Herrlicht glassesfashionMade entirely from wood-even the screws and hinges are precision-cut from maple or cherry pieces-Herrlicht glasses are like no spectacles you’ve ever seen. The price may blur your vision.$1,160, herrlicht.de
Hulger HandsetscoolHands-free mobile technology gets smaller by the day, to the point that it’s becoming hard to determine if people are on the phone or talking to themselves. Hulger’s wireless handsets, made out of vintage-looking phone receivers, offer an elegant solution. Now you can have the comfort of talking on a real phone, while retaining the mobility of cellular technology. And, if it finally turns out that cell phones cause brain cancer, you’ll be keeping the cellular signals far away from your cranium.From $70, hulger.com Toms ShoesfeetInspired by the utilitarian shoes of Argentine workers, these comfortable canvas slip-ons come in a range of colors and patterns, from camo to pink. If a vibrant new pair of shoes at a great price isn’t enough to grab you, there’s a bonus: every time someone purchases a pair of Toms Shoes, founder Blake Mycoskie donates a pair to a South American child. Now you can easily turn your problematic shoe fetish into something more productive.$38, tomsshoes.com Oooms wooden memory stickscomputersIt’s time to rebel against the brilliant whites and polished silvers of modern technology. Why not bring a little piece of nature into the office? Oooms memory sticks (with capacities up to 1 gigabyte) are encased in wood-a constant reminder that there is a world outside, even if you don’t get to see it very much.$88, Oooms.nl/usbOooms.nl/usb Little ChromasexJimmy Jane applies high-design principles to the surprising original philosophy that sex-and sex toys-should be sexy. The end result is a product that’s as elegant as it is functional: waterproof, virtually silent, and equipped with a replaceable motor if you should, ahem, wear yours out. Now the company’s signature gold-plated vibrator is available with a dash of color and a smaller price tag.$195, jimmyjane.com Bohemian ModernlibraryFor years, Los Angeles architect Barbara Bestor has been designing buildings in Silverlake, an East L.A. neighborhood that is now a hipster haven. The book is a sumptuous overview of the work of Bestor and her contemporaries, and a comprehensive reference for beautiful style:a D.I.Y.-inspired take on modern architecture and design.$22, bestorarchitecture.com Conphorm UM totefashionThis cleverly-designed tote bag is constructed with just one piece of felt (the industrial fabric du jour) attached by a zipper. Unzip it, and it lies flat for storage. Zip it up, and you have a stylish and functional bag. Best of all, buy it from sustainable design store Branch, which plans to give one percent of profits to environmental organizations.From $114, branchhome.com TerraPassenvironmentA quick visit to the TerraPass website allows you to calculate your yearly vehicular carbon emissions, and then buy enough carbon credits to offset every ounce of pollution your car produces. If you’re sick of people giving you the finger as you plow past them in your Hummer, slapping a TerraPass decal on your windshield might deflect some of the ire.From $30, terrapass.com
