Massive FashionBinge Savinz at jb and me -- For Reals, 40% Off!

Hey fwenz! My new fwenz at jb and me -- they're a mother-daughter boutique in Holland, Michigan, and they're expanding their online presence -- are relaunching their WHOLE site and just hooked us AWL up with a promo code for 40% off all original price items. Seriously.

Just use promo code: TAMAR (heeee!) from now until November 2nd.

A few things I'd recommend, nu?

($99, BCBG Girls, jbandme.com)

$59 with awesome promo code TAMAR! The mirrored heel is holiday footwear HOTNESS!

($130, Population, jbandme.com)

A VERY Catherine coat. Only $78 with promo code TAMAR!

($148, Free People, jbandme.com)

I love everything about this dress, and it looks like it costs a bathousand bucks! But it's only $88 with promo code TAMAR!

Now have AT IT, ladies!

Kooba Kooba Kooba!

Ladies of New York City, get thee to the Kooba sample sale! I stopped by yesterday at three (after they were closed for an hour, presumably restocking) and cleaned up. They had a bunch of current-season bags (like the Gracie) for around $175 or so, but the real deals were to be had in a tiny room off the main one. There they had boxes of sample bags going for $60, and a ton of belts for $20 each. Some of the bags were horribly stained, some were missing straps, and some (like the ones I got) just had minor stitching problems that can probably be repaired (or just hidden). For 10% of the retail price, I can deal with a little loose stitching on the back of the bag. Here's what I scored:



The Sydney shoulder bag but in black (couldn't find a picture of it in black). Looks tough. LOVE IT. And again, only $60! (Note: cat just found the loose thread. Must fix immediately).



The Sienna bag but in plum (ditto). As soon as I picked this up a lady behind me said, "Oh, I was going for that one." Oh, were you? Sorry! Mine all mine!



This one, the Avery tote, got away, which is to say, I stalked it on the arm of a fellow shopper hoping she'd reject it (which is how I got the black one), but no dice. Maybe tomorrow?!



This is a shitty picture of one of the belts I got, which retails for $200 but is sample selling for $20. So flattering.

They also had lots of leather jackets starting at $150, many with the oh-so-annoying cropped sleeve.

So basically that was a pretty fantastic use of a shitting-rain late lunch hour. Recommended!

Binge Beauty Buy: Laura Mercier's Black Gold Kohl Eye Pencil

($19, Laura Mercier, Sephora)

Laura Mercier's kohl eye pencil in "Black Gold" is one of my favey fave new (to me) prodz. It's a really light, subtle eye enhancer with nary a trace of Scary Mary trannybot, which is good because it ain't that kinda party. It's more of a light brassy bronze than either black or gold, and while it's referred to as a kohl, you most defs won't be getting a Cleopatra eye out of this. Like I said: just nice-n-easy prettiness you could even get away with during the day. Like that?

Coincidentally, one of my new favorite videos is CALLED "Black and Gold," and it's by Sam Sparro, who uses his powers for sexy, not evil. It's like an updated Falco but hawter.

Sweater I Need RIGHT This Second! Animal Bandido At Fred Flare!

It should be much more than obvious why I NEED this rainbow bright reversible magic pyramid sweater. It's $95, but really $47.5 per side when you think about it! It's by Barcelona brand Animal Bandido, and it's available at Fred Flare, where you can also read a lil moar about the brand.

It's like a cotdamn Tom Tom Club video come to LYF!


Also, I went to check out the opening of Fred Flare store in Greenpoint, and it was like retail Disney -- the happiest place on earth! And speaking of Disney, I picked up this Disney treasure chest ring for $44 -- I'd wanted it for forever:

($44, Disney Couture, Fred Flare)

I love it so much I slept in it...


... And I got these denture ice cube trays!

($10, Fred Flare)

So necessary! So best!

Oh yeah, Fred Flare ALSO carries JONATHAN ADLER products! LOVE! Come holidaze, I'll be goin' crazy bonkers coconuts bananas shopping there. Especially shopping for MEEEEEEE!!!! WEEE!

Okay, NOW Purple Has Definitely Gone Too Far

Yesterday's post (and today's purchase) notwithstanding, I feel pretty confident that these purple boots will NOT be purchased by me or anyone with a modicum of taste:



Charles Nolan "Kelsey" boots, $148. I am going to go on record and say that any type of ruffle at the top of a boot is unacceptable. Go ahead, contradict me! I bet you won't.




