Results tagged “fashion” from The official blog of Vat19.com

These Bread Shoes have been all over the blogosphere lately, and a lot of people think they are totally awesome. In fact, they're selling out on the manufacturer's website. And I ask, "Why?"

People, these are loaves of bread that have a chunk cut off the back and part of the insides pulled out of the "toe" area. Anyone could do this. Actually, my 5-year-old cousin did nearly the same thing with dinner rolls this past weekend. Why are people paying 62 euros, or roughly $93, for a pair of bread shoes that you can't even wear? The website itself says, "Not wearable on feet". And I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be able to eat them, either, as they do not appear to be packaged in an airtight container. So, you get a pair of stale bread shoes that you ... display on your mantle?

I'm bummed, man. This is a total waste of a perfectly delicious loaf of bread.

I'm so glad there are insanely creative people out there who can re-purpose what most of us would call "trash" into something useful and one-of-a-kind. Many times you may not even realize that a "new" product has been made out of "old" recycled products.

Take this belt, for example. If I hadn't told you so in the title of this post, would you have ever guessed that the belt is made from a bike tire and the buckle from a bike cog? OK, maybe you cycling aficionados would, but to the rest of our naked eyes, it just looks like a really cool and edgy belt. Those who wear it are not only making a style statement, but an "I care about the earth" statement too!

There are tons and tons of other re-purposed products out there (for example, Vat19's LP Record Coasters), and I encourage you to check them out. Maybe you'll find some inspiration to create your own re-purposed goods!

OK, this is so adorable that it's a little overwhelming.

There are babies popping up all over the place in my family, and I am very tempted to purchase this hand knit teddy bear hat for all of them. Not only is it cute, but it looks very well made and super warm. I love the details of the braided ties and little bow (although I'm not sure if the bow is included). It also helps that they have a very sweet little baby modeling it. I could pinch those cheeks!

Anyway... at $26.00, it would make a great gift for your favorite little one that they could hold on to as a keepsake as they get older.

At first glance, they may look like regular old neckties. But in fact, the "fabric" used to make these Sonic Fabric ties is 50% recorded audio cassette tape. Yeah, I don't know how the heck they do it, but they've taken old mixed tapes and woven them into ties.

If that isn't awesome enough for you, these ties can actually be "played". Because the magnetic quality is maintained through the weaving process, you can still "hear" your tie by running a tape head over it. (A tape head is that little thing inside cassette tapes that touches the tape.) The designer says that when you do this, you're actually playing 4 or 5 strands of tape at once, or 16 to 20 tracks, so it kind of sounds like scratching a record backwards or radio static.

Needless to say, these are the coolest ties EVER, and the man in your life would totally love one. And if you don't have $90 to spare, fear not. The man in your life would also love any of these awesome gifts.

Am I the only one who thinks beer holsters are lame? Granted, the one above doesn't look nearly as ridiculous as the one that goes all the way around your waist like a toolbelt. But still, I think this just looks silly, not to mention potentially uncomfortable and restraining with the leg strap. And how do you sit without spilling beer all over the place?

The solution, my friends, to hands-free beer transportation is the Beer Pouch Sweatshirt Hoodie. It holds your beer AND insulates it. It's also comfy, and it'll still hold your beer upright when you go to sit down. Win.

This is the Cap-sac, a fanny pack for your head. That's right. And yet again, I have had trouble deciding if is Trash or Treasure. So, I decided to write down the pros and cons to see which won out.

Pros:
- The colors are bright, fun, retro, and therefore awesome.
- It turns in on itself and zips up into a little pouch. So, good for travel.
- It's so incredibly dorky that it borders on cool.

Cons:
- It's a fanny pack that you wear on your head.
- If you actually put anything in the pack, your forehead will look misshapen.
- Probably only 1% of the population has the style, attitude, and confidence to pull off the look without looking like a total moron.

