Move Over Silly Bands, Here's Some Sexy Bands For Grown-Ups.

If you haven't heard of silly bandz, you've either not come in contact with anyone under the age 20 in the past month or you live under a rock. As a matter of fact, the trend is so large that today The Daily What via joystiq has a post about the upcoming Silly Bandz Nintendo DS game from Zoo Games.

Talking Turquoise, Brands Embrace Pantone's 2010 Color Of The Year.

If you haven't heard by now that Pantone® named Turquoise, specifically, PMS 15-5519 Turquoise, their 2010 Color Of The Year, you must be deaf. Or colorblind. Each year, Pantone®, the self-proclaimed global authority on color, chooses a specific hue of color to receive the honor and for 2010, it's the blue-green hue of the Caribbean waters.


above: Antigua

Now, what is a little odd is that Turquoise was a big color for fashion LAST year and many lines have discontinued items in that color for this 2010 year (like Apple, Gucci, Beirn And HeysUSA). Perhaps Pantone was picking up on last year's trends? In any case, some Turquoise colored items in this post may be discontinued or found on sale or on ebay.


above: turquoise earrings from Vivre

Keep in mind that Turquoise varies quite a bit in hue given that it's a subtle and delicate balance between blue and green. Therefore some of the items below may be a bit greener (more yellow added to cyan) and some a bit bluer (more red added to cyan). Some color lovers may argue that they are "aqua", "sea green", "seafoam", "peacock" or "teal" - but all are clearly within the family.

Truly Turquoise

Modernica "Build Your Own" Shell Chairs:


Hunter Wellies and Beirn Ballet Flats:


Arktura coffee table:


Elica Mini Om wall mounted Kitchen Hood:


Kara Ross Turquoise Stingray (shagreen) jewelry:

Keep Calm And Carry On poster:


Apple iPod:


Vipp New Limited Edition 2010 Mermaid Collection:


Nixon Watches:


Olympus µ Tough waterproof digital camera:


Rachiele's real Arizona turquoise sink basin:


Turquoise Electrolux Washer and Dryer:


Turquoise nail polish- Quirious, China Glaze, Pop and OPI:



Heys USA Business Case and Carry On luggage:


Garnet Hill's Ocean towels & bath rugs:


Supra Skytop Chad Muska Pro Model kicks:


Hunter Douglas Turquoise metal mini blinds:


Gucci Etretat Rubber turquoise flats (on sale now):


LG AX260 Turquoise mobile phone & Nokia's Mobiwoo in Turquoise:


Marc Jacobs Benny Bag:


More Blue than Green, but still considered Turquoise:

The following items tend to be less green than Pantone's actual color of the year and appear to have more blue than green or yellow in them, but they are still referred to as "turquoise" by their manufacturers.

Nintendo DS:


Stokke Strollers, high chairs and more:

Hamilton Beach blender and toaster:


Kitchen Aid Mixer (Martha Artisan Collection):


Hermes leather, canvas and linen goods:


Versace Atelier Dress:


Versace Fox Fur and leather handbags:


Jonathan Adler's Lacquer and Enamel collections:

The press release:

Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT), and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the color of the year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.
“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”
Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.
In fashion, Turquoise makes a statement that can look elegant and dressy in fine silk and gemstones, or casual and fun in cotton and athletic apparel. Because of its versatility, Turquoise is a great accent color in jewelry, purses, shoes, hair accessories and even nail polish for women, and ties, shirts and sportswear for men.


For brides wanting a flattering choice for attendant apparel and accessories on their big day, Turquoise is now one of the nearly 200 PANTONE WEDDING Colors available from Dessy (shown above), a leading manufacturer of bridesmaid, social occasion and flower girl dresses, as well as destination wedding gowns under the labels Dessy Collection, After Six, Alfred Sung, Lela Rose Bridesmaid and Sandals Destination Wedding Dresses. PANTONE WEDDING exclusively from Dessy provides a collection of color tools to make it easy for brides to achieve perfectly color-coordinated weddings – from inspiration to “I do.”
Additionally, Turquoise is one of 3,000 colors available in Pantone’s line of superior-quality, eco-friendly paint. PANTONE Paints combine the accuracy of PANTONE Colors with the beauty of high-performance Dutch paints. Perfect for a powder room or bedroom, Turquoise is an evocative, spa-like hue that adds an undertone of warmth and excitement to any cool space. In the kitchen, Turquoise adds a unique flare to tabletop and appliances.
Pantone is pleased to announce PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the Color of the Year for 2010.

