Peacock Pretties By Tricia Fix & More

Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might... have any of these peacock-inspired dresses by Tricia Fix, Milly and Hayden-Harnett.

You totally expected some peacock rhyme, right? Well, I am lazy, and nothing rhymes with peacock, so here are the dresses.

($275, Tricia Fix, Couturecandy.com)


($330, Tricia Fix, Couturecandy.com)


($259, Milly, Neiman Marcus)

($210, Hayden-Harnett)

Oh Hayden-Harnett. I just cain't quit you.

Totally Sanitary Target Purchases: Gryson For Target

Pweeeease hurry up and let it be April 6th already! That's when the shopping herds can trample down upon the Gryson for Target capsule collection. These leather-esque bags look to be some of the nicest pieces I've seen in the GO International collections in quite a while.

A few of my faves:




In select Target stores from April 6 - June 21. More at the fabs FabSugar.com.

OH! And, AND, AND: next up: Botkier bags! WhutWhut!

More Evidence BK Target is GHETTO SQUARED

So I was trying on a few things in the Brooklyn Target just now, and I have to tell you what transpired. I was bringing in this item:



Xhilaration tie-dye bikini, $30, and the very nice Jamaican lady attendant told me that there had been "a problem" and I was not allowed to try on the bottoms. Shady, huh? So I tried on my stuff, and the bikini was great, by the way. On the way out I asked the lady if it was at all Targets or just this one that you couldn't try on bathing-suit bottoms, and she said just this one, and repeated the ominous phrase "there was a problem." I asked if someone had bled on them. She nodded sadly, and then there was a whole "aren't people disgusting" exchange. And then she added that it had happened more than once. WTF people? Who is so hard up for emergency swimwear that they have to do this? Gross. Just gross.

Anyway, here's what I "purchased" (that Christmas gift card was burning a hole in my wallet) in addition to the bikini:



Skinny patent-leather belt, $9.99 in store. Apparently I'm in a skinny belt mood these days, despite the fact that I'm not really a belt person at all.



Mossimo printed hoodie, $19.99. So cute.

Thanks Mom!

Actively Endeavoring to Save You Cash!

Loveys, one of our favorite online supa-stores, Active Endeavors, has sweetly offered a deal to you, the loyal Bingeketeers. Go binge away on their site, enter coupon code fashionbinge20 and you will magically recieve 20% off your order! It lasts through April, so there's plenty of time to sift through the site and watch the new arrivals section like a hawk. Here are a few of the fab finds you could score right this minute:



Kooba "Micki" bag, $695 regularly; $556 with Fashion Binge discount. Whee! I've been thinking about splurging on a nice bag (more on that later), and I'm in love with this bag. Simply gorgeous. Let's have a closer look:



Seriously, how cool are those zippers?! Moving on...



Maria Bonita Extra thin braided patent-leather belt, $60 regularly; $48 because you love the 'Binge. Such a versatile piece for spring, to cinch a poofy dress, hold up your fat jeans, etc.



Reyes camisole, $324 regularly but just $262 for being in the Fashion Binge club. Still 'spensive, but boy is that purty.



Coven ribbed top, $246 regularly; $217 cuz you roll with us. Flashdance with a twist! I love it.



Ulla Johnson "Eleanor" silk blouse, $275 regularly; $220 with binge love. I think TLo might have blogged this before, but even if she did, it's well worth another look.

Unfortunately, you can't use promo codes on sale stuff. But here are some undeniably awesome deals, most of which are marked down way more than 20% anyway. Check it:



McQ by Alexander McQueen tank top, $30. Great, unboring layering piece, no?



Sunshine & Shadows pleated dress, $93. Love the bold color, fun print, everything about this.



Even better! Trovata "Olivia" silk dress, $97. Doesn't the model look so happy to be wearing it??



This one goes out to Ms. Spinach, though I'm not sure the bow is big enough for her: Julie Haus "Secretary" dress, $128.

Gotta go, but remember the discount code: fashionbinge20 ! And let us know in the comments what you bought, mkay?

Brown Baggin' It

Lots of cute neutral earth toned bags -- totes, satchels, "saddlebags," if you will -- for el espring! And they're all under $200 ('cept for one).

($39, Lulu's)

There's a lot going on here, texture-wise, but it's all subtle, so it's all good. And peep the similar one in khaki (though it looks brown to me.)