Hm, tied. But I think the cons outweigh the pros, don't you? I'm going to have to go with Trash. Sorry, Cap-sac.

Um, wow. OK, this takes the "wear something bright so I can spot you in a crowd" thing to a whole new level.

Powered by batteries, which I assume are housed in the big ol' Celtic-looking brooch at the center, the LumiTop (Butterfly version seen here) stays lit for over 12 hours. My questions are: Does it get hot? Are your retinas burned after having the constant glow in your peripheral vision? Who is wearing this besides ice dancers and circus performers? No one, I hope.

But if you happen to be an ice dancer or circus performer and are looking for a dazzling fiber-optic halter top with a "tail", this one will set you back 169 euros, or about $230.00.

Don't get me wrong, I think some of the new designer packing tapes that seem to be so prevalent now are kind of fun. And this tape falls into that category.

However, it also falls into the "Seriously?" category because the designers have taken it one step further and stuck the packing tape to this poor woman's face and hair. I'm thinking that's going to smart just a bit when those babies get ripped off.

The designers do state, however, that they do not recommend applying the tape "directly onto the body, as the adhesive may cause irritation to sensitive skin or damage to hair." Then why are you illustrating the product being used in that manner? Monkey see, monkey do, people.

I'll admit it. For a while, I was torn on whether this Gum Ball Belt Buckle was actually "trash" or "treasure". Because I love gum, and it would be quite handy to have a gum dispenser constantly on my person. And it might be nice to have a belt buckle you can color-coordinate to your wardrobe.

On the other hand, I'd look like a total fool. Something tells me this stops being cute and starts being silly when someone over 12 wears it.

This bracelet made out of multiple "cords" and 24K gold costs about $145. Are we for serious? It just looks like a bunch of hair rubber bands clasped together!

I like colorful bracelets and unique things, but this is completely overpriced. If you're looking for unique gifts at great prices, be sure to visit the Vat19.com store!

If this isn't geek chic, I don't know what is.

Since it's introduction to the world in 1990, Adobe's Photoshop program has made its way into everyday American pop culture, to the point where the word "photoshop" itself has become a regular part of our vocabulary, as in "Oh my God, that picture of Mariah Carey is totally photoshopped!" It's even in Merriam-Webster's online dictionary. But that's just not enough, is it? We need more Photoshop in our everyday lives. More!

Well, now Photoshop geeks, freaks, and wannabes everywhere can proclaim their love for the software with the "Invisible" T-shirt from artist Reece Ward. The design features the standard Photoshop toolbar with part of the background (in this case, you) erased.

At a totally reasonable price of $24.00, this would make a great gift for any graphic designer, photographer, web designer...basically anyone you know who works with digital images. And while the existence and powers of Photoshop are widely known, there are still a great amount of people out there who would be totally confused by this shirt, which makes it that much more awesome. It's like an inside joke that a heck of a lot of people are in on. Goodtimes!

This here is the Hip-T. It's marketed as a "layering accessory for your hips", and is basically a $20.00 band of fabric that you put around your hips - over your jeans and under your too-short shirt - to camouflage your muffin top and/or prevent the embarrassment of butt/thong exposure when you sit or bend over. Why not just wear a cami under your shirt like normal people? Well, say the Hip-T creators, whole shirts under other shirts cause an annoying "t-shirt tangle" that simply must be avoided.

However, whole shirts, with their arm and neck holes, are guaranteed to stay put on your frame. I have a feeling these Hip-Ts would roll down or shimmy up - especially on those of us who have those unfortunate muffin tops or tummy rolls - causing us to be smoothing or tugging at it all day long. And really, I find it hard to believe that it does anything about corralling in the muffin top anyway; it just looks too thin.

Plus, I have fears about other ways people might use this item. Tube top? Headband? Skirt? Good God, I can see the Paris Hilton wannabe now.

While I will admit the layering effect is cute, I just don't see the point of spending $20.00 on a band of fabric when I could have a whole shirt for the same price. And actually, I think most of the gals rocking the super-low jeans are kind of wanting that extra exposure, so there goes half of Hip-T's target audience.

