I Bought It Files: SHARK Bracelet & Faux Fur Leopard Print Coat!

I realized yesterday that AN ENTIRE DAY HAD PASSED without me engaging in ANY sort of online shopping experience. So today I vowed to right that terrible wrong.

I had an online gift certificate to Fred Flare, which is one of my favorite stores of all time (run by some of the nicest PEOPLE of all time -- Chris, Keith and Jen are LITTLE MIRACLES), which is why I'll soon be the proud owner of a new leopard-print faux fur coat AND a Disney Couture shark bracelet. TWO NECESSITIES, of course.

($78, FredFlare.com)

I've been on a mission for MONTHS now to find a great faux fur coat, and I hope this one delivers. It's no Wren fur coat, but it's also not $795, now is it?

($54, Disney Couture, FredFlare.com)

I'm not necessarily a Disney person, nor am I usually into licensed merch (often it skeeves me out), but I do positively LOVE Disney Couture's jewelry, particularly because it doesn't look like kid Disney stuff. And it's made really well. My Disney treasure chest ring, also from Fred Flare, looks brand-new after years of wear. Oh yeah, and Disney Couture's Tron merch is out of this world. (Get it?) Anyway, I ended up buying this shark bracelet. Because I really really needed a shark bracelet, as it turns out.

Oh yeah, get 30% off with code word "Flare." YAY! Love a sale!

I Dream Of: Wren's Leopard Fur Coat

($795, Wren, Shopbird)

The leopard fur coat. It's so classic, so decade-unspecific. So Anne Bancroft-classy and at the same time so old-lady-with-a-cigarette-hanging-out-of-her-mouth-and-waving-a-flyswatter-around crazy.

But mainly, I just love how dreamy a leopard print coat can be. What's under it? Who cares. The coat is the outfit.

Senso's Pony Heels Are So Hot They Should Come With A Fire Extinguisher

($159.95, Senso, Solestruck.com)

It's hard to say which is stronger -- the preemptive guilt I'd experience buying these fur pony heels or the remorse I'd experience not buying them at all. #moralstruggle

They're by Australian brand Senso, and they're a hard-to-believe-they're-not-more-expensive $159 at the Solestruck, which is currently rebranding itself from "basic online shoe store" to a select, covet-worthy collection of "fun" (as opposed to "mom) brands like Jeffrey Campbell, All Black, Dolce Vita, and Rachel Comey. Basically, Solestruck incepted my mind while I was sleeping and set up a shop of all of my favorite affordable shoe brands. And pony fur heels.

Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

Guys, it's a racoon-print blouse, all pretty and ruffled! And it's on sale!


Rebekah Maysles for Anthropologie "Raccoon Rumpus" blouse, $49.95.

Wear it with:


Anthropologie mixed-media marbles necklace, $19.95.

If I wasn't on spending lockdown, I'd totally get it. Grab it before it's gone!

Prada's Cavallino Bowler Is Doing Wild Things To My Head

I don't know who I think I am, but apparently I'm the kind of person who somehow, suddenly looks at Prada bags. Generally I write off Prada bags a.) because I can't afford them, DUHR, and b.) because I associate them with those terrible nylon black backpacks which are just the worst. But somehow I'm all into the idea of Prada's leopard-print Cavallino bowler.

($3,100, Prada, NeimanMarcus.com)

Great, right? Too bad I enjoy "eating," and "having an apartment" and "not being wildly in debt."

Anyway, my obnoxious Prada leopard-print bag fantasies inspired a major animal-print binge, which netted the following:

($585, Hammitt, Searlenyc.com)

Studs with animal print can be a leeeettle cowboy, but this bag by LA brand Hammitt still kinda works.

($745, Stella McCartney, Net-a-porter.com)

The elusive zebra-colored leopard print! Score!

($564, Opening Ceremony, Asos.com)

Opening Ceremony! Why are you so good to us? (And also, why are you so expensive?)

($158, Sam Edelman, Nordstrom)

Sam Edelman's Katrice wedge FTW! So '70s it's sick!

($80, Topshop)

I love an adventurous outfit, but have these leopard-print harem pants crossed the line from adventurous to crazy? Like Real Housewives table-flipping levels of nuts? Also, as much as I wanna make harem pants "work," I'm becoming increasingly convinced that they barely even look good on models whose body types are "pencil."

($36, Walmart)

Finally, this IS FashionBinge, where we do love a good deal, so far it be from me to leave you without something affordable. I mean, this Walmart leopard-print bag isn't the absolute worst. I'd carry it to the gym. Seriously, just tell people it's vintage deadstock, and they'll be all "ooh!"

