- Toms has a limited edition pair of shoes that are covered with pink hearts. Nothing says you care like giving a pair to your bf/gf and to a kid in need!

- Our fashion obsession, Of A Kind, just announced a Valentine’s-appropriate edition release: a sweetheart tee that gives a little nod to 80s style. Better get it now before it sells out!

- Etsy is an endless source of gift ideas and DIY inspiration. We swooned over this vintage Valentine’s Day card notebook that made us want to be in third grade again. Worried that it won’t ship in time? This is one crafty idea that would be easy to make at home.

- If our list is any indication, girls seem to rake in more gifts on V-day than guys do. Urban Outfitters has a few items that would work for either a gf or bf gift, but guy-specific gifts are rare. Aside from a few red items — shoes, shirts, and hats — there’s this somewhat NSFW tee from the men’s department that we suppose could be considered a Valentine’s item…

- And if you’re spending the day solo, Time Warner Cable has you covered with a month-long Ryan Gosling marathon! Hey girl, if you’re single you shouldn’t feel left out..

- Miley Cyrus has taken to the Twitter airwaves (to rally her fans against Urban Outfitters for being anti-gay and for copying an emerging jewelry designer’s work. And on top of that, the company is selling $.99 noodles for the discounted price of $2.99. We never thought we’d say this, but Miley, we’re counting on you to stop the insanity) (BuzzFeed) (Ad Age, reg required) (BoingBoing)

- Urban young people are in for a dull summer (with many libraries, camps, job programs, and more taking funding hits. We might be hearing a lot of tweens and teens saying “I’m bored” this summer) (Washington Post) (AllyKatzz)

- PBS is planning to add commercial breaks (to its programming like the “regular” networks have. Apparently all those pledge drives weren’t working, but we’re not sure how we feel about “Sesame Street” being interrupted by commercials, even if they won’t yet be pushing toys to kids. It’s a slippery slope. In other children’s TV news, smart kids’ programming is crossing over to lure adult viewers in the UK) (The Atlantic) (The Guardian)

- With boys saying Moshi Monsters (are too girly, Fight My Monster aims to fill the gender gap for kids who have graduated from Club Penguin and are looking for a new online space to hang out) (TechCrunch)

- While some students are just graduating colleges, a new crop (are deciding which schools they’ll attend, but it’s not easy to figure out where to get the best bang for their buck simply by comparing offer letters from universities) (Slate)

- Intel’s new app, The Museum Of Me (scans your Facebook profile to create a virtual museum of you, your friends, and your life. This is what happens when you aim for cool but end up with creepy) (Laughing Squid)

- Axe has latched on to one author’s comparison (of romance novels and porn, which caused an uproar in the romance reader community leading to the hashtag #RomanceKills. Axe has turned the outcry into a promoted tweet using the tagline “Romance Kills, Axe Excites.” Does this sort of shameless coattail riding ever work?) (GalleyCat)

- Parents are becoming increasingly aware of the risks that their tween and teen children face (on the Internet, including cyberbullying, sexting, and even Facebook depression. A doctor shares his advice for parents of the next online generation. Perhaps the best way to educate children about online privacy is to ask them face-to-face about the info they put online, like these guys did, scaring away dozens of interviewees with their personal questions for their Offline Social Network) (Salon) (Mashable)

- Lady Gaga surpasses (10 million followers on Twitter — the first person to ever do so. But that may not be a good thing. According to a recent study, celebs who are more accessible to their fans via twitter — like Lady Gaga, Charlie Sheen, and Katy Perry — run the risk of boring them and shortening their careers) (BBC) (Edmonton Journal)

- Just whose iPad is that? (PBS reveals that 70% of parents who own an iPad hand the pricey device off to their kids to keep them entertained and download kid-friendly apps. Tech companies beware, your future consumers are iPad-savvy users) (FastCompany)

- This poster for the film version of ‘Tin Tin’ (looks very cool. And here’s the totally-not-scary poster for the upcoming Muppets movie, which we can’t wait to see) (Laughing Squid) (MovieLine, via Pop Candy)

- TopShop’s new augmented reality ‘fitting rooms’ (let users try on clothes without really having to try them on. Now that brings new meaning to the phrase “fast fashion”) (PSFK)

-Everyone’s eyes need sun protection (even those wearing fashion don’ts…and those who don’t want to be identified. Check out Urban Outfitters hilarious “black bar” sunglasses that all the hipsters are sure to be wearing at this summer’s music festivals) (BuzzFeed)

- Here’s the list of nominees (for top 10 teen books of 2011 from ALA’s Young Adult Library Services Association. Time to round out your summer reading list!)

