Skulls aren’t just for bikers and pirates anymore. If you thought skulls and crossbones were morbid, menacing, or just plain silly, it’s time to bone up on your fashion sense. Anyone with a pulse has to have noticed the proliferation of skeleton craniums on everything from aprons ($30) and maternity skirts ($70) to this pink skull T-shirt dress ($21) for toddlers. Skulls are about as hip as you can get, as evidenced by these Christian Audigier Charmed Skull men’s board shorts in black ($128) or these Juicy Couture men’s skull-print board shorts ($78). Girls like empty heads, too. Check out this black and white sundress (on sale for $37) or this pink bandanna halter dress ($59; pictured). Both would look mordantly good with a pair of flip skull sandals ($23). For boys, a pair of Vans Ferris skulls skate shoes ($45) might revive a fading fashion reputation. Skulls can even be cute, as on this pink skull denim handbag ($29) and this sterling silver skull and crossbones bracelet ($68). The trend is more than a bit of skullduggery. It appears to be serious business.

Whether McCain’s your man or Obama’s the one, cast your vote for fun this election season with a variety of playful politically themed goodies. Beauty buffs will love Stila cosmetics’ bold new lip color called Rock the Vote Red ($17); 25 percent of the proceeds will be donated to Rock the Vote. Your dog can’t vote, but that doesn’t mean Fido can’t be politically active. If Spot more closely identifies with elephants, you might pick up the Republican dog leash at H. Doodle ($14). If donkeys are more his/her thing, try the Democrat dog collar ($12). Or if your pooch’s political leanings are middle of the road, select from a variety of canine Rock the Vote T-shirts ($14; pictured). Who says there’s no place for politics in the bedroom or bathroom? Pick up a pair of thong panties emblazoned with “Vote” ($8). Guys can join the fun with “Wake Up and Vote” boxer shorts ($21). Your newborn can even get into the swing of things with a W.W.O.D. (What Would Obama Do?) onesie ($30) or the more straightforward McCain blocks onesie at the official McCain store ($15). Democrats will love watching red states turn blue when the fill up the “I Have a Dream 2008” mug ($13). For Republicans, the “Make My Day 2008” mug turns blue states red ($12) . Sure to be a collectible is the Obama “Yes, We Can” opener ($5). Designer Helen Ficalora’s sterling-silver “Vote” charm at Shopbop.com is only half an inch wide, but we think it speaks volumes ($55). Need help sparking a “lively” political discussion at your next dinner party? The Political Topics To-Go card set includes 40 cards with topical questions like “Whose opinion do you value when deciding how to vote?” ($10).

How hot are the Jonas Brothers? Ask any pre-teen girl and prepare for loud squeals and lots of giggles. The trio of brothers from New Jersey is on fire this summer: The premiere of Camp Rock was cable television’s most-watched entertainment program of the season with 8.9 million viewers. Next up: A CD called A Little Bit Longer, debuting Aug. 12. (Pre-order here ) To keep up with demand, stores are churning out Camp Rock/Jonas Brothers gear. At Limited Too you can pick up a Jonas Brothers tote bag emblazoned with Kevin, Joe and Nick’s faces ($25) or a concert T ($25). Target is carrying some snazzy Camp Rock watches that are perfect for a back -to-school surprise ($15). The guitar pick pendant necklace is a not so in-your-face way to show show your brotherly love ($5). Disney has a lot of clothing items: The Camp Rock ribbed tank top ($15) features multiple images of Shane (Joe Jonas), while the short-sleeved hoodie ($25) includes silhouette imagery from the show and an all-over Shane print lining the hood. Who doesn’t want to gaze into the dreamy eyes of the Jonas Brothers day and night? Your kid can with this Camp Rock poster ($9). (Admit it, you were just as crazy about Bon Jovi!)

