Fringe Benefits

Fringe Benefits by elbonner featuring hobo handbags

Call me Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman, but I effing love fringe bags. Oh my god, I can't get enough of them. They are perfect for fall, summer, winter, whatever; they always give your outfits a laid-back easy feeling without being boring. This winter, I'm feeling the whole "wear everything that looks like a Mexican Blanket" thing and fringe bags only make that look better. I am in love with the first bag shown from Spell and the Gypsy Collective. If it was $100 I could maybe justify getting it after some serious penny pinching, but for now I can just look at it and dream. My only real beef with fringe bags is that all the really good ones that don't look cheapy are sooo friggin expensive!! Come on people, I needs my fringe! Anywho, if you want a cool new bag that is a little more interesting than your usual satchel or shoulder bag, go for some fringy stuff to connect with your inner Walker Texas Ranger!

L-R

Spell and the Gypsy Collective for Free People
Cut N' Paste for Free People
Cleobella
Mango 
Urban Outfitters 
Free People

Coats on Coats!

Coats on Coats! by elbonner featuring a down jacket

I remember a time, not too long in the past, when wearing a coat was the lamest thing ever. If you were anywhere near cool, you wore a hoodie no matter how cold it got. Forty degrees? Hoodie. Wind chill of 21 degrees? HOODIE. No exceptions, just prepare to freeze your ass off. Thank god this is not the case anymore. I still see a few stragglers clinging to their fitted Aeropostale hoodies in February hoping for a quick death or a white chocolate mocha (you know who you are), but the times have changed, baby. It's the era of the coat as a part of your outfit, not a total downer. The best way to get out of a non-coat wearing funk is to get a really cool one and plan your outfit around it; make the coat the main event.  Above I have compiled a list of coats that everyone should look into getting that keep you looking good whilst warding off hypothermia. 

1. Mossimo Supply Co. Wool-Wrap Jacket- I have this coat and it's awesome. I got it for 4o bucks and the hood almost doubles as a sort of neck protector to keep the chill off. I have gotten many compliments from both men and women, so it's a confirmed hit with the masses. Available at Target

2. Patagonia Ultralight Down Jacket- Super light and super warm, this is a coat for more casual/sporty occasions. Great from to-and-from the gym, grocery store, whatever. Also great for hikes because it's lightweight and packs down to take up less space in your back pack. You can't go wrong with Patagonia. 

3. Zara Long Funnel-Neck Coat: Immediate cool outfit upgrade: add a cool structured coat. This one from Zara can be dressed up or down and just makes anything look way cooler than what you started out with. Pair with a gigantic scarf and a bitch face and you'll look super fierce.

4. FjallRaven Greenland Parka- want and army jacket that doubles as an actual functional piece of clothing? Get this coat! With a coating of Fjallraven's Greenland wax, this thing is windproof, water proof, and miserable weather proof. Plus, you get the hipster clout of wearing A largely unknown European brand and being better prepared from crap weather than anyone else.

5. J. Crew Stadium-Cloth Trench- Everyone needs a dress-up coat and this can do the trick. It's not too dressy so it can still be paired with jeans, but if you need a warm coat for a night out without wanting to look like Zsa Zsa Gabor, this style is clean, sophisticated and won't make you look like you threw on your moms L. L. Bean Parka from 1987 over your formal wear.

6. AllSaints Pitch Leather Biker Jacket- For when it's not deathly cold or you really just want to up the bad-ass factor, you can't go wrong with a leather jacket. The leather does a good job of keeping the wind off and is much warmer than a regular trench or sweatshirt. Leather jackets are always cool, no exceptions, you will always benefit from a leather jacket (unless you're at the beach, and at that point you're just an idiot). 

I hope this after-school special emphasizing the importance of coats gets you out of your hoodie or beat-up Old Navy peacoat and into something that makes, instead of breaks, your outfit. H&M, Zara, Target, and places like Asos.com are great places to find great coats at a reasonable price, so there's no excuse! Stay warm!

