StyleSpy with Katrina Szish

This 12 oz. ceramic Baleen whale teapot has a happy Jonathan Adler vibe with an even happier price tag.  I actually found the very same teapot on three different websites with prices ranging from $28-$40!  Score the $28 version at Stash Tea. 



The little brown whale is even cuter in person...Mine is permanently displayed on my living room bookshelf.

Check out more home decor ideas -- and celeb favorites -- right here on InStyle.com.

I have never been to Alaska, but if all the shoes there look like this, I'm moving.  Ok, not really.  BUT, I did just add these Jimmy Choo "Alaska" sandals to my collection, and I generally don't even like low-heeled shoes.  The siren song of the iridescent green wedge heel and the contrasting wrap-around straps seduced me like a lonely sailor.  Or at least like a girl who loves shoes.

$545 at select Jimmy Choo boutiques

I have been spying tons of elephants lately (not real ones, that would be scary), particularly in the world of home design.

There are re-issued classics...

Eames miniature plywood elephant by Vitra, $185 at Accurato.com

George Nelson Elihu the Elephant Zootimer Clock, $130 at Nova68.com

Alexander Calder 3D Elephant Puzzle, $69.99 at Nova68.com

There are modern interpretations...

Siecle champagne flute, $195 at Vivre

Smythson Correspondence Cards, $90 for ten at Smythson

Elephant bedding (cotton percale or flannel) from $19 at The Company Store

And, of course, there are elephants you can wear...

Roberto Cavalli bracelet, $700 at Vivre

Tory Burch Bailey top, $275 at ToryBurch.com

Even celebrities are embracing the elephant...

Hilary Duff image courtesy of Kenneth Jay Lane

Kenneth Jay Lane bangle, $140 at Saks Fifth Avenue

But why now?  Is it simply an offshoot of Spring's global/tribal fashion trend?

Perhaps a viral marketing campaign launched by some young, hip GOP strategist? 

Or has everyone simply had it with pigs?  As in, forget the piggy bank...I want an elephant bank!

Jonathan Adler bank (also in black, baby blue and white), $68
(Donkey version also available.  That Jonathan Adler is so PC.)

If you don't want to save your pennies in a ceramic elephant, you can put your pennies towards saving a real elephant.   Like Eleanor here, orphaned in Kenya when she was 18 months old.

Visit SheldrickWildlifeTrust.org for details.

Perhaps "herd mentality" isn't such a bad thing...

...and I'm not talking about those coveted statuettes, although they do have a nice heft to them...

Outside the Kodak Theater, 2007
 

Rather, this gold rush is for the latest and greatest in tricked-out technology from Computer Choppers.  The Linn, Oregon company may be far from Tinseltown, but their 24-karat gold gadgets undoubtedly have star quality. 

Send them your laptop, I-pod, I-phone or any other gizmo in need of the Midas touch, and they will literally turn it into gold.

Want some sparkle with that?  No problem.  Computer-Choppers.com can create custom diamond or cubic zirconia logos for the top of the laptop.  The average price for a new plated MacBook Pro is $8,500 and can jump up to $20,000 depending on customization. 

In keeping with the metallic trend, all that glitters is more than gold.  Their shiny stuff comes in a variety of hues; choose from 24kt gold (yellow or white), platinum (coming in this Spring) or a range of shades in between.

...and a slew of squid!  My weakness for cephalopods has increased with the onset of the New Year, and the fact that designers are on the same wavelength makes me want to celebrate (eight times!).

Mr. Husband bought me the Kenneth Jay Lane ring I've been coveting for months (woo-hoo!) for Christmas.

At Vivre.com
 

Family friends -- having no inkling about our penchant for such creatures -- gifted Mr. Husband with emblazoned porcelain cufflinks from Etsy.com.  Note:  Etsy.com has loads of cephalopod-inspired items...just do a word search and you'll be browsing for hours.

I even gave our dog Wilhelmina a stuffed octopus (don't get skeeved out, it was plush).  She now has five in her collection.  This fluffy one comes in the hottest colors of the season: bright pink, turquoise, lavender and lime green ($14 at TheVelvetSnoot.com).

There's lots more out there to add to your (my?!) collection, from the fashionable -- like this Lauren Moshi tank (Liv Tyler and Lindsay Lohan are fans of this cool line launched by siblings Lauren and Michael; Lauren hand draws all the designs)...

This Antonio Palladino ring...

And this Lilly Pulitzer belt...

To the farcical -- This Chinese tissue box holder is currently available on Ebay.

The home decor extension of the trend has more highbrow options, as well.  Wanna pretend your office is underwater?  Voila!  Mermaid heaven in an instant with a larger-than-life wall decal (choose from 15 colors at tonkydesigns.com).

Finally, for those who wish to be more straightforward with their feelings, this poster is available in various sizes at CafePress.com:

Leave it to Vans to make Christmas extra cool.

Not just skulls, but SANTA SKULLS ($50 at Vans.com). Perfect for kicking back and sipping some spiked 'nog.  It's no surprise that Jessica Biel, Ashlee Simpson and Lindsay Lohan trust their chic feet to this classic surfer shoemaker.

MERRY MERRY!

"Lips" iconography is having a resurgence in fashion and home design.

Lips got loudest in mainstream fashion, design and pop-culture in the 1970s.  Gufram of Italy released the mass-produced lip couch -- described by some sources as an homage to Marilyn Monroe, but by most as a reinterpretation of Man Ray's "Mae West" couch -- at the start of the decade. 

