Never Enough Coats!

I went outlet shopping this weekend, cancelling plans with a friend I see too rarely to do so, even. It had to be done. For a city-dwelling shopping lover, the prospect of all-day bargain hunting is too much to resist. So when Jami announced her intention to visit Woodbury Commons, I had to go. The first couple of hours were not very fruitful, but eventually I scored a nice Max Studio dress, a few shirts and an armful of boxer shorts for the boyfriend from Banana Republic, a grape cardigan and winter white skirt from Benetton, all of which was nice stuff but maybe not worth the drive up there, until I hit J.Crew whilst separated from my friends. I tried on a rather unnecessary gray tartan skirt and was ready to walk out when I saw, glowing like a beacon, a beautiful yellow wool coat. In my size! Sort of mod-ish yet classic, it hits at mid-thigh and is exactly what I was looking for (without exactly knowing it). I was a little sad thinking I might be going through winter without a bright coat, but this solved all that instantly. And the best part is all wool outerwear was $50 off, so it was only $150. Best! Here are some cheaper coats that won't last nearly as long but are still pretty cute:



Forever 21 "Chester" wool-blend coat, $44.80. And by "wool blend" they mean 10 percent wool, 90 percent acrylic. But cute, no? And also PURPLE!



Forever 21 "Katie" coat, $44.80. See above comment.



Forever 21 plaid toggle coat, $39.80.



Forever 21 "Patricia" jacket, $24.80. Even though it has to be a crappy jacket, it has kind of a cool shape. If they had it in red I'd totally get it for Santacon.



Old Navy cropped wool-blend peacoat, $46.80. Cute little puff sleeves! And 80 percent wool, not too shabby.

K, that's all she wrote. Bye!

Hummina, Hummina

Houndstooth! Yes, it continues to rule the school. J.Crew houndstooth "Gramercy" coat, too expensive for my meager budget at $495, but a girl can dream. And watch the sale e-mails like a hawk.



And another! Dereon houndstooth jacket, $135. How awesome is that? It even has a hood! Not sure how I feel about the "iridescent sparkles woven into the material," however. And I don't think I'd be bearing my bellybutton in it, either.



Maybe? Newport News cuffed ankle boot, $34. Cute, but four inches, and does anyone know what an "almond toe" is? I can't imagine that's comfortable.



My namesake bag, in beautiful, butter-soft PVC! And attached swingy bag for change or iPod or whatever! And gigantic like I like it! Gotta have it...Fred Flare "Mary-Kate" satchel, $44.



I also purchased these supercute bear salt-and-pepper shakers, because I'm sick of the giant sea-salt container and the pepper spice container being on our coffee table while we eat. These rule, and they will be friends with our honey-bottle dish-soap dispenser, also a bear! Whee! And I used the coupon code holiday.1107 to get 25 percent off (expires November 15). Yay!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Purple Pleasures

Okay, so, I have never really liked the color purple. Just never did it for me, and did it even less when I started this job and discovered a coworker who loves it to an insane degree, such that she wears it all the time, often matching (or sorta matching) her shirts to her shoes. Yet apparently not enough that she could deign to carry, even once, the purple bag I got her for Christmas last year. Harumph! But I digress. I've lately been attracted to purple, for some unexplainable reason. I'm seriously considering buying a new warm winter coat in dark purple, and I just purchased, on successive days, an A-line purple corduroy skirt and a dark puruple bag from H&M in dark purple. (No Cavalli for me! Or anyone who didn't arrive at opening, apparently, and wear protective headgear. For cheap animal-print dresses?!) A few purplish pieces for you to ponder, please:



So this is it. The coat. My lovely Triple Five Soul hot pink puffer, aka Sean Puffy Coat, aka Big Pink, is too dirty to be worn a third year. I'm going to donate it to New York Cares when they have their December coat drive, as everyone should do who has extra warm coats lying around. I am leaning toward replacing it with this Spiewak "Barton" puffer, $181. It's colorful without being look-at-me (though I did love Big Pink for its outrageousness), and looks sleek enough for a puffy coat. And it's down, so I'll be warm.



Gorgeous: These Belle by Sigerson Morrison studded ballet flats, $260.



Theory "Reliant - Craze" dress, $224.90. I'm quite certain I'd look amazing in that.



Another hot dress, way less 'spensive: Isaac Mizrahi for Target merino turtleneck dress, $44.99. Note to self: buy!



Here's a cute little Charlotte Tarantola crochet cardigan, $81.90, in more of a light purple. If I were feeling crafty I might overdye it a darker shade. Love that Missoni-esque belt, too.



God, I am such a sucker for stripey cardigans! Halogen striped cardigan, $44.90.



This is kind of just a basic top, but it shows how purple doesn't have to be lame, and can rather be just a subtle neutral: BCBGirls "Kella" top, $37.90.



