Vacuuming is functional, and sometimes it's bloody expensive, but rarely would I use the term "fashionable" to describe this weekly chore. And yet, this Toshiba/Electrolux collaboration, inexplicably called the Escargot, exists.

The tiny shoulder slung vacuum is encased in brushed metal, costs a modest $130, and weighs just five pounds. It's somewhat quiet too, says Toshiba, with an output of 65dB.

Still, vacuuming is a solitary, relatively noisy activity that pisses off family pets and annoys me to no end—this coming from a guy with hardwood floors and one rug. Why bother making it pretty? [Toshiba via Wired Gadget Lab]