Oh, Incase, you’ve done it again. Your surprise packages always blow me away… and now i’m terribly jealous of your amazing TAPE!!! Matte black with the Incase signature topographic pattern in gloss… you’ve taken packing tape lust to a new level! AND its on a soft touch rubberized feeling matte black BOX. Yes, i couldn’t help rubbing the box before i even got to opening it.

Of course, once inside the box, there is one of the 3 new Evan Hecox (Incase curated by Arkitip) sets of iphone cases and laptop sleeves ~ this one is the Tokyo edition (there is also London and New York!)… Beautiful details, take a peek at the artwork and unboxing on the next page…

And as always ~ love the Incase motto “A better experience through good design.”

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Tags: accessories - art - gifts - laptop - shopping - technology

Fresh in from Artecnica, the latest in their Design W/ Conscience program with MAL / Media Arts Lab part of TBWA\, Artecnica to find designer solutions to recycling their large format billboards. Remember their Artecnica + TBWA\ Recycled Stretch Bag? Well, these new Laptop Cases are lined with black neoprene to add softness and protection to the case, and come in 13” and 15” sizes. See more images of the case on the next page.

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Tags: accessories - advertising - case - gifts - laptop - recycle - shopping - technology

Ready to take off for the holidays? Well wejetset wants to hook you up.

What can you win? + 1 Hideo Bean 19 (Green) Luggage + 6 Wallpaper City Guides + 1 Arkitip x Incase Curated Laptop Sleeve for (15” Macbook Pro) Steven Harrington + 1 WeSC Bongo Blue Headphones + 1 pair of Sunglasses by Super See pics of it all in the feature as well as details on what to do for your chance to win!

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Tags: accessories - books - fashion - gifts - giveaway - laptop - shopping - travel

On more exciting holiday features ~ a first time i’m trying out having our friends at some of NOTCOT’s favorite companies share some stories and behind the scenes look into their worlds ~ here’s a look at the Unearthen Watches at Forward Forward, the luxurious high end sister store of Revolve Clothing… I love hearing about how these watches were discovered, and what it was about them that pulled them in! See the full feature on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - fashion - gifts - holiday - shopping - watch

FLEXICORDS!!! My tech packing isn’t complete without these. I’m addicted to how fun and bendy they are ~ and thus, tangle free too! I first found these at CES 2008 (so about a year ago!), and they are now shipping and totally ready to stuff stockings with. Fun simple packaging, although to keep it so green and “clamshell free” it’s not easy to clip the two teeny little zipties that hold each cable to the cardboard. But it has fun design and copy ~ complete with “Cable Origami” ideas on the back! And you’d be surprised how nice it is as part fidget toy, part useful cable, and part cell phone holder… check out more pics of them up close on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - cables - gifts - shopping - technology

My iPhone has been clothed in the new Incase Perforated Snap Case the last few days, and i’m loving how incredibly light it is, yet nice matte black feel… and the perforations actually give it a little bit more grippiness! Well, for this feature and giveaway they’ve given us a little more insight into their inspiration as well as how much goes into the tools and manufacturing of these super thin simple solutions to iPhone cases!

Oh, and you get a chance to win the whole trio of Incase Perforated Snap Cases too! There is gloss white, matte black, and matte pink… details and feature all on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - gifts - giveaway - incase - iphone - shopping - technology

Oh how i <3 Rocket World. But most NOTCOT readers should know that by now. Patrick Ma is definitely one of the guys to look up to when it comes to putting your passions first and finding a way to grow an amazing company pulling in all of them as diverse as they may be… from a military background to a love of toys and eye for fashion… add a great design sense, some business savvy, and an impeccable attention for detail… surround with a bunch of great people. And poof Rocket World and TAD Gear! SO i’m thrilled to show off this special photoshoot they’ve done for us to showcase their new jewelry pieces! As modeled by my favorite plushie bear, Titus. (I couldn’t resist, so snuck in a few picks of my Titus at the end of the post to share with you too!) Oh, and they too love you guys enough to want to giveaway some of their gorgeous new pieces…

The giveaway: Sterling Silver Mean T-Skull bead and Pineapple Grenade necklace. Details on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - fashion - gifts - giveaway - holiday - jewelry - shopping - silver

Loving these holiday features, it’s been SO much fun to get a look into the worlds of some of NOTCOT’s favorite brands and designers this year. They’ve been awfully kind to pull together pictures and stories to share with us amidst the crazed holiday season, AND add giveaways too? All of these folks are pretty special to us! Today James over at Hard Graft gives us a visual peek into a Day in the Life of Hard Graft. I want their life! We couldn’t bear to tarnish the amazing pics they sent over with text ~ the pictures certainly speak for themselves, so take a look into their stunning Austrian studio on the next page!

