More Balenciaga Badness

(Photo via People.com)

GAH! Aside from the EVERYTHING that's wrong north of her knees, Jennifer Connelly is also redirecting the traffic of misery south of her ankles with these moiré-inducing Balenciaga heels.

For those of you who don't know what moiré is -- and don't worry, I knew that it existed, but I wasted like 30 minutes looking for the term in Google -- it's that terrible pattern you see on TV, especially when someone's wearing tweed or houndstooth. It makes a jumping effect, and it's created by two sets of patterns that basically overlap and make your eyes wanna barf.

Just like so!

Anyway, there's your science lesson for the day! Still, it's NO excuse for these heinous zig-zag heels!

Marimekko For H&M! Behold! Rejoice!

Huzzah and huzzah and huzzah!

From IG Trendcentral:
"Launching this April, Finnish textile company Marimekko is partnering with H&M to do a collection for women and children that will include tunics, dresses, hats, and bags in their signature striking prints. We’re hoping their classic tulip patterns will make an appearance."

Now THAT I might stand in line for and risk mass stampeding!

Coupon & Promo Code Bonanza

Mysterious frequent commenter "Poop McGee" sent me a rip-roarin', rootin'ly tootin'ly massive list of promo codes. I've tried to strip out the suckier ones (Nascarfansite.com! Rave!). Anyway, GO! SPEND LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW!


Alloy: ALYGIFT (20% off entire order til Dec. 3, 2007)
American Eagle: 64152219 (15% off from Nov. 27 - Dec. 11, 2007)
Armani Exchange: STYLE20 ($20 off $100 from ? - ? )
Banana Republic: BRHOLIDAY (20% off from Nov 27 – Dec 24, 2007)
Bare Escentuals: BEFAMILY (20% off from Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2007)
Bath and Bodyworks: VELVET10 ($10 off $30 from Nov. 27 - Dec. 2, 2007)
BeBe Sport: FAMILY25 (25% off from Nov. 29 - Dec. 2, 2007)
J. Jill: FFNV25 (25% off on Nov 27 – Dec 2, 2007)
JC Penney: CHAMPION (20% off from Dec. 9, 2007)
Levis Store: LOJVWYJ9 (20% off $75 from Nov 30 – Dec 2, 2007)
Liz Claiborne: FRIEND40 (40% off from Nov. 30 - Dec. 3, 2007)
Macy's: MACYSFRIEND or MACYSFF or CFF117 (20% off from Nov 28 – Dec 03, 2007)
MetroStyle: MSTYLE50 (50% off Single Item from Nov. 28 - Dec. 31, 2007)
New York & Company: 9897 ($30 off $75 from Nov 27 – Dec 3, 2007)
Nike: 2PCTH7A (20% off $125 from Nov 27 – Dec 24, 2007)
Overstock: 73989 (10% off $45 from ? - ? )
Ralph Lauren: HOL2007 (30% off 11/10 - 12/10)
Red Envelope: AMX25WISH ($50 off $200 from ? – ? )
Sephora: FF2007 (20% off from Nov. 28 - Dec 31, 2007)
Speedo: FRIENDS4 (25% off on Nov 27 – Nov 30, 2007)
Ulta: 84447 (20% off Single Item from Nov 27 – Dec 1, 2007)
Victoria's Secret: FA78113 or FA78449 ($15 off $100, $30 off $150, $75 off $250, & $150 off $500 from Nov. 28 - Dec. 20, 2007)
Victoria's Secret: WARM25 (25% off Single Sweater from Nov. 28 - Dec. 1, 2007)

Seventh On Sale: Fashion Dos & Don'ts Galores

Okay, I don't see what the BFD is about Seventh On Sale. I'm glad it's for a good cause, (100% of the eBay proceeds go to HIV/ AIDS charities, and you can't argue with that... unless you're George Bush or something) but it's basically a black tie flea market. Mainly, I'm confused about what happened to my invite -- it must've gotten lost in the mail. Harumph! Oh well. There's always next year. Til then, let's talk about the abundant fashion mortses, and a few gems too.

