OBSESSION: Hanky Panky

If you had asked me what Hanky Pankys were a few months ago, I would have probably given you a dirty look and walked away. Little did I realize that those two little words would turn my underwear world upside down and transform me into a true believer in the notion that thongs and comfort really can co-exist.

I embrace lingerie just as much as the next girl, but I never understood the difference between my $6.99 pair from GapBody and my friend’s $18 lacey contraption from Nordstrom. Why spend a fortune on underwear when it looks the same, serves the same purpose, and tends to ride up in all the same places?

Then I received a three-piece thong set of Hanky Panky underwear for my birthday. The lingerie company Hanky Panky offers one-size-fits-all, low-rise thongs, which The Wall Street Journal called “lace butter.” These underwear wonders come in every color imaginable (teaberry, waterfall grape, and coco for example) and offer girls a comfortable choice without entering granny-panty territory.

Magazines from Baazar to Vanity Fair and Modern Bride featured the life-changing undergarment, which boasts a celebrity following that includes Jennifer Aniston, Eva Longoria, Cameron Diaz, Katherine Heigl Kate Hudson… and now me.

OBSESSION: Nailed

Though you would not guess it by glancing at my fingers, manicured nails fascinate me. I’m not talking about your regular French tips or average flower stencil. No, my obsession falls under the category of bling nails. Nails with attitude: florescent air brushed talons adorned with anything from tiny Swarovski crystals to glow-in-the-dark paint. Bling nails range anywhere from short squared cuticles to two-inch long, acrylic, curved claws.

While the shapes vary, the designs feature elaborate techniques and intricate patterns. One practice known as ‘water coloring’ is an ancient Vietnamese practice where the nail polish is suspended in water, as the fingernail get dipped in, the polish creates a marble affect. The difficult process produces a stunning result: a fabulously tie-died nail. Stenciling and airbrushing make up the most common designs of bling nails. These miniscule airbrushes produce everything from realistic graffiti scenes to zebra stripes and Hawaiian sunsets across your thumb and pinky finger.
If you find yourself craving some colorful claws, downtown Syracuse offers a few salons that’ll do you right. Lovely Nails (324 Salina Street), a cozy little shop, offers an assortment of colors, and designs start at $8. For $22, you get a full set of acrylics and your choice of design. Walk a block south, and you will find Oriental Nail and Hair Salon (348 Salina Street). Oriental offers a larger selection with florescent colors and cool decals. Hand designs start at $10, but can cost up to $35. By the looks of the packed nail counters, Oriental Nail and Hair Salon was popping; I suggest making an appointment.

If you want to spruce up your look consider getting some bling tips. They offer the attitude of tattoos without the permanence. A friend of mine in high school got her nails done every two weeks to match her various day-glo Nikes. While some nails err on the side of tacky, the overall art form gives off fun and funky vibes to your fingers. Snaps!

OBESSION: Liquid Line

Most girls shy away from steady-hands-only liquid eyeliner. But Mac’s new Fluidline is a fool-proof option for only $15. The gel formula gives a softer, silkier finish with an easy brush. It lasts from day to night without smudge and comes in black, brown, green, purple, silver, and blue.



Perfect Partner: Mac’s Mineralize Eye Shadow works well underneath the liner. Use Danger Zone for the perfect holiday/cocktail party look.

OBSESSION: Constructivist Couture

The term “exoticism” stung my mind. It was the assigned inspiration for my senior fashion collection. While the bright colors of a Bengali sari or the intricate bead work of a matador’s cape seem like great muses, I wanted to push the idea. As a fashion designer, I play the role of both stylist and sociologist, and with the current economic state, the mysteries of exotics seemed elusive fuel as catalyst material for a cohesive spring collection. I envisioned severe and serious pieces that demonstrated power through strict lines.

I found the perfect manifesto in Russian Constructivism. This 1920 art and architectural movement pushed design out of the realm of ‘art for art’s sake’ and transformed it into an exercise of social purpose. Bold graphics posters that utilized primary colors and simple shapes characterize the movement. The complex architecture moved me to draft couture pieces with geometric substance. Vladimer Tatlin’s spiraling Monument to the Third International became my guide to denote modernity and a sense of constraint. While the construction of the collection signals high fashion, the mood it suggests seeks to transfer the power of design to the individual. By adopting the style and ideals of constructivism, I hope to create a collection that communicates more than just fashion. You be the judge.

OBESSION: Style To Boot

That rainy, slushy season before the torrent of snow arrives reaches Salt City residents at their most vulnerable. In the absence of good rainwear, we often revert to tennis shoes and sweatshirts and return home in a soggy, chilly mess. One day at J.Michaels on Marshall Street, I tried on Hunter rain boots, watertight rubber boots with a traction-gripping sole. They offer an adjustable buckle at the side and a one-inch heel that gives just the right amount of added lift. But don’t stop there. Hunter also makes fleece socks, which stand higher than the boot to show off the company’s logo. These socks deliver almost as much dry snuggleness as the boots.

OBESSSION: Nuclear Arm Candy

Both political candidates Barack Obama and John McCain say “it’s time for a change.” I agree — especially when it comes in the form of techni-color arm candy. While pursuing new watch options, I came across the ToyWatch and fell in love. ToyWatch, designed in Italy, and first introduced to the masses in 2006, proved so popular, the manufacturers opened a flagship store a year later in Milan. As seen on the wrists of high-profile celebrities like talk show queen Oprah, pop-princess Madonna and even the likes of the notorious Li-Lo, the trend continues in 2008, creating a new type of anti-luxury statement. These oversized, plastic, watches inspired by designer timepieces, are sure to hold their own against any superluxe heavy weight. A precision quartz fuels the movement, and the water-resistant case and tritium-laden hands and markers offer protection and nighttime visibility. The Neon Plasteramic Collection, ToyWatch’s newest line of light-weight, fluorescent watches, brighten any look ($195 from Nordstrom.com). Inspired, perhaps, by nuclear-fallout, the collection colors include: Kryptonite Green, Plutonium Pink, Ultra Violet, Cobalt Blue, Yellow Submarine and Atomic Orange. "Hollywood is obsessed with this Italian-made chronograph wristwatch" shouted Life & Style Weekly. Consider it your chance to Hollywood even without that movie deal.