Also ~ today is the debut of their brand new X Sleeve + Add-On Pouch! Isn’t it stunning? Guess what? You can also WIN IT! They have one to giveaway to us!

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Tags: accessories - bag - fashion - gifts - giveaway - holiday - shopping - technology

Happy Cyber Monday! I’m so excited to share this holiday feature with you! Our friends at Bittersweets NY have sent us an incredible look inside their studio, sharing not only a peek at their space, but also the making of their latest diamond rings inspired by nature - resembling twigs holding the diamond! From sketches to final product, it’s fascinating to see how it comes to be. AND, on top of that, they have been generous enough to offer one of their 14K Gold Diamond Twig Bands for a giveaway as well! See the story on the next page as well as details on the giveaway!

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Tags: accessories - fashion - gifts - giveaway - gold - holiday - jewelry - shopping

Joby Gorilla Mobile for iPhone 3G/S ~ perfect for those who want the versatility of both a simple black matte/rubbery case and the ability to mount their phone just about anywhere for any reason... whether that is on the steering wheel of your car (look! handsfree!), the handlebars of your bike, wrapped around a pole, or perched on the table as a tripod... or in my case, i wrapped it around the nearby bottle of scotch as a tripod. As you can see on the next page, the packaging for this one got far more apple styled with the matte white box ~ and i do love that the signature ball jointed gorillapod legs are ALL black this time! Take a peek at all the details on the next page...

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Tags: accessories - camera - gifts - iphone - shopping - technology

These Vacu Vin Party People Glass Markers were first as NOTCOT.org #20816 ~ and when i ran into them in Stockholm, they were even cuter in person! So i had to buy some to play with! They are so adorably tiny with their little suction cups and fun packaging! So next time, instead of sharpie markers to a solo cup, or wine tags, or stickers, here's a new option! Let your guests pick which adorable little gummy looking character they want to channel... they all even have names! (see pics on the next page!)

p.s.
Apparently there are also Creepy Creatures and a Christmas Crowd available! (just noticed they are available on amazon)

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Tags: accessories - drinks - gifts - liqurious - shopping - stockholm - wine

Tattoo Socks! Tel Aviv designer, Gaby, makes tattoo socks which first turned up as NotCouture #5165 in its octopus incarnation (which i love!), but when i looked at the rest of her designs, the Twitter referencing "Follow Me" with birdie needed more sharing... taking twitter back out from digital to real world to really play with the idea of following... sure, people do tshirts and necklaces, but come on... its more likely a guy will literally follow you to ask you for your twitter handle as you saunter past in a short tight black dress and these sheer knee high tattoo socks... although i do wonder, would it be better to custom print your twitter handle on the other leg? Let people physically follow you and then start digitally following you without even really meeting in person face to face? Much food for thought, so many possibilities, definitely a cute idea... see more pics on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - fashion - gifts - shopping - twitter

NOTCOT Exclusive!!! From our awesome friends at Hard Graft ~ they have been kind enough to share it with us first! Check out their latest bag, the 3Fold! It can play portfolio case, laptop case, AND overnighter... ready for the juicy details? (I'm loving this new one! So tempted by it!)

"3FOLD multi-use leather laptop bag - Three bags in one - the 3FOLD is a slim LAPTOP BAG, a sizable A2 PORTFOLIO BAG and a spacious OVERNIGHTER. Just switch to the configuration you need, this bag is as flexible as your lifestyle demands. The function of this bag speaks volumes. Clever hooks (traditionally used for heavy duty hiking boots) make varying between the different styles possible. The 3FOLD is handmade from a bespoke vegetable tanned Italian leather which is dyed through and hand finished in grey with a hint of teal. This is juxtaposed with a chestnut brown leather shoulder strap which can be used in all three configurations. The leathers are coloured with natural dyes which enhance the look over time and use. Each limited edition 3FOLD is individually numbered and carefully assembled by a family of leather artisans in the rolling hills of Tuscany, Italy."