Turquoise Blogs and Sites
Like Orange, Turquoise is one of those tertiary colors that certain designers and interior decorators tend to favor. There are blogs and sites about all things turquoise. Here's a few for you to enjoy.

Y Livings's Selection of Turquoise items (although most are really shades of blue):



Erin's House Of Turquoise:


Everything Turquoise:



Turquoise Chic:

Today's WTF? Winkers: Handpainted Pants That "Wink"

I will try to refrain from personal opinion as I share the concept of patent-pending Winkers(TM) with you. Rapidly making the rounds on the internet due to a you tube video of the jeans in action (shown below), the company, based in Everett, Washington is hand-painting pants so that as one walks, the images painted on the b'thigh (you know, the place where your butt cheek meets your thigh?) actually 'wink'.



They are pricey as well as hideous (oops, did I say I was going to refrain from personal opinion?) but certainly are imaginative.

It might help their marketing to feature a rear end that isn't quite so... um, bloppy. Oh and some less cheesy music on the video. And yes, a decent typeface on the site. Okay, so much for refraining from personal opinion.

Below are the five designs for which they have pricing and are available by order. But they will also create custom or special designs.


above: Eyes ......................... $159.00

above: Ducks ....................... $169.00

above: Clap Boards ........... $259.00

above: Owl.......... $279.00

above: Lion in the Jungle.............$579.00

When it comes to ordering yourself a pair of Winkers, they ask you to take the following into consideration.

In their own words:
"To order a pair of Winkers a couple of things to take into consideration are what pants and will they "Wink".

Jeans work the best for Winkers. Baggy jeans do not wink very well. Other types of pants work well also. But if the leg is to loose and hangs from the widest part of the buttocks the pants will not wink. Some dresses and lingerie will also wink. I do not have a satisfactory way to decorate lingerie though. Perhaps later. Taking all into consideration men's pants will wink also. Many slacks and overalls do not wink very well though, because they are to (sic) loose.

When selecting a pair of pants to be decorated, select a pair that fit well and will show off your wink. Make sure they are clean. If they are new make sure they have been washed."


Order them here.

Where's Manish Arora Going After India's Fashion Week? Disneyland!

Above: Designer Manish Arora & his collection at India's Fashion Week

Okay, not really. Besides, he's already been there from the looks of his latest collection.

Fashion week in New Delhi had some drama (the wardrobe malfunction on a Belgian model during the showing of Rajesh Pratap Singh's collection) and some truly amazing clothes. One of the more unusual...okay, bizarre... collections was that of designer Manish Arora with futuristic warrior headgear on models sporting Disney icons clad in crystal, embellishing dresses, scarves and more.



Manish Arora's 'Ultra Man Meets Lichtenstein' collection at the Delhi fashion week had people talking. Known for his irreverent designs, colorful patterns and unusual runway accoutrements, Arora's most recent collection incorporates Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Pop Art and lots of knee and shoulder pads.



The Disney cartoon characters clad in armor and the work of Japanese artist Keiichi Tanaami were rendered on silk, velvet and brocade dresses inspired by Japanese samurais, gladiators and medieval knights.. and to me, personally, Ultra Man.



Arora's models walked the ramp wearing lion masks and metallic armor shields, shoulder and knee pads, most embellished with Swarovski crystals.





"For me, fashion is glamorous and happy and shiny - that's why I show all this," the designer told reporters after the show.



"My clothes always have a sense of humor and Walt Disney provided that for me."



The majority of the collection lacked the Disney characters, but certainly didn't lack stopping power. Take a look at some of the collection:












And of course, Ultra Man:


Around 80 designers showcased autumn and winter collections on the runway or in stalls at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.

Designer duo Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna took inspiration from city life for their 'Lost in the Urban Maze' collection - the grid lines of the city mimicked in sleek suits and dresses in various shades of brown and blue.

Creative designs were not the only thing that made news at the fashion week on Friday. The shoulder drape of a Belgian model slipped sideways during designer Rajesh Pratap Singh's show, exposing her breast for a second. Photographers clicked away but most in the audience remained oblivious to the slip-up.



Clothes coming undone on the ramp are nothing new to the fashion world, but in India it sent newspaper editors and TV producers into a feeding frenzy. Some TV channels repeatedly broadcast the footage, blurring out the model's breast, while newspapers published reports with photographs of the model.

See Manish Arora's site here.