- Gossip Girl stylist Eric Daman (launches his collection of prom dresses for Charlotte Russe today, with all styles priced under $50. Critics — and profits — say trendy teen shop Urban Outfitters is out of step with fashion. Billboard‘s review of Coachella includes a note that fanny packs are back. Ugh, we hope not!) (Glamour) (New York Magazine)

- Teens’ Facebook profiles (really do affect their chances at admission into college. For those who need a refresher, tune in tomorrow for this webinar about Facebook safety and security for teachers, parents, and kids) (Penn Olson) (Derek Baird)

- In international news, a new kids social net (for tweens called Jabble debuts in the UK, and Australians flipped out when the country’s education department put out a request for a company to design an energy drink to keep students awake in class) (SocialTimes) (Sydney Morning Herald)

- U by Kotex (wants to give girls a little style with their period products, asking them to submit their own designs in its Ban The Bland challenge in exchange for a chance to meet designer and stylist Patricia Field)

- Flash mobs (are over, thanks to Howie Mandel and his new show, Mobbed, which sends crowds scattering) (Gawker)

- DreamWorks Animation picks Trolls (as the latest retro toy franchise to come to the big screen. Also the AV Club reports the “Footloose” remake will live on… with an unknown taking over the lead from Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford) (Variety, reg. required)

- Great spotlight (on a gay teen blogger voicing the need for LGBT fiction in schools and public libraries. Plus a fictionalized YA account of Anne Frank’s life comes under fire for sexual content that some, including a living relative, feels exploits the holocaust memoirist) (Pinched Nerves) (New York Times, reg. required)

- Urban Outfitters goes ‘bodega chic’ (with themed storefronts on the Upper West Side. Reminds me of the liquor store repurposed by J. Crew in TriBeCa, but somehow comes off more gimmick-y. Speaking of.. “Jersey Shore ” star The Situation is launching a clothing line) (WSJ) (MTV News)

- MTV.com to live stream ‘Eclipse’ premiere (And Volvo revs up its cross-promotion engine with a new Twilight-themed online game and ads. Plus Burger Kings continues its promotion of the Twilight saga as well.) (MTV News) (MediaPost, reg. required) (Promo)

- Nice to see a positive spin on the McAfee study (on recent developments in teen online behavior, including a decline in cyberbullying. Maybe this will help inspire more understanding on a global scale… and less talk of “Internet Addiction Plaguing Chinese Youth”) (CNET) (Information Week)

- Microsoft teams with Passenger to oversee Project Kin (“a private online community built to gain insight into the lifestyle and mobile communication preferences of Generation Y.” Hmm… maybe those 2,000 Millennial minds can help them go back to the drawing board? Also check out teen style blogger Tavi guest blogging her thoughts on non-fashion stuff on Jezebel this week)

- Do toys in happy meals encourage poor eating habits? (After the study we cited in Essentials earlier this week, I’m inclined to think so.. But does that make it illegal? Similarly troubling is this new study finding that despite the healthier options available, McDonald’s staffers assume kids “want fries with that” Happy Meal) (Boston.com) (USA Today)

It’s not surprising that publishers like Thrillist with “freemium” content would be eager to add another revenue stream to the existing (ebb and) flow coming from advertisers, or that youth brands with an established online presence (Urban Outfitters, fred flare) would flesh out their virtual storefronts with fun, hip blogs or daily e-newsletters that offer followers a helping of news, music and event updates along with the lowdown on new merch, sales, giveaways and exclusive offers or discounts.

This is just the type of innovative, value-driven convergence we see Gen Y getting behind. That is, as long as the lines between the two don’t get too blurred, too quickly. Meaning the quality content stays quality and not the stuff of catalog copy, and the e-newsletter blasts keep deals easy to spot. For Thrillist, the concern was handled by keeping the sites separate (JackThreads will continue to be run by founder Jason Ross), for UO it’s reserving the blog for fun features and the newsletter for updates on free shipping, etc. What will be important to keep in mind is when visitors are primarily seeking out a media provider or a service provider. Confuse the two and you risk annoying instead of entertaining or tempting your target audience. And while these expectations may become less meaningful as more hybrid sites and e-newsletters pop up, for brands making the transition now, my guess is the rules still apply.