($45, Lulu's)

Spacious, plus, polka dot lining! Tee!

($52, ShopSueyboutique.com)

A direct rip-off descendant of that Marc Jacobs bag. Fair enough.

($198, Hayden-Harnett, Winknyc.com)

A very smart-looking bag. Like, you could be carrying the OED, the DSM or US Weekly inside, and you'd look just as sophisticated regardless. OH! And an update on my second Hayden-Harnett experience: Seamless. (Har.) Delivered straight to my desk. No hassles. Mama go a brand-new bag!

($139, Seonie Parc, ModCloth.com)

I adore this belted bag. It's like what I would've worn to a late '70s/ early '80s British disco on Rodeo Night. Or something. Check out designer Seonie Parc's site for more colors. Also: Modcloth.com promo code: 20% off through this Friday (3/28), code "nerd."

($58, Old Navy)

A real leather shoulder bag from Old Navy? For $58? Seriously? They really are stepping that game up.

($151, Billy Bag, Asos.com)

The anti-Spring bag Spring bag.

($245, Kooba, Barneys)

Kooba's answer to green-chic: the limited-edition 100% organic cotton bag with recycled cork trim. Not cheap, but not pachouli-looking either. Available at Barney's.

Tsumori Chisato & Tibi Go Peter Max

I love Japanese designer Tsumori Chisato's whimsical Peter Max-style life aquatic pieces. Her recent collection reads like she took the "Peaceable Kingdom" underwater and translated it to ready-to-wear pastels:

($656, Tsumori, Chisato, Shopbird.com)

Tsumori Chiasato is a Japanese designer who cut her teeth -- and her scissors (har) -- working for Issay Miyake. Unfortunately, Tsumori Chisato garments are priced a la high art, and while Bird in Brooklyn and Hefjina in Chicago carry her gorgeous pieces, it seems like they're easiest to find in Japan, specifically at a shop called Humor, which um, is 99% in Japanese, so I'm not sure if they ship to the States or Europe.

More Tsumori Chiasato pieces I'd possibly sacrifice an animal for...

8Tokyo.com

Paris Fashion Week, Spring 2008


Paris Fashion Week, Spring 2008


Paris Fashion Week, Spring 2008

(Apprx $513 USD, Tsumori Chisato, Hmr.jp)



(Apprx $503 USD, Tsumori Chisato, Hmr.jp)

(Apprx $315, Tsumori Chisato, Hmr.jp)

($1,029, Tsumori Chisato, Hefjina.com)

That said, this Tibi dress pretty much looks like the steal of the year:

($310, Tibi, ActiveEndeavors.com)

More whimsical Peter Max images to inspire your pop-fashion sense... or at least mine...

Peter Max, "A Long Time Ago"



Peter Max, "Angel And Master"


Peter Max, "Bird In Hand"


Peter Max, "Bluebeard"



Peter Max, "Cosmic Confrontation"

And finally, check out artist Sharon Koskoff's "Peaceable Kingdom" reimagined on the side of a Florida elementary school:

Contrasted with... my Ohio elementary school:

A buzzkill in beige brick.

Totes Bag Lust: Alexandra Cassaniti's Tote Lust

($220, Alexandra Cassaniti)

Lusting por this graffiti-goes-glam tote. The pink-eye isosceles and scalenes remind me of the Vuarnet logo deconstructed. (Via Coolhunting.)

Here's a super-duper ghetto option, if you need easy, breezy toteage:

($14.95/ dozen, Oriental Trading)

BTW, I read somewhere that Vuarnet was relaunching, but I can't find any Internet proof to corroborate. Oh well.

UPDATE!
It's actually '80s surf-n-skate brand Maui & Sons that's making a comeback. At Opening Ceremony, natch. I was feeling down on myself for my fruitless Googling -- I was seriously doubting my Internet prowess! Until I saw a dude last night wearing a Maui & Sons shirt and it hit me that I'd had my '80s sport Tees mixed up. Phew.

Time Out New York <3s Fashion Binge!

They like us! They really like us! Time Out New York, or "TONY," as the kids like to call it, totes <3s FashionBinge in their round-up of NYC Fashion blogs you should know. And we agree: you SHOULD!

We've always been big fans of Time Out, and not just because they shouted us out OR because they've got lots of sex in every issue, although we appreciate both. Anyway, we're totally flattered! Also, check out their new feature: cute dresses for chicks with huge racks.

