Fashion

Hug Me Coat wraps its sad, warm arms around you

We've seen some unusual fashion statements around here before. There's a Wampa-skin dress and a jacket that collects rain, for example, but neither is quite as unusual or strangely unsettling as the Hug Me Coat.

The Hug Me Coat comes from Si Leong Chan, a London College of Fashion student. It's a bright green puffer coat with a row of hands with intertwined fingers running down the front. It gives the illusion of many martian arms grasping the model's torso.… Read more

The 404 1,127: Where we eat our utility bill (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Google Glass makes catwalk debut at New York Fashion Week.

- The Fifth Element inspired: Remote-controlled roaches to the rescue.

- Odd "digital rituals" we perform to make technology serve us.

- Will putting a car remote under your chin increase its range?

Bathroom break video: Pong traffic light in Germany.

Video voice mail: Matt is now the ultimate trucker.

Episode 1,127 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video

Toys 'R' Us takes on tablets with Tabeo

This Monday tech news roundup doesn't want to grow up:

Toys "R" Us has created it's own tablet designed for kids, called Tabeo. It goes on sale in stores Oct. 21 for $150, but the store is now taking preorders online. This kid-safe tablet comes with 50 apps pre-installed for games, education, reading -- even apps for cooking and editing photos. And there's 7,000 more apps available in an app store. It comes with 4GB of memory, but is expandable with a memory card slot. And Toys 'R' Us won't be sharing this … Read more

Mars panoramic skirt: Wrap a rover around your waist

I have a space dream. I've been invited to the NASA prom by Mohawk Guy. He's going to pick me up in the Mars Curiosity rover. What on earth am I going to wear? I'd better head over to Etsy and order a Mars panoramic skirt.

Etsy seller Go Chase Rabbits has a huge line of geek chic skirts, but the Mars rover panoramic is especially impressive. … Read more

Geek bras proliferate in Etsy undergarment fashion explosion

The Angry Birds bra came to our attention last year. Little did we suspect at the time it was just the tip of the undergarment iceberg in an upcoming flood of geek-themed bras.

If "Star Trek" is more your thing, then you can get a blue sciences division bra complete with insignia in vaguely the right location. Other options include a Portal bra and a nod to every 12-year-old boy's favorite calculator joke, "BOOBIES" done up in numeric style.… Read more

Wear a Wampa skin: 'Star Wars' outfits for the ladies

Some people watch the Wampa cave scene from "Star Wars" and think, "Look out! Wampa attack!" Others watch it and think, "I could make a dress out of that!"

Nerd Alert Designs falls into the latter camp. The geeky Etsy store is full of custom dresses with "Star Wars" themes.

One of the most impressive of the lot is the $130 Wampa dress crafted of fake white fur with a bomber-style horned hat and clawed boot covers. A little touch of blood on the chest really makes it pop.… Read more

Internet-connected LED T-shirt lets you flash the world

T-shirts have long been used to express opinions, assert individuality, and spread messages. The tshirtOS prototype is trying to become the first commercially available programmable, Internet-connected digital T-shirt.

The shirt is a joint venture between high-tech fashion company CuteCircuit and Scotch whisky maker Ballantine's. I'm not entirely sure what a high-tech T-shirt has to do with a venerable Scottish alcoholic beverage, but I'm sure there's a marketing tie-in here somewhere.… Read more

Chewbecca bag replica holds all your Wookiee stuff

Move over Paris. Kashyyyk (aka Wookiee Planet C, G50623, or Edean) is now home to a booming galactic fashion accessory business.

The Chewbacca Messenger Bag is a semi-faithful replica of the bag sported by fuzzy Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" series. The strap looks like a flat version of the one Chewbacca wore. There's a subtle embossed "Star Wars" logo on the front. … Read more

Super Mario high heels: These shoes were made for leveling up

Etsy has turned into quite the geek-craft haven. Case in point: you can pick up a pair of custom hand-painted Super Mario high-heel shoes.

The $115 paint job from Etsy seller magicbeanbuyer doesn't actually include the shoes. You'll have to send along a pair of your choosing to have the design applied. There is one pair of ready-to-go peep-toe heels available in size 8.5 for $142 if you can't wait.… Read more

Constrvct: Digital textile printing makes anyone a fashion star

With a new season of "Project Runway" under way, many viewers are daydreaming about becoming fashion designers. If the Constrvct (the "v" is intentional) Kickstarter project gets off the ground, you won't have to just daydream anymore.

Constrvct combines photography, individually made garments, crowdsourcing, and a whole lot of fashion sense into a project that will turn out unique clothing designed by contributors, rather then predetermined by the company.… Read more