Take a peek at pics and specs on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - fashion - gifts - laptop - leather - shopping - technology

I have a thing for polycarbonate suitcases... something about that sleek pod of light perfectly packedness that gets scuffed up so nicely... while i have my carry-on silver hideo wakamatsu and a check-in black zero halliburton polycarb... i'm still totally lusting over this Mandarina Duck DROP! (Despite the overly flashy website that i just sat and screenshotted far too much of to share with you and spare you the experience) It still remains to be seen what the interior breakdown and details are like (and packaging?) but the exterior is looking quite sleek... and some of the sayings on their pics are worth a giggle ("design victim"... wouldn't it be nicer to say "design indulgences" or something more positive?)... take a peek at some details and screenshots on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - fashion - gifts - shopping - travel

Freshly launched today ~ Incase's latest incarnation of their classic iPhone Slider cases ~ Monochrome Slider Cases ~ this time with glossy tops and soft touch bottoms... while at first i wasn't sure if the color palette was for me (the colors do have fun names like celery green)... when they sent samples over, the PACKAGING just blew my mind. again. as usual. I don't know, those Incase guys are pretty much my favorite packaging folks out there these days. This time it is a clear/black matte plastic sleeve with a molded black cardboard tray that slips into it, but due to the molding won't slip all the way though... And the way the contours of the white plastic liner really highlight the case so nicely! Also, the super simple subtle little S stand is awesome ~ holding up your iphone for perfect desk viewing both horizontally and vertically. Anyhow, enough with the text ~ just go see the pics on the next page already!

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Tags: accessories - gifts - iphone - packaging - reviews - shopping - technology - unboxing

Does this laptop sleeve not scream NotCouture to you? I was so excited when i saw it! Incase teamed up with Honeyee and japanese uniform experiment.... to create this beautifully simple monochromatic uniform experiment sleeve... and you regulars definitely know how we love our safety pins over at NotCouture ~ especially clean vectorized ones! Honestly, i only wish they took it a little too far and made the zipper pulls safety pins with the majority of it dipped in clear rubber, so it looked like you had safety pin pulls! Or at least safety pin graphic on the pull? Also... love that it is lined with the awesome feeling, yet distracting named "faux fur" ~ which really feels far better than it sounds. Take a look at more pics on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - gifts - incase - laptop - shopping

It's not often shower head innovations catch my eye recently ~ but the latest Flipside from Kohler is definitely an interesting shift from the "Handshowers" (ok, i had no idea that was a term till i was reading the press release, but thinking about it, i dont know what i'd normally call it?) where you normally turn the ring on the showerhead to switch between different settings... and the water always comes from the same sprayface. In the case of the Flipside, there are 4 different sprayfaces, and each mode has a K name (Kohler does love their Ks):
• KOVERAGE - for a traditional, everyday shower with maximum water coverage that is perfect for the morning shower routine (green)
• KOTTON - streams a layer of dense, soft, enveloping downpour of relaxation that caresses your skin (yellow)
• KOMOTION - a drenching spray that delivers an exhilarating, circular pattern to refresh the senses after a tightly-wound day (pink)
• KURRENT - provides a focused and invigorating massage spray to target tired or aching muscles (blue)

See more pictures and more info on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - bathroom - gifts - home - shopping - shower

Goodmorning Technology in Copenhagen just sent over this cute concept ~ Handelbar Basket! From the press release:

"The bike porter is made of tubes and is as easy to put on your bike as a normal handlebar. We have developed a whole range in many colors and with integrated designed bags if you wish! The patent is filled out the and all intellectual property belongs to Goodmorning Technology. The bike porter is perfect for fixies and other street bikes. The basket will from now one never be stolen, fasten destroyed and the designed bags are easy to fill up in the shops and take along. You can also use your own bag, laptop or whatever you need! We have showed it before with the New York City bike, but this is first time as a single product without the bike, and we are very proud to present it to you!"

