by Erika Dykstra
For centuries the skull and crossbones symbolized impending death as the universal sign for poison, and impending doom as the menacing emblem on a pirate flag. But lately, the ordinarily ominous icon is cropping up in the most unusual places, and looking, well, just plain cute. It's kind of like the Kaitlin Cooper phenomenon ... trouble follows this bad girl everywhere she roams, yet on the outside, she's simply adorable.
From cozy hoodies to crystal necklaces, the skull and crossbones are upping the cute quotient from coast to coast. Here's a sneak peek at the looks we love.
Paul Frank Gives Us Skurvy
Nothing takes the edge off an intimidating skull and crossbones faster than the whimsical stylings of Paul Frank. Renowned for his bold color palates and endearing cast of cartoon characters-including Julius the monkey and Clancy the giraffe-Paul Frank epitomizes cute with his fanciful line of men's and women's T-shirts, pjs, slippers, sweats and more. But these days we're looking to cuddle up in anything adorned with Skurvy, Paul Frank's adorable skull and crossbones character.
Bejeweled by Tarina Tarantino
From Mischa Barton and Kelly Clarkson, to Paris Hilton and Gwen Stefani, Tarina Tarantino's sparkling and sometimes quirky jewelry designs are a staple among the red carpet set. Celebrated for her high-end Hello Kitty designs, Tarina Tarantino's colorful, crystal skull and crossbones designs could be her next big thing.
Kicks from Rocketdog
Street-sensible, surfer styled footwear sped this SoCal based footwear line to international notoriety. And Rocketdog stays true to its roots with a Vans-inspired, canvas slip-on. Paying homage to the black-and-white checkerboard Vans made famous in the ‘80s by stoner-surf bum Jeff Spicoli ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High") this black and white skull and crossbones adds hints of pink piping to secure its spot on the cute list. |
