Bathing Suit Lust: Zimmermann's Avalon Butterfly Suit

($242, Avalon, WinkNYC.com)

To be sure, $242 is a lot for this bathing suit, by Aussie label Zimmermann, but it does come with a halter strap, and that's worth at least eight bucks! Very Golden Girls glam. Also, I don't really have $242 sitting around, but I do have some eggs ripe for the harvesting! Do you think Wink barters?

Another sweet butterfly motif Zimmermann suit:

($196, Zimmermann, Shopbop)

Will Broome For Topshop

Designer/illustrator Will Broome has illustrated for Marc By Marc Jacobs (he had to have done those robot designs), and his Topshop collection of tops with creepy-cool cartoon faces is now available. They're playful without looking too ridiculously young and '80-ish without treading into dangerous Hammer pants territory.

My two faves:

(Apprx $43 USD, Top Shop)

(Apprx $49 USD, Topshop)

+ Also, per Nylon, Topshop now ships to the U.S. YAY!
+ ALSO Also: Topshop New York is closer than ever to reality! Praise Jeebiz!

April Showers Bring...

... The need for a new jacket. A few I'd like hanging in my closet:

($1050, Rena Lange, Vivre.com)

A veritable steal considering it was 2,995! It's the only trench coat you'll ever need. Until you need another one. In which case...

($330, Mike & Chris, Net-a-porter.com)

Simple, elegant, gorgeous. Inspector Gadget meets The Mod Squad!

($179, Suzabelle, Modcloth.com)

Wool is a bit heavy for April, but it's a great piece to hang onto.

($187, Asos.com)

I've been seeing so many cute fitted leather jackets lately. I love the gathered panels on this one = girly and presh! Perfect mid-season piece at a perfect price. Yo quiero!

Is Heatherette Over? PLUS: Beauty Binge - Heatherette for MAC Sock Hop Lipglass

Oh bew. Has the mirrorball shattered at Heatherette? That'd suck but wouldn't be so surprising -- they pulled out of their last Fashion Week show. Apparently they're venturing down their own sparkly paths, which will surely be paved in glitter. But still, this split would be fairly unfierce. More at The Cut.

Also, uh, while you still can, you should check out Heatherette's "Sock Hop" Lipglass from their MAC line -- it's a spring-ready, salmon-pink coral gloss that doesn't reek of hot trannybotmess-ness:

($14, MAC, Macys)

It's totes sold out at MAC online, but SUUUUUP, Macy's -- you can still get it there, along with much of the rest of the collection. Better late than never. Check out more swatches and shots here.

OK, speaking of lates, it's bedtime. Happy Zs, FBs!

Oh, PS: Here's a slightly intoxicated me with the Heatherette dudes at a MAC event. Tee!

The Binge and the Beautiful: Bill Blass Fall 2008

Maybe it's because... when I went outside this afternoon, it had just rained. The sky was an overcast and muted grey, the hydrangeas were bursting into full-on shocking pink mode, and the towering trees were Astroturf green. The whole brilliantly beautiful scene looked freshly painted. Maybe it's because I'm listening to Fleet Foxes. But the rich jewel tones of this look from the Bill Blass Fall '08 collection (designed by Peter Som) are singing me the moody blues.

I Finally Met mark.

And seriously, we got along FAMOUSLY, I tell you. I got this mark. (the Avon-for-cool-kids spin-off line) lip gloss in a Makeup Alley swap -- it's a Shine Tube Hook-Up Lip Gloss in Butter Cream, but it looks like this one is an older product. Its newer iteration is Buttercreme Brioche -- which sounds much fancier:


Anyway, it's a really light neutral-goldish shade that basically just illuminates and enhances your lips with a light shiny glaze. It reminds me a bit of Stila's Lip Glaze in Vanilla, but honestly, I like mark. better (sorry, Stila!), as it's lighter and not as goopy and sticky. And, not to mention, it's way cheaper.

I couldn't find a photo of the product itself, but the swatch is above. Here's the same product in Crème Caramel:

($5, mark.)

I'd also deffo like to try the Sugared Almond -- you get a free connector to attach both products together when you buy two -- and for $5 each, I think I WILL!

Sample Sale Saturday

Y'all, I suck for being so effing busy at work and NOT EVEN HAVING TIME TO BLOG ON THE JOB. I mean SERIOUSLY! I have NO time to blog at work! WTF?

I will now make up for it by saving you cash on your Saturday shopping -- check out these sample sales. They're all in New York (sorry, everyone else).