Poncho Mania

Poncho Mania by elbonner featuring a wool poncho

I've been so busy/lazy lately that my little blog has been severely neglected! After I fed it some Polyvore collages and gave it a good flea bath, I made this little compilation on a few of my new favorite things: PONCHOS. Seriously, they're not just for offensive Halloween costumes or Argentinian gauchos anymore; the simple poncho turned what could have been a very cold and miserable weekend to a comfortably cozy one. It's great for sitting down activities like watching parades, tailgating, going to sports games, or just for hanging around in a chilly house. It has all the warm without the sloppiness of a big sweatshirt. Just pair it with some skinny jeans and some funky fringe boots and you'll look super cool. So don't hate on the poncho, go get one!

L-R

Sperry Topsider
John Lewis
Target
Quiksilver

Fall Outfits: Gothy Fun!

Fall Outfits: Gothy Fun! by elbonner featuring knuckle rings

I have absolutely no problem admitting that I'm a huge Katy Perry fangirl. She's just 100% pure fun and her music is great to rock out to in the car by yourself. Her new album, Prism, is awesome by the way. She also has great style, which brings me to the photo above.She's going through the 90's gothy, grunge phase, which is very in at the moment and I really do like it. Lots of combat boots and Merlot lipstick; it's like living in The Craft without all the curses and shark beachings! This outfit is a personal favorite of mine. I never thought I'd be excited about crushed velvet, but Prince would be so proud of me. Pair with messy hair, a black leather jacket, and a cool place to go and you're practically the baddest bitch on the planet. These velvet dresses are all over ASOS, Nasty Gal, and Forever 21 so you have no excuse not to get one! So break out your NIN records and get dark!

Dress- Lucca Couture
Boots- Kohl's
Backpack- Zara
Knuckle Ring- ModCloth
Necklace- Madewell
Belt- Nasty Gal

Give it to Me Baby: H&M Fall Collection

H&M Fall Collection by elbonner featuring short sleeve shirts

Just when I thought I really hated fall, H&M comes out with a fall collection that makes me feel okay about never having any extra money ever again. Pending the upcoming Isabel Marant for h&m collaboration, the Swedish retailer has put forth the cooooooolest collection of Marant-ish pieces for those of us not blessed with a store big enough to get any of the collab pieces. My local stores never get any of the designer collections, so seeing this display in the front of the store made me okay with not having to beat another 20something to death for a pair of boots. Everything is just soo stinkin' cool; like wearing-fancy-sunglasses-sipping-espresso-reading-nietzche-at-an-outdoor-cafe cool. PS, I understand the overuse of the dash! What I'm trying to say is, go out, get yourself some of these pieces, and have some great fall/winter pieces that won't cost you an arm and a leg. Get to shopping fools!

Surrendering To Fall: OK, I give up

Fall Things by elbonner featuring fall placemats

After a weekend at a beach house, I have come to the tough realization that plagues my life every year: SUMMER IS OVER. I am still holding out for a few more days I can eek out another sun-filled beach trip, but let's face it, the leaves are falling and everyone is drinking/eating pumpkin spice everything. When the weather cools, I don my usual outfit: t-shirt, sweater, army jacket, boots, and scarves. They are a good go-to because they seem to never go out of style and ooze coolness like the filling of a jelly donut (also a fall favorite). Fall is a time to appreciate hot coffee again, get some reading done, and moisturize compulsively. 

Now before everyone jumps on me for wearing hipster fox sweaters, I've been wearing fox-themed clothing items since I was a first grader, although my fox-wear was decidedly less cool than what is available today and a lot more like this:

To complete this look, pair with black stretch pants, fanny pack, and a crimped side-pony.

I hate putting on more layers, but I'm convinced fall was created to make me appreciate the warmth more. You might as well make the best of the cooler weather by wearing some cute stuff before everyone's enthusiasm for life is destroyed by winter, because really, fuck winter.

Fox Sweater- Markus Lupfer
Skinny Jeans- Rag & Bone
Army Jacket- Madewell
Combat Boots- Nasty Gal
Sunglasses- Raen
Scarf- Lucky Brand
CrossBody Bag- Target
Almost Lipstick "Black Honey"- Clinique
Shea Butter Hand Cream- L'Occitane En Provence