look a hell of a lot chicer that their red faced, clown hat wearing distant cousin.

I came across this British ceramics/furniture/sports accessories company while browsing IDDKO -- a Canadian décor website dedicated to all things European/lifestyle/fashionable. And more importantly, IDDKO sells to North America, making Vitamin easier to buy for us folks residing on this side of the pond. To delved deeper into the wacky world of Vitamin, you have to visit their website at www.vitaminliving.com. Buy a gnome, a lamp or pot -- all of which will change your views about home accessories.

*ms.b

*links we love:

www.iddko.com
www.vitaminliving.com

Labels: Decor

That was the question I asked myself when walking into the Bare Essentials cosmetics counter one balmy afternoon. After hearing all the buzz words, seeing the marketing ploys and of course noticing that summer on the horizon -- I figured now would be the perfect time to explore new options for my skin.

Minerals are not new, and now most cosmetic lines offer at least one line of mineral cosmetics. Really, all except the professional cosmetic lines (who could give a damn about your skin, as long as the colors are vibrant and the coverage is flawless) have jumped on the minerals bandwagon. But Bare Essentials was one of the pioneers of this magical dust that boast the ability to provide coverage without clogging pores -- a claim has not been proven true to this undercover fashionista.

I guess if you are used to wearing ‘cake’-- an ultra-thick, opaque make-up used by the film industry and drag-queens a like to cover everything from a discoloration to a five-o-clock shadow -- then using Bare Minerals would seem like heaven. But if you are like any normal woman, roaming any normal metropolitan street, wearing any normal brand of cosmetics (from Maybelline to Rimmel), Bare Minerals is nothing more than branding and slogan. I guess a light dusting might be better for your skin than typical foundation, but the only way to get coverage is to grind the make-up (in a circular motion) into your pores. This by definition is clogging your pores, making it just like any other cosmetic line on the market. At first it seemed to be a great idea, until 5:00 rolled around and my skin was breaking out from all of the dirty minerals I willingly packed into my pores.

Bare Minerals was not my messiah of make-up, it was just like the rest. The only difference was I have to add a whole lot more to get the color and intensity I could have achieve from a dab of MAC. For those looking to have a healthy alternative to make-up, I say stop looking for the Holy Grail, and just go natural. It is either that or just put on your old damn make up, because Bare Minerals is just as dirty as the rest of them.

*ms.b

Labels: Style

I never tire of cute clothing labels. Manoush is a relatively new collection, which made its debut on the Paris fashion scene in the winter of 2004. Since then, it has managed to make a quiet infiltration into the trendy stores all over the world including New York, Tokyo, and London. Their quirky style, which they model after the stylish and ultra-feminine nomad, translates well for us city-dwellers. Proving that you don’t have to join a circus, or be kidnapped by Sinbad to master the art of eclectic style.

Designed by Frederique Trou-Roy, Manoush is absolutely dripping with girl-iciousness --so much so that you might need a napkin. Foreign travels and an over infatuation with her parent’s wardrobe as a child, might be the culprits for such Lolita-esque taste. The over-attention to sweet details are too tastefully to be considered trite. These nuisances are integrated into everything from website to hangtag, making it hard to mistake Manoush for any other brand.

There is something unmistakably endearing and personable about Manoush. And I say enjoy their clothing now, before they globalize and become about as personable as the GAP. For more info on Manoush, visit their website at www.manoush.com.

*ms.b

Labels: Style

When I first came across the Paul Frank brand, I totally disregarded it because couldn’t get past the monkey. The animal, often linked to man’s intelligence, has unfortunately managed to find its way on more than one fashion label. I am not sure if it was the blooming flowers, or the general merriment of spring, but today I saw the light -- a.k.a the latest Paul Frank eye wear. Even my with my hardened New York cynicism, I couldn’t deny the collection’s utter ‘cuteness’.

Though I am not enthusiastic enough to buy Paul Frank bedding -- and I would have to be seriously regressing back to a state of college euphoria to buy their clothing --their sunglasses give me a reason give the Gucci frames a rest (well at least for a wh). Also, I must admit it is great to see a company other than Luxottica -- the masterminds behind most designer frames -- create a collection of eye wear that doesn’t look like it belongs on a spinning rack at your neighborhood 7-Eleven. Their designs fly right past kitsch to fabulous, sans monkey, giraffe, or whatever animal product extensions they are working with these days.

I am posting some of my favorites, with the caveat that my tastes have been known to be girly and flirty -- because I am known to be both. But check out their website, store, and other locations, to judge for yourself.

*ms.b

Labels: Style