Check out this exquisite statement necklace from Lori Leavitt. Vintage mixed metals+vintage brass buckle=LOVE!

Photo: Shopgoldyn.com

Lori Leavitt uses only reclaimed gold, conflict-free stones and everything is hand-crafted.

Photo: Shopgoldyn.com

For those of you with a salty sailor’s tongue, here’s the perfect way to express your feelings without saying a word. Rogues Gallery, the cool-as-hell manly man’s shop of wares based in Maine that sells ephemera, plaid and vintage clothing and accessories for lovers of the New England seascape sells “deadweights” (i.e. oxided, handcrafted jewelry).

My absolute favorite, the “F*%k Yeah” chain is, of course, sold out. But check out their other offerings here.

Photo: Blackbirdballard.com

Sick of Hallmark’s sappy, sweet Valentine’s Day crap? Want to express your real feelings? Face it, you’re horny and Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for “keepin’ it real” with L.A. based design firm Kuro‘s Stank Sentiments Valentine’s Day cards.

With phrases from our favorite hip hop artists like 2 Live Crew, Sir Mix-a-Lot and Lil Wayne (who’s supposed to start his prison sentence Feb. 9th–you can send him the “Lick Me Like a Lollipop” card in jail), these cards are sure to please your hip hop lover. My favorite? “Oh, Me So Horny. (Me Luv You Long Time).”

Check them out and buy them at Kuro’s Etsy shop for $5 each or a pack of six for $25 (for all your hoes).

Biggie would be proud.

Check out this amazing and sweet glovelette by Blank Verse. I love the unfinished edges and intricate beading. Each is made with recycled leather and vintage materials and looks like poetry on your hand, which makes sense given the fact that the creators of Blank Verse read Pablo Neruda, Oscar Wilde, M.F. K. Fisher and the like aloud while creating these one-of-a-kind pieces. Sweet for you and sweet for the environment. . .

Photo: Ecocitizenonline.com

Silver Starlight Rhinestone Sequin Pearl Applique Burlesque Pasties

Don’t even ask me how I find these things, but I do.  A seller out of Portland Gothfox Designs, sells her custom-made pasties in all sorts of colors and patterns in her Etsy shop. According to Gothfox’s web site:

Each pair is hand made to order, including the tassels! Tassels are then *magically* placed in an eyelet for easy twirling by everyone. This technique is especially great for beginners since it will allow the tassel to spin freely and not be caught up in the fabric of the pasties.

Yes! I need my tassels to spin freely! Seriously, though, one of my friends bought me a pair of mass-produced pasties a few years ago for my birthday, and let me tell you, the tassels were stiff and the pasties didn’t stay on long. (Maybe that was the point, who knows?)

Check out some of the really cute (and really reasonably priced) pasties!

Boudoir Burlesque Pasties

Satin Peacock Baby Burlesque Pasties

Couture Valentine Obsession Rhinestone Pasties

Whether you want to surprise your significant other in the boudoir or are hitting up amateur night at your local burlesque spot, Gothfox Designs have the perfect pasties for your curves!

Knuckle rings are the perfect accessory to wear over sleek leather gloves this drab winter season and to carry you into the spring with ass-kicking style! Not only are they eye-catching, but they’re functional, too,  just in case you get into a bar brawl (not that I know ANYTHING about arguing in a bar).  I’ve picked out a few of my favorites!

The name says it all. Check out the Pow Crystal Knuckle Ring from Nasty Gal:

$24

Or, if you’re a redhead and want something to match your freckles, try the Red Freckles Swarovski Crystal Ring from Milk:

$173

Made Her Think makes the really fabulous Double Talon Knuckle Buster Ring that your hand needs (it looks like it also could double as a can opener):

$188

One of my favorites is this classy, yet fierce CC Skye Meckenzie Ring from Harmony Lane:

$150

Robert Lee Morris for Elizabeth and James makes this beautiful brushed contour brass knuckle ring (I always knew the Olsens were small but tough):

$155

It’s hard to imagine what Coco Chanel’s reaction would be to these tattoos featured in Chanel’s 2010 collection–they seem to mix the brand’s signature elegance with just a touch of biker edge. They look amazing on the models, but I think this is a look I’ll be avoiding for now. The price is right though; you can purchase a set of 55 tats for $78, come March. For a peek at the rest of Uncle Karl’s crazy accessories check out refinery29.

Photo: nitrolicious.com

Photo: nitrolicious.com

Photo: nitrolicious.com

To keep your ears from falling off due to frost bite, check out this faux fur hood from Urban Outfitters. I feel that it’s something Lady Gaga would wear when she’s upstate hunting or shooting ducks. (Not that she does either.)

$39.99

I know Christmas isn’t here yet, but I’m already looking for a New Year’s Eve outfit that doesn’t scream cheesy (I’m the one who’s going to be screaming, come NYE). The problem with living in NYC is your tastes become so refined, so sophisticated, so New York that anything that’s not vintage, thrifted, one-of-a-kind or boutiquey in the manner of “this dress was handcrafted by village women in Romania or Lower East Side artists after having fasted for 72 hours” simply will not do. Luckily, the suburbs grant us reprieve by offering us the cultural suck that is THE MALL. Once I enter the clusterfuck of a parking lot, all pressure vanishes courtesy of the chain store!