Also, the 'Binge is BIG in Canada! In their list of editorial picks, Sweetspot.ca honored us alongside we're-not-worthy flog The Sartorialist, but -- maybe even better -- they also mentioned us in nearly the same breath as The Hills!

FASHIONBINGE HAS ARRIVED!

That's a Wrap?!

Who doesn't love DVF wrap dresses? It's the thing she's famous for, so classic, flattering, etc. BUT what was she thinking with this unfortunate "wrap" bag??

And you have to drop $900 for this ill-considered item! It's bad enough that so many designers these days feel the need to adorn bags with "belts," now this? What's next? I rue the day when bags have, like, plunging necklines, bubble hems, or other accessories stuck to them. Although, now that I think about it, Marc Jacobs already did that—to weird and wonderful effect. This, just: no.

That said, I bet you could use an influx of cash to buy some dresses. Well, DVF is having a contest in which you could win a $5,000 DVF shopping spree, a trip to NYC, and a chance to have a seat at the 2009 DVF fashion show. Like the best contest, this one is merit-based: Just write an essay on the inspirational women in your life. Go here to enter. We'd do it, but we're lazy.

Promo Code: 20% Active Endeavors

Get 20% off everything at ActiveEndeavors.com
Promo Code: SPRING20
Expires: March 23rd, so git on it.

And girl, you KNOW I just bought those 80%20 blue loafers I blogged about earlier this week:

Originally $48, but they came to $38 with the discount.

Oh, AND ActiveEndeavors does free UPS shipping! YAY!

More Crimes Against Nature: Saggy Crotch Leggings

($90, MadeMe, Karmaloop.com)

TheFashionPolice first spotted these (credit goes to them for the photo AND the horrifying discovery).

Everything about the description is depressing. I've bolded for added emphasis:

"Ultra high waist fold over legging with low crotch and multi geometric pattern throughout."

It's like a crescendoing parade of horrors.

The only reason I could imagine for these to exist is perhaps for hipsters who are into baby role playing? So you can shit your diaper AND look "Williamsburg" at the same time? That's really the only thing I could think of. And the only thing that'd make this heinous offense worse would be bust-a-sag leggings would be bust-a-sag leggings with Crocs.

Kelly Taylor Dresses Entire Family Like Mario Batalli, Idiots

The scourge of Crocs continues!!

Can't Child Protective Services take your kids away from you for lesser infractions?

Oh yeah, and speaking of Jennie Garth, there's a new 90210 coming, by the way. No word on whether the female cast members will be contractually obligated to wear Mom jeans.

(Thanks to Chicago JP for sending me this one.)

A Few Fun, Affordable Spring Picks

For a minute there, I was like, maybe that post title could be a palindrome. Then I was like... fuck it. It's late. So here are the cute and affordable items, in descending order of cost:

(Apprx $132 USD, Topshop.com)

From the new Kate Moss Topshop collection. Now, honestly, I wasn't blown away by her initial offering. But I love this. I'd love it even more if it didn't have the little ruffle at the waist, but we know ruffles are quite in. Even if they're definitely not universally flattering. Still, I love the embroidered detail and the simple colors.

($48, 80%20, ActiveEndeavors.com)

I wouldn't wear all of 80%20 designer Ce Ce Chin's shoes, but I love the ideas and inspiration behind them. And I am totes enamored of these robin's egg blue punk loafers -- also available in "grape" (hee!) and green.

($39.50, Delias)

Boy shorts aren't always the MOST flattering, but I love the classic tie-neck '40s/'50s look here.

($29.50, Old Navy)

Two cute new suits from Old Navy. They both hit stores April 1. The golden metallic one is a BIT American Apparel (in the bad way), except that it isn't cut below one's crotch. It also HAS a crotch, so that's good. Anyway, metallic definitely has its place on the beach (though it may be its only place I think it's okay in non-accessories form), so I endorse this suit, but the brown one is even better.

($10, Malina, ManicTrout.com)

Never mind that the site's name sounds like a tedious jam band (which is redundant.) These vintage lucite earrings are really sweet, and they're actually tiny -- just a quarter-inch. Tee!

Salestravaganza: Promo Codes, Sales Y Mas

Sorry for the uninspired post -- I'm as busy on the workfront as Britney Spears is wack.

