This Marc By Marc Jacobs Faux Fur Terry Jacket Is THE BUSINESS

($258, Marc By Marc Jacobs, Nordstrom.com)

You know how EVERYONE is doing faux fur outerwear this fall? Faux fur vests, cropped jackets and stuff? Well I'm kinda "meh" about it. Faux fur's kinda like a laser -- you need to handle it VERY carefully or you could really end up doing some serious damage.

HOWEVER, my coworker Lisa came into work the other day wearing this Marc By Marc Jacobs 'Ridge Loopback' French terry jacket with faux-fur trim. I almost tackled her to the ground in a where'd-you-get-that assault. This jacket is now officially my favorite use of faux fur, since it pairs faux fur with a really unexpected asymmetrical pea coat-style jacket in terry, which is even more unexpected and adorable. It even looked cuter on Lisa than it does on this here model. I suspect it'd look extremely cute on me too. #wants

Hessnatur Makes The Only Pants You'll Need This Fall + A Sick Leather Jacket For Just $200

I'm glad we don't, but if we lived in a one-pant Communist nation where we were forced to wear just one pair, I'd happily go with these gorgeous grey pleated wool pants from Hessnatur, which is a German sustainable clothing brand. It's eco-chic, as I like to call apparel that's good for the environment and doesn't look like matted, mangled, gnarled dreads in the form of clothing.

($198, Hessnatur, us.hessnatur.com)

These 100% wool grey trousers are just lovely, and that's thanks to Spanish designer Miguel Adrover, who partnered with Hessnatur, hence that gorgeous sheen, slight taper and smart volume. I love the idea of styling them with a darker charcoal top or just a fitted black shirt and a snug leather jacket, like these:

($199, Old Navy, Oldnavy.com)

Uh, can you believe this sick leather jacket is from OLD NAVY of all places? Diagonal details, wide collar, and zipper details!??! YaRLY!

($856, Graham & Spencer, Nordstrom.com)

Usually I abide by a strict "no brown clothing" rule, but I'd consider breaking that ban for this gorgeous distressed brown leather jacket. Love the texture and the slightly '80s draping.

... Speaking of things that VAGUELY sound like "draping," let's play word association. Draping? Okay. DON DRAPER. Boom. Gratuitous Don Draper photo:

Jon Hamm. My favorite type of ham.

This Helmut Lang "Heathen" Dress Is Basically Ever Album Cover That Came Out So Far This Year

I posted a very polarizing pair of Helmut Lang jean shorts the other day -- and by polarizing, I mean that I'm the only one who liked them. And this weekend, I stopped by Bloomingdales after some "hairapy" (harrr) at Pepper Pastor Salon (more on that to come!), and ended up trying on this Helmut Lang "Heathen" FW2010 jersey dress. The graphic pattern reminds me of how, um, every indie band these days is doing kinda psychedelic, low-fi album art.

($230, Helmut Lang, Nordstrom)

Everything about this dress worked... except for the scoop neck. Too much scoop. Too low cut for us for whom bras are a non option. Though it might work with a really thin jersey camisole. Maybe. (Also, I couldn't find it on the Bloomingdales' site, but I'm pretty sure it cost less in the store? Maybe?)

Anyway, I'm not kidding about the 2010 indie albums. See?

Blitzen Trapper

CEO

Ratatat

Oneohtrix Point Never

Tame Impala

Fantasy Shopping: Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale

I've been shopping like a FIEND lately. Must. stop. shopping. And so today I'm just fantasy shopping, hoping that'll satisfy the urge. Here's what I put in my cart whilst shopping the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale, where stuff is 40 percent off and seemingly going fast (anyone wanna actually buy it for me?!):


Robert Rodriguez lace overlay skirt, $144.90. So hot!


Leifsdottir "Ink" dress, $169.90.


Alexander Wang leather-trim sweatshirt, $354.


Theory "Kessie - Critique" pants, $139.90.



Eileen Fisher "Earth Conscious" double-wrap belt, $57.90.



Steve Madden "Serious" sandal, $39.90.



Tory Burch "Robbe" top, $129.



Free People two-tone strapless dress, $39.90.



Frye "Mary" sandal, $78.90.

Amount saved: $1075.40! PHEW!

NORDSTROM RACK IS COMING TO NEW YORK CITY!

