Just when we thought cassette tapes were gone for good, they keep coming back as retro accessories for the nostalgic. The Pocket Jams are mixtape vintage cassette coin pouchs that will give you a good occasion to tell your 10 year old nephew the prehistoric tale of taped music. And then, delicately pulling out your fully equiped iPhone from one of these, shows you have a good sense of humor. It can hold your change, membership & discount cards and sunscreen lip balm.
The Pocket Jams are snazzy, sturdy zipper pouches that come in 4 assorted styles (2 cassettes & 2 vinyl records). One side of tape says “Mix Tape” in marker style and the other says “Party Mix.”
How much under $29.99?
Some: $4.95 on Baron Bob.
Via Fashionably Geek
If you’re on the lookout for a nice present for a special someone, consider this ‘Inspirational’ Circle Necklace. If the special someone is currently serving time in jail, that is.
It doesn’t say who it should be inspirational for, does it? An embezzler or con artist lives by “Steal. Cheat. Lie”, they need to be reminded of them everyday or, God forbid, they could turn into decent people.
And since it’s sterling silver, they could also sell it to fund their next scam. Now that’s an useful piece of jewelry.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $14.99 on Overstock.com.
Via FashionablyGeek
Once in a while a simple accessory shows up and makes all the difference in the world.
There isn’t a woman alive who never had problems with a bra – the straps slide down the shoulders, the straps are visible under that elegant dress, even “invisible” straps are obvious.
The Bra Barrettes are pure genius: the 2 spirals hook around the 2 straps, holding them together, and in one move you’ve prevented all the potential disasters in the previous paragraph.
The plain style is best for under garment usage, but if you prefer to look at the barrettes as fashion accessories there’s the Crystal Bra Barrettes with Swarovski Crystals that look just the thing for spicying up the little black dress and the Charmed Bra Barrettes for everyday “look at me!”.
(Ah, if shipping to Europe didn’t cost twice as much as the product itself…)
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $5.99 on BraBarette.com.
Via Outblush
Can you say “deeee-licious”? That’s exactly what this Pink & Red Sprinkles Heart Necklace brings to mind.
The answer to the obvious question is “yes, they are real; no, you can’t split it open to eat them”. It’s strictly designed to be a fashion accessory, albeit a yummy-looking one. You can bet you’ll attract guys who like sweet things… like candy, or you.
If this much pink is just too much, you can also go for the less-girly version of the pendant, featuring all colors.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $16 on Shanalogic.com.
Chewing gum in your hair is no longer just a nightmare with the school bully; now it’s a fashion statement.
The Chewy Beauty pins and hairclips look real. Too real. They’re only made of plastic, but they’re guaranteed to gross out anyone who sees them because they’re basically indistinguishable from true disgusting chewed gum.
Fashion accessories? A bit of a stretch. Shocking accessories might be more accurate. However, there’s one thing that can be said for sure: they’re unique.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: € 4 on MissAndLadysBoutique.com.
Via bookofjoe
You’re a geek and you feel the need to brag about your nerdy deeds; how do you do it? There’s a bunch of options: tweet it; post in your blog; update your Facebook status; phone a friend.
The common denominator: random people on the street won’t know it. (Why would you care? For the same reason everyone wears badges with their favorite bands.)
So something new is a-brewing: the Nerd Merit Badges. Or, well, the merit badge, for now. The Open Source badge is all alone in the store right now, but it will soon be joined by other embroidered and velcro-backed friends.
How many things do you have to brag about? Be an early adopter if open source is your thing, or wait until something you can relate to shows up.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $3.99 on NerdMeritBadges.com.
Via BoingBoing
No, funky cufflinks won’t make you cool. Everyone’s free to try, of course, but if you don’t have the right attitude… it won’t work.
That being said, the MP3 Player Cufflinks could spice up some boring office suit for a music loving guy. The player is modeled after the U2 custom red and black iPod, but we won’t ask about licensing issues.
These cufflinks are not exactly subtle, especially against a white shirt, so they’re not the best option for someone in a conservative office. But if you’re in a place that accepts creative touches… it’s one of those small things that can mean a lot. If you don’t mind the price, that is.
How much under $29.99?
A little: $28.99 on Cuff-Daddy.com.
Via ChipChick
I’ve grown out of touch with girls’ mentality, but if me and my friends are anything to judge by, kids don’t always want complex toys. Yeah, a 30-piece tea set is fun, but so is making clothes for a doll. Besides, learning to make things from a young age can prove useful further on – the kids not only get better dexterity, but they also get used to the idea that not just ready-made things are fun.
While the Fashion Origami kit is not specifically aimed at one age group, pre-teen girls would probably love it. Origami is interesting by itself, but cranes and frogs might not be very exciting, whereas shoes, dresses and hats are much closer to a girl’s interests.
The set includes 120 sheets of colored paper and a full-color 28 page instruction book. Mum will probably have to help her daughter at first… but I bet it’s going to be fun for her too.
How much under $29.99?
Some: $12 on FredFlare.com.
Recycling computer parts is trendy nowadays, and it’s a good thing. How many components end up in the dump each year? Might as well use at least some of them.
And since geeks’ fashion sense involves celebrating their love of technology, something like the Recycled Circuit Board Cufflinks is the perfect way to express one’s personality and do something sustainable. It won’t make a huge impact, but it’s better than nothing and a positive trend.
And there’s more: all the profits from your purchase go to cancer research. That’s double the good deed.
Of course, no one can say that they saved the world just by buying a recycled product. It’s a start, but it’s by no means a reason to stop here.
How much under $29.99?
A little: £15 on CancerReasearchUK.org.
Via ShinyShiny
Interesting fashion accessories can be difficult to find sometimes, especially if they don’t fit into traditional categories like “elegant” or “geeky”.
So I’m glad I ran into the Shooting Target Necklace. Ok, it could be a niche product dedicated to fans of shooting sports or to hunters, but that’s narrowing it down too much. I see it more as a distinctive piece of jewelry which sets the wearer apart from the crowd with an unique design. It’s best worn with casual-elegant clothes because of the size and long chain, but there’s no one stopping you to turn it into a striking accessory for something more elegant.
And if black isn’t your thing, check out the silver version.
How much under $29.99?
A little: ~$25 on Supermandolini.com.