But, I'm passing on the savings to you with the following sales and promo codes:

Promo codes:
+ ASOS.com: 20% off
Use Code: EASTERSHOP.
Expires: March 24th

Buy something awesome, like this bikini:

($162.53, J4Gb, Asos.com)

+ Cutesygirl.com: 15% off
Use Code: SAVE15
Expires March 22

Buy something light and comfy for summer, like this mini dress:

($23.99, Mercy Me, Cutesygirl.com)

But definitely not this:

($19, Intimation, Cutesygirl.com)

+ Threadless.com: Tees on sale, from $9
No promo code, just a maje sale. Get something cute, like this very spring-y "Citrust-Me" Tee:

($15, Thomas DeSantis, Threadless.com)

Or, this fun giraffe (giraffes!!) Tee:

($9, Dan Rule, Threadless.com)

Both Tees available in dudes and Bettys versions.

Brilliant Bags from Bryna Nicole

I've been thinking about dropping some tax-refund cash on a really nice bag, and now I have another name to add to the list of designer candidates: Bryna Nicole. I'm practically salivating over the candy-colored bags in the San Francisco designer's summer collection. Made of luxurious leathers, these big, bold bags are just the thing for trotting around town in the warmer months. Imagine how they'd pop with a white tee...so fresh! Want one!



Bryna Nicole "Minna" bag, $520.



Bryna Nicole "Isis" bag, $475.



Bryna Nicole "Vega" bag, $485.



Bryna Nicole "Loyola" bag, $498.

The Most Beautiful Bag Ever: Hayden-Harnett Paule Marrot Mosaique Satchel

($288, Hayden-Harnett)

She will be mine. Oh yes. In 1 -2 business days. Oh yeah, and the total is kind of a lie -- it came to $245 with tax and shipping/handling. Even better.

Originally this afternoon I saw this one:

($225, Hayden-Harnett, ActiveEndeavors.com)

... And I almost plotzed, but I ain't paying $225 for a bag I can't zip. MKHo called me a grandma, but I never carry unzippable bags -- no ways I'm rolling around NYC, opportunistically allowing someone to just a'reach in and grab my wallet, which is now nearly empty after my big-ass purchase, which I justified in the following way:

1. I have been working my oves off lately. (A reasonable excuse for MANY indulgences, I think! It's pretty much a catch-all!)
2. I applied almost every cent of my tax return to my credit card bill. Responsible!
   
3. I sold a bunch of stuff on eBay, so it's like the bag was almost free!
4. I'm almost 30 years old and should be carrying a nice bag, damnit.
   
5. "Other people" carry far more expensive bags. You know. Because "other people" are always good to compare yourself to.
6. It will make me happier than any inanimate object has made me in ages.

... Etc, etc ad nauseam.

Now, I do need to say this: last summer, I'd ordered a dress from Hayden-Harnett online. After, like, a month or so, it still hadn't arrived (and they ship from Brooklyn, which is also where I happen to live.) I call, and perhaps the rudest/ most incompetent employee manager person or whatever tries to tell me there's nothing they can do about it since it's out of their hands since maybe UPS fucked up, but UPS said it was delivered so they have to go with that (!!!??), blah blah, and I should just talk to my neighbors to see if they have it, and they can't refund me, so sorry. Of course, I seriousolamente cannot believe the bullshit that is being poured into my earholes, so I refuse to let it go. They then tell me they'll call UPS. A series of faxes, more bullshit, more drama. Then they tell me that I should pick a night one night during the week when I'll be home and a UPS driver is going to come to my home to "see if he remembers anything." (I know, right? Pure comedy.) I'm like uhhhhh riiiight. I'm SURE this dude's going to come to my house at 7:30 at night to "see if he remembers my front door." Sure as shootin', the guy doesn't come. I call up Hayden-Harnett again, in even more shock/ awe/ disbelief/ fury than ever before (at this point, I could care less about the dress or the $70 or whatever. I'm just pissed on principle of their flagrant violation of Customer Service 101.) I FINALLY talk to a manager man, he agrees that the whole ordeal has been most ridick. He sends out another dress AND a substantial credit. Everything's smoothed out, everything arrives with a handwritten thank you note, if my memory serves me.

So, normally I'd be like fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. But I'd like to think that the negative experience was an anomaly, that nasty woman and her evil ways and UPS drama are long gone and that this time HH will deliver like pros. Because they're truly one of my very favorite indie designers, I promote the shit out of them here on Fashionbinge, and because I'll just cry if this bag does not rule. So let's just assume it will.