Chloé paneled shoe-boots, $895. A classic hot mess.




Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti ankle boots, 370 pounds. Where to start?




Marc Jacobs butterfly shoe-boots, $895. For Mariah Carey, NOT for you.




Steve Madden purple suede boots, $149.95. Again with the butterfly!




Georgina Goodman "Felix" ankle boot, $947.95. Who? Wha? How much?




Sam Edelman "Utah" boots, $199. We've already established the Binge's position on fringe, so this commentary should go without saying: no.




Jump "Bjork" boot, $128.95. Not sure which is more hurtful to my senses, Bjork's screeching or these monstrosities.




You by Crocs "Fabulous Fashionista" boots, $280. Still don't get Crocs' high-end line: A company that brought you $30 rubber shoes is trying to now sell me $300 boots? I don't think so.


And now, so that the last image I leave you with doesn't have you retching, here's a not-totally-hein pair of purps:



Aldo "Froling" booties, $130. Better yet: You can get 'em in gray.

Has Purple Gone Too Far?

Or are these, possibly, the latest in a seemingly unending stream of totally covetable boots?



Amethystine boots, $134.99.

UPDATE: I bought 'em. And don't forget, if you decide to buy anything from the supercute Modcloth, we still have a working coupon code that'll get you 10% off your order: BINGE10. Yay!

Gap: Everything Must Go!?

On the boot-cut heels of The Gap's recent announcement they'll be closing more U.S. locations to instead focus on retail locations abroad and that they're cutting TV ad dollars (yet again) to focus online, I passed a Gap on Fifth Avenue tonight (I think it was the one at East 53rd), and either they were revamping and getting ready for the holidays, or they were stripping the place down to the hangers:

Coincidentally, I just tried accessing Gap.com, and it was down for maintenance. Where will we get our most boring, severely overpriced white button-downs and Blockbuster Video khakis?


* In other shitty U.S. economic news, this Onion headline is pretty much the fucking gospel: Dollar Bill On Floor Sends Wall Street Into Frenzy.

Three Cool Coats (And One Ridiculous One)

As Tamron so astutely noted, it's effin' cold out! I need a new coat. One of these, maybe?



Soia & Kyo zigzag wool coat, $380. Love the big ol' asymmetrical collar, which might helpfully render a scarf moot. Soia & Kyo actually make a ton of cool coats — enough to warrant their own post, even. Stay tuned!



Tahari wool melton walking coat, $135.90. I love the straight lines and the unusual emerald color. And it's on sale, whee! I might get this....



Guess by Marciano barrel-shape coat, $148. Love the little feminine touches, like the slightly poufy shoulders and front pleats. Alas, even the model doesn't look too excellent in it, so it's a bit suspect.

And now, for the stupidest "coat" ever created:



Convertible wool jacket, $135.90. No designer, apparently, because no one wants to put their name on it. To be fair, it does have a detachable (attachable) bottom half...



...but who in their right mind wants to walk around in a coat this cropped? As the description notes: "Individualist." Yeah, that's it.

Warm Up! Grey-Day Accessories! Plus: Fred Flare's New Store!

The weather went from pleasant to fucking February in like a week. Here are some warmy woolies and stuff in lovely neutral greys to stay warm in, kay?

($14, Lulu's)

Berets aren't usually my thing, but this one does a nice job of straddling that dangerous line between "oui oui hee hee!" and hackeysacking.

($20, Fred Flare)

The sweet pom pom makes me wanna do snow angels, and the wooden button keeps this grey-day hat from a.) flying off yo damn head and b.) being too cutesy-cute. ALSO, you can save save save on shipping with promo code "STORE CUTE." Why? Because FRED FLARE is opening their first-ever brick-and-mortar! FINALLY! Also, I wrote a lil story about it for Metromix New York! Read, believe, ACHIEVE! It's an interview with Chris and Keith (the brains behind Fred Flare), and two sweeter souls don't exist in this world, with the exception of my boyfriend and my cat. Wait... not my cat. He's a total jerkface. Anyway, you MUST go check out the store in Greenpoint and go spend your bucks on Jonas Brothers wayfarers and bags like this... oooh or this We Are the Superlative Conspiracy bag... or this bustier dress in black or red...

($22.50, Alloy)

Yeah, so I really love this grey scarf too.

($21.50, Victorianbird, Etsy)

Stripy fleecy sweatshirty scarf! Sing huzzah!