A diamond worn on the ring finger of the left hand says you’re engaged. We’re happy for you. Your gorgeous new sparkler is worthy of envy. Still, why should any woman who loves diamonds have to wait for a marriage proposal to sport a ring of her own? Enter the “Right Hand Ring,” a successful concept dreamed up by the jewelry industry years ago to encourage financially independent single women to purchase and show-off diamonds. With rings by trendy female designers — see Rebecca Taylor’s 14K rose gold diamond ring ($2,750) and Twinkle by Wenlan’s 14K white gold diamond ring ($600; both at Macy’s) — the right hand ring is here to stay. The “Ah Ring” ($330, pictured) from Divine Diamonds is a recent incarnation, standing for “available” and “happy” when worn by the joyfully single, and for “attached” and “happy” when worn by the, um, attached. (“Ah” is engraved on the inside of the ring.) Meant to be worn on the pinkie, it features 11 round full-cut diamonds in a white gold band. At Neiman Marcus, there’s a great selection of no-one-said-engagement diamond rings. We like Roberto Coin’s diamond circle ring ($1,420), Doris Panos’s two-toned twisted ring of rose and white gold ($6,185) and Judith Ripka’s garland pave ring ($3,900). Apparently, October has been declared Right-Hand Ring Month, and Jewelry.com has five pages of styles to choose from (like the diamond star “bypass” ring available at Zale’s, pictured at left). We quite like the 10K butterfly ring ($250 at JC Penney), designed for girls of all ages, and the quad princess-cut diamond right hand ring in white gold ($429 at Zales). Now that June is over and you’ve congratulated all those blushing brides, think about something sparkly for the single gals you know and adore.

Ever since engraving was invented, people have been monogramming and putting messages on their jewelry, though the messaging mostly took place on the underside of the object. These days, people are finding inspiration and encouragement in words selected by jewelry makers to be presented face up and statement out. At Heavenly Treasures, you’ll find the infinity-designed Green Tara Mantra necklace ($49), inscribed with the Sanskrit mantra “Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha,” which translates to “OM! Hail to Tara (in her three roles as a savioress).” At Toby and Max, some of the jewelry speaks from within and without, like the stamped “Life is a journey” sterling cuff ($79), the underside of which continues, “Enjoy the moments.” The Words of Wisdom sterling link bracelet ($107) reminds its wearer to “Be good to yourself, Be kind to others, Be happy.” Not bad things to remember when you’re stuck in a team meeting at work. Each of the Precious Words sterling inspirational bracelets ($39 apiece) comes with an accompanying page that expounds upon the beauty of a particular word. Select from “Believe,” “Courage,” “Hope,” “Journey” and “Love.” If you aren’t a bracelet person, hop on over to Sanctuary for the best-looking and biggest selection of message jewelry we found. The Dare to Dream ring is engraved in cursive on the outside and has “In your heart I will always be” awaiting the touch of its wearer’s skin on the inside ($92). We particularly like the inspirational ring ($45), a thicker, rounder band of polished sterling inscribed with 10 words that read like vertical stripes from a distance (you get “Hope, Peace, Spirit, Soul, Beauty, Joy, Faith, Love, Wish and Dream” all in one elegant ring). There are message rings in Italian, French and Gaelic, and Sanctuary also has an appealing selection of bracelets and pendants, including a cuff displaying the Serenity Prayer in its entirety ($225). Great web site, fantastic selection of words to live by.