Let's look again... because it's soooo pretty:


... Fingers crossed.

My Trip To The Mall + Mary-Kate Olsen's Orange Wayfarers

A few weekends ago, I traveled down to my half-hometown of Virginia Beach. While down there, I stopped into Lynnhaven Mall with my sister, who wanted to check out the new Wii games. (My parents and I got her a Wii for Chanukkah and her birthday because we are collectively awesome.)

First of all, I must congratulate Lynnhaven Mall on doing an excellent job keeping up with the forward-march of time and integrating itself seamlessly into the 21st century. (For excellent stories and photos of abandoned malls, check out one of my favorite blogs, Labelscar, which tracks malls into their obsolescence, which is nostalgic and creepy and fascinating to me.)

Anyway, mid-mall, Easter Bunny photos were in full effect (some things never change -- as long as there are suburban shopping malls, there will be opportunities to sit on the laps of the Easter Bunny and/or Santa for an overpriced photo), and while we considered doing the stupid high-school-level ironic photo, we opted for an even more juvenile approach: standing in front of the Easter Bunny photo area and aiming for a photo. (Again, some things never change.)

The half-assed result, featuring my sister:

This all leads me to the fact that Lynnhaven Mall has a For Love 21, brought to you by the makers of Forever 21, except it's accessories-only, like a Claire's or Icing or whatever store you're probably a bit too old to shop at but you do anyway, like me.

So, I popped in and picked up these fun orange wayfarer-style sunglasses:

($5.80, Forever 21)

And then, lo and behold, who should I see traipsing and tramping about gay Paree but little ol' Mary-Kate Olsen herself, wearing a startling similar pair of orange sunnies!

(Credit: JustJared.com)

Ugh. If I had a Euro for every time MK tried to waste my flavor!

Apparently hers are Benjamin Eyewear (more on that at FabSugar), by Benjamin Montoya, whose new line was featured in FOMK (friend of Mary-Kate) Jenni Kayne's S/S '08 Fashion Week show in New York and can run you up to $500, so looks like I saved a cool $494.50! How you like me now?

Should you indulge in a pair of Benjamins, might I suggest these great pair of clear ones, named after Jenni Kayne. They'll set you back about three and a half Benjamins:

($325, Benjamin, LeeLeeLunettes.com)

More cute retro sunglasses:

($85, Sabre Vision, AntiApparel.com)

More of my wayfarer obsession:
+ Love Lily Allen's
+ Love Sienna Miller's
+ No love Paris Hilton's

Binge Beauty: Skin Savers, Part 1: Borba Clarifying Micro-Diamond Cleanser

Ok, so 'member when I was all in a tizzy because some random doctor told me I needed laser rubberband face treatment for hundreds of dollars to reduce my moderate redness? That unfortunate experience (I didn't undergo the treatment -- the experience of being told I should was unfortunate enough) inspired me to say FUCK THAT and instead blog about some of my favorite skin products, starting with... cleansers...


My very fave is: Borba Clarifying Microdiamond Cleanser:

($18, Borba)

Borba products are a complete line of "cosmeceuticals" created by Scott-Vincent Borba, who's basically like a fancy skincare guy who looks like the type of fancy, happy guy they'd bring in to fix your face on makeover shows. Anyway, he created a ton of skin products, ranging from vitamin powders you mix into water to look like Mary-Kate Olsen or something to cleansers to even gummi bears infused with acai and green tea extract:

($9.95, Borba, SkincareRX.com)

No lie. You're only supposed to eat a few a day, but of course I ate the whole bag in one sitting and almost barfed, and we all know barfing's bad for your skin. Good thing I didn't.

But back to the Clarifying Micro-Diamond Cleanser: it's actually created for oily-prone skin, which my skin isn't, but regardless, this stuff is fantastic. It's soft, smooth and smells light and clean, much like the product itself, which contains pomegranate, walnut and soybean extracts and hydrolyzed cotton fibers. The cleanser also has little "micro-diamond" beads that exfoliate and clean your pores, so by the time you're done, your skin is super soft and silky with zero grease factor or tightness. I definitely had way fewer skin mortses (perhaps because it cleans so well) after using this stuff.