CLAP YOUR HANDS AND SAY FUCK YEAH! NORDSTROM RACK IS COMING TO NEW YORK! Nordstrom Rack will be moving into the former Virgin Megastore space in the Spring of 2010. I haven't been this excited since the Golden Girls spun off Empty Nest. Which ended up being pretty disappointing, but it started off promising.

Speaking of "golden," Nordstrom Rack is a GOLD MINE of jeans and shoes. Get fumiliur!
(Via Racked)

FashionBinge's MAJOR Ankle Boot Binge!

What with fuggo flip-flops and whatnot entering store windows for the summer season (even though I've been wearing my sleeping-bag-with-arms super-duper warm coat for the past week), it is time to STOCK UP on cute ankle boots or booties or whatever you want to call them to wear with skinny jeans, leggings, tights and skirts, or whatevs. Cheyck up on all of these great booties on SALE!

($148, Free People)

Don't LOVE the bow, but I don't hate it. Since it's monotone, it's still conspicuous enough.

($164, Jeffrey Campbell, Nordstrom)

Normally I'd say these are too too much, what with the cut-outs and the studs, but in black I think they work. I'd do it.

($200, Casadei, Footcandyshoes.com)

Everyone always freaks out over Louboutin, but PLEASE give Casadei some love, okay? They were all over the red carpet at the Oscars. They're usually three times as much, but these are just $200. Woot!

($135, Shane And Shawn, Endless.com)

These are KINDA bad but could work on the right girl... or guy.

($135, Helle Comfort, Zappos.com)

Kinda wack but they could be gorgeous on. And they've even got the word "comfort" built right in!

($184, Claudia Ciuti, Nordstrom)

Not a HUGE fan of open-toed shoes, but I do like these.

($152, Diesel, Yoox.com)

I have absolutely no use for a pair of white booties, but if I did need a pair, I'd get these.

($49, Newport News)

MADONNA PARTY!

($68, Arden B.)

Sorta springy.

($412, Casadei, Endless)

Two-tone patent leather, and suede on the vamp! Studs and metallics, blah blah, these are a few of my favorite things!! All at once! On ONE shoe! Woo!

Potential Wedding Dress Fail: Nicole Miller Strapless Silk Dress

($725, Nicole Miller, Nordstrom)

Oh Nicole Miller Strapless Two Tone Silk Gown with Train from Nordstrom. I had remotely high hopes for you. You were a perfectly silvery/ not purply color when I unboxed you. I thought my visions of being an edgy, not-boring, modern-yet-subtly '80s bride were about to come true. Except... Except. There's often an except, no? This dress looked like it was thrown together in 14 seconds using old thread and some remnant fabric. The side seams looked stretched out and appeared to be almost bursting (um, before I tried it on, okay?), and there were threads hanging off of the band at the waist. The bodice seemed to lose shape as I took it out of the bag. Also, I ordered a size 10 and I couldn't even zip it up my back, which made almost no sense because while it was big in other places, and while I could definitely stand to drop a few, I have a tiny back (my band size is 34). (HOW was that size 10? And this was a street size 10, not bizarro bridal size.)

Anyway, it was too bad because the train started in a spot that made my ass look great. Too bad the OTHER 80% OF THE DRESS WAS A COMPLETELY DISASTROUS SHIT SHOW. Truly, it had the feel of a knock-off prom dress. The fabric felt like one of those vaguely ethnic pillowcases you buy at a street fair for like $12.

$725 would've been considered a STEAL for a wedding dress, but for ANY dress at ANY price, this was made like an absolute raggy piece of garbage. (Seriously, was this a pre-worn sample? A mock-up?)

Anyway, back to Nordstrom it goes. Next?

Steve Madden Revenu Shooties!

($129.95, Steve Madden, Nordstrom)

'Sup, stud? True, these Steve Madden Revenu heels are CRAZY high, but I like the gradient effect and the possible homage to studded heels past by, I'm guessing, Giuseppe Zanotti, Fendi, or Balmain. WANTS!

Smell This, Smell Good: Badgley Mischka Couture

Earlier this week I had the exciting and distinct honor of attending the launch of the new Badgley Mischka Couture fragrance at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa. And as much as it was tempting to go get some kind, ANY kind of spa treatment as I winded my way deep within the bowels of the spa (I've never had anything done there, and now it's on my list of places to go/stuff to have done!) back to the spa cafe where the event was held, it was well worth the tempting trip because who was in attendance, aside from a few of my favorite beauty bloggers? Mark Badgley and James Mischka themselves, who look like they were born to create fine things, which they do, which is why they've been creating couture gowns for the past 20 years. Seriously, they're like old-school-meets-now glam, as in not all orangey-mess fake glow, but just like serenely elegant, with an authentic air of kindness. Accordingly, their new fragrance is a refined, sophisticated scent that exudeds old Hollywood glamour (not that I was there or anything).

