Best Bets - Week of September 22, 2003

Hide And Peek
Ikea’s latest offerings include this space-age swivel chair that, alas, is too small for us ($69).

Ikea
1000 Center Drive New Jersey

Or, check out ikea.com





Zip Mode
A good, go-over-anything men’s sweater for fall is Banana Republic’s half-zip merino-wool number (in five colors; $88).

Banana Republic
Multiple locations. See store profile.

Or, check out bananarepublic.com.





Red Alert
The first handbags ever from Smythson of Bond Street include this tote. Mysteriously named the Portobello, it’s big enough to fit a laptop ($1,300, in tan, black, or red).

Smythson of Bond Street
4 W. 57th St.
212-265-4573





Groove Thing
This men’s shirt by Seems has just enough decoration to be cool without being over-the-top ($150).

Gerry’s
110 Eighth Ave.
212-243-9141 and 212-691-0636





Watch Out
Mini’s new watch, designed by Yves Behar, features a supercool, easy-to-read LCD display that can be switched from vertical to horizontal. There’s also a chronograph, timer, alarm, day/date, and backlight ($165).

MoMA Design Store
44 W. 53rd St.
212-767-1050
81 Spring St.
646-613-1367

Or, check out minimotionusa.com





In The Fold
080 Studio’s tables look like softly draped fabric but are actually made of heat-formed acrylic and are quite sturdy ($875).

Jonathan Adler
465 Broome St.
212-941-8950

Or, check out o8o.com.





Shoe In
Michael Kors’s take on the wallabee is all about height, as witnessed in the comfy but sexy crêpe wedge heel. In slip-on (six color options) or lace-up (four color options, $195 ).

Kors
159 Mercer St.
212-966-5880





Choice Seats
It’s hard to surreptitiously re-arrange seating cards when they specify a hair color, not a name. Can’t resist? Bring a wig to the party ($6).

E.A.T. Gifts
1062 Madison Ave.
212-861-2544





Fully Vested
Tumi is more than just luggage. This vest—from a new collection—is made of Coolmax and Neoprene and has pockets galore for holding anything from digital cameras to doggie bags. In red, beige, or black ($150).

Tumi
520 Madison Ave.

Or, check out tumi.com.





Baby Tee
A NAP IS IN MY NEAR FUTURE and A SURPRISE WILL APPEAR IN MY PANTS are just a few of the funny fortunes printed on these baby T-shirts, packaged in Chinese-takeout boxes ($28).

Just for Tykes
83 Mercer St.
212-274-9121

Or, check out fortuneteeshirt.com.





Earth Tones
The ingredient list for Sundara paint sounds more like moisturizer than color for walls: citrus-peel extracts, essential and seed oils, tree resins, and beeswax. Developed by a team of decorative painters, this line of water-and-clay-based paints is environmentally friendly ($45 per gallon).

Sundara Painting
800-656-6015

Or, check out sundarapainting.com.

Photographed by Andrew Mccaul.

Best Bets - Week of September 22, 2003