Janet Fichtner conceptualized her jlouise handbags for those who do not always feel so inclined to merely follow the pack. Her creative impulse is derived from post-corporate days working in her husband’s diesel performance shop, so her designs evoke a mix of corporate class with Harley girl edge. Each of the automotive-inspired bags has its own make, model, year, body style, VIN and “greasy” thumbprint signature.

For purchase, visit the Customer Service link at jlouise.net.

Try to break free of your teen angst and project an image of being fashion forward – trendy, even – without turning to the kids for coolness. You can still go with the uber-flat sole look and effortless chic without sporting the same Chucks you wore twenty years ago.  We know they’re like a security blanket for you. But, turn off The Smiths and take down the Charlie’s Angels poster hanging over your bed. It is time to make a bigger statement, one of effortless Saturday style with a streak of independent thought. It is time to reclaim your own coolness without retreating back to what was comfy when you were thirteen.

Try Robin’s Jean sneakers. For her, these metallic leather Cleopatras with zipper detailing scream “edge” without angst yet subtly offer the traditional styling of your schoolday faves:

For him, Robin’s Jean offers the Maddox style in a variety of colors, including white, black and gold, burgundy, and silver:

Sold at Kitson LA, Fred Segal Santa Monica, Atrium NY, Lulu Miami, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales, you won’t have to sneak into Forever 21 to find them. For more information visit www.RobinsJeanFootwear.com.

Speaking of libations, one must certainly recognize the ever-approaching St. Patrick’s Day. Only about a month away, this holiday of green is a time to wear your heritage on your sleeve – er, on your neck – or to simply recognize the stellar contribution of the wee leprechauns you work with in a tribute of green and shamrocks. Of course, the statement could be just that the 17th of March is a good day to get your drink on with buddies who generally wimp out to go home to the wives. Wear it with Irish pride and just maybe you’ll get lucky:

You have heard some rumblings that the woman you’ve been flirting with is a maneater. She chews ‘em up and spits ‘em out. Were her last two husbands really laid to rest in the cemetery down the street? Hmm. A dilemma. Tell your brain cells to shut up and get on with your business. Just go safely into that web so craftily woven, and show the Black Widow who’s boss by confidently displaying your own inner spider. You’re a Spiderman. You can do it like nobody can, and here’s a little skinny silk woven just to prove it:

Cock-a-doodle-freakin’-do. No reason to crow loudly. It just is what it is. Need we say more?

These great zoo and holiday-inspired silks are all available at The Tie Bar (thetiebar.com), one bar that won’t leave you with a massive hangover or beer belly. As they all cost between $15 and $20, you can also easily replenish your wardrobe as you forget where you left one (or when you remember and are just too skittish to go back and claim it).

In the Red | For Him

EBERHARD & Co – Tazio Nuvolari Edition Limitée Grand Prix en Or

Vintage dashboards, the roar of engines and supple leather seats all come to mind when gazing upon this legendary racing driver Tazio Nuvolari-inspired watch by Eberhard & Co. Limited to only 123 pieces, this is both a collector’s item and fashion investment which will endure through the ages as much as any classic automobile. This beauty’s features list are as aesthetically pleasing as your dream hot rod: black gold-plated black dial, circular-grained flange, ceramic bezel with tachometer scale, large counters, and that gorgeously stitched black alligator wristband.

Blue Mood | For Her

FRANC VILA – FV28 Jumping Hours Ivy Edition

Franc Vila ushers femininity into its brand for the first time through this beautifully blue timepiece featuring an ivy adorned dial set with eight sapphires, a jumping hour window and small seconds at 6 o’clock. The DieHard Extreme steel case is set with 387 pure diamonds for a total carat weight of 2.45, as well as two deep blue sapphires. The wristband is blue alligator. Only 88 pieces are available, so seeing one accenting another lady’s wrist is less likely than a blue moon.

Yellow, Not for Cowards | For Him

ERNEST BOREL – Série Rocky II

If your personality is bold, vibrant and self-assured, you need a bold timepiece to match. This Ernest Borel Serie Rocky II is so aptly named for the most masculine of wearers, although the colors evoke a little “sting like a bee,” too. A satin finished stainless steel case accents the goldenrod dial with retrograde days at 12 o’clock and small seconds and date windows at 6 o’clock. When you are in romance mode and it is time to retreat to the boudoir, your mate will be so dazzled by the flash of red from the band underside that she may be hypnotized into thinking this timepiece is actually an extension of your manly, beating heart.

Sail Into the Orange | For Him

HERMES – Clipper 44 mm Mechanical Chronograph

Hermes’ latest of the Clipper collection continues to evoke all that is sexy about sailing, with a dash of cayenne orange to spice up the seas. Just as titanium performs well without heavy weight upon a sailing ship, the 44mm titanium case performs lightly upon your wrist, where the rubber wristband holds it securely and stylishly in place.

Pink Dream | For Her

BERTOLUCCI – Serena Garbo Valentina

Bertolucci’s sweet pink Serena Garbo Valentina is meant to evoke the casual chic of the Mediterranean seaside with a certain youthful zeal and curvy sexiness as often portrayed by the Latin ladies for which it is named. Pink sapphires adorn a loose heart on the dial surrounded by a polished steel bezel set with 36 diamonds. The pink varnished and saddle-stitched calf strap further enhance the wearer’s sensuality in playful yet classic elegance.