My only beefs:
1.) The Website is poorly organized and the product names seem confused -- there appear to be several different vague names for the same product -- Like, is this the same as this? And it looks like the Micro-Diamond Cleanser used to be the Fiber-Knit Facial Cleanser, which is the product I initially bought and used and loved, but now it looks like it's been discontinued and reborn into the Micro-Diamond Cleanser. But those complaints are pretty minor as a user (though I do have a minor in Technical & Scientific Communication, so you can see from where my taxonomic distress stems.)
2.) SHIT'S HARD TO FIND! Sephora used to sell Borba products until about a month or two ago, when I went in and had to ask about three different salespeeps who looked at me like I asked them to please show me something with good gas mileage and comes with a stereo, until finally I found a saleswoman who informed me that Borba products were "unceremoniously removed" from Sephora. (Ooh! Beauty scandal!) She did say they they're available at Ulta -- a tip I appreciated, except a.) there isn't an Ulta anywhere near me, and b.) like a giant squid, I've never seen an Ulta with my own eyes, so I'm not even fully confident they actually exist.

So, looks like I'll be doing my buying at Borba.com. Cool.

Leggings By Lohan!

Look who's legging-ing! Per JustJared, Lindsay Lohan will be bringing her no-pants fashion sense to the willing-to-spend masses when she launches her own line of leggings. (Thanks to Chicago's Rustrick-On-That-Cool-Tip for the knowledge-based alert.)

So, is this the ultimate nail in the coffin for leggings, or is this a sign that they're not going anywhere? Or a sign of the impending apocalypse? And will they be as blindingly horbs as these corrupt monstrosities? And are you almost starting to consider Mom Jeans at this point?

And coming soon: Lindsay-branded coke spoons!?

High Rollin' On Hump Day (Translation: Expensive Stuff)

All of the following items have the following in common:

1.) They're gorgeous.
2.) I want them all.
3a.) They're all $169 and up.
3b.) In my world, things $169 and up qualify as "expensive."

Let's take a looksee, shall we? In declining order of dearness, meaning the closer you get to the bottom, the greater your chances become of being able to afford stuff (if you're me).

($895, Anya Hindmarch, Vivre.com)

DEFINITELY not a plastic bag.

($390, Celestina, Vivre.com)

Beautiful, timeless, worth doing some "creative refinancing" on the monthly budget for... almost maybe.

($385, Jill Stuart, Shopbop.com)

So sweet, and more subdued than your typical red-and-black cherries fare.

($365, MZ Wallace)

Gorgeous everyday bag. Love it in orange too.

($363, Alexis, ActiveEndeavors.com)

And you, faux croc ombre envelope clutch -- I covet you most of all.

($216, Maria Bonita Extra, ActiveEndeavors.com)
Possibly the greatest ballet flats/ skimmers/ whatever ever.

($169, Prairie New York, CoutureCandy.com)

I'm starting to feel a bit "meh" bout jeweled embellishments at this point (but not 100%), though this is supes cutes. But don't click the "indigo" version if you're easily offended!

My Eleven Thousandth Topshop Entreaty

I know I'm probably sounding like a broken record with my WAHHHHH OPEN UP TOPHSHOP IN NEW YORK ALREADY pleas, but I won't stop until Sir Phillip Green answers my prayer!

Some cute TopShop items that, like the devil, guide my hand...

(Apprx $132 USD, Topshop)

A perfect upgrade from the gladiator sandal. (Agrrh. The gladiator sandal!) So fashion-forward without crossing into the dangerously trendy zone. They also come in lots of other pretty colors like this blue-green.

(Apprx $121 USD, Topshop)

Definitely nearing the dangerously trendy zone, yet they're so fun that I don't even care.

(Apprx $36 USD, Topshop)

So cute, and the chain handle makes it just as "bistro" as it is "beach." (I sort of can't believe I just wrote that, but whatever.)

(Apprx $40, Topshop)

This makes me miss the Outer Banks of North Carolina, even though I've only ever been there a few times.

Mom Jeans! Cheap!

($9.99, Gap)

Just in time for spring: the original Bad Idea Jeans.

Beauty Binge: MAC Fafi: Squeeze It Lipglass

Bingers, for those of you not really that into MAC, here's an SAT-style analogy to help you understand the subset of beauty enthusiasts who are completely die-hard:

MAC addicts : new MAC products

People genuinely obsessed with Lost : new episodes of Lost

Like THAT into it. Since MAC puts out at least one brand-new collection per month, there's much new material to keep MAC addicts busy -- and buying.

