Binge Beauty Buy: Ways To Cash In Your Sephora Gift Cards: Philosophy Celebrate! Set

($30, Philosophy, Sephora)

Kicked your coke habit this year? Or just switched to crack (it's cheaper!) Got a big promotion because your boss died? Didn't get pregnant or arrested? Only got a little pregnant? CELEBRATE with Philosophy's Celebrate set -- three deeeeeeerisheshry scented bottles of Lavender, Pink Bubbly, and Pomegranate 3-in-1 washes. They do a body good!

Happy new year, everyone, from all (two) of us at FashionBinge to all (three to four!) of you out there!

And stay tuned for some SUPER suhweeeeeeet giveaways comin' up this monf!

More Sephora gift card suggestions:
+ Hourglass Concealer
+ Smashbox's Rapture Gloss Set!

Trousers sandwiched by the seasons

My current favourite in-between look

Through a combination of the somewhat confused and unpredictable weather over the last few weeks and the influx of Spring/Summer 09 editorials and look books (with a few sale purchases thrown in to spice things up a little bit), there seems to be a confrontation between what I should wear and indeed what I want to wear (which at times becomes more than a mere scuffle in my mind and wardrobe)...The bedroom is often transformed in to a well fingered H&M display, much to the annoyance of Susie...

Today it was the turn of my Unconditional Wrap trousers to take the sartorial punches and accessorising hair pulling...

In the winter corner we have a pile of knits, including a bargain of a Uniqlo jumper, the recently acquired huge cowl by Yokoo, shiny Lanvin boots and black M&S leather gloves which were of course a Christmas present...


In the Spring corner we have white sheer shirt by Handmade in England, navy blue cardigan jacket from COS (a sale buy) and white Chukka Boots by Vans.

Am I suffering these somewhat schizophrenic attire choices alone or are you feeling as confused as I am?

Binge Beauty Buy: Ways To Cash In Your Sephora Gift Cards: Hourglass Concealer

($32, Hourglass, Sephora)

Hands -- and brushes -- down, this is one of the best concealers I've used in decades of hiding my shiners. Seriously, you could have a cat stuck to on one side of your face and a pepperoni pizza on the other side and after a few strokes of Hourglass, NO ONE except you would ever know. That's how good this shiz iz. I'd recommend applying with a brush since it's a thick concealer. That way you won't be tugging your precious, tender little undereyes down to your chin. No one looks good like that. Anyway, $32 ain't cheap, but you know what IS cheap? Looking like you haven't slept in a week. Get it, girls.

More Sephora suggestions: Smashbox's Rapture Gloss Set!

A Peacock Walks Into A Store...

(Image via Ian Peacock/ PeacockShock.com)

FOR REAL, A REAL PEACOCK walked into a STORE... called PEACOCKS! In Scotland, where apparently peacocks come equipped with the mental capacity of rocket scientists. THIS IS THE GREATEST SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE! I'M GONNA LIVE FOREVER! THIS IS THE BEST, MOST AMAZING THING EVER!

And speaking of amazing, apparently so is Ian Peacock, who not only has written for a billion great publications but LOVES Persian cats (my first kitty was a glorious Persian named Romeo, hallowed be his name. He lived to be 19 and was an angel amongst kitties, even when he graced us on this very earth, for which he was always too good) AND is actually named "Peacock." I think I'm in love.

+ More of my peacock obsession as it relates to fashion and accessories here.

Also, these peacock Keds are cute if not a little too literal. But okay for you maybe? I didn't mean that in a bitchy way. We're still cool, right?

