TIS Most Wanted: Our eBay Picks of the Week (May 31, 2011)

By Stephen Watson
May 31, 2011

We're toasting the arrival of summer (at last!) with both outdoor essentials and cultural tokens that will make this season one to remember.

Roll over items for details

K. Jacques Sandals

(buy it now price, $99.99)

Spanish Flamenco Shawl

(starting bid, $99)

LL Bean Boat & Tote

(buy it now price, $12.99)

Morey Boogie Bodyboard

(buy it now price, $51.99)

Lorna Simpson Signed Print

(buy it now price, $599)

SodaStream Starter Kit

(buy it now price $229.99)

Vintage The Playboy Club Ashtray

(buy it now price, $19.99)

Nantucket Basket Handbag

(starting bid $49.99)

Jean Paul Gaultier Silk Bow Tank

(buy it now price, $280)

Preen Silk Lace Slip Top

(buy it now price, $868.99)

Uchi: The Cookbook

(buy it now price, $37.22)

"Unzipped" DVD

(buy it now price, $11.99)

TIS Most Wanted: Our eBay Picks of the Week (May 31, 2011)

1. K. Jacques Sandals: Do all the glamorous images from the Cannes Film Festival have you dreaming of the South of France? Get the Cote D’Azur look by scoring these chic San Tropez sandals from K.Jacques, a favorite souvenir. (eBay search keywords: K Jacques)

2. Spanish Flamenco Shawl: Top fashion designers have just started showing Resort 2012 designer collections, and one of the prettiest so far has come from Oscar de la Renta. Describing his show as "Cubist," the designer's collection included overtones of Picasso, toreadors, flamenco dresses, and matadors. Get a jump on this chic fashion trend with an incredible embroidered Spanish Flamenco Shawl that would be perfect for tossing on during a cool summer evening. (eBay search keywords: Flamenco shawl)

3. LL Bean Boat & Tote: As iconic to summer as hotdogs and sunscreen, the ubiquitous LL Bean Boat & Tote handles beach towels, sand toys, farm stand finds and overnights with aplomb. (eBay search keywords: LL Bean Boat Tote)

4. Morey Boogie Bodyboard: Surfing is all the rage these days, but you don’t have the desire to get your feet wet at surf camp? Get the thrills without the spills with the easy to use Morey Boogie Bodyboard. Founded in 1971, Morey bodyboards have long been considered the best, and they're simple enough for a first timer. (eBay search keywords: Morey bodyboard)

5. Lorna Simpson Signed Print: Now through August 21st, be sure and catch the terrific art show “Lorna Simpson: Gathered” at the Brooklyn Museum. The artist, whose work explores contemporary issues of race and sex, uses eBay online auctions to look for vintage photography to include in her own work. (eBay search keywords: Lorna Simpson)

6. SodaStream Starter Kit: Invited away for a long summer weekend? Whatever you do, don’t show up empty handed. Some of the best hostess gift ideas are the ones least expected. Try giving the kitchen gadget of the season, the SodaStream, a DIY soda maker (with flavors like cola, orange and root beer) that makes mixing up a batch a fun project for everyone. (eBay search keywords: SodaStream)

7. Vintage The Playboy Club Ashtray: The television networks have been busy releasing their upcoming fall schedules, and one of the most anticipated new T.V. shows is The Playboy Club, a fictionalized tale of the legendary club during the 1960s. If you're hosting a viewing party, snag some authentic Playboy collectibles. (eBay search keywords: The Playboy Club)

8. Nantucket Basket Handbag: As charming as the island they come from, Nantucket basket bags were originally created by sailors in their spare time at sea and are now part of a true prepsters wardrobe. Vintage versions, often featuring examples of local ivory and scrimshaw, can fetch into the thousands of dollars. (eBay search keywords: Nantucket basket bag)

9. Jean Paul Gaultier Silk Bow Tank: A traveling exhibition of fashion trends by French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier kicks off this month at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and it will travel on to Dallas and San Francisco starting this Fall. Best known for his cone bra collaborations with Madonna, the top fashion designer has tackled many controversial themes like politics, religion, racism, and ageism during a career that has spanned over 35 years. (eBay search keywords: Jean Paul Gaultier)

10. Preen Silk Lace Slip Top: Our FLOTUS continues to show off her fashion prowess during the Obamas' weeklong tour of Europe. Showing up in London wearing local fashion designers like Roksada Ilincic and Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Michelle Obama continues to dress to impress, both at home and abroad. (eBay search keyword: Preen)

11. Uchi: The Cookbook: Earlier this month, The James Beard Foundation honored many of the best chefs in the country with their annual awards presentation. Two of the top winners both published new cookbooks, so if you can’t travel to the respective cities, you might want to give their recipes a try at home. Check out Best Chef in New York City Gabrielle Hamilton’s Blood, Bones, & Butter and Best Chef Southwest Tyler Cole’s Uchi: The Cookbook. (eBay search keywords: Uchi: The Cookbook)

12. "Unzipped" DVD: Rained out yet again? Perhaps it's a good take in one of the many fashion documentaries playing right now. From "Bill Cunningham New York" to "L’amour Fou" (on the relationship between fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent and his lover, Pierre Berge) to"Vidal Sassoon, The Movie" and "Yohji Yamamoto: This is My Dream", there is no better time to brush on your sartorial history. If you don't feel like hitting the theaters, try Douglas Keeve’s supermodel era "Unzipped" starring Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss and more. (eBay search keywords: fashion documentary)

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