Dynamite Red | For Her

HUBLOT – Big Bang

A lively crimson dial and steel bezel adorned with 126 diamonds make a bold yet feminine statement of passion, love, and romance not for the weak of heart. There is always something special about a lady in red and this timepiece presents its case toward continuance of that theory. The wearer is confident and whimsical, presenting her own sparkling style in unison with the clean lines of the white ceramic, rubber, and titanium accents elegantly encased for maximum impact.

For your “very fashionable” parties, the Lacroix bottle is simply a must and is still available through Evian. At $118 for a case of 12 (750ml) bottles, your tables will be prettily adorned and guests happily treated to refreshment that is refined, calorie-free, and pairs well with your fine crystal.

From 2009 is the Jean Paul Gaultier bottle. It is also quite sexy:

Finally, our fave is the newly announced 2010 Paul Smith bottle:

Available for a limited time at Evian.

Photographs By Daniel Mezick

In Medellin, Columbia, a raven-haired girl was raised amongst sewing machines, fabrics, trims and workers who toiled to produce quality garments. Somewhere amongst those tools, supplies and people of her family’s business, young Claudia Ochoa absorbed the love of design and undying ambition to take over the world fashion market, one pair of lace panties at a time. After graduating from Columbia’s foremost design school and working for ready-to-wear fashion houses in her native country, Claudia moved to New York City in 1999.

By 2003 Claudia’s CLO was launched, with the interest of producing feminine, flattering lingerie influenced by the sophisticated modernity of the New York woman, but maintaining the passion, color and sensuality of her South American roots.

Considering that many lingerie lines are seemingly designed for the enticement of the viewer, versus the comfort or confidence of the wearer, CLO is conceptualized and constructed to enhance the beauty of the woman under the garment. By creating fashions that appeal to the lady in the lingerie, Claudia has perfected the art of designing pieces that successfully heighten a woman’s sex appeal through the building of natural confidence one feels as CLO fabric softly hugs each curve and accentuates femininity.

The benefactor of this confidence is not only the wearer herself, but those who look upon her, absorbing and  innately responding to sexuality exuded. In essence, CLO lingerie is designed for the woman. Men simply reap the benefits.

As Claudia says, “Lingerie companies think they know what men want. But, men often are interested in something more subtle,” less hard-core. “If the design is more for the man, lingerie feeds a woman’s insecurity and the man will see that. As women, I don’t think we want just fantasy. We want to come back to ourselves truly, to wear things that make us feel good, confident and successful. You give the guy more, when you design for the girl.”

Click on images to see enlarged photos, as well as fashion details.

Photographer: Daniel Mezick Creative Director: Kimberly Toms Model: Rebecca Fox Hair/Makeup: Marnee Simon

iWhite takes at-home teeth whitening to a whole new psychedelic level with its neon blue Electroluminescent energy and light. This patented system includes a lighted mouth tray and disposable whitening gel foam strips.

With the touch of a button, the blue light on the mouth tray activates the gel foam strips, to deliver the fastest and most effective results possible (unlike other take-home products that rely solely on hydrogen peroxide and tooth contact time). Clinical tests show little or zero sensitivity. iWhite is used for just 20 minutes per day for five days in a row. As only five days are required for your brighter smile, this system makes flashing your pearly whites in the moonlight a quicker possibility, and without the bad aftertaste of disposable strips!

Retails for $45 at varied drugstores and Drugstore.com. For more details, go to iWhitesmile.com.

Since 1887 in Portugal, Claus Porto has been creating and crafting luxuriously lathering, wonderfully scented soaps for the priviliged few. These soaps, consisting of 100% natural, vegetable-based ingredients, are exclusive to Red Envelope and packaged in a set of three, including honeysuckle, red poppy, and Bulgarian rose and blackberry.

Available at redenvelope.com for $30.

Every part of this Horchow Collection “Fill Me With Love” gift box cake is delightfully edible, including the red chocolate roses, gold-edged and satin-finished white chocolate ribbon, lid of Belgian white chocolate with dark chocolate scrollwork, and the box base of white- and bittersweet chocolate cheesecake with raspberry swirls on a chocolate and macadamia nut crust.

$124 at horchow.com.

Layers of chocolate decadence cake, caramel toffee buttercream and silky chocolate buttercream make this beautiful zebra-striped handbag more than a fashionable accessory! This completely edible Horchow cake is available at horchow.com, for $220.

Needing a spritz on the beach or while under the hot, hot sun? Don’t just spray water, make the mist count and enjoy a new beauty treatment for hair and skin.

iTech introduces the “e” energy water system; a specially designed spray bottle that features an all-natural filtration system. It quickly and easily converts regular tap water into a hair and skin-friendly mist charged with healing negative hydrogen ions and vitamin C, at the prime pH balance for optimum fighting of frizz, maximum shine, damage repair and color retention for your mane, and softening, toning, clarification, and refreshment of skin, all the while protecting both from microorganisms, wind, and pollutants.

The scent is relaxing and scrumptiously woodsy (suitable for either sex), and the bottles come in three sizes – including one for the bathroom, one for the beach tote, and one for your cutest little handbag or the saddle bag on your Harley.

Retails for $40 to $60. eenergywater.com.