Sample Angels for Love Heals Sample Sale
145 W. 18th St. (Btwn 6th & 7th Aves)
Saturday, April 24, 10-7; Sunday, April 25, 10-6
DVF, Ya-Ya Aflalo, Skin, Shoshanna, Lewis Cho, Torn by Ronny Kobo, Nieves Lavi, Yumi Kim, Zoey, Christopher Deane
All major credit cards and $.


Archetype Showroom & Gallery Sample Sale
676 Broadway, 2nd Floor (Btwn Great Jones & Bond St)
Saturday, April 26, 10 am - 7 pm
Black Sheep and Prodigal Sons, Bureau, Corpus, Digby & Iona, 80%20, Eskell, Fremont, Jenny Yuen, Kimberly Baker, Lorick, Quail, Samantha Pleet, Tankus
Cash and credit cards accepted


Olga Kapustina Annual Sample Sale
161 W 22nd Street (Btwn 6th & 7th Avenues, 3rd Floor)
Wednesday, April 30th; Thursday, May 1ST, 9am- 8pm; Friday, May 2nd, 9am- 7pm
50-70% off summer and spring dresses! Silk party dresses and cotton office looks. Sizes 0-10.


Pottery Barn
Not a sample sale, but, the Soho location is closing (a big-ass Hollister is taking its place -- eeeeewww) and, accordingly, is having a big-ass sale.
More at The Shophound.

Everyone else: check out these cute kittens (via AnimalNewYork.com)

Marimekko for H&M: Still There!

About a week and a half after H&M debuted their bold Marimekko-print collection, I finally made it to a store. And lo! While I wasn't tripping over trippy bright maxi-dresses littering the aisles, there was still a respectable selection of stuff. And some of it is quite cute.



I purchased this dress, in my opinion THE cutest in the collection. (The bathing suits are cute, too, but what's up with them being made of straight-up cotton? Huh???)

I'd also have considered these, too, had they been available:





More pics here and here.

Finally, since we've asked to cover more menswear on ze blog, I must implore all the ladies:



DO NOT DRESS YOUR MAN LIKE THIS!!!

Spending YOUR Money: Crazy Hot Bags (Plus: A Slight Urban Outfitters UK Rant)

... That I would only buy with your money:

($250, Linne Pelle)

Actually, I'd spend my own $250 on this Linne Pelle Angie bag, but, to quote the venerable Lil Kim, "Why spend mine, when I could spend yours?"

($625, Rebecca Minkoff, Winknyc)

It's a little diaper bag-y, but I love it. Even though I hate diapers.

($855, Vegan Queen)

While I am neither, I am a fan of both vegans and queens. Still, I'm not sure why this "eco-luxury" bag is $855, let alone $85. Still, if you're paying...


... Next... Joanna Louca.
I, like Just My Cup of Tea, came across Joanna Louca's breathtaking, handwoven bags at Dear Fieldbinder the other day. I walked out empty-handed and heavy hearted after yet another case of pricetag-induced horror, but these hos is worth your doughs.

Observe:



Makes the Chanel bow bag look like a downright snore, nu?
All bags from JoannaLouca.com, which is soooo Flash-intensive. Check the site for where to buy. Can't deal?

(Apprx $556 USD, Joanna Louca, Urban Outfitters UK)

(Apprx $418 USD, Joanna Louca, Urban Oufitters UK)

It's called "Spending YOUR Money" for a reason!

And while I'm on the topic of British Urban Outfitters -- HOLY FUCK! WHY ARE YOU SO FAR SUPERIOR TO US URBAN OUTFITTERS!!!!!! Observe:

(Apprx $191 USD, Mogil, Urban Oufitters UK)


(Apprx $39 USD, Ollie & Nic, Urban Outfitters UK)

Those are ZEBRAS, people! With an eeensy COSMETICS case! UGH! So cute I could poach a baby polar bear cub! Even your unnecessary crap is better than our unnecessary crap!

(Apprx $329 USD, Lotus Hallmark, Urban Outfitters UK)

Even your hot hooker heels are hotter than our hot hooker heels!

(Apprx $562 USD, Vivienne Westwood, Urban Outfitters UK)

Even your obscenely overpriced shoppers are better than our obscenely overpriced shoppers! Oh well. I'll console myself with our weak-ass dollar. EVERYTHING'S CHEAPER!

Natty Neckwear

I'm pretty sure I've seen these before, but I just re-fell in love with Etsy seller Paraphernalia's whimsical necklaces after being reminded about them by the new blog Eclectic. Inspired by vintage illustrations, her necklaces are trompe l'oeil triumphs! Take a look:



Vetements skinny-tie necklace, $27. Sorry, I bought this. I'm picturing it with a V-neck dress and oxford heels (if I liked them).