Anyway, the fragrance is a sensual, musky blend of plum, blackberry and pear, and while there's some jasmine and gardenia florals in there, the dark fruits keep this from being too pungently sweet and just subtle enough. It's lightly rich, luxe and a perfect fragrance for an evening event. Badgley Mischka are outfitting one of the Best Actress nominees at the Oscars this Sunday (my money's on Anne Hathaway), so it's sorta what I'd imagine the Oscars to smell like, if the Oscars had a smell, you know? Maybe I'll wear it to my Oscar party? I digress. One of the other things I love about Bagdley Mischka Couture -- the gilded golden bottle inspired by vintage crystal barware.

And so, Bingers, definitely try out Badgley Mischka Couture if you're...

a.) Ready to retire your Malibu Musk (finally!)
b.) Going to the Oscars! (Thanks for reading FashionBinge, Anne Hathaway!)
c.) Ready for a grown-up girl (or dare I say... wedding?) fragrance!

Badgley Mischka Couture is $65.00 for 1.7 EDP, $90 for 3.4 EDP, and $48 for the cool portable elixir gel, all at Nordstrom.

(Photo of Mark Badgley and James Mischka via Elle)

December 18th Is Free Shipping Day!

Apparently Christmas miracles DO happen, because December 18th is Free Shipping Day.

Just order shit from Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Crate & Barrel, Endless.com, Nordstrom, Sur La Table, Target, Zappos, and more on December 18th, and your stuff ships free and it's guaranteed to get there by Christmas Eve (or, just "Wednesday night," if you don't celebrate His Birthday).

Also, December 18th is Christina Aguilera's birthday, so if you buy her something, you can ship it for free!

UPDATE: Amazon is no longer participating, but December 18th is STILL Christina Aguilera's birthday!

LeSportsac Binge! Plus, Totally Random Hedgehog Stuff!

Inspired by my Harajuku Lovers handbags post, I went on a small LeSportsac Windows shopping binge. Here are some of the fun, less-common stilos, shapes, and sizes that I netted at some non-morts prices!

($75, LeSportsac, Nordstrom)

Just the right amount of preppiness.

($75, LeSportsac, Shopbop)

The Jen Tote! Normally I don't love the multi-zippered look, but when it's folded over, it's cute. AND functional!

($68, LeSportsac, Amazon)

The Deluxe Everyday Tote in Checkit is a nice, WAY cheaper alternative to the 3.1 Philip Lim Editor's bag, which is about $500.

($98, LeSportsac, Amazon)

I don't know what these little faces are on the Dana Tote, but they're cute, and that girl could fit in that bag.

($46, LeSportsac, Amazon)

Love the '60s sorta-Pucci-looking zigzags here. They're not as obviously cutesy LeSportsac as a lot of the rest of their bags, even though I love some cutesiness too!

($46.95, LeSportsac, Amazon)

Cutey-cute little woodgrain/ animal print toiletry bag for a great price.

($37.93, LeSportsac, Amazon)

Another adorable toiletry bag, this one in "Goth."

($16.93, LeSportsac, Amazon)

McCuters little cosmetic bag in "Fantasy." And it's got a smiling kitty on it! Hee!

($23, LeSportsac, Karmaloop.com)

Lakeside is one of my favorite of the newer LeSportsac prints. So so SO cute with the widdle foxies and deerz and bearies!

($68, LeSportsac, Karmaloop.com)

The Suzette handbag in Shades is adorability! Sorta reminds me of the Andy Warhol for Paul Frank that came out a few years ago.


Finally, my fave:

($88, LeSportsac, Amazon)

Ridiculously cute hedgehogs! And to celebrate, I've found a few other hedgehog items...

($3.75, Folkmanis, Amazon)

It's a coot widdle hedgehoggooh fingo poopet!

($99, Kenneth Jay Lane, Shopbop.com)

Um, yes. That is a hedgehog ring. Or a pinecone with a face. Even I can't approve of that.

($39, Deglingos, Amazon)

Likewise, I totally disapprove of this corduroy/patchwork/evil tree monstrosity. Because there is enough disapproval to go around! Let's just stick with the hedgehog back, shall we?