Fashion

My real-life mailbox still gets jammed full of catalogs. There's always a spark of excitement when opening up the covers, but paper catalogs are disappointingly un-interactive. No matter how hard I poke at the pretty pictures with my fingers, nothing happens.

Google is riding to the rescue with the new Google Catalogs app for tablets. It's exactly what is sounds like--a collection of catalogs from major retailers like Anthropologie, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and Sephora.

Google Catalogs' competition is paper catalogs and retailer Web sites. It one-ups them both by throwing in the ability to search across all catalogs, touch a picture to get product details, save favorite items, and get notifications when a new catalog comes out.

A collage feature lets you pull together your favorite fashions, jewelry, or kitchen utensils in one place. It takes a lot less time and effort than attacking your real catalogs with scissors and glue. You can also share your collages with friends to show off your impeccable--or bizarre--fashion sense.… Read more

At CNET, the overall scores on our HDTV reviews are calculated based on three subratings: Design, Features, and Performance. To the chagrin of black-level and color-obsessed videophiles, we place a fair amount of weight (30 percent) on Design because, frankly, normal people do care what their TVs look like when turned off.

If you care a lot, then this list is for you. It contains the six best-designed 2011 HDTVs we've reviewed; Performance and Features be damned. In the case of a numeric tie in Design we've ranked the better design higher.

The clear winners so far in … Read more

No one ever accused Bill Gates of being a fashion plate, but the company he founded may be developing a new reputation for haute couture.

The Printing Dress is the creation of Asta Roseway from Microsoft Research and Sheridan Martin Small from the company's Xbox division. It's an exploration of wearable technology that also doubles as something you might actually look good wearing. Imagine that.

The material is black and white rice paper, but this is no origami project. Laser-cut buttons that look like old typewriter keys are sewn into the dress. A laptop, four circuit boards, and a projector round out the technology.

The Printing Dress is designed to project what you're putting out on the Internet. Tweets become fashion statements as words flit across the skirt. This sort of wearable technology is not recommended for members of Congress with itchy Twitter fingers. … Read more

In the grand tradition of Crave stories about brassieres, we bring you the Angry Birds bra. There isn't much more to say about this one, except...it's an Angry Birds bra!

As you'll note from the picture, a red bird adorns one cup and a green pig covers the other--and hopefully they don't go at it too much or things could get a bit uncomfortable for the wearer. The bra comes in a range of levels sizes, and despite being handpainted, it's washable.

Crafts site Etsy lists the $35 garment as sold as of today, but the maker, Etsy member SceeneShoes, takes orders for custom-painted goods. So, all you Angry Birds fans in need of an uplift, you can get one too.

SceeneShoes' other creations include adorable Mario and Luigi and Sonic and Tails shoes, so we're betting she can finagle just about any manner of geek undergarment. WoW lingerie anyone? … Read more

Which would you rather have protecting your iPhone: a boring black shell, or a beautiful color photo of your kids, dog, significant other, etc.?

Uncommon turns any uploaded photo into an attractive, durable case for your iPhone or iPod Touch. (Custom cases for iPads are coming soon.)

The service offers four case options for the iPhone 4 and one each for the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch (third- and fourth-gen). Most are priced at $34.95, though the Capsule model for iPhone 4 and 3GS runs $39.95.

I ordered the $34.95 Deflector for iPhone 4, an ultraslim wraparound … Read more

What happens when you walk by someone who has four Apple tablets for a head? You probably stop and stare, and maybe even attempt to press the home button to see if she'll react.

Meet the "iPad Head Girl," who wears a four-sided iPad helmet while walking around New York City. We'll let the video do the rest of the talking: … Read more

Unable to visit the ice world of Hoth in the Outer Rim Territories? Check out these Wampa-inspired shoes by Adidas Originals.

During the first few scenes of "The Empire Strikes Back," Luke Skywalker checks out an asteroid, but gets more than he bargains for after an 8-foot-tall Wampa slaps him across the face.

After gaining consciousness in the ice creature's lair, Luke uses the Force to regain his lost lightsaber and pulls a Ponda Baba on the Wampa's arm. Now you can sport some fresh kicks representing the albino monster, which will surely be a hit with the ladies.

Adidas describes the shoes--officially known as Campus 80s Wampa--as made with horsehair, with contrast red stitching, a Wampa tongue badge, and a laser cut Wampa logo. So fly.

The shoes aren't on sale yet on the official Adidas Originals Web site, but they should appear there soon. Other notable pieces in the Adidas Star Wars Fall/Winter 2011 collection include the Hoth shoes, Forum Low RS AT-AT shoes, and other hideous but incredible items.

(Via Sneaker Freaker and My Wampa) … Read more

When your swimsuit goes out of style, you may tuck it away in the closet, toss it in the trash, or donate it to Goodwill. Or, if you have one of designer Linda Loudermilk's new compostable swimsuits, you could just bury it in the garden.

The eco-conscious swimsuits debuted at the Haute Natured sustainable-swimwear show during Fashion Week in Miami this month. The show featured swimming outfits from various designers made from repurposed parachutes, recycled plastic bottles, and wood pulp.

Loudermilk's swimwear is made from plant starch. "Not only can we produce sex appeal from compostable materials, but also classic suits in all sizes in affordable volume with Luxury Eco style," Loudermilk said about her collection.

It can take up to 180 days for the bikinis to break down, once buried underground. That means you should have no fears about your suit melting away into the pool in the middle of a refreshing swim.

Finally, someone is creating swimwear with both bikini models and little old lady gardeners in mind.… Read more

Seems like gloves that manipulate music are this month's must-have fashion accessory. The Imaginary Marching Band consists of several pairs of open-source gloves that let you create music as though you were playing actual instruments. … Read more