Vetements polka-dot necklace, $30.



Vetements fur-trimmed coat necklace, $17.



Fauna fish necklace, $27.

Lots, lots more at Paraphernalia.

Oh, Steve Madden

Really, you shouldn't have. Like, you REALLY REALLY should not have:

($149, Steve Madden)

($99.95, Steve Madden)

The real ones were bad enough -- and JUST about to finally die! These are a comedic collage of faux-Balenciaga errors.

Going Once, Going Twice...

So, it turns out that the Hayden-Harnett bag I purchased from their online sample sale in a bag-buying frenzy is just a teensy-weensy bit smaller than I expected. I like to be able to carry around not just, as certain websites say, "a bottle of water and a magazine," but maybe also a book, a sweater, an extra pair of shoes...you get the drift. This "satchel" does not meet those requirements, but it is a gorgeous bag nonetheless. A gorgeous bag that was a final sale. Before I release it to the wilds of eBay, I thought I'd give you, the loyal Fashion Bingers, an opportunity to purchase it from me for what I paid for it. Which was $200, but which is $440 at full price. So. Interested? Questions? Get in touch!



Hayden-Harnett "Margot" satchel, for sale by owner (me), $200.

UPDATE: Sold! Yay, Internet!

Shoes, Glorious Shoes

Check it out. Some shoes I've lately purchased and not purchased. Hey, how 'bout a fun guessing game? Which did I purchase and which did I not? And which am I merely thinking about? Answers at the bottom of this post.



A. Jeffrey Campbell "Susan" slingbacks, $84. So springy!



B. Faryl Robin "Betty" wedges, $69.95. I'm really into low heels at the moment.



C. Dolce Vita snakeskin mules, $89.



D. Dolce Vita twist-toe mules, $52.



E. Bronx "Fabiana" flat, $39.95.



F. Daisy Fuentes flats, $24.97.



G. Gabriella Rocha "Myls" mary-janes, $60.



H. Gap ballet flats, $39.50.

Wait for it....

Wait for it....

Did you write your answers down on a piece of paper?

Almost there....



ANSWERS!
A. Not purchased. Maybe one day?
B. Purchased! I'm really into low heels at the moment.
C. Not purchased but strongly considering. In silver or snakey?? Please weigh in.
D. Not purchased.
E. Purchased!
F. Not purchased, but only because they were out of my size. Curses!
G. Not purchased due to the fact that I have mary janes coming out of my ears at this point.
H. Purchased! And strangely comfy!

Being Heidi Montag

The fantastically funny Fug Girls squeezed themselves, regrettably, into Hills star Heidi Montag's new line, Heidiwood. Better them than us, I say. But better yet, better no one, as the F.G.s discovered. Hills-larity, of course, ensued.

My fave part:
"One of us wore black short-shorts with a one-inch inseam (half a thumb, for real) and a zebra-striped tank with a faux-chiffon back bow; the other, a white-denim, butt-cleavage-b

aring skirt with a backless teal top that's baggy in the bust and tight at the gut — perfect if you haven't eaten pasta in ten years and have ginormous implants (sound familiar?). The stuff was the complete opposite of flattering. We looked like rejects from Rock of Love II with Bret Michaels; stick us on the hood of a car and Whitesnake would've appeared, guitars in hand."

Read it and weep at The Cut.

(We Really Want To) Win A Birkin!

($9,025.95, Hermes)

FASHIONBINGE WANTS TO GIVE YOU A FREE BIRKIN BAG!

Okay, well, that's not exactly the truth -- in all honesty, we'd rather give OURSELVES a free Hermes Birkin bag. But we'd pick you as runner-up! Let the best 'Binger win the Bringing Home the Birkin Sweepstakes!

To celebrate the launch of Michael Tonello's new book, Bringing Home the Birkin, Harper Collins is giving away one Birkin. To us, we hope.



* Enter at Bringing Home the Birkin Sweepstakes. Downside: you have to register for emails you may not want. Plus side: You won't give two shits about those emails if you win!

Be like Lindsay Lohan, bishes!

Wickity Wickity Wicker

($34, Urban Outfitters)

Sure, carrying a clutch in grab-and-go NYC is about as smart as leaving a $50 bill on the doorstep of your urban apartment building and hoping to find it later (we once had a ladder stolen out of our front yard in broad daylight, I repeat, A LADDER!!) or your car running, unattended, while you run inside to go to the bathroom -- you're just asking for it to be taken. Still, this wicker clutch is so summer-chill, it might as well come with its own wrap-around porch and a glass of lemonade.