Our obsessions (August 2–8, 2012)

We were totally bummed when we found out that it’s illegal to decorate fire escapes (they are designed for safety reasons, after all), but this stainless-steel shelving unit is a quirky way to skirt those spartan regulations. Mount it on your wall to display knickknacks and spark conversations with house guests. Design Ideas fire-escape display shelf, $100, at organize.com

Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty, the brains behind NYC womenswear brand Suno, have given us a way to rock the label’s high-end colorful prints at a fraction of the price. These skimmers feature the same Kenya-made fabrics, along with recycled-rubber soles and a chic drawstring carrying pouch. Even better, 15 percent of the proceeds benefits the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (sheldrickwildlifetrust.org), a Kenyan organization that protects endangered elephants and rhinos. Suno lace-up sneakers, $65 each, at sunony.com

If you’re a sucker for packaging, the cool faux-wood tube enveloping Tarte’s first long-wearing lipstick is sure to draw you in, but the makeup’s deep rich color proves just as irresistible. A combination of clay, shea butter, and mango and avocado extracts ensures a moisturizing swipe, and our tester reported a fade-free pucker even after a few Diet Cokes. Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance lipstick in Bold, $26, at Sephora, locations throughout the city; visit sephora.com

Protecting yourself from relentless horseflies no longer requires the use of deet, thanks to this all-natural vegan bug spray from Chelsea apothecary Malin + Goetz. Produced in upstate New York, the formula relies on rosemary, geranium, lemongrass and citronella essential oils to ward off mosquitoes, ticks and other insidious insects. As if the lovely citrus scent wasn’t enough to convert you, the mist also delivers nourishing vitamin E, leaving behind smooth, bite-free skin. Malin + Goetz bug spray, $20, at Malin + Goetz, 177 Seventh Ave between 20th and 21st Sts (212-727-3777, malinandgoetz.com)