While I do agree with one Popsugar commenter, who referred to MK's Giambattista Valli white frock as a "Huggies" dress (tee!), I LOVE the fun, much-ballyhooed hot-pink stilettos (also Giambattista Valli) Mary-Kate wore. The dress is, as most anything she wears over a size 3T, humungo on her, the shoes work. And considering some of the batshit-nuts get-ups she often wears, this is seriously tame. And yes, they're an impractical 18 inches tall or something, but doesn't she have someone she pays to carry her? Observe the look in this less scowly shot below. Yay! ... Now if only she'd get rid of that baby fat already! HOW WOODE!



Jessica Seinfeld also could've wrapped Mary-Kate around her waist for a "pop" of color!


Yes, it's bit flamenco-y, but Jennifer Connelly is spellbinding in Oscar de la Renta, and it fits her so well on top that she actually manages to stand out from the dress and not look like the dress is wearing her. Minus several points though for the Bert and Ernie brows.


Dita Von Teese continues to scare me. Am I supposed to care that she fucked Marilyn Manson?? She reminds me of a slutty Mona Lisa. And what's more, Eve appears to be growing out of the side of her Marchesa gown...


... While Blake Lively appears to be playing an invisible harp growing out of her head while doing an impression of Cher.


Kate Spade may be an arbiter of questionable accessories and often boring little handbags, but she's CLEARLY doing something right since she's a billionairess. She knows what's up, right? So why is she wearing metallic blue ankle straps with this purple pup-tent of a dress? And the belt looks like those tie-down thingies you use to hold down your Igloo cooler to the top of your Rav4. Perhaps she had to dash off to a camping benefit straight away!


Michael Stipe is flashing you. (I smell a LOL Cat in here!)


Can we PLEASE just stop humoring Parker Posey? Yes, she does a funny Southern accent and was hilarious as the Busy Bee lady and great as a creepy fake Jackie O. But she's clearly NUTTY! Just swap out her bag with the New York Times, and you've got suburban "Just Grabbin' The Paper" couture. Seriously, you should not sleep naked in a hotel, lest the fire alarm goes off in the middle of the night and you gotta bolt. Should that occur, you should definitely have a poly-sateen bathrobe on hand.


Okay. Beddy-bye time for Tams!

Beyonce's Bringin' Balenciaga Back... Again...

I saw Beyonce in those absurd $4,150 Balenciaga Lego heels at the AMAs the other week, but I was too lazy to "bolg" about it. Thankfully, the absurdly, obscenely hilarious Kingdom Of Style busted wasn't -- she nabbed Ms. Knowles for galavanting about in these trannybot heels.

Anyway, these shoes are Pure Atrocity. Plus, and I'm not usually the first to blow the "soooo last-season" whistle, but these um, are, especially when you're as recognizable as Beyonce and you're wearing primary colored Transformers on your feet at an awards show. Dude, it is YOUR DUTY to bring something FRESH to the table, even if it is something your cray-cray mama made outta Liberace curtains.

Manolo himself deemed these old "hat," if you will, back in September. THE HORROR!

Anyway, LEAVE THEM ALONE, Chris Crocker style. Let them go quietly into that deep, dark hein-shoe resting place in the sky, never to be heard from again. Can we? Please? Forever? Forever and for realsies?

Dr. Feel-Good and the Need for Brown Shoes

Savin' makes me feel good...the Doc Martens site (the Official Dr. Martens USA Store to you) is offering a whopping 35 percent off of all (nonclearance) shoes with coupon code DMFF3507 (valid till December 14). And I bought two pairs of shoes! I'm pretty psyched about them. I needed a pair of relatively basic brown pumps. I think. I mean, this is something a professional woman should have, yes? Please weigh in if you have strong opinions on the subject. Of course, I fell in love with the two-tone number and had to get those too. After the discount, the damage was only $107. Free shipping, too!