($9.99, Target)

I like how these heart gloves are like stop-light inspired. JUST THINK of how much funner driving would be if the lights were HEARTS instead of just circular-lights. Of course, then we'd probably just get sick of them and never notice. Ahhhh ennui.

($12, Lulu's)

Perfect winter socks for boots or bummin' around the house. I like to put on some super warmo socks WITH my slippers, for extra-warm crumb bum effect!

OH YEAH: coming soon -- a big-ass scarf post by a special guest poster!! Until then, control your parameters. 'Kay nighty nite!

My Quickie 'Mad Men' Purchases From Target!

I popped into Targz when I was home the other week (and by the way, I must say, the Hilltop Virginia Beach Target was spifftacular to begin with, but with its recent facelift, it's even nicer!), and I picked up a few items to hopefully make my outfy more formal-looking when I attend a wedding this Sunday (at Steiner Studios!), which I just found out is formal. EEk!

Firstly, I'm wearing this Christopher Deane dress:

($163, Christopher Deane, Revolveclothing.com)

The dress is much more fanco-lookin' in person -- silky and pretty pretty. But I still fear it's not necessarily formal attire, you know? So, these are the Target items I hope to fance it up a bit with. They sorta Mad Men-inspired (Mad Men being my second biggest style obsession next to peacocks!), but hopefully not TOO costumey.

($44.99, Anya Hindmarch for Target)

Impulse buy of the CENTURY, but it's certainly beautiful and certainly worth the price. From the VERY same Anya Hindmarch line that MkHo DISPARAGED!

($44.99, Mossimo, Target)

Usually I DON'T advocate the tenty swing jacket for myself at least, but this one has a cute little cinched waist, and it's a nice heavy wool, for in case it's Arctic out, like it is tonight.

($21.99, Target)

These are far daintier and cuter in person.

ALSO, I've got an appointment to get mah hairs all did up nice by Matthew James at Sam Brocato Salon (formerly Oscar Bond) in Soho. The doll-faced Amber at Beauty Blogging Junkie has gushed like a volcano over this man, so I can't wait to see what he achieves with my hair.

Hopefully the whole look isn't too costumey -- the jacket and gloves are just for transporational purposes. It's just mainly going to be the dress, the bag, and the fun hair. Not like I'm gonna roll in smoking a cigarette from a long holder, and wearing a pill box hat, waving like Jackie O... OR WILL I?

Anyway, thoughts, pleaze? Is the outfit formal enough for a black tie-optional wedding?

marimekko for AVON: Art For Your Face!

Finnish fabric designers marimekko (remember when they did that line with H&M?) lent their dreamy poppies to Avon. The result? Four palettes -- two all-over palettes and two eye shadow palettes in rosy mauves, pinks, purples, and blues. They're almost too perfectly pretty to use. Best part: they're recession-friendly at just $10 each! Affordable art for your already-pretty-as-a-flower face!

Tuesday Need: She-Bible Scarf/ Hoodie Top + Free People Jeans!

HAI guyze! Back from cruisin' for a bruisin'! Highlights: family time. Lowlights: family time! JK! (sometimes). More highlights: drinking!

Anyway, missed you SO so, so much to brog about!

But first, let's jump RIGHT into stuff I WANT!

($95, She-Bible, Bonadrag.com)

I LOVE me a dramatic neck AND a top with a banded bottom. And not-too-wide stripes to create a dizzingly slenderizing-ifying effect? YAY!

How cute would this look under a little slim denim jacket or black cropped jacket with some black skinny jeans or even some black wide-legged jeans or your new favey dark jeans? Like so?

($68, Free People, JBAndMe.com)

Perfecto at an even more perfecto price, no?

OKai, more soon, I swearsit!

Checking In at the W Store

Well, this is a little weird: There's a "warehouse sale" at the W hotel store. Odd. But good for shoe lovers! Especially ones like me, who happen to love these brands....



Seychelles copper "Boogie Down" heel, $42.99.



Sam Edelman "Caleb" flat, $39.99.



Sam Edelmen "Cyprus" flat, $39.99.



Seychelles "Tryst" flat, $35.99.

There's also a ton of nonsale stuff on the site for all you retail-paying fools:



iPood onesie, $26. Tee hee.



Wavy hoop earrings, $97. Wear them straight or wavy, supposedly.



Oversize flower tank, $204. Gorgeous!