When you think of skull rings, you tend to think of hardcore bikies feeding each other knuckle sandwiches at the local pub.

Not the look that all of us are going for, but you can give yourself a bit of an edge by slipping on a more fashionable version of the humble skull ring.

I am in love with the version pictured here, which sells for $49 at Peeptoe Shoes (you can buy it online here).

If skulls aren’t for you, another idea to make a statement is a panther ring. Of course, there is always the Cartier Panther Ring, which is a stunning ring set with diamonds and emeralds. Unfortunately it is out of most of our budgets. However, many shops do more affordable versions.

NB: To pull off this look, I recommend otherwise dressing yourself down. Be careful to keep other accessories to a minimum. I also recommend leaving your Comancheros’ leather jacket at home.

By Caroline Warnes

We’ve teamed up with Fujifilm to give Lasoo members the chance to win a very cool Z20 compact digital camera.

The Z20 is valued at $249 and features 10 megapixels of resolution, face detection technology and Mpeg-4 movie mode.

Its cool slimline design also comes in five fashion colours so you can pick the camera that suits your style.

We have a hot pink Z20 to give away to one lucky Lasoo member this week.

To be in the running to win email competitions@lasoo.com.au with the word FUJIFILM in the subject line and tell us why the Fujifilm Z20 would suit your style. Entries close next Thursday.

There is more information on the camera (plus more chances to win!) here.

Competition terms and conditions

Cobolt’s GPS unit is a good basic satellite navigation device that won’t break the bank.

It is currently on sale from selected Sam’s Warehouse stores for $157, however mention Lasoo for tomorrow (October 10) only and you will be able to buy it for just $99.

Those stores include Cannington, Rockhampton, Modbury, Townsville Kirwan and Toowoomba.

The device features a 3.5-inch TFT LCD screen, Navteq maps, turn-by-turn voice navigation, a built-in speaker and headphone jack. It offers support for MP3 and JPG files so you can listen to music and view photos. There is also a USB connection and SD card input.

An in-car DC charger and suction cup mount are also included in the box.

Click here to find offers on GPS units from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

As the weather gets warmer, I always find that my choice in bags gets more and more casual.

By the height of summer, it’s always nice to have a tote bag you can just throw everything into and go. Macrame handbags are always a popular choice in summer, especially when you’re heading to the beach. Yes, the sand gets in easier, but it also shakes out easier.

This leather tote from Helen Kaminski is the very high-end of macrame bags, retailing for $450. Yes, that’s considerably more than the average hand woven hippy macrame bag you’d find at your local markets.

That’s because this bag wasn’t made by your local hippy - it was designed in collaboration with a specialist workshop in southern India, using traditional techniques to craft the leather.

If you are going to carry a macrame bag, it goes without saying that you should leave any embarrassing items that you usually lug around with you, as well as your dirty scrunched up hanky, at home.

By Caroline Warnes

If you missed out on winning an iTidy in our competition last week, we have a special offer for you.

The iTidy is a clever little product that helps eliminate tangles in your iPod or MP3 player headphones by retracting the cords back into the iTidy unit.

The iTidy is the first product of its kind and eliminates the frustration of having to untangle your headphones before each use.

It can only be purchased through the iTidy website for just $29.

Target is giving you the chance to win a family holiday for four to Disneyland.

To enter the competition, you need to purchase “Sleeping Beauty” on DVD or “Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour” DVD before November 30.

Hannah Montana arrives in Target stores on October 8 and Sleeping Beauty is in store on October 15.

Threadless.com is a great place to pick up some bargain t-shirts.

The site features shirts with some original and interesting designs and you can even submit your own design ideas if you’re the creative type.

I love the occasional sales the site holds - including the famous $10 tee sale - it’s worth ordering a few at a time to save on shipping. The t-shirts are good quality too - not the cheap and nasty kind that leaves you itching as soon as it gets warm.

At the moment, Threadless has women’s tees on sale from $9, with the majority of shirts only $12. (US$9 works out at just over $12 Australian, so it’s still a bargain.

You can see the entire range of designs available in the women’s range here.

By Caroline Warnes

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is a touchscreen music phone that’s more compact and cheaper than the Apple iPhone - but we’re going to have to wait to see it.

Nokia announced the long-awaited 5800 XpressMusic phone (also known as the Nokia Tube) last week, with some parts of the world getting shipments of the phone almost immediately. However Australia isn’t expected to receive handsets until early next year.

The most notable claim to fame for this handset is that it’s a touchscreen unit - Nokia’s first. Although it’s smaller than the iPhone, it’s also positioned as a multi-tasking music mobile phone, with a similarly impressive feature set.

The Nokia 5800 packs in support for both Wi-Fi and HSDPA as well as A2DP Bluetooth - this allows you to stream your music directly to compatible headphones and speakers. It will come with an 8GB microSD memory card in the box, providing storage for multimedia content. All this content can be viewed on the 640×360 pixel display.

There is a lot else to like about this phone: long battery life and the new Nokia operating platform, for example. But what’s really going to prove appealing is the price: it’s expected to retail for under $500.

Click here to find offers on Nokia mobile phones and accessories from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Napoleon Perdis cosmetics are great quality, but can be kind of pricey if you’re on a budget.

The good news is that the brand is the first cosmetic line to sign up with, Designers For Target, which offers designer products at affordable prices.

The range will be in store on October 16, with prices starting at a very reasonable $22 for the likes of lip gloss, lipstick and eyeliner.

The most expensive products in the range are just $45, and that’s for items such as foundation.

I really like the look of the Eye Palette Atlanta (light brown), which combines three shades of brown eyeshadow for highlighting the eyes in a compact with a brush and a mirror (RRP $30).

You can check out the full range and pricing at the website.

Plus… also at the website you’ll see that a new Designer For Target will be announced online on October 15. Until then, you can guess who the designer is to win prizes. Don’t ask me who it is because this time I truly have no idea.

By Caroline Warnes

The winners are:

A. Gordon, 4703; V. Leitis, 3030; C. Keren, 3004; J. Hurditch, 2620; M. Murray, 4006; B. Stimson, 3717; M. Warwick, 4575; S. Cattley, 2780; G. Booth, 4077; K. Hrstich, 4077; P. Maher, 2611; R. Melville, 4101; C. Elderhorst, 3152; S. Piva, 4310; E. Rankmore, 3040; L. Rakowski, 7009; K. Bath, 0820; A. Greene, 3280; I. Davies, 6153; S. Spence, 6059; L. Nascimento, 2022; A. Long, 2050; K. Sweeney, 6155; S. Wilson, 3043; C. McKibbin, 5118; S. Dossett, 5108; C. Diano, 4508; M. King, 6174; J. Latham, 3161; B. Roberts, 3496.