Buckets of beauty ink have been spilled, so to speak, over MAC's Fafi collection, which has been out for a little over a month now. And the build-up to its debut : the Pope coming to town.

For the uninitiated -- Fafi is an adorable French graffiti artist known for her Harajuku-esque Fafinette characters. She teamed up with MAC to create a limited-edition collection of Fafi-branded beauty products, with fun Fafinettes (Temptalia has a tremendous run-down of the collection, plus lots of pix) all over the packaging.

Anyway, while I appreciate a lot of the collection's colors, many are just too bright (think Rainbow Brite) for me, personally. With the exception of one of the Lipglass glosses: Squeeze It, which is now my very favorite lipgloss. Much of MAC's Fafi stuff is sold out (including the other three Lipglasses) yet this is one's actually still in stock.

Squeeze It is described as "brassy plum," but it's more like a ripe tomato/ strawberry. Like a shiny fruit basket for your lips. (Oh, and speaking of fruit baskets, is it really bad that every time those "Edible Arrangements" commercials come on, I kind of really want one? How trashy am I?)

I'd hit it.

Oops, back to Squeeze It -- it's vibrant but not overly loud -- a wonderful everyday color, and I wish it wasn't limited-edition, but MAC does tend to sort of reincarnate past products into new products with different names, so I'll be on the lookout for that when-/however it's reborn.

Here's a photo of someone else wearing it:

(Credit: Temptalia)

Now get it, girl, get it get it girl, before it's gone.

RAWR! Animal Print Accessories!

I gots the jungle feber, yo, and I caught it from these gorgeous animal print bangles.

($738, Hidgalo)

Lovely, but un poco mucho dinero for me.

Some cute dupes:

($68, Kenneth Jay Lane, Bloomingdale's)

Ah, Kenneth Jay Lane. KJ. One of my fave costume jewelry peeps. "The old work horse" (for any of you Waiting For Guffman fans.)

($38, Home Shopping Network)

Hm! HSN! Who knew?

($17.34, Asos.com)

Not quite animal print, yet subtly safari!

($30, Betsey Johnson, Macy's)

You know that feeling of waning willpower, when you tell yourself you're only got stop at two pieces of pizza but then you house two more even though you know you "oughtn't"? That's basically the same warning that's going off in whichever part of my brain houses "online shopping," telling me that I'm gonna be buying these even though I probably shouldn't.

($1.80, Asos.com)

Sadly, that voice might even compel me to buy this -- it's a shower cap (and, if you refer to my no-shampoo manifesto, I do use shower caps on the regz) . With a cow print. AND devil horns. Because I can actually appreciate that they took it THAT far.

($34.50, Gap)
($34.50, Gap)

Not that you'd ever DARE to wear your animal print accessories with your Gap giraffe print bikini, but just so you know... it's out there. So cute. I wish I knew what sound a giraffe makes so I could throw that up there.

K. I'm 'Bingin' and bouncin'! Bye!

Kat Von D = USA? No Way!

(Credits: BauerGriffinOnline.com via A Socialite's Life)

Dear God,
Please continue to bless the USA, but while you're at it, please pardon the overly patriotic sins of Kat Von D. Clearly she knows not what she does.

~tamron lohan

BatShit For Lashes

I actually think Bat For Lashes (nee Natasha Khan... she's a British singer-songwriter, who, to me, is a hybrid of Bjork and Goldfrapp) -- is a gorgeous girl. She looks like Lily Allen crossed with my friend Amelia. Anyway, here she was at the Brit Awards, and while I love the pink heels, that dress is doing nada for her. But, of greater concern is the Aladdin Sane make-up. I'm all for red carpet riskage, but this one's just... I don't know. I almost want to like it, but then I think better of it and reconsider. Because... Just... Eek! Why? Gah.

How Do You Get This Job? Moment Live Blogs From Colette

Live blogging from Colette in Paris, introducing Kanye to Sylvia Fendi? And for the record, I sort of love Kanye for many of the reasons people hate him -- I sort of love that he's fine with being a big, huge baby. Also for the record: I've been to Paris but never Colette, and Marketing VP of Colette, if you're reading this, you should DEFINITELY fly some floggers out there, and two of those floggers should ABSOLUTELY be me and MKHo.

Also in the Times: eating OUT, drinking IN! And speaking of weight: this model is like SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fat! Gross, right?