Electronic embellishments

We're wearing our cell phones, iPods, and laptops all the time, so it's no surprise that, as with our bags and shoes, we would want to embellish the goodies with personal style.

"I use my BlackBerry more than any other single item that I own," said Karen Giberson, director of the New York-based Accessories Council. "So when I selected the case for it, I wanted the pretty, shiny red one."

Most tech accessories are all about protection. But many - especially earpieces, headphones, and our new favorite, the jeweled memory key - are about marrying style with science. When done well, it's hard to separate the earpiece from the earring.

Here are a few of our favorites.