I WENT TO TOPSHOP, YOU GUISE! YOU GUISE I WENT TO TOPSHOP!

YOU GUYS I WENT I WENT I WENT! It wasn't a dream, it was a reality. Not only did I STEP FOOT into the 25,000-square foot emporium of sparkly, fringed, multi-tiered British shopping nirvana. I came, I saw, I tried stuff on, and, upon realizing that the prices were more Barney's Coop Warehouse clearance rack than H&M, I put about half of it back. Seriously, the average price of everything I looked seemed to be around $70. Per item. Seriously.

I did end up splurging and getting three items, mostly, I think due to the fact that I was on a total Topshop high after waiting for YEARS. I mean, I bought a lot of Topshop stuff when I was in the UK the other year, but it's all fun and games when you're on high on vacation, and foreign currency feels like funny money (look at all the funny colors and the weird people on the smaller, wider bills! Tee!), but, unlike H&M where you can roll out with a packed shopping bag for under $100, plan on walking out with MAYBE one choice item for $100 if you're a budget (and the Binge is generally on a budget).

That said, here are the three things I did buy:

($90, Topshop)

Again, not cheap, but it is 100% silk, and it fit PERFECTLY.

($90, Topshop)

I couldn't resist these ridiculously '80s acid-washed skinny jeans. I love the pleating on the side. Why not?

($55, Topshop)

This black cotton top also fit well and has great zippers on the shoulders. Hee!


Wanted, didn't buy:

($125, Topshop)

Tried these suede nude bow heels, loved them, but I ended up not getting them. Had to draw the line somewhere, you know?

($135, Topshop)

These ridiculous patent platforms were fun... to look at... but seriously, they were about 17 inches high. Like, it hurt my neck just like looking up at a heel that high. They'd be perfect if they were about NINE INCHES shorter.

Things at Topshop I Didn't Really Understand:

($125, Topshop)

Two-tone bomber jacket? Uh, perfect for your Boys II Men tribute band.

($180, Topshop)

This silk bomber is cute if you're Katy Perry and you're, like, recreating a scene in A League Of their Own. But chances are, you're not.

($510, Topshop)

Suede leggings. For FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. AMERICAN. !?!?!?!?!?!!? What... The... SHIT?

($410, Topshop)

This grey suede skirt's cool, but for $410? You could easily find something WAY cheaper on eBay or at a thrift store.

($44, Topshop)

Um, $44 for THIS screenprinted piece of chara? (And it WAS chara in person.) Sad face.

Anyway, will I go back to Topshop? Not until the hysteria dies down. After that? DUH! Of course I will! But again, the prices felt like they were converted directly from their British equivalent. Therefore most of us "regular folks" definitely won't experience the bag-filling glory of H&M. Instead, you'll probably walk out with one or two choice pieces, but hopefully they'll be Topshop treasures.

+ Check out photos of Topshop, courtesy of Racked.
+ Racked's Topshop coverage.

Picture Postcard: brown and blue

Hi Steve!

Currently you're getting yet another close up of the Carolyn Massey stuff and no doubt ordering half the collection while I'm home alone in my England shirt (bet you didn't know I had one of those- does the 90s count as retro yet?), but never mind. For I have the internet and Garance Dore to entertain me.

I love this shot, not least because this shirt is my favourite colour for a shirt ever. Look at that lovely shade of blue. Beautiful and so flattering. I love how good it looks with the brown and it reminded me that brown and blue make up a considerable proportion of your wardrobe... maybe this is something you should try out? I know that half our readers will see this look as being way too casual but I love this as a spring look, perhaps making sure you carry a scarf and an umbrella in the inevitable bag to fight against this vastly changeable weather we've been having.

EJ

Ha, is it weird that I thought of you when I came across this image on Garance Dore? I just knew it would catch your eye because of that shirt colour. Despite the fact that brown makes up a surprising amount of my wardrobe (alongside blue and grey) I do not recall mixing it too much but will certainly experiment. As the April showers will soon be on their way I am on the hunt for a new umbrella. I just loved the one featured in the recent Monocle fashion spread and think a burst of colour would make a refreshing change from the eye gauging mass of black which strikes both fear and dread in to me. Oh, I'm glad that Spring is here once more!