Dr. Martens "Jenna" mary-jane pump, $95 (minus 35 percent is...cheaper). It also comes in basic black, dramatic red, and shiny navy, which I considered but rejected. I mean really, when do you ever wear navy shoes?



Jenna T-bar pump, on sale for $70, plus you get the 35 percent discount. Oh hell...I'll whip out the calculator...$45.50! I think these are quite Camper-esque, and just the kind of sensible-yet-funky footwear I crave. Score!

I also pondered, but did not purchase, these:



Dr. Martens wedge zip calf boot, $100 but only $65 with the discount. (That math's easy.) I have a pair of boots the exact same color, but had they been a darker brown, I may have. I also find myself with the need for dark brown boots sometimes. Oh, the misery...

Jay McCarroll Blogs Project Runway 4!

ZOMG! Best "Proj"-er ever, Jay McCarroll, is blogging the new season of Project Runway. For the RECORD, I'm finding this season to be a snoozefest TOTALE! I say I won't watch it much this season, because that's like saying "I'm not gonna eat pasta that much this season." (And in the former statement, "much" will end up referring to every week. In the latter, it means any day ending in "Y.")

Anyway, I'm confident that Jay's OBVIOUSLY hilar posts will make the otherwise-humdrum season bearable. I'd pull out some stitch-inducing (har) quotes, but that'd basically be the entire fucking post. Seriously, you will weep. Perhaps now I can find it in my heart to get past the overly self-referrentialness that is PRS4 -- the fact that one of the contestants had written "Make It Work!" on the chalkboard of their living room!!!? HORRENDOUS! Ugh. And that batshit bonkers Bjork chick? Come ON! It's like she walked into a marketing firm and paid a team of "image managers" to create her pre-packaged TV persona. TERRIBLE. But anyway, Jay rules.

Check out Jay's guest blogging stint at Elle's Tell All Blog.

(Photo via NY Mag)

Missha Vita-Feel So Good Serum: So Good Indeed

'Sbeen awhile since I've done any beauty products, and since I just got back from the 2-Up 2-Down, where I hand-delivered my moms another bottle (we sound like junkies) of a favorite product we both love: Missha's "Vita-Feel So Good Serum." Now, unless you speak both Korean and English, that name probably makes no sense. And even if you do, it still may not.

So, here's what I can deduce from my own experience as a total Westerner: first of all, I use it as a light morning/ daytime moisturizer. Second of all, it's cool but so much so that you can't use it in the winter; it's the perfect year-round moisturizer. Since it is a serum, it features the added bonus of zero C&C grease factor-y, and aside from feeling smoother and girlier than a newborn kitty's tum, your skin feels instantly softy without any of that sick tight dryness that makes you feel like a poor, enfeebled old lady. (That just me?)

And, since it's a Vitamin C serum (uhh, at least I think it is), this shit is not only fragrant, and light, but it's instantly refreshing and basically akin to a fruit salad on/ for your face. It rules. You should try it. It's $22.50 at Missha, which is basically the Korean Body Shop except at H&M prices... Actually, while most of Missha's products are insanely cheap (hence the H&M pricing), at $22.50 this product is a hypocritical exception to that rule, but considering this shit's $90 for an ounce, Missha's seems like an even better deal.

Fake Prada Socks!

Hey, remember these awesome colorblock Prada socks, the standout from their Fall '07 collection?



Well, a pretty much identical version is coming soon to an American Apparel near you, y'all! Yay!



And AA is offering 20% off purchases for now till...Dov Charney loses his hard-on? I dunno. Oh wait. Fine print says the 26th. That's tomorrow.



Get yer double-breasted knit cardigans, $39.50 regularly, at a reduced price (you do the math) whilst you can! And keep your eyes peeled for the hot socks!

My Fair Isle Sweater... Et Al...