Finally, this is getting a little brown to be really purple, but I guess that applies to the coolest purples, which are usually called "plum" or "eggplant": Jelly Belly hobo bag, $19.99.

Nicole Kidman In Alexander McQueen

Much as I LOATHE Nicole Kidman -- she is a scary, malnourished skeletal ice princess evil fembot with awful hair -- I do LOVE this Alexander McQueen butterfly dress (photo via the fab FabSugar). I agree with FabSugar's assessment that this may not be the best dress for the occasion (this looks more like a Fashion Rocks type dress), but on the other hand, who cares. And on the third hand, I sorta wish this weren't wasted on wispy, wafer-thin Nicole, you know, and instead worn by someone superawesome and stylish and more boobalicious ... like me. Or someone superawesome and slightly more famous than me like Lily Allen or Rosario Dawson or Alicia Keys or something. Even Jessica Simpson for Christ's sake. Oh well. Just another reason why I should be rich and stuff. K, bye!

On Sale at Brooklyn Industries

Brooklyn Industries has got a lot of stuff on pretty big sale, folks. Too bad I missed the friends-and-family discount. (Waaaah! I want my 20 percent off!) Check it, and note that I have updated these listings after fondling some of the items in person tonight:



Gabbro cropped jacket, $52. A friend recently bought the bag version of this jacket, and the bag is really cute. Love this jacket, too, especially the three different buttons. It'd be kind of embarrassing to be seen in the jacket with my friend carrying her bag, though. After trying this jacket on, though, I determined that while still supercute, the large collar didn't really work for me. Oh wells. Maybe someone with longer hair could make it work.



"Vintage" knit dress, $22. Pretty funny how they call it a vintage dress, but hey: it comes with a belt! And it has that pretty pattern and vibrant color...yes please! Dress was quite flattering on, but only came with a tie belt. Score one for online shopping!



Derrida stripe top, $22. Gotta love stripes. Especially "unexpected" stripes. Like seriously, I did not expect those orange stripes when I conjured this top in my mind before I clicked on it. This shirt is cut very weirdly, it turns out. Can't imagine anyone it would look good on. Maybe someone with extremely lopsided boobs.



Nicola sweater, $22. I've discovered I really like (and look good in) in dolman sleeves. Go figure! Not in store. Boo.



Lot 116 skirt, $32. Now, this skirt is stretch cotton. It's probably going to therefore emphasize the booty. Am I okay with this? I dunno. (UPDATE: no. Tyra might even call it "hoochie.") The belt is certainly cool, but: pass.

Awesome J. Lindeberg Jacket For $99

Fellow flogger Daddy Likey's sick Members Only jacket thrift store score inspired me to find a couple strong-enough-for-a-man but totes-okay-for-the-ladies menswear-inspired looks of my own. But, like any New York savvy shopper worth her weight in coupons (either online or real: online in my case) will tell you, there's really NO such thing as a decent thrift store in Manhattan. So, this will have to suffice:

($99, J. Lindeberg, Tobi.com)

Not bad atall for gois or goils. The only thing I can't deal with, though, is this:


Um, I really don't need the convertible parachute-backpack-landing-gear option or what the fuck ever that is. Just the jacket please! Thanks!

($130, M Carter, Refinery29.com)

Lurve this wood-print hoodie. For boys OR for girlz!

($65, Beard & Bangs, Steven Alan)

Nabbed a pic of this great whiskey tee from Thrillist, who did a piece on Beard & Bangs, an indie label that, like Barking Irons, does lotsa Fin de siècle, swashbucklin-on-the-Bhowrie (before it turned into one big bank and condo complex) prints that evoke images of Stephen Crane novels and dirty men bashing the shit out of each other with ye olde broken bottles while women lift up their skirts to reveal yukky syphilis and other stuff The Decemberists like to sing about. Love that!

($350, Ritmo Mundo, Barneys)

Finally, I just really like these watches by Ritmo Mundo. The bright colors kinda remind me of Polo or Nautica stuff, which would normally send me running, but they work here. However, I'm actually not feeling the "Ritmo Mundo" name, and only because it brings up my own uncomfortable association with when Ricky Martin performed that "Cup Of Life" song at the World Cup or whatever how ever many years ago, and the performance featured those enormous wind-powered nylon dancing things, confetti, waaaay too many horns, and that awful "ale ale ale" arm-waving dance he did in sync with his ass, and how the Spanish-to-English translation was just so painful. But maybe that's just me.

RICKY MARTIN - THE CUP OF LIFE

A Few Cute, Cheap Things That Are All Well Under 100 Bucks

Okay, as much as Shanna Moakler is pretty busted (and, it goes without saying that Travis Barker is ABSOLUTELY busted), I really liked the Paul & Joe bird printed... er... top (?) she wore to the VMAs this past September:

($70, Paul & Joe Sister, LisaKline.com)

So, I was quite deeeelited to find this Paul & Joe Sister silk top with a very similar print marked down by over $200! I do wonder a bit if it'd create an unwelcoming "enlargening" effect, but whatevs. It's adorbs.