Check out what I found for NYE at my local suburban mall.

This Wet Seal dress is reminiscent of Betsey Johnson (eh, kind of).  Hey, the material may not be that great, but who’s going to tell after three sickly sweet apple martinis?

Photo: wetseal.com

If these sequins aren’t enough, hey, why not top it off with MORE SEQUINS in the form of a sequined shrug from Arden B.? If the electricity at your NYE party goes out, everyone can just huddle around your outfit.

Photo: ardenb.com

For the crème de la crème, the pièce de résistance  and any other French phrases that may or may not fit here, check out what I found at POTTERY BARN, yes, Pottery Barn. I went there to buy a heart-warming “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament, which they did NOT have, because why would they have that? Duh. What they do have, apparently, are masquerade masks. Who knew? This would be fab at a NYE Masquerade Ball! (Even in NYC!)

Pottery Barn Mask

Imagine wearing this feather/pearl/crushed velvet lovely on NYE! You may love it so much you might pull it out at random times throughout the year.

Pottery Barn Mask

Vogue.com’s Amanda Brooks could barely contain her excitement at the thigh-high and knee-high stockings that are showing up everywhere in elegant incarnations. I (almost) wholeheartedly agree. I own a few pairs, to the tsk, tsking of my sister, my mom and my friend who works in fashion. She cautions, “You’ll look like those silly Japanese girls and soon you’ll be wearing pigtails and carrying a Hello Kitty rhinestone purse.” While I truly appreciate the concern I have to say I LOVE THEM (with some caveats): 1. If you pair them with a tight top and short skirt, you’re ready for working the  street corner, not working the room. 2. If the socks leave an indentation on your legs, either get thee to a gym or buy a bigger size. 3. If you live in a suburban area where the only place you can wear them is to your local mall, why bother? Really.

That said, I own a few pairs that rock the house. See below please.

J Crew Knee-High Socks

These are really great and when worn with oxford or menswear-inspired footwear, appropriate for the office (if you work in a creative field, not insurance).

American Apparel Tube Sock and J Crew Argyle Sock

I’m not suggesting wearing mismatched socks–I was just too lazy to take an extra photo. Anyway, I like patterned knee-high socks, but to prevent them from looking like you’re applying for entrance to an UES prep school or auditioning to be a backup dancer for Mariah Carey, wear them with some motorcycle boots and either a leather jacket or tweed blazer. American Apparel socks run notoriously small, so beware.

Here, I have some above the knee socks I bought at Loehmann’s that look fab worn with 1. vintage leather jacket from eBay 2. Mischen silk high-waist zipper skirt 3. Converse tee tucked into skirt and 4. platform heels OR ankle booties. When wearing a lot of black, keep it fresh by mixing textures and fabrics.

Tread carefully, though. When wearing anything above the knee, keep the rest of outfit loose and keep the rest of your goodies covered, because they’re still reminiscent of a working girl’s wardrobe. Unless that’s what you want.

I’m really loving creative neckwear these days and have found some amazing pieces from coast to coast. Chunky necklaces using a variety of materials from plastics to rhinestones to metals combine to create hanging works of art, but these works of art hang not in a gallery or museum, but around your neck. I found the following necklace at Pinky Otto in New York. It never fails to get loads of compliments every time it’s worn! Don’t fret my non-NYC lovelies–they have locations in Boston and LA, too!

Chunky necklace from Pinky Otto

I also recently attended Thread, an independent fashion and design event, and found some amazingly creative wares. Checkedy check it out.  Micha Kuechenhoff, the German-born designer of Micha Design makes some crazy chunky necklaces that have made their way into Nylon, Riviera and Women’s Wear Daily, amongst others. She brings together chains, feathers, brooches and more to create one-of-a-kind pieces that you can throw on with a wifebeater, jeans and heels for instant chic.

Braided Collection

Clusters Collection

Hardware Deluxe Collection

Another treasure found was an adorable and eccentric line called Unstandard Deviations. Jennie Hinkle, the line’s designer, uses polystyrene (a thermoplastic) and and impressions of unique and vintage images to create eye-catching conversation pieces (necklaces, bracelets and more). Not sure why Anthropologie hasn’t picked up her line yet! I think the pieces are fab and you can find them on Etsy. She also takes custom orders.

Here are some of my favorites:

Not for your friends in AA.

Drink Up Buttercup Necklace

Wearing your heart on your chest is better than wearing it on your sleeve.

Anatomical Heart Necklace

Not to be worn after watching “The Birds” movie.

Black Crow Necklace

I love this necklace! It has an ethereal aspect to it. Plus, there’s faint script and antique key, which I love. It’s like a dream on a chain.

Woman and Key Necklace