Ashish LUST + Sequined Boyfriend Blazers For A SONG

WHY aren't I wearing this one-shoulder NEON animal print Ashish dress RIGHT THIS MINUTE AS I BLOG THIS... instead of this 532-year-old polyester/rayon robe someone brought my mom back from China. That's not a racialist comment. It's just from China and it's made of really uncomfortable polyblend.

($895, Ashish, Net-a-porter.com)

Oh yeah. I guess I'm not wearing it because it's $895.

OhBTW, speaking of Ashish, I LOVE this Ashish black sequined boyfriend blazer (best friend blazer!), but it's $1020, and HI! The one I got at Fred Flare is $84. So I just saved you $936 (not including tax.) You're WELCOME.

L: $84, Fred Flare; R: $1020, Ashish

Lux Lust: 3.1 Phillip Lim Animal Print Skirt

This 3.1 Phillip Lim purple and gold lurex mini skirt is so hot that it's kinda giving me a Pat Benatar-meets-Pat Field boner right now. AND it's even got pockets! Style schwing!

($365, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Brownsfashion.com)

Quickie 'Man Men'-Inspired Jacket By Victor by Victor Alfaro

($65, Victor by Victor Alfaro, Bon Ton)

Bon Ton reminds me of old ladies, and kind of in a bad way, but this Mad Men-ish cropped cheetah-print jacket reminds me of old ladies in a GOOD way.

+ More Mad Men fashion binges here.

Animal print

Se stie deja: sezonul asta animal printul e la mare cautare. Ideea e ca cel care imita pielea de leopard se potriveste tuturor tipurilor de silueta, iar cel zebra este pentru siluetele zvelte. Nu este recomandata alaturarea mai multor pattern-uri de acest fel si nici acoperirea din cap pana in picioare cu animal print. Paris este un exemplu de "asa nu".
Paris Hilton

Lindsay Lohan

Mischa Barton

... AND We're Back!

...Okay. The hiatus ends NOW!

First, "feast" (and I mean feast in the way that maggots feast on the eyeballs of a corpse) your eyes on Brooke Hogan's AMAZING "outfit" from a recent concert:

THE FRONT!


We wouldn't leave you hanging with a shot of the BACK!...


Mmmm! B.Ho, in the words of Amy Winehouse, NO NO NO! She actually managed to make Britney Spears look like a fucking NUN right here. Also, can you even IMAGINE the outfits she REJECTED before deciding upon THIS one? I mean, usually, you pick the BEST outfit when given a choice of many, right? And, dudes, this was THE BEST! Amazing.
(Photos graciously borrowed from Ohnotheydidnt. Thanks, FB Chicago correspondent JP for the tip!)

Now, on to the stuff that isn't an affront to God:

Once again, stuff I want!

TOPS N TUNICS:

($270, Spring & Clifton, Activeendeavors.com)
Spring & Clifton, please launch your site AND have a sample sale NOWish! K?



($98, Spring & Clifton, Shopbop.com)
Another cute one.



($44, BCBG Girls, Overstock)
Sooo nicety nice for summer drinks ontop of the Met. If you're into that.



($42, BCBG, Overstock)
Also extremely cute.



($22, Piano and Guiness, Etsy.com)
Very cute and comfy-lookin'. And I love that it's called "Choose your own cleavage."



($55, She-Bible, Shebible.com)
Handmade + grass green PLUS modal cotton = mmmm.



($16, Weavers, Overstock)
Totes not TOO Denise Huxtable boho. Yay!



($32, Sir Alistar Rai)
Tee hee. He's cute! (Plus, YAY universal health care!... as opposed to not, right?)



($57, Steven Alan, eBay)
I'm still feeling pouty about that Steven Alan dress I can't afford. Wah. This chick is selling a few of these shirt dresses. Totes great price, but not justifiable right not. Unless, you know, she wants to donate it to a good cause: ME!


DRESSES

(Apprx $123 USD, Paul & Joe Sister, Laredoute.co.uk)
Why is LaRedoute SO much better in the UK???



(Apprx $53 USD, Sophie Tonarelli, Laredoute.co.uk)
Again, more cuteness!



(96, Motel, Asos.com)
Not LOVING the criss-cross straps, but love the print!



($25, Asos.com)
Great dress, great price. However, wearing chiffon in the summer is as smart as locking a starving wolf in a small cage with a baby rabbit. But still, buy now, wear later, I say!


JEANS

($76, Yanuk, Overstock)
I always heart Yanuks. And I refuse to buy into the sailor pants high-waisted dungaree nonsense. (Please remember: Kate Moss doesn't always make the BEST choices.)



