CITYist

Riding the subway without earbuds in is essentially an invitation for unwarranted conversations with the loquacious personality sitting next to you. For those uninterested in meeting new characters but wanting a bit more funk than the white Apple earbud provides, check out Atomic9’s Grungebuds.

Looking for something edgier than those plain white earbuds? Merkury Innovations’ Skull Earbuds are compatible with everything from your laptop to your iPod. They are only $9.99 a pair and come with three pairs of soft silicone ear inserts each. These inserts come in small, medium and large so they are sure to fit comfortably in your ears. I love these earbuds because they remind me of the late Alexander McQueen’s skull designs (one of my personal favorite trends of all time) and Damien Hirst’s famous piece of artwork, the diamond skull. There’s just something about skulls that will never go out of style. The earbuds could totally spice up any outfit in a second. Now I just wish they came in all different colors.