I did enjoy checking out their Press section, though, in which the celebrities posing with the Hip-T include various D-listers such as Karina and Lacey from "Dancing with the Stars", Bobby Brown, and "celebs" we haven't seen in 20 years. Note to MyHip-T.com editors: It's ANSON Williams from "Happy Days", not Ansel. Poor Potsie gets no respect.

High heels sure have come a long way from when they were worn simply to prevent a horse rider's foot from slipping through the stirrups. Yep, high heels (shoes with raised heels...not stilettos) date all the way back to the 1500s. Eventually, shoes with high heels and pointed toes became a status symbol and more about fashion than practicality.

Clearly, these high heels are not exactly practical. Some are ridiculous, some are weird, some are absurd. All of them are unique.

Figurine High Heels

While these Christian Dior high heels don't look terribly uncomfortable, a figurine as the heel is pretty weird. It's unique, but I think it leans towards weird unique instead of cool unique. Too artsy.

Lamborghini High Heels

These Lamborghini high heels are just a concept product. The design by Tim Cooper is pretty neat, but I can't see anyone actually wearing these unless you are a model working a Lamborghini event. They remind me of those beds for little kids that are shaped like race cars. Except those beds weren't made of carbon fiber!

Brass Knuckle High Heels

I'm not sure who these crazy high heels were made for. A stripper that is about to beat the hell out of you? The metal plating on the outside is probably appealing to truckers.

I'm sure we've all had a coach that was a nightmare to look at, whether it was the clothes, body type, accessories, equipment, or hair. Behold these examples of unfashionable coaching.

Classic, tight coaches shorts

What tacky coach hasn't sported a pair of these tight (not as in "awesome") shorts? These are the coach equivalent to cheerleaders and their Soffe shorts. Since they are available in pretty much every color of the rainbow, Coach McTightshorts can have a pair no matter what his team colors. How can players concentrate when faced with all of the bulges that result from wearing something so tight and unforgiving? He might as well say, "OK, team, huddle up. As you can see, I hang to the left. Now let's get out there and win this game."

Lanyards and whistles

No one cares for the sound of a whistle, especially when it is coming from a coach who is blowing angrily at you. I had a soccer coach who was overweight and he'd blow the whistle so hard you'd think one of those blows would be the last exhale to escape from the strained lungs inside of his obese body. Be a man, lose the whistle, and use your authoritative voice. Unless you want to be the traffic cop of the field, stop using a whistle.

Tall socks

Unless you are actually playing the sport, you shouldn't wear tall athletic socks. It looks like you are stuck in the 70's and will give you a terrible farmer's tan. On a previous post about butt cleavage, I received an unhappy comment about using the term "plumber's crack". Before anyone leaves a hate comment about the usage of "farmer's tan", I would just like to state that that is what it is called. No disrespect to farmers. If there is some other politically correct term for it out there, feel free to leave a comment and let me know.

Sunglasses with colorful reflective lenses

How hoosier are these sunglasses? The wearer of these should have cut-off jean shorts, a mustache, and a Yosemite Sam tattoo. There are plenty of athletic sunglasses out there to choose from, so why choose these uglies? Maybe some coaches don't like it when people can see their eyes. That way they can watch the cheerleaders instead of keeping their eyes on the game and no one would be able to notice. Gross.

Wearing the team uniform if you are fat and out of shape

Let's be real. Who wants to take athletic advice from a fat guy? They can talk stats, strategy, history, or whatever as much as they want, but the second they start talking about anything revolving around health and gaining athletic ability I would stop listening. Sorry Lou, that uniform isn't doing anything for you. Pass that on to your colleague Charlie Manuel from the Phillies. Looks like pinstripes aren't as slimming as they say.

