Peace Love Happiness in a Mad, Mad World

The "I am Love" infant rib long sleeve one-piece with gray love symbol, left, is on sale for $32. Photos from http://peaceloveworld.com/.

HEAD’S UP: December again already. It’s the gifting season, which means more things to do with less time to do them in. Don’t despair. At VEVLYN’S PEN, we are here to help. For the next week or so — 12 days before Christmas ending on 22 Dec. — each day we will introduce a product/item, brand or nifty shop that we believe is worthy of consideration for those very special gifts.

Gift Idea No. 6:

IF love makes the world go around, then Alina Villasante is doing her part in spades through her hot, new Peace Love World collection.

"I am Happiness" cuff links ($100).

While those outside of Miami may not know her name, they may know her brand or know someone who has worn a T-shirt, yoga pant or hoodie bearing the words, love peace, world or a symbol for those words. Keen-eyed TV viewers may have recognized her line on both “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Broadway musical lovers might have had a chance sighting at a show on the “In the Heights” tour. Word is that Taylor Swift and Ellen DeGeneres are fans of the line, too.

Black fedora with four red embroidered lines, representing love in English and in Spanish ($30.40).

Every garment in the line (http://peaceloveworld.com/) bears the familiar Peace Love World logo represented by the peace symbol, love symbol and happy-face symbol for happiness, and by extension, world. All garments also bear a quote from AV, “love is not something you look for, love is something you become.” Embroidered into many are two rows of four narrow line that represent the words for love in both English and Spanish.

"I am Peace" black California pullover hoodie in fleece ($56.)

AV is not only talking peaceloveworld she is doing it by supporting a number of good causes, Haiti Relief and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, among them.

"I am Love" black bohemian pants ($70).

The lovefest started when AV was a teen with a passion for people and fashion. The current iteration began to get its legs in 1999 with the debut of “The Love Party,” a soiree the Havana native and Miami (by way of New York/Atlanta) resident organized for the special women in her life. In a moment of creative exuberance she designed an “I Love Alina” T-shirt for guests at the 2006 party. It was a hit, and she went on to design a new T-shirt in each subsequent year.

"I am Peace" Blackberry cover in black ($17.60).

Eventually, word reached the Web, and the Peace Love World collection was launched from a series of "I am" T-shirts to what it is now. Formerly partners in an aviation concern with her husband, AV opened her first store last June in Miami; a second opened at Boston’s Logan Airport in April. Is there any doubt that other major cities will get some Peace Love World?

"I am Chaos" dog bed in black ($99.20)

Other words used in the line are grateful and thankful. Appearing, too, are blessed, symbolized by a cross, and free symbolized by a bird. AV has grown her business from a women's T-shirt line to a lifestyle brand of men’s, children's and women's clothing, jewelry, stationery, party paraphernalia, footwear, yoga wear, gadget accessories - many currently on sale.

Even a bed for the dog to lay its head.

In Oct., Rag Trade Really Turns Out for Cancer

The Gucci 1973 Borsa Bag, above, is one of several items offered in a raffle that will benefit the foundation named for Gabrielle Rich Aouad, below. Photos from www.gabriellesangels.org.

YOURS Truly has been wondering how to express something meaningful about breast cancer awareness all month. Something beyond exhorting all who have ears - though important - to have regular breast exams, mammograms at appropriate times, adopt cancer-preventive diets and, of course, to donate funds for research, education and a cure.

It took fashion to help me find my tongue. Hundreds of events around the country this month are dedicated to raising funds/awareness about one of the most common cancers that afflicts women in the United States. Following are but a trifling few events that bring attention to the scourge, mainly breast cancer, as only the rag trade can.

A Little Louis Vuitton In the Cause of an Angel
IT’S a beauty: Small, black, leather (w/ pebbles), has a lengthy gold chain and a killer gold logo. At nearly $800, it is not cheap as these things go. And the Gucci 1973 Borsa Bag can go to someone who spends as little as $100.

That’s the deal in Americana Manhasset’s six-item luxury raffle, proceeds from which are earmarked for Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation. The foundation, dedicated to eradicating acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), tonight is having its annual high-profile The Angel Ball at Cipriani Wall Street. All raffle winners, including the one to get Louis Vuitton’s “exlcusive” mystery contribution will be announced whether present or not.

No doubt Gabrielle Rich Aouad, the beauty for which the foundation is named, would be proud. In 1996, she succumbed only after fighting tooth and nail against the cancer.