If these strategies sound familiar, it might be because they’re not too far from those applied by the iPad apps we highlighted in our Ypulse Toolbox (see Entertainment Weekly and Gap), or the recommendations we made a while back for the e-reader-ready versions of traditional teen mags like Seventeen and Teen Vogue. Speaking of.. needless to say, if I were on the traditional media team for this quickly accelerating race to meet new media consumer needs, I’d be shifting into high gear right about now. Especially if the plan was to stick with a paid subscription model. Given that we are clearly just seeing the beginning of these types of partnerships between likeminded media and commerce entities like Thrillist and Jack Threads, not to mention the potential of throwing mobile platforms into the mix, my sense is subscription fees might be a harder sell than ever before.

- Is 12-year-old YouTube sensation Greyson Michael Chance (the next Justin Bieber? The thirteen million views and counting for his Lady Gaga cover,  an appearance on “Ellen” and this record deal, make a strong case) (PopEater) (Mashable) (Zap2It)

- Goodbye, Hello Kitty? (fatigue with the brand in Japan spells trouble for the global market. Also according to a recent survey, Middle Eastern teens are holding on to traditional values, even while sporting Western brands. And Australian politicians are warned against Twitter as the way to young voters’ hearts) (New York Times, reg. required) (The Media Line) (Brisbane Times)

- NBC rewards fans (who spread the love to their social networks with a new initiative… As does Urban Outfitters with a sweepstakes announced on the UO blog. Look for more on this new retail + media marriage in a future post.) (AP) (PSFK)

- Tavi talks (the teen style blogger expands on “edginess” and more at the “Generation Next Forum: Insight Into Tomorrow’s Affluent Consumer”) (Jezebel)

- Bill Cosby reunites with JELL-O (to launch an integrated campaign around his new family-friendly web show. Also McDonald’s and DreamWorks promote the latest “Shrek” film [scroll down to the bottom] and healthy eating habits with a themed Happy Meal. Is that an oxymoron? And a new web mag “Cooking Teens” looks to spread the farm-to-school movement)

- Are student loans (a flawed business model? Yes, if you check out this doc. And speaking of changes on campus.. business schools are quitting the Kindle DX after the trial run. Also Northern Arizona University uses RFID to take attendance) (Christian Science Monitor) (Ars Technica) (PSFK)

P.S. Today is the final deadline for the Totally Wired Teacher Award presented by Dell! All submissions to apply or nominate a public school teacher for the award are due by 5 p.m. PST. Click here for last minute entries!

- Thrillist buys Jack Threads (and the e-commerce revenue stream brought in by its members-only network of young male shoppers. Also Urban Outfitters bounces back from 2009. Also Craigslist launches a weekly web series) (TechCrunch) (MediaPost, reg. required) (Social Times)

- More on the GennY Award (Ypulse President Dan Coates gives a glimpse behind-the-scenes and a shout out to some of our noteworthy honorable mentions) (MediaPost, reg required)

- ABC picks up ‘My Generation’ (the “documentary-styled dramedy” previously titled “Generation Y.” And Flavorwire offers some helpful hints to MTV on how not screw up “Skins.” Also happy to see“Chuck” will live to spy another day) (The Hollywood Reporter) (Fused Film)

- M&M’s teams with Sean Combs (to produce a Color Party where fans will choose the theme and compete to “Party Like Diddy”) (MediaPost, reg. required)

- ‘Social Media Parenting’ (really great crowdsourced guide to bridging the digital gap between parents and tweens/teens. Meanwhile the debate over how to regulate phones in schools continues) (Mashable) (Washington Post)

- Class of 2010 (what lies ahead for recent grads? Possibly good news if you majored in statistics, finance, or accounting) (Christian Science Monitor)

- Verizon blasts Kin ads (to current customers via MMS. And college students get priority invites for Google Voice) (Berryscoop) (Mashable)

Urban Outfitters announced that Tedford Marlow, President, Urban Outfitters Brand, will retire and be succeeded by Steve Murray on April 12, 2010. Mr. Marlow, 58, joined the Company in 2001 and has led the Urban Outfitters brand through a period of significant growth and expansion. (press release)

Penguin Young Readers Group named Jennifer Besser as vice president and publisher of G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers. Besser comes to the company after serving as executive editor at Disney Book Group. She will start on April 12th. Over the course of her career, Besser has edited many titles, including: “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” by Rick Riordan, the “Blue Blood” novels by Melissa de la Cruz, and Heist Society by Ally Carter. (GalleyCat)

Caroline Sun has been named senior publicist at Penguin Children’s. She had been senior publicist at Macmillan Children’s. (Mediabistro, reg. required)

RPRT Communications and Management hired Ken Perkins as Manager – Snow Sports. Ken will handle all snow based initiatives for the agency including managing snow athletes and working on snow sports based marketing initiatives.