Awesome idea ~ although how is it carrying it around? See more pics on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - bikes - gifts - shopping

More Jawbones ~ already! And i've barely used my other ones (they live in my car ~ i tend to use speakerphone as my handsfree when driving alone...) I must say the starburst color palette is pretty fun, particularly the photography they with this new Ear Candy line ~ there is also the new Prime line, which is the usual black, silver, bronzey palette as well... So for what's new and more pics ~ check out the next page!

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Tags: accessories - fashion - gifts - phone - shopping - technology

Finding a nice laptop sleeve or bag has usually been no easy feat (granted, i'm extremely picky too!) ~ and there has certainly been a major trend towards designers making more and more gorgeous accessories as these devices have become core aspects of our everyday... but i must admit i'm a bit blown away to find Tumi, Mandarina Duck, Acme Made, Timbuk2, Built NY, Kenneth Cole, and more at DELL... and to have them have some really sweet exclusive
Designed For Dell products just kind of floored me tonight. How long has this been going on? Why didn't anyone tell me? Is it bad i feel weird to have Dell becoming a possible go to for slick bags? And even worse, because of some of these bags i'm getting more and more tempted to indulge in a little necessary black netbook as a new toy? (Justification? Ummm... cross browser checking machine?)

I think its safe to safe that Dell has definitely embraced the "lifestyle" of mobile computing with all of this. And honestly, all these exclusive accessories are just making my late night shopaholic come out in full force wanting not only accessories, but perfectly sized laptops to stick in them as well. And as much as my hardware may say i love apple, Dell just earned major points in my book with these offerings. See my selection of the best of the Designed For Dell collection on the next page ~

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Tags: accessories - belkin - fashion - gifts - laptop - netbooks - shopping - technology

Mmmmmm carbon fiber. But have you ever seen it COMPRESSED? into a block... and them formed into a watch body? Sure the Monocle products were fun, but when introduced to Robert of Bell & Ross, and this beautiful BR 01-92 Carbon Fiber watch (available Nov 2009) ~ i was mesmerized. And ironically he claimed that there isn't enough interest from the female demo for carbon fiber (so, no smaller sized carbon fiber beauties for us)!!! Yet Julie of LAist and i couldn't take our eyes (and fingers) off this watch! The details are gorgeous, perhaps even more so in person than in these pictures... but i blame the flowing champagne and my attempt to shoot pictures while carrying on a conversation... It was also cute that amongst the impromptu pitches he gave me, he started showing me pictures of watched and displays on his iphone too... see more images on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - fashion - gifts - jewelry - shopping - watch

Oliver Peoples collaborated with Zooey Deschanel on her "Zooey" sunglasses ~ while i'd been hearing this around the fashion blogs ~ i missed that they also created a special napkin looking cleaning cloth!!! I'm a sucker for the details, but i totally want one of those ~ and love the playful nature of it! More pics on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - fashion - gifts - glasses - shopping

Here's what's been popular at NotCouture this week!

Tags: accessories - fashion - roundup

Latest from Form Us With Love: Boat Life, Seafood collection for Sagaform inspired by the Swedish archipelago summer life. Isn't it just so adorable and happy? I can just imagine building up a scene on the dining table with the set... big blue table runner or placemats for water, salad in the paper boat dishes... salt and pepper shakers bobbing along.... lighthouse carafe on the shore? Too cute ~ see the larger pics on the next page!

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Tags: accessories - boats - food - gifts - home - shopping

Ooooh, pity these weren't available for Valentine's Day ~ they would have been the perfect gift for SO many Artecnica/Tord Boontje lovers! Freshly launching from Artecnica is this beautiful line of charms, aptly named, Charming, designed by Studio Tord Boontje. They are available in 24K gold plated and silver plated finishes, and they are mini wearable versions of those iconic Boontje flora and fauna woodsy motifs ~ my favorites are package 1... and 2... and 3??? So hard to choose! See all the packages on the next page ~ the birds, bunnies, deers, flowers and more are too cute!

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Tags: accessories - fashion - gifts - jewelry - shopping