Image from ChildrensMuseum.org

At the same time, Yves Saint Laurent created his often-reinterpreted "Hot Lips" print, which Helmut Newton instantly immortalized in 1971 when he shot a model wearing a lip-print blouse on the cover of British mag Nova.

Also in 1970, Robert Altman introduced us to "Hot Lips" O'Houlihan, the pouty-mouthed nurse played by Sally Kellerman in the film M*A*S*H.  (The character was inspired by real-life head nurse "Hot Lips" Hammerly who served in the Korean War).

20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

In 1972, we met "Hot Lips" again, this time on the small screen.  The character was renamed "Hot Lips" Houlihan (sans the "O"), and the role was reprised by Loretta Swit (above) who appeared in 232 episodes over a span of 11 years.

1975 brought The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

It may be 30-plus years later, but you don't have to scour Ebay and vintage stores (or watch re-runs) to get your kitsch-fix.  There are a slew of new treasures you can get right now. 

Find an updated version of the lips couch -- called the Bocca -- at Retromodern.com.

$900 at Retromodern.com

Or, get off the couch and go glam with this snakeskin clutch from Lulu Guinness (also in metallic silver).

About $400 at LuluGuinness.com

You can even go crazy and carry your clutch with this dress from Tuleh (now hear this: matchy-matchy is so wrong it's right, particularly when done with irreverent self-awareness)

Carlo Buscemi/WireImage

Ensure sweet (and sexy) dreams with these pillowcases from Kitson.

$25 at Kitson.com

Get him in on the action with Fornasetti sterling silver "Kiss" cuff links.

$485 at Barneys.com

Kisses can by comfy, like this sweatshirt by artist Tara McPherson for Kid Robot.

$150 at KidRobot.com

Goldfinger is sooo 40 years ago.

Jules Smith Kiss Kiss Necklace, $247 at Shopbop.com

Kiss it and make it better.

Adhesive bandages, $8 at FredFlare.com

New Year's Resolution:  Have your feet kissed every day.

KVD sneakers, $40, available January 1st at Vans.com

Now this is lip service.

Hot Lips phone, $26.60 at CircuitCity.com

And now, the bad news:  Christian Louboutin's limited edition lip wedges at Net-A-Porter are already sold out. 

I'm keeping a stiff upper lip.

ALL I WANT FOR

CHRISTMAS...

IS THIS!!!

Gap has created this limited edition Crazy Stripe 2007 LX50 Vespa, and I simply must have it.

Mr. Husband and I already share a black one, but I've been longing for wheels of my own.  I was thinking bubblegum pink, but I've officially changed my mind.

$5999, custom order

VISIT GAP.COM FOR DETAILS

CHECK OUT MY COMPLETE HOLIDAY WISHLIST AT STYLEHIVE.COM

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, fellow style mavens!

As promised, a snapshot of my Jack-O-Lantern, hand carved by Mr. Husband.
He wanted it to look scary, I wanted it to look cute (guess who won?!).

Anyway, some of you may recall my affinity for all things skull-and-crossbones (you may review HERE and get another look at that Alexander McQueen minaudiere).

In honor of this spooky day, I rounded up some of my current cranium favorites, both silly and spectacular (even on sale!).

1.  Ok, so this is my Halloween treat to myself.  No lie, I just bought a pair three minutes ago.  Run don't walk, they're almost sold out -- 40% off at Net-A-Porter.com ($297 -- frighteningly inexpensive, all things considered)!

Buy now at Net-A-Porter.com

2.  Not scary, Skurvy!  Paul Frank puts the "joy" in joy ride.

Details at PaulFrank.com

3.  Over the top?  No such thing.  This Corum Artisan Classical Vanitas watch features a 42mm diamond case, a diamond bezel, a hand-painted skull design and a black crocodile strap.

Details at Lussori.com

3.  Hip baby alert!  For infants -- from Vans, of course.

From $20 at Vans.com

4.  What would "I" Candy be without candy?!  I live for gummies,
and these macabre confections just kill me.

Package of 45, $6.95, at DeadMenTellNoTales.com

5.  Finally, my all-time favorite accessory is the tattoo inside my left wrist (Mr. Husband has a matching one).  I made mine look extra-creepy in this picture with Photo Shop -- my skin isn't actually yellow, nor does it glow.

From Hardcore Tattoos, 127 Stanton Street, NYC

There's only one thing left to say...

BOO!

So I've determined that the color of the moment is PUNCHY PINKY-PURPLE. 

It all started when I woke up feeling inspired by a silk taffeta dress from designer Julie Haus' Fall collection.  I stopped by her (AMAZING!!!) Spring '08 presentation at Pop Burger two nights ago, so I had Julie and her spectacular palette on the brain.

Image from JulieHaus.com

Then...OMG!...I remembered I already own the Mac Lacquer lipgloss in almost the exact same shade. It's called Veneer. Yep, wearing it now -- not avec dress, of course.  I'm so pleased with it that I've actually been reapplying.

Image from MacCosmetics.com

The hue is not as electric as neon pink, not as rich as magenta. 

On the Pantone color spectrum (of course I looked it up), it seems to be a hybrid of 813 C and 2385 C.

Image from Pantone.com

And, I've discovered that I'm not alone in my pinky-purple haze.

Alexis Bittar handcrafted this lucite cocktail ring...

Image from AlexisBittar.com

Christian Louboutin added a fuschia flourish to his grafitti pumps...

Image from SaksFifthAvenue.com

And check out this Alessi kitchen timer!  This color trend even extends into the world of interiors.

Image from Retromodern.com

Just remember (I keep reminding myself):  As with all good things, moderation is key.