Using clever QR technology that allows you to create your own personal barcode, the ScanMe interactive tee turns an outfit into a walking identity card.

ScanMe.com uses personalised QR barcodes to get people in the real world instantly connected online. Your unique ScanMe barcode stores your personal contact information and links others to your social network profiles with one quick scan on a Smartphone. The range of scan-able T-shirt designs from ScanMe incorporate your personalised QR barcode to create a totally individual look, and give your own interactive, digital style.

From as little as £9.95 you can choose an exclusive T-shirt design into which your personal barcode will be artistically incorporated. There are 16 different tee designs to choose from and ScanMe has teamed up with a number of top name graphic artists to design many of the collection.

You can create your own personal QR barcode and get your modern, interactive T-shirt over at ScanMe.com or download the ScanMeBarcode app from the Apple App Store.

As you might guess from the name, ShopStyle is a shopping app. It’s available on the iPad and iPhone and Nikki blogged about it when it first came out. ShopStyle is one of my favourite apps, here’s why…

ShopStyle has access to a great range of different clothing (and shoes! and accessories!) brands from economical basics to designer extravaganza. Starting from A some of the brands available are: Alexander McQueen, Alexander Wang, Agent Provocateur, All Saints, American Apparel – hopefully you get the picture.

The products, diverse in the extreme in terms of price and quality, appear side by side in the app by default, which is slightly surreal. To tailor the view to suit your personality (and budget) you can filter by Brand, Store, Size, Colour, Price, Sale and custom Keywords.

The app is in the classic iPad design and features a short description, price and lovely pictures for each item. The layout, speed of search and quantity of items make this a much nicer experience than using the shops’ own websites.

To purchase an item you are taken to the shops’ own site, meaning you have to set up several accounts and can’t make cross-shop purchases in one go. However, although this is irritating, as an IT professional I understand why they have structured the site this way – they’re reusing the existing stock systems that the shops have already invested in. If ShopStyle had decided to track each store’s inventory directly, this would have taken so much effort for each shop that the app would never have got off the ground.

There is also a small bonus for iPad users, as the current system means that ShopStyle must therefore have checked that the websites work with Safari on iPad (unlike some other big brand sites!).

ShopStyle is an absolute life saver for me and means that I actually have some clothes, when I wouldn’t have time to go shopping otherwise!

If you haven’t tried it, please do give it a go. Even if you don’t buy anything, you can now window shop from the luxury of your own home/iPad/iPhone whatever your gadget of choice is!

www.shopstyle.co.uk

Proporta and world renowned artist Ben Allen have just announced a new collaboration on two stunning hard shell protective cases for the Apple iPhone 4.

The range has been designed to add minimal bulk, but maximum style to your iPhone 4. Super tough and robust, the hard shell case comes in two stylish designs – Skull and Zebra. The British punk movement inspires the ‘Skull’ design whilst the ‘Zebra’ is Allen’s vision of the streets and the wild becoming one. Both are visually arresting, and are printed in high resolution on to super tough Proporta shells protecting against knocks and impact damage, whilst remaining soft and silky to the touch.

Ben Allen’s paintings have been exhibited in venues and galleries internationally as well as being purchased by celebrities including Richard Branson, Stephen Dorff, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, DJ Dan Williams and Jade Jagger.

Available from www.proporta.com priced at £24.95

When my dog takes me out for my evening walk, I like to listen to a bit of music. In the summer, it’s a doddle – iphone in pocket, headphones on, off we go. However, in the cooler months I’m constantly getting frustrated with the warm clothing v headphone cable issue. I’m fairly sure (hopeful?) that I can’t be the only person who struggles daily with ‘self-tangling headphone syndrome’ and when coupled with a warm cardigan or hoody with drawstrings, then it seems I’m just asking for trouble.

But it seems that help may be at hand.

Those ingenious chaps over at www.hoodiebuddie.com have come up with a novel idea that’s both stylish and practical. The HoodieBuddie combines HB3Technology (patent pending) and a hidden headphone jack that will plug into any standard device, such as iPod, iPhone, Mp3 player, radio etc. When the device is attached, you can listen to bangin’ choons, podcasts or the dulcet tones of Cliff Richard (if you really want to), the choice is completely yours. Not sounding too different to stowing your player or phone in your hoodie pouch so far? Well, the genius in this design is this: The headphones are built into the end of the drawstrings. Yes, really. No tangly headphones anymore. Bliss.

So they don’t tangle, they’re always attached to the garment, your device is hidden & best of all – it’s completely machine washable – and you don’t need to detach the headphones either. Brilliant.

The hoodiebuddie comes in a range of different designs and colours for both guys and girls, including Minne Mouse, logos patterns, and a bang on trend iconic Betty White range.  Prices range from $44-$50 (approx £28-32).

For those of us not in the USA, don’t worry, Hoodiebuddie.com will ship internationally; instructions are on their website along with a great offer of 10% off for Facebook friends. I don’t know about you but that’s certainly music to my ears!”

If you want to find out more about our guestblogger you can follow her on twitter @kittencaboodle

Long gone are the days when technology was considered purely functional, there to do the job in hand. Back in the dark ages (ok, the 90’s) mobile phones were bog-standard black or silver, and cases and shells were businessman dull. But as gadgets get smaller and sleeker, the accessories we buy to house them get ever *chic*-er, with high end designers such as Burberry, Chanel and Gucci all clamouring to clothe your beloved new iPad. Whatever make or model you champion, there’s a product out there to turn your geeky gadget into a symbol of style. But not all of us have the bank balance to match our fashionista cravings.

Step forward Cath Kidston. With her new collection of ‘Mini Gems’, accessories designed to fit your iPhone/Pod/Pad, Blackberry, or even Nintendo DSi Lite, all emblazoned with her signature, kitsch prints in numerous colour combos, gadgets will never feel naked again. And best of all, with change from a £20 note, they’re not getting  illicit angry calls from the bank manager. Who could resist?

I certainly couldn’t. A firm believer in styling my technology as I do myself (fairly well too, I might add!), I first opted around a year ago for the Mini Dot Nintendo DS Cover to add a touch of vogue to my sugar pink console.

Delighted with my purchase, and wanting to beautify my never-put-down iPhone, I recently purchased the Provence Rose Phone Case, a delicate floral print in warm pink oilcloth that hugs your phone tight, yet adds a touch of class. Utterly gorgeous, and so feminine.

Oh, and what more excuse to splurge on an iPad do I need than the prospect of wrapping it in the (slightly more expensive) Blue Mini Dot iPad Case? Hmm, time to count the pennies…

stylespylou x

To find out more about our guest blogger, check out stylespylou’s fashion and beauty blog at : http://stylespylou.blogspot.com/