($63.55, Keds, Zazzle.com)

Looking back with the help of Penthouse

First things first, we hope you all had a very Merry Festive Break! Secondly, as we prepare to bid farewell to 2008 our thoughts are often preoccupied by the promise of a New Year (I was reliably informed by Charlie Brooker that they will call this new year 2009...to be honest with you I'm a little disappointed, my fingers were crossed for it to be named Steve...the Year of Steve has a much better ring to it) but lets be different. We often look forward at this stage in the year but one of my Christmas presents has helped me challenge this usual festive occurrence and I've decided to swivel my neck owl like and look back...way back. The presents in question were two old issues of Penthouse - The Magazine for Men (from 1968 and 1969 respectively). and unfortunately, it is safe to say that they don't make them like that anymore. The content is wonderfully diverse, for example articles include; an interview with Steve Abrams who champions the campaign to legalise cannabis, The Promiscuity Myth which discusses how homosapiens have always 'gone in for' marriage, The Do-It-Yourself Capitalist, an interview with Otto Von Habsburg who was once heir to the Austro-Hungrarian empire and became a political author and lecturer. I would love to unearth a magazine which covered such an eclectic mix of issues today (with the odd shot of a natural breast or two thrown in as well) but for now I will just have to settle for Monocle but will write to Tyler Brûlé in the New Year requesting a few bare breasts. As well as great articles there are a couple of interesting editorials, not to mention a few classic advertisements which will provide inspiration for the coming year.

Apologies for the poor image quality (I really need to invest in a scanner)...

Skin Game is my favourite editorial and sees a wonderful combination of monochrome, smoky /soft focus shots with sheepskin jackets and a pigskin suede trench coat. Accompanying the imagery was the following blurb which seems hell bent on ensuring the readers knows where the materials came from...Button out the cold this winter in sheepskin and suede. Bulk has been sheared away with body-shaping and closer-fitting cut. There are many exciting new colours this season, too. After all, once the original owner has died there is no reason why its and coat shouldn't be dyed, too - makes it more individual for the next owner. As for wear and warmth, that remains built-in. Lasts a lifetime-and it did for the previous owners.

I've never seen this many buckles in one shot...

Something Afoot sees an organised pile of varied shoes used to breathe new life into the old adage that 'you can tell a gentlemen by his shoes' by suggesting that you can now (well since 1968) tell that the gentlemen is in fashion. I adore this double page spread but rather than inspire me to put my best foot forward, I have to agree with the title that there is something afoot and it seems to be the penchant of double buckles and too much tanned leather...

There were just sooo many poses to choose from but here are two of my favourite looks

Get in the picture with ICI Fibres depicts Seth Cohen's style icon in an album of leisurewear made from a combination of relatively new fandangled fabrics ranging from bri-nylon, bri-nova and crimplene...but I love the poses more than anything else and will certainly try a few in my upcoming style posts...

So, rather than let your thoughts get distracted by the promises of tomorrow why not take some time out and have a look back at the past. You don't have to look at old porn magazines but I would certainly recommend it!

December's Style Inspiration
Miroslava Mikheeva-Duma

Miroslava Mikheeva-Duma. Fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar in Russia. During December, I've really noticed her style and I think I've fallen quite in love with it. I adore the way she manages to mix vibrant colours and bold patterns with lots of neutral tones in such an interesting and fun way. Her style is sweet and innocent blended together with something rough and edgy: my absolute favourite combination. Just look for yourself...her gorgeous style speaks for itself!

Sorry for the lack of posting, my dears! I always kind of forget that Christmas time is crazy time. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that you'll have a fantastic New Year's Eve. Thanks for all the comments and seasonal greetings...you guys are the absolute best x x x

Heart Shirts And Blondette Sale!

Admiring on this Lauren Moshi heart tee at Blondette.

($85, Lauren Moshi, Blondette)

BTW, Blondette's giving you 25% off $150 or more with promo code afterchristmas08

through January 3. KNOW that.

(Apprx $43 USD, Illustrated People, Topshop)

Also LOVE this very '80s but not like OMG WOAH LQQK IT'S NEON Illustrated People top at Topshop. It reminds me of the crap Madonna spray paints in her "Borderline" video. Sadly it's only available in size Small on the British site and NOT AT ALL on the US site. INTERNATIONAL TRAGEDY!

Related videos to watch:

Nirvana - New Music - More Music Videos

Madonna - New Music - More Music Videos