Celebrity style: bijuteriile sarpe

Snakes are a celebrity best friend, s-ar putea spune, pentru ca bijuteriile sarpe sunt preferatele celebritatilor.
Pe covorul rosu, asortate la rochii elegante, sau purtate cu tinute casual, bijuteriile sarpe sunt un fashion statement.
Rachel Zoe

Selma Blair

Nicole Richie

Dita von Teese cu bratara Boucheron

Hilary Duff

Debra Messing

Sandra Bullock

Keira Knightley

Chloe Sevigny cu o bratara Bulgari vintage

Bratarile lui Lindsay Lohan

Adriana Lima

Inelele lui Mary Kate Olsen


Mary Kate Olsen si Amanda Bynes


Cei mai populari creatori de bijuterii sarpe:
Boucheron

Kenneth Jay Lane

Roberto Cavalli

Style Salvage Exclusive... oki-ni launch their Archive with Raf

Over the last couple of weeks we have been talking to the chaps over at oki-ni and arranging an interview with them which will be posted this week. Before we post that, we have have been entrusted with some exciting news from the guys at oki-ni and been given the right to share it with you before anyone else does... the launch of their Archive feature.

A sneak preview of the feature

Changes are afoot over at the London based online store and the recent site redesign has seen them offer much more than just a pleasant online retail experience. It seems the launch of tech-ni-cal (first up: the Denim guide) was just the beginning and we now have another reason to spend our lunch breaks 'window shopping'.

Creative Director John Skelton reasons "we produced the archive because we wanted to and because we wanted to keep giving you more than just products to buy. We hope to offer a completely unique experience and this is one of the ways we’re trying to do that."

John styling the model in an awesome oversized hood from AW 06/07

The site is now offering their customers a chance to explore labels and genres a little further than just displaying their current collections and ultimately offer an opportunity to find out more about the designer’s history in product. It will act as a point of reference of product information - nothing will be available to buy but people are invited to contact them if they have any product or collections that they want to add. First to be added to the archive is a collection of Raf Simons products including items from his initial mid 90’s collections right up to present pieces, oki-ni plan to add new brands to the archive on a monthly basis. For both of us at Style Salvage a designer is always worth much more than just his current collection and it is always interesting to see how a designer has developed over time. This feature has inspired us to think about creating our own designer archive because the wardrobe should be a piece of art after all.

After launching with a library of Raf Simons products the site is planning to add to the archive on a monthly basis and we can't wait to see who is next.

Super Shiny and Super Cheap

Yep, i'm talking about Lip Gloss, not your brand-new and used plastic couch covers. Thanks to the checkout stand research and subsequent purchase my clever friend conducted on her last trip to Walgreens, a new Lip Gloss has been discovered: INCOLOR Squeeze 'n' Shine Super Shiny Tasty Lip Gloss in Clear by Jordana (now that's a big shiny mouthful). It has just the right thickness and slightly sticky texture that brings out your natural lip color, and lasts through a two hour movie, plus previews, staying smooth and crystal clear on your puckered lips. It's also a bargain at $1.99, and seventeen times cheaper (and less goopy) comparably than MAC's Lipglass which sells for $14. Available in five redhead colors, besides Clear from Walgreens.com

RUN DON'T WALK to Rue La La For Their Nicole Miller Bridal Sale! Seriously, GO!

So, despite my previous run-in with a HORBS Nicole Miller "special evening gown" that I thought might make a dece wedding dress (I thought wrong), I tried on several ACTUAL Nicole Miller wedding dresses this weekend at Michelle in Brooklyn Heights. My Michelle experience was great, and I really liked two of the Nicole Miller dresses I tried on. I'm not going to go with either dress because they're too "big" and "cupcakey" on me, but they did feel wonderful on, and if I wanted a big dress, I'd go that route for sure, and I'd be happy to buy from Michelle.

BUT, actually I probably wouldn't because RueLaLa.com is having a Nicole Miller bridal sale for like the next few MINUTES or something, and one of the very dresses I tried on -- the silk faille mermaid with beaded details -- on is available. Originally $2600, available at RueLaLa in sizes 0 - 16 for $650 (!!!!!!!!). SERIOUSLY! GO! GO NOW! (You need an invite to log in -- lemme know in the comments if you need me to invite you!)

($650, Nicole Miller Bridal, RueLaLa.com)

Brian Atwood Atrocity

I usually really like Brian Atwood heels (and will admit to ALMOST ALWAYS thinking of RYAN Atwood from The O.C. [RIP]), but these are both EVERY color too many and every shade of wrong:

(Apprx $574 USD, Brian Atwood, Net-a-porter.com)

I'm counting the SECONDS until they show up on Mariah Carey's feet.

Sad panda.