Ever have trouble finding the right gift for that special guy in your life? Well fear not, because I have the answer for you. Buy him a big ole pair of Manties! No, I'm not kidding. Well, okay, sort of. I found these on a website dedicated to frilly male underwear.

Check it out for yourself. For only $10.95 apiece, your guy can own one of these sexy lil' things.

Now, I get that some men want to wear fashionable underwear in colors other than white, but seriously... these? They're even too feminine for ME to wear, and I'm a GIRL!

But don't fret. If your guy isn't into the frilly, lacy stuff, they still have the moderately male-ish type of underwear. Available in high cut as well!



Manties are available in plain, bows and roses, lace, lace and bows, fancy, embroidered, and day-of-the-week embroidered.

Just imagine him struttin' around looking like this:

Why is it that only the annoying, dirty, and sleazy guys at bars wear Scrolling LED Belt Buckles? I see them advertised in magazines and on websites everywhere but what normal person actually wears them? Not to mention the people who do wear them obviously took 2 days to come up with the message in which they proudly display across their crotch. I'm sorry, but if you have something important to say... Just say it!

No. Thank. You.

Jeans have been creeping their way away from being seen as strictly casual. The endless possibilities for washes, stitching, fits, and embellishments allow jeans to be stylish, unique, artistic, and even glamorous.

Back pockets seem to be getting increasingly interesting and detailed. If someone's butt is going to get my attention, I would rather see something unique on there instead of "Juicy" or "PINK". Here are some jean back pockets that are anything but ordinary. You definitely won't see these showing up on a pair of ill-fitting mom jeans.

That's right, BUTT cleavage. The infamous "plumber's crack" is everywhere. Thank you, low-rise jeans.

Why have people not realized that when you buy jeans you need to actually sit and bend over when you try them on? Even celebrities who have stylists and personal shoppers have been caught sporting butt cleavage.

The worst part about butt cleavage is that you can't not look. Even if the butt cleavage is partially masked by a thong, that only further catches your eye and provokes you to continue to stare. Years ago Sisqo asked to see it, and girls have responded.

Denim designer Lee Cooper made jeans to showcase the intentional butt cleavage. Men weren't excluded; these jeans were made in styles for both men and women. Adding peek-a-boo cutouts to the back of jeans is ridiculous. But, as with anything, I'm sure someone's bought a pair.

Owning a dog is both normal and common. Putting a sweater on a dog isn't exactly unusual, either. What IS strange, though, is the amount of time that went into the dogs at the SuperGroom 2007 Competition. The article is worth checking out, if only for the “Let me put the hoochy in your poochy” quote. Take a look at these photos from the event:

This dog looks like a slobbery, wagging version of Ambient Water.

These Pomeranian images come from Tiny Dog Blog

The bird costumes are from Avian Fashions.

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Sometimes you read about how awful looks are coming back into style – skinny jeans, gauchos, even pleated jeans – but no matter how bad it gets, it could be worse. We’ve given a little thought to the matter, and we’ve decided that we’ll take a few stray pairs of skinny jeans over these vintage styles any day:

Hoop Skirts – These were skirts for an era when people figured that things like bicycles and comfortable apparel gave women too much freedom to run off and get themselves into trouble. Back then, few things were more attractive than a woman with a massive steel cage under her dress. If you had enough room to host a welterweight cage fight down below, you were HOT.

Bloomers – Named for activist Amelia Bloomer, bloomers were not well liked in the beginning. They let women ride bikes and walk around easily, which was a big fashion DON’T at the time. Eventually, though, men took a liking to saucy wenches in bloomers, brazenly baring their ankles like it was their wedding night. That turned out to be a pretty slippery slope.

Bustles – Long before Sir Mix a Lot waxed poetic about the joys of large posteriors, women were creating ample silhouettes with a little help from their seamstresses. The general idea of the bustle was to make the fullness of the front match the fullness of the back. Couple that with a corset, and it becomes pretty obvious that the Victorians weren’t as stuffy as they’re often portrayed to be.