I don't usually go gaga over Fair Isle sweaters -- there's something a bit too WASPy about 'em for me, but I do LOVE this one:

($325, Chimala, Stuart & Wright/ Refinery29.com)

I like the oatmeal color. Cute cut too, and not too overly "trying-extra-hard-to-look-like-I'm-from-Maine-ish." By the way, I've never been to Stuart & Wright and keep meaning to go but rarely find myself in Ft. Greene. Anyone been? Any good sale stuff ever?

($88, Kersh, Nordstrom)

Nothing earth-shattering here, but cute nonetheless. I like the longer versions -- more femme than the standard waist-length ones.

($39, Victoria's Secret)

Oh my God. Oh my God. I can't believe I just posted something from Victoria's Secret. I'm fairly sure this computer will blow up as soon as I hit "publish," and/or a giant meteor will crush me to death as I sit here in my home... but this is actually fairly ok-cute.

($34, Old Navy)

Looks like that Fair Isle sweater Old Navy was pushing earlier this season is done, but this pullover is a nice, not-bad comfy staple.

($10, Old Navy)

Comfy pajama pants (or "apartment pants," as my boyfriend's sister humorously calls them) -- ten bucks! Cain't beat dat!

($24, JC Penney)

I couldn't tell you the last time I stepped foot inside of a JCP (closest one's in Jersey), so I'm not too familiar with their jonx, but my sweater search pulled up this cardigan -- it's not Fair Isle, but it's nice and wintery, and it's not bad.

($68, Urban Outfitters)

I couldn't tell you the last time I stepped foot within a one-mile radius of a campfire, but Urban Outfitters' All-Son Campfire sweater perfect! By the way, Urban has free shipping over $50 until Monday, so this totes applies! Git it, shortie!

($98, SandrikasFiberArts.etsy.com)

This scarf, hand made by Etsy seller SandrikasFiberArts, is so adorable and romantic. I'd so wear it camping if I knew how to do that.

Finally, enjoy this super-alluring photo of me in my eBay-scored horse head cowichan. Neigh indeed! And if you're thinking of knitting your own Fair Isle sweater, check out this how-to video. And if you're thinking of knitting your dude a sweater, consult this book first.

Not-So-Cheap Monday

I had no idea that Cheap Monday has so much non-jeans stuff! It seems like here in the U.S. and/or/Of A. we mainly just get jeans. Unfortunately, most of the awesome accessories and stuff are on Swedish site Caliroots (a misnomer if ever there was one), which is actually quite cheap due to the krona-to-USD exchange rate AND Cheap Monday's rad mission to keep their stuff, well, cheap... But... the freaking VAT and shipping is OFF. THE. CHARTS.

Some of the super-cute stuff I wanted:

($14, Cheap Monday, Caliroots.com)

Awesome. Was gonna get one for my sister, who's obsessed with giant squids (this is an octopus, but who's counting?) and one for myself.

($7, Cheap Monday, Caliroots.com)

Seven bucks! What the hull?

I excitedly added two of scarf #1 and some cute $7 skull socks to my cart. The total came to $39 USD. But with $55 shipping (!!!!?!!??!?!?), VAT, and God knows what the fuck else -- tax on being awesome or something? -- the total came to $85 USD. Um, nah brah.


I'll stick with this cute Easter egg-colored scarf instead:

($23, Cheap Monday, Activeendeavors.com)

And here's some horrifying Cheap Monday stuff that, even though I've never worn nor owned, causes me to shudder with morning-after regret:

($28 USD, Cheap Monday, Caliroots.com)

"Kids, when I say 4:30 outside of the Orange Julius, I MEAN 4:30 and not a minute later."

($135, Cheap Monday, ActiveEndeavors.com)

"And after I finished going down on that Guns N Roses roadie, he told me I was pretty! He's so dreamy!" WTF? And why are these NOT $65?

($28, Cheap Monday, Caliroots.com)

"And after that skanky groupie was done giving me head, I told her she was hot. Can you believe that shit?"

($28, Cheap Monday, Caliroots.com)

"OMG. I can't believe Gerard Way looked sort of somewhere near me but almost at me from the stage! OMG! Best My Chem show EVER!"

Fashion Binge Has A Baby ...Post!