($39, Delias)
Simple, sweet, cheap.


SHOES

($49, Oh Deer!, Overstock)
The zebra ones are totes cheesetastic and slutty, but I wuv.


JEWELRY


($228, Boudoir By Disaya, My-wardrobe.com)
Rabbits are the new giraffes!



(Apprx $254, Butler & Wilson)
I covet thee.


Finally, here's something horbs:

($12, Payless)
We here at Fashion Binge are here to provide you with a service. And that service includes seeking out the High School Musical handbag for all of your High School Musical-carrying needs.

Byee!

Lovely In Leopard Prints

Recently at work, a friend mentioned -- in passing mind you -- her quest to find a pair of red and black leopard print flats. Somehow that same unseen force that grips you and renders you incapable of turning off the TV during the Lifetime original TV movie, "Life Is Not a Fairy Tale: The Fantasia Barrino Story" grabbed hold of me yet again and guided my hand through over an hour's worth of online browsing. While I netted (har) almost no worthy results (defeat!), I did find tons of other totally worthy animal print stuff (success!)

First, a few words about animal prints, especially leopard print. First of all, I think it goes without saying that when wearing animal prints, it's a crime -- nay, a SIN! -- to wear more than ONE animal print item at a time. I can specifically remember being at a party late last year and noticing a girl wearing what would've been an otherwise totes acceptable outfit -- black pants, a white button-down, and some leopard print flats. BUT... horror of horrors: her bag... was... ALSO leopard print. NO NO NO! A WORLD of no. I HAD to point out the gaffe to SOMEONE, and since I was at the party with my boyfriend, I settled for telling him. Even he got it. And quickly. Please, don't let be that girl. When it comes to animal prints, remember: One or NONE!


Onwards...

First...

($36, Papillon, Babygirlboutique.com)
If you described this dress to me, I'd think it was totally fugzville. But it turns out that while in theory, the idea of a leopard-and-flower print sundress would be terrible, I actually think this is adorablay and beyond.



($57, Hell's Belles, Babygirlboutique.com)
With an all-black outfit and denim jacket? Suuuper cute.



($104, Hell's Belles, Babygirlboutique.com)
While this bag is definitely pushing the farthest reaches of my rockabilly sensibilities, I do think it's fun. Especially the wallet. Though I do feel like I almost be compelled to go to Lucky Cheng's or something just to show this bag a good time.



($108, Tyler, Shoes.com)
This was one of the most high end examples of the leopard print flats I found. They're definitely purdy, but it wasn't difficult at all to find totes similar versions.



($22, eBay)
Just one example.



($29, eBay)
Dudes, I actually really love these. They'd look tight with some darker skinny jeans. They also come in other colors like beige and yellow.



($18.99, Vinci, Amazon)
Nice n' easy. I like the brown bows too.



($24.99, Mossimo, Target)
The always-dependable Targs comes through with the Dodie peep-toe wedge. Done and done!



($60, Naughty Monkey, Whatapair.com)
A classic case of "I'd really need to see those in person." But, they could be cute. Or they could look too much like dog and not leopard spots (bad). Also, I grew up being taught that leather shoes were GOOD. And people, not shoes, are vegetarian. But if that's your thing, go 'head.



($129.95, Faryl Robin, Solestruck.com)
Okay, these technically aren't animal prints, but from afar you could totally mistake these wedges as such. So, I'm throwing them in. I sincerely adore Faryl Robin. I'll say it again.

They're also amazing in "apricot"

($129.95, Faryl Robin, Solestruck.com)



($59, Michael Kors, Michaelkors.com)
These tiger print slides are fucking rad.



($63.95, Luichiny, Shoebuy.com)
I found these Luichiny Maddie flats everywhere, especially in the leopard style above. (Shoebuy appears to have the best price on them, by the way -- over $10 less than Zappos). I also found lots of the rather off-putting blue and silver spotted version, which actually grew on me:




But 6pm.com has them in six different styles, including zebra, which I really hate. But I truly heart the orange/gold style the most:




(Apprx $42, eBay)
These are just too delightfully trampy to pass up. They're so fun yet SO impractical. The first and last time I wore a pair of wedges that high, I made it about 15 feet outside of my building in the morning before I carefully turned around and tottered back home to change into some *slightly* less senseless footwear.



(Apprx $19, eBay)
Possibly more slightly yet LESS impractical than the above shoes.


... And finally, should you need to cool off after all that animalistic shoe shopping...

($49, Target)