Not to be outdone in the raffle sweepstakes, host Americana Manhasset is offering a shopping spree valued at $6,000. Whether spending $100 for one raffle ticket, $250 for three, $500 for seven or $1,000 for 15, it’s a deal: private car, personal shopper consultation, and five-thousand bucks to purchase product/services at the Long Island luxury shopping emporium

Visit www.gabriellesangels.org for more details about Americana Manhasset Luxury Raffle, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation and The Angel Ball.

SuperTrash Treasures Cure Dress in Intense Pink
How does one get Malik So Chic, Richie Rich, Alice Roi, Russian pop star Sasha and other celebs in the same room?

First, get “The City’s” Roxy Olin to host them at a soiree in a destination city i.e., Paris, London, Los Angeles, or say, New York – at hip nightspot, RdV, to be exact. Next, seal the deal with a common cause: debut of the SuperTrash & Susan G. Komen - Fashion Fighting for the Cure dress.

Designed by Olcay Gulsen, the Cure dress aka Dalmace is a little silky/satiney affair w/cut-outs on the sleeveless shoulder, at the waist and at the back. On the bodice and waist it has ruching and extends to just above the knee. Dalmace is available in various colors as long as they are Intense Pink. All month it is available on the SuperTrash Web site for $99, instead of $125.83. Proceeds from its sale go to the Greater NYC Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

For the uninitiated (present company included), by the way, SuperTrash is the L.A.-born/Amsterdam-based label that fashions itself the go-to brand for “independent women with great sense for fashion and style.” Such women include Victoria Beckham, Paris Hilton and potentially millions around the world as the label has a presence in 28 countries and scores upon scores of boutiques/department stores.

Learn more about SuperTrash and purchase the Cure dress at www.SuperTrash.; learn more about Susan G. Komen for the Cure at http://ww5.komen.org/.

At Madison 3rd Street, DIY Creations and Free Natives
ANIMAL print Keds are but one of the possibilities for shoppers who present themselves on 28 Oct. at Madison 3rd Street as the Los Angeles retailer celebrates five of fall’s hot brands.

Sara Berman, Charles Henry, Kasil + Taylor Jacobson and Free Finger will be for sale, too, with a portion of proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Should shoppers not cotton to animal print Keds they can design their own, very possibly with the help of brand creators who will be in the house.

Meanwhile, Native has pledged to send some folks home with a pair of its shoes – gratis – provided they are amongst the first 100 to walk through the door.

Visit http://madisonlosangeles.com/ to learn more about Madison 3rd Street and the shopping benefit, and http://www.bcrfcure.org/part_pinkprod.html to learn more about the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Pearl Paradise Proffers Pretty Pinks
IS there any better time to be pretty in pink pearls than in October? Pearlparadise.com does not think so and as an enticement is offering a 15 percent discount on its blush-hued stock this month. A quarter of sales will go toward the good work of the Tower Cancer Research Foundation.

That can be as little as $90, not including the discount for a necklace. Or $358 for the Pink to Peach Freshadama Freshwater pearl set (left) minus the 15 when the password – CURE – is invoked.

One does not think too much about pink pearls. For instance:
* Peach and pink pearls are naturally found in freshwater pearls – they are not color treated and will not fade;
* They are rather democratic in that they complement virtually every skintone and complexion;
*The pearls are not widely available at retailers.

No doubt just about any pink pearl the fertile mind can conjure up, pearlparadise wants to imagine it stocks, including the Natural Conch Pearl and Diamond Vine Earrings for a cool $3,750. CURE is the word.

Visit http://www.pearlparadise.com/pearl-color-pink.aspx to learn more about Pearl Paradise and http://www.towercancerfoundation.org/index.php to learn more about Tower Cancer Research Foundation.

QVC and FFANY Have Passion for Selling Shoes
FROM AK Anne Klein to Via Spiga, some of every brand was on the block.

The occasion: “QVC Presents FFANY Shoes on Sale.”Last week, the hawker network and Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) combined their considerable resources for a three-hour shoe salethon. Offered at half price were thousands of Nine West, Enzo Angiolini, Etienne Aigner, MICHAEL by Michael Kors, Coach Footwear et al., including Fergie.

It is fitting that the Black Eyed Peas frontwoman’s shoes would be part of the sale since she acted as the spokesperson for this year’s program. (See her PSA at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG09AsrwNX0.)

There’s no telling – not yet anyway – how much booty the broadcast netted. The intention, however, is that it will be added to the $32 million raised over the last 16 years for breast cancer research and education institutions.