($40, Tagbanger, Oogaboogastore.com)

This guys' shirt is NOT meant to create a similar look to Travis' (ew. as if!!). I just happened to have it in my long list of stuff to post. It IS white and DOES feature bright colors, but no one should EVER aspire to dress like Travis Barker, so let's just chalk it up to coincidence. Anyway, this mens' T-shirt is extremely rad. I sorta wanna buy it for myself (my boyfriend refuses to wear white Tees), but $40 on a Tee is a bit much for me, especially if I don't know how it'll fit. Ah the dangerous perils and pitfalls of online shopping!

($20, Sara Clendening, Oogaboogastore.com)

I TOOOOOOTES forgot to add this fun shoelace-and-wood-bead necklace to last week's post descriptively, revealingly and enticingly entitled "Jewels: Big, Bold, Funky, Chunky." Anyway, I totes bought this fun kindergarten-reminiscent necklace and am POSITIVE it'll RULE with a dark top, dark jeans and dark Oxfords and maybe a blazer. Let the comments of dissent begin!

Five Fashionable Wide-Legged Jeans

K, y'all. Five cuters wide-legged/ trouser cut/ slouchy jeans, for fall, kay y'all? Y'all ready, y'all?

($122, J & Company, DJPremium.com)

They're a little low, but I like the tight-in-the-butt, slightly-flared-but-not-too-much-so trouser cut.

($198, Sass & Bide, RevolveClothing.com)

So, these are technically more bootcut, but they're still a cute dressy-jean staple, though WAY too short for these heels.

($220, William Rast, DJPremium.com)

Much as I LOATHE Justin Trousersnake (Ugh! That smarmy shit-eating grin he's always wearing!), I do really like William Rast jeans, despite myself. Though I will say, I do have a pair that only fit like, when I wore them in the dressing room and never stretched and I can barely squeeze into them. Bew. I take back what I said.

($198, Hudson, WinkNYC.com)

These look so deliciously comfy!! Perfect for slooooouuuuuccchy, chill weekend wear, with flats, 'natch.

($34.50, Paris Blues, Alloy.com)

I posted these a few weeks back, and I bought 'em, and GUESS WHAT -- they're fucking ADORABLE. They're a little darker than they appear here. Anyway, they're so comfy and cute. They're still at the tailor though getting taken up because, of course, they're too long, but for $34, who cares? The verdict: TOTES RECOMMENDED!



.... psst:
PS:

($90, Sass & Bide, DJPremium.com)

Um, I really like Sass & Bide, but these are just awful and totally remind me of the type of jeans John Goodman wore as TV's Dan Connor on "Roseanne." And what girl wants to wear jeans (especially designer ones) that elicit such horbs associations? Terrible.

Bird Bag?

So, my co-blogger, former roomie and very close friend, who lived with me for three years and KNOWS my taste (and though she occasionally mocks it, she was also QUICK to borrow my shit in our Rivington Street days!) thinks THIS bag is "so me!"

($255, Marlene's of Encino, Poshgirlvintage.com)

I mean, I like loud, fun, vibrant stuff, but this might be taking it a step too far. It's by a woman named MARLENE for shit's sake! I like the '80s, but I don't want to LOOK 80! I'm not even 30 yet! How can I be THIS MUCH of a bubbe?

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Bag Hag

Many many bags I'm lusting after, none of which will ever truly be mine. Wah!

($695, Botkier, ActiveEndeavors.com)

Sigh. The elusive Botkier Sophie tote. So gorgeous. So grey. So expensive. Frowny face.

($695, Botkier, ActiveEndeavors.com)

Just as delicious and enviable in "Raisin." And so much better than regular raisins. Wah.

($499, Mike & Chris, Adasa.com)

Mmmm. Mike & Chris. Love this grey (duh) slouchy leather bag. And I like that it's not uncomfortably super huge.

($1,350, Marni, Ronherman.com)

Perfect for my jaunts... to... Target.

($660, Marni)

Wah. Even the teensy Marni coin purse is too spensy.

($195, Isabella Fiore, Adasa.com)

So fun. It's technically a wallet, but for $200, it's a clutch as far as I'm concerned.

($113, Mat & Nat, Rouletteclothing.co.uk)

Speaking of clutches, this one is so cute!

($101, Mat & Nat, Rouletteclothing.co.uk)

I'm not usually into metallic bags, but this one is both small and not too like HEY! LOOK AT ME! I'M TRENDY AND METALLIC!

($445, Karman Sarwar, Brownsfashion.com)

Unlike this horrendous "fan bag." Gah! No one should ever have to suffer the indignity of being seen with this bag.