Margaret Loesch, President and CEO, The Hub, Discovery and Hasbro’s new joint venture kid-targeted TV channel, appoints six new members of its senior staff:
- Joshua Meyer joins The Hub as SVP/Business & Legal Affairs. Meyer most recently served as co-general Counsel and SVP/Business & Legal Affairs, Cookie Jar Entertainment.
- Jordan Beck is named VP/Creative Services & On-air Promotions, and will report to The Hub’s CMO Amber Tarshis. Beck joins the network from ReelzChannel where he was SVP/Creative Services. He also previously toiled in on-air promotions, advertising and affiliate presentations for Fox Kids.
- Lou Fazio joins as VP/Scheduling, Acquisitions & Planning, and will report to SVP/Programming, Donna Ebbs. Fazio was formerly VP/Program Strategy and Acquisitions, Game Show Network. Prior to this he worked in scheduling and planning for Toon Disney (now Disney XD) and ABC Kids.
- Greg Heanue joins as VP/Marketing & Promotions, and will also report to Tarshis.
- Michael Ross is appointed VP/Production & Post-Production, reporting to Ebbs. Ross served as head of production and executive producer for Baby Einstein and Disney Babywhere he was responsible for content development, creation, and production strategy and implementation for franchises. (Cynopsis Kids)

mobileYouth makes their first hire in Asia – say hello to Bernard Hor – Head of Asia for mobileYouth and What Youth Think. Bernard brings with him a wealth of experience working with on-ground student activation plans with clients such as Durex and the Malaysian Government at Summer Sands. He will be based out of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and overseeing business development across Asia. (mobileYouth)

For more coverage of youth marketing, go to the Ypulse Youth Marketing Channel sponsored by Youth Marketing Connection

At first, this struck me as somewhat surprising — we tend to think of today’s teens as such individualists, it seems like self-expression on a budget would naturally lead to rummaging through the racks at a cool secondhand store chain like Buffalo Exchange. So what gives? After thinking it over, I have a few theories…

“Aspirational” style icons. Even if teens wouldn’t want to model their lives after the characters on “Gossip Girl” or “The Hills”, it doesn’t mean they can’t crave their look (or apparently their hairstyles). And that look doesn’t come cheap. By pulling a Carrie Bradshaw and taking fashion risks with luxury brands, costume designers and stylists on these rich teen shows make trendy look non-conformist and glamorous at the same time. And while Main Street teens may not be able to afford the real deal, with more name brand designers coming out with lines at retailers like Target (Anna Sui even branded hers as Gossip Girl-inspired) or JC Penney, young stylish types don’t have to search endlessly for a Marc Jacobs needle in a thrift store haystack.

Vintage shortcuts. Even for teens with a quirkier bend, looks that once had to come from $5 bins have also come to be mass-produced. Sure, you might not hear them bragging as much, but with chains like Urban Outfitters expertly spotting and reproducing alternative trends, whether that be the grunge look, faded band tees, or jeans with holes in them (I can just hear the “that’s the style, Mom!” argument playing out now), Urban, and smaller boutiques like it, make the search a whole lot easier (and probably less “icky” to some parents). Not to mention more convenient for those cities without a lot of thrift store options. Similarly, as “indie” or “alternative” styles become increasingly mainstream, we see variations on the these same styles trickling down to discount chains as well (check out Jezebel’s snarky commentary on Miley & Max Azria’s line at Walmart). For better or worse, the “Juno” look has become an easy D.I.Y.

Not for everyone. It seems like every few months or so, stories crop up in the media about teen or tween fashion bloggers and their avant garde ways. It’s not hard to see why they get the exposure — they’re industrious, hip and photograph well — but it might be misleading to assume that the average teen is cut from the same cloth. After all, we also keep hearing about the success of chains like Aeropostale and American Eagle that offer clothes with less original flair, but still trendy style, and the right price to match (a key component as Abercrombie & Fitch learned this last year). The reality is that the majority of teens could still be seeking out those qualities more than anything else.

Of course, there are still thrift-store-loving teens out there. Or teens that will mix it up with department stores, retailers and vintage. There’s also probably a good number of crafty types exploring sites like Etsy for homemade goods. But when it comes to the masses, a vintage look or a secondhand price might just be good enough.