PRINTCustomization sensations
Adding personality to everyday objects
Jenn Hueting
March 6, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Flashy fashion is all around us — rappers and their bling, pricy wheels, jewels for cell phones and designer shades — but belongings don’t have to be out-of-reach to be the envy of the block. Vox looks at ways to turn average items into drool-worthy commodities.
NAILING YOUR STYLE
In addition to jewelry and handbags, acrylic enthusiasts can accent their everyday look with tricked-out nails for as little as $26 for a full set. California Nails owner Sunny Van says mostly younger women come into his shop and ask for unique designs. “I have made a woman’s nails into flames before,” Van says, “and it turned out well.”
Although over-the-top designs aren’t often requested, they have the potential to be eye-catching. “Airbrushing designs can get really crazy with blending colors if the customer requests,” Van says. More common, however, are holiday and seasonal designs, such as snowflakes, flowers and hearts.
“When I get manicures and pedicures, I like to get fun seasonal designs on my nails,” says Melissa Smith, a recent graduate of Cosmetology Concepts, a beauty school in Columbia.
Jackie Cuba, a freshman at Moberly Area Community College, says she likes to get her nails done every two weeks. She says she would get more creative designs if she didn’t work at Red Lobster. “I’ve had hand-painted flowers on my nails with petals falling off,” Cuba says, “but mainly I just stick to the basic French (manicure) style.”
CRUISING ON ICE
As far as cars go, customizations can cost as much as rent. MTV’s Pimp My Ride led the way by renovating clunkers and making detailed rides an admirable possession.
Edward Twenter of Tiger Auto Trim & Upholstery mentions cowhide and galaxies when he recalls the craziest interior jobs he’s done. Depending on a vehicle’s size and the difficulty of the installation, these jobs can cost up to $1,500. A customer once brought in a Cadillac and requested that the seats be covered in a black and white cowhide — with the hair still on. Surprisingly, Twenter says, it turned out pretty good. Another woman brought a starry blanket and asked for it to be glued to the ceiling of her car. Twenter had doubts, but it was a success; he even positioned the dome light centrally to look like the sun.
Pinstripes are a popular request for detailing exteriors, says Mark Schepers, owner of Show Car Painters in Jefferson City, but he also specializes in hand-painted flames and graphics. Pinstripes start at $150 and flames cost up to $3,000. Recently, a woman with a white Oldsmobile came in and asked to change her car’s appearance. Andy, Schepers’ son, painted multicolored stars on the hood and sides and airbrushed her name on the trunk in script. Schepers himself has flames on his Chevy S10, in addition to three coats of pearl-white paint, Cadillac taillights and shaved door handles that create a smooth, slick look.
ETCHINGS FOR EVERYTHING
Engraving a name or image on an electronic device is a good way to prove ownership and become the envy of friends. The role of lasers has gone from being convenient to cool. Now computer geeks can pass off their technological romances as artsy fashion statements by engraving iPods, laptops and cell phones.
The lasers themselves cost thousands, but companies such as Adafruit Industries specialize in etching and allow the average tech nerd to transfer any design they can create in Adobe Illustrator onto their electronics via laser for a lot less, with prices starting at $30.
Whether engraving your laptop or adding diamonds to your nails, these details add a personal touch and make standard possessions distinctly different from the masses’.
— KELLI HOVEY
