New Pepper Sprays A Fasion Assault

They put the chic in kicking ass. A company hopes women attending New York nightclubs will be more willing to carry pepper spray if it's packed in blinged-out barrels. The lipstick-size cylinders, created by Pepperface.com, come adorned with bright colors or Swarovski crystals, and pack three half-second bursts of a hot-pepper derivative called oleoresin capsicum, which causes impairment of vision, choking and a burning sensation for up to 45 minutes. With the rash of crime, underage drinking and murders in recent months, particularly in Chelsea, company executives saw a need for a more modern self-defense device. "When I started looking into the market, it was years and years behind," says Mladen Djanovic, founder of Pepperface. "Pepper sprays were bulky, gaudy and impossible to use - and they were only sold on hunting sites. None of it was geared toward women." The standard solid-color devices retail for $35, while the personalized Swarovski crystal versions start at $95. Free samples will be handed out tonight at the club Stereo. "We decided to do this because there needs to be a change in awareness," says Stereo owner Michael Statsky. "Women who go to clubs are so fashion-conscious - this is another accessory they can wear, that really appeals to them, that will also serve a real purpose." link