We had a baby POST, silly! Check out these adorable kiddie picks that make me wish that they came in my size. (You thought I was gonna say that I wished I had a kid, right? HELLS No! Then I wouldn't be able to afford cute stuff for ME!)

First of all, Phillip Lim just unveiled his kiddie collection, and it's SO fucking precious, I could just shat.

(Photo via Oh Joy!)

OMG. The little yellow Paddington-style jacket and those wee grey tights! Cuter than 23 kittens in a little yarn basket! What I really wish is that Phil (we're tight) made this stuff in adult sizes at KID prices!

($38, C & C California)

Unbelivably adorable (Via BabySugar.com) Why do kids get the good stuff though? They don't even have brains advanced enough to appreciate the cuteness of an all-over car print! Please make this in my size, lest I suffer the indignity of trying to squeeze my womanly chest into a 6T.

($36, C&C California)

Again, unbearable cuteness! (Note to my mother if she is reading this: No, this isn't an open invitation to talk to me about the joys of motherhood and how awesome it is to have kids. So help me God, bring that up over Thanksgiving and I'll purposely burn the turkey. Bring it up AFTER Thanksgiving, and I'll be on the next flight back to New York!)

Sally Tseng & Seychelles At Wink + PROMO CODE!

Y'all, Chanukkah's super early this year, so please please please someone buy me this amazing top from Winknyc.com:

($215, Sally Tseng, Winknyc.com)

I love how it's sorta punk-chic -- from afar, the yellow detailing almost looks like graffiti, but up close, it's sweet and femme. And grey and yellow is one of my fave color combos.

($86, Seychelles, Winknyc.com)

I also adore this gold criss-cross-strap heel -- such a great holiday shoe, and I find this style to be way more flattering than Mary Janes, especially on short folk like myself. I'm also dying for the antiqued ivory pair below:

Finally, be aware: Wink NYC promo code! 15% off the entire site through November 27! Enter THKGV7. Yay! Go forth, be thankful, and spend!

Awesome Widget Alert!

We get quite a few emails about new fashion-related widgets, and most of them, frankly, are useless. But this! This will change your shopping life, especially if you hate paying full price. Savvy Circle keeps track of items you like but want to be on sale, and then emails you as soon as the price drops! So awesome. It places a little button on your toolbar, and whenever you see something covetable, just click it and it adds it to your shopping list. Of course, not all stores are supported, but they do have a LOT of stores on their list. Here's a little look at what's on my shopping list.



I actually already got an email about an Ann Taylor Loft dress I didn't want to pay $80 for, but would pay $50 for. For some reason, however, it's "not available for purchase." Boo. BUT!



This L.A.M.B. ruffle blouse is now $110 instead of $185. Pretty, no?

And here are a few more items I'd like but not at their current prices....



Erin Fetherston for Target long cream coat, $89.99. Looks a little hippy to me.



J.Crew checked broadcloth "Phoebe" dress, $138.

Seriously, go download the Savvy Circle widget right now!

Design Your Own Steve Maddens

Yay! Case you needed more ways to waste spend your time online, you can now customize and design your own Steve Madden shoes and bags based on a ton of different style templates.

It's actually sorta fun. Here's a pair of "Lezlie" heels before:

... And after I got done customizing my very own:
They'd be $129, which is a not unreasonable price to pay for shoes (in this case at least) so ridiculously tacky that they're almost awesome. You pick the upper, buckle, trim and heel color, and you pick the size, of course. I was pretty surprised to find that Steve Maddens, at least these and I'm sure most other styles, are available in as small as size 4 (which I haven't been since I was in about third grade) and they go up to size 12. Fun!


More options:

($99, Steve Madden)

The Nlight comes in 15 different color combos to begin with, but you can also trick it out accordingly.

($150, SteveMadden.com)

Then there's the BBabylux bag, which you can fug out into this...

Hm! It almost looks like a Fendi after I've gotten my hands on it! I'm a fucking DESIGN GENIUS!