Tech Cases

Oscar de la Renta continues to prove he is not only ahead of the curve but also completely able to relate to all of us who spend our days glued to gadgets.

Today we have the exclusive preview of the second batch of Oscar de la Renta iPad Clutches. The first iPad cases (which Oscar endearingly calls a clutch) were spotted on the runway of the Resort 2011 show. Just before that show, Oscar himself purchased an iPad which prompted him to create a fashionable clutch to cover his new omnipotent tablet. → Read More

For the fashionable student who has everything (Or maybe the intrepid fashion blogger on the go. HINT HINT.), we present the Alexander McQueen Skull Print Laptop Case, available exclusively via Net-a-Porter.

Emblazoned with the same skull motif as McQueen’s iconic scarves, this canvas and leather case will keep your laptop safe inside your school or work bag and look chic while doing it. If you like to get practical mileage out of your designer accessories or if you like the skulls but don’t want the scarf that everyone else already has, this is laptop case is certainly not a bad way to go.

The available information doesn’t specify which laptop sizes will fit, but based on its dimensions, it seems like it’s intended to accomodate a a 14- or 15-inch machine. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $395.

Not long after the annual summer release of a new iPhone comes an inevitable parade of ways to personalize and protect your new gadget. Those options range from rubber cases that can be had for $19.99 at your local Best Buy to Louis Vuitton monogram sheaths that cost more than the phone itself (with a two-year contract, of course), and the prospect of choosing one can be quite the task indeed for style-conscious gadget-lovers.

Since it seems as though the iPhone 4 is making a case more of a necessity than ever, now is a good a time as any to talk about the odd submarket that has opened up for designer tech accessories. Would you spend a couple hundred bucks on a case for your phone, or are such things absolutely frivolous in your mind? → Read More

I know, not much happening here in the Tech Cases department for quite some time. That is partially due to Megs having way too many fashionable bags to blog about all the time.

Fortunately for us, allison pointed me to the stylish iSkin tokidoki Vibes for iPods. These covers both protect your ‘Pods and add personality to your dime-a-dozen media player as well. As you can see from the picture, there’s a wide variety of tokidoki-styled covers available. If you own a video iPod, you shouldn’t miss out on these. Grab em for $30 at iSkin.com. For an additional $20, you can order headphones that match your skin as well.

As I finally made my way across the big pond, back to the good ol’ US of A, it seemed like I completed the transition without further complication. Can’t say the same thing about my trusted iPod Shuffle, which didn’t survive the flight. Rest In Piece, my loyal accomplice. Reason for the sudden death may have been the long flight from Europe to the US, the fact that I didn’t have a protective cover for it, or maybe just my lack of luck. Either way, it’s dead. Good news is, it looks like I may inherit a new iPod Photo soon. We shall see.

If you own a slick Nano, and want to avoid having it share the same fate as my Shuffle, you should really get a protective cover for it. The Dior iPod Nano Case will not only keep your portable tune player safe, but will also look great on your travels. The case is made of polished leather and has two vertical slots to hold credit cards or IDs. For $240, this Dior case may seem pricey, but then again — it’s Dior after all. What else is there to be expected?

While people don’t talk about iPods as much anymore, most of them still have at least one. I have 2 different iPods. The shuffle which is great for working out (ehhh who does that?!) and the new video iPod (which I have yet to set up from Christmas). Either way, many of us iPod owners love an iPod case. For a fun pattern with lots of color and attitude, the Paul Smith Swirl Mini MP3 Case adds a boost of light and fun to your precious music maker. This case is designed with a plethora of colored grained leather and has a front flap with a snap closure. There is a belt loop for wherever you would like to attach his case for ease of carrying along with cut-outs for your headphones and other cords to fit nicely out of the case. While the actual name of this case does not say iPod rather MP3, the description does say that the “Gusseted sides expand to fit any regular-sized iPod with click wheel design”. Clearly this case was made with Apples chicest and most influential design in mind. What cracked me up about the description was the mention that ” iPod not included”. Oh really?? Who would have thought that?! Buy this case via eLuxury for $195.

When looking for a laptop bag for the daily use, you run into the problem that the bag itself may be just too heavy. Add the laptop and you may easily carry 10+ lbs around with you. If you’re a commuter, you don’t want to arrive at your workplace with a sore arm. The Baggallini Commuter Bag only weighs in at 2.1lbs and is professional, yet fun. An outer pocket zips open for easy access to smaller pockets for your phone, airline tickets, etc. The inside will keep you organized with credit card slots, a removable ID holder, a key fob and a mesh pocket. A clever features is the back sleeve that slides over a suitcase handle, making travel through airports easy. You can choose from tomato red with mango, seafoam blue with black, and dark olive with spice. The bag goes for $89.00 via Kolobags.

For some strangely disturbing reason, I never fully caught on to the whole Apple iPod hype. My Sony MiniDisc player was my daily companion for several years, eventually a tiny iPod Shuffle replaced it that Megs got me a few months ago. But I never got to appreciate the rotating wheel and the vastness of accessories that the regular iPod had to offer. Since I got the Shuffle, I used colorful plastic covers that only protect the ‘pod’s front from getting scratched. To this day, they still remind me of those green hospital robes that keep patient’s back buttocks exposed… Yeah, I’m weird like that.

Louis Vuitton provide a full cover alternative, to those who want to let their Shuff’ dangle off their necks in style. The Louis Vuitton iPod Shuffle Cover is crafted from LV’s signature Monogram Multicolore canvas and lined with peach natural calf leather. Now isn’t that something? The fashionable cover has its price though – 130 dollars American. Certainly more than the generic $15 plastic covers, but let’s be honest to ourselves. The Apple designs deserve better.