For a truly global marketplace, stop in at NOVICA. This innovative shopping experience partners with National Geographic to feature home décor, jewelry, apparel, and artwork by some 2,000 artists from the Andes, Bali and Java, Brazil, India, Mexico, Thailand and West Africa. With its online distribution model, NOVICA removes layers of middle men and their markups, allowing the artisans to make more money while customers get lower prices. NOVICA wants shoppers to know the artisans behind the product, stating, “We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.” With that in mind, every item includes a profile of the artist. You can read his or her personal story, “save” him to your favorite artists list and search for more of his works. For instance, we found this exquisite hand-tooled mahogany and leather table designed by Peruvian craftsman Abel Rios ($178); when you click on his other items, a list of 60-plus pieces — including jewelry boxes, chairs, ottomans, and more — comes up. Create your own virtual bazaar by starting an account to keep track of your favorite items, whether it’s this striped alpaca wool shawl ($66) or the striking “White Torch” photograph ($130); you can even send photos or painting as e-cards. If you’re in the market for something unique for a special someone, try the GiftFinder for ideas, such as these bright bamboo boxes ($105) by Wayan Genep from Bali as a corporate gift. But our favorite NOVICA market is the GiftAnimals section, with everything from the silver Elephant Parade cuff bracelet ($118) and this charming Playful Cat key holder ($45) to this whimsical “Zebra as Acrobat” sculpture ($273; pictured) and an array of animal masks. Now, that puts the world at your fingertips!

Mom always said not to procrastinate. But we guess you weren’t always listening: Mother’s Day is just four days away, but thanks to a wide range of last-minute gift options on the Web, your Mom doesn’t have to be empty-handed Sunday. Wow her with a fabulous blue box from Tiffany & Co. — order online by Friday at noon and you’ll have it in time for Sunday’s visit. Try a Mom heart locket pendant in sterling silver ($250) and a chain to hang it on ($50). If you’re looking for a lower-priced option, the silk scarf is chic and budget-friendly ($50). Go the traditional route and send Mom a bouquet of flowers. 1-800-FLOWERS offers same-day delivery on select arrangements. The strawberry floral margarita is a unique take on the standard gift ($70), while the Mother’s Love bouquet goes the more traditional route ($80). Order by 1 p.m. ET Thursday at Harry & David for overnight delivery on a variety of foodie gifts. The deluxe Mother’s Day tower features pears, Moose Munch, chocolate truffles and gourmet brownies ($50). Appeal to Mom’s sweet tooth with a Tower of Chocolates ($40). Order up until 2 p.m. ET Thursday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art store for Mother’s Day delivery. The Parisian dragonfly pin is a nod to spring’s nature-inspired fashions ($85; pictured), while the shoes card case can help Mom look stylish while networking ($30). Expedited shipping today from Sephora will ensure the arrival of Marc Jacobs’ limited-edition Daisy gift set, including eau de toilette spray, body lotion and a purse-sized cologne ($75). Can’t personally deliver Mom breakfast in bed like the good old days? Send her Philosophy’s Breakfast in Bed kit, which features three scented hair and body cleansers in flavors like Cafe au Lait, Belgian Waffles and Fresh Cream ($30).

Spring is the season not only of Easter but also of First Communions and confirmations. For little girls, the major purchase related to their First Communion (also called the First Holy Eucharist) is the celebratory white dress. MyGirlDress.com (also a good site for flower girl dresses, junior bridesmaid outfits and ring bearer tuxedos) has several of these pretty, long-skirted, white lacy dresses. The cap-sleeve Communion dress has a satin bodice and triple-layered tulle skirt ($59.50). A tea-length satin trim dress with organza skirt (pictured) has an adorable flower waistband and sash ($43.50). Sacco Company sells a wide variety of religious gifts and accessories. A First Communion Bible with a special prayer section comes in blue or pink ($22.95). The Catholic Company sells an attractive brushed-metal First Communion photo album ($15) and a pewter picture frame ($16), etched with First Communion symbols. For confirmation, Catholic teens traditionally select a saint from whom to take their confirmation name, and a medal of that saint in gold or sterling silver, with a chain, makes a nice present. The Catholic Company’s catalog of saint medals has medal and chain combinations priced from $28 to $50. Abbey Press has a nice etched glass Confirmation plaque, decorated with a cross and dove ($30). Appropriate for both boys and girls, this Confirmation bracelet includes a pewter accent on a black cord ($12).