UGGs and UGGs

Last month, on my short trip in Sydney, I noticed a rather interesting little thing that I've never noticed before. Did you know that there are TWO different brands named UGGs over there BOTH selling very similar looking sheepskin boots???? I never paid it much attention before, because I'd never really wanted to buy UGGs before. But apparently the UGG trend has finally filtered into Hong Kong, and my young 13 year old cousin's dearest wish on this trip was to buy UGG boots (since they don't sell it in HK). So we went on a hunt for UGG boots. At first I thought it would be a relatively easy task as I remembered vaguely seeing UGGs everywhere from souvenir shops to even the airport last time I was there! But upon stepping into our first souvenir shop to look at UGGs, we noticed that something was not right........
First of all, while the name "UGG" and the made in Aussie fact is correct, the logo and font is just not the quite right. Definitely not what we're used to seeing. And upon closer examination, while the styles all look the same, the quality of these UGGs were definitely not as good as the ones I've seen in the States. The fur was not as smooth and soft, the soles were shallow and not as intricate and the workmanship was simply not really up to par.
It reeked of fakeness. But then, we rationed that the Aussie government wouldn't allow them to sell fakes all over the place and quite so prominently right? And I mean, they even have this very authentic looking poster plastered all over the place!
With a little research, we finally found 'authentic' UGGs (as we are used to) in this touristy shop on the top floor of the Queen Victoria Building. The lady explained that there are two different UGG brands in Australia and the ones Americans are used to (above) are the better quality ones. They are also double the price of the cheaper brand. While the cheaper UGGs are about $150AUD each, the 'authentic' UGGs are about $300 AUD! And if you think that UGGs in Australia are cheaper than in the US (as I'd thought) then you are wrong. Turns out that while UGGs in US are about $200USD on average, a pair of tall UGGs in Aussie cost $295AUD= $268USD. How crazy is that? The lady made the point that the 'authentic' UGGs she is selling are actually made in Aussie, as opposed to the identical looking ones we find in the States, which are made in China. I guess that is where the difference is.

So if you happen to be looking for UGGs in Australia, and you want the higher quality ones, pay attention and try to look up the address of their dealers online first, before buying the first pair you see on the streets!

Image Source: UGG Australia

Man Fashion: Sportswear

Sports apparel for men today is not the same as they used to be. Fashion sports apparel today make use of fabrics that employ technology to offer man more comfort and fit even when used for long periods. Fabrics being used for most fashion sportswear today are of lightweight and quick drying micro-fiber material which can expand and also allows moisture to flow out of the fabric in order to keep the man dry inside as well as to make moisture evaporate faster. The fabric used is also durable as well as versatile, offering to protect the wearer as well as provide utmost comfort in any type of condition.

Man sports apparel today is not only designed for function, most garments today also employ designs that make them more fashionable. For whatever type of sport an individual plays, it has become an important issue to look good with whatever sports apparel one wears. Man sports apparel designers are already putting this on top of their priorities when designing such garments.

That is why today, there are a number of body hugging me sports apparel available that not only functions well in terms of comfort and fit but also provide the wearer to show off a well-formed body structure. Fitness buffs always are proud of their bodies and body hugging performance sports wear can help them look good further.

It is still important for fitness and sports buffs to wear proper sports and fitness wear. Different types of sports require different types of outer wear. If you are into running, the proper running gear would require running apparel such as a running shirt and shorts that allow excellent breath ability to prevent feeling wet and uncomfortable while running long distances. New running wear designs make use of such fabrics that help keep out sweat and moisture to keep the wearer always feeling dry and cool inside. Same goes with running shorts and pants.

Although it was appropriate then to wear cotton when running, it can sometimes hamper performance. Cotton can easily absorb perspiration that can become heavy and feel very wet and can make running a bit uncomfortable. It would be better for you to choose a sports apparel that allows your perspiration to evaporate a lot faster such as what newer running wear are capable of doing.

The proper running shoes can also help in improving your performance as well as keep your body well cushioned while running. The right type of shoes would usually depend on the kind of feet that you have. Each type would require different shoes and the level of stability and cushioning that your feet would ultimately need.

Tags: Man Fashion, Man Fashion Sportswear, Sports Apparel, Men's Sportswear

JustSweet spring 2008 collection

Colectia pentru primavara-vara 2008 JustSweet by Jennifer Lopez

Russian girl

Cu caciula si vesta de blana mexicana Paulina Rubio arata ca o rusoaica. Clutch-ul verde este by Balenciaga.

Lemony Fresh

Anyone else started thinking about spring footwear? I myself am thinking about stocking up on ballet flats: They're not going away, folks. And they're just getting cuter! I think I might actually try to procure them in every color of the rainbow. Starting, of course, with yellow. How can you not be happy with cute yellow shoes? I submit that you cannot.



BC Footwear "Babycakes" flat, $49.95. Solestruck has a great promotion going on wherein if you donate your gently worn shoes to charity, you get 5% off per pair on your purchase. No word on whether the underprivileged particularly need high-heeled boots or other shoes more about fashion than function, but you can donate any kind of shoes you wish. Good cause, good effect for you.



Frye "Kat" T-strap flat, $117.95. A friend recently told me that she has several pairs of Frye shoes and they're all crazy comfortable.



Okay, so these Old Navy canvas ballet flats, $19.50, are not quite yellow, but they're so striking, aren't they? Interesting and bright and fun. I may run out and purchase these tomorrow.



J.Crew "Pepper" suede flats, $148. Who doesn't want a pompom flopping around on their toes?



Gap suede knotted ballet flats, $39.50.



I had a JC Penney gift card left over from Christmas, and after contemplating various bathmats and table lamps, I decided to go for these Arizona cutout flats, $29.99 but really like $4.99 plus shipping. These look fairly boring in comparison to everything else here, but whatever. They'll still be cute. I hope.

Cravin' Smokin' Cigarettes (Jeans, That Is!)

I have so many heels that I end up not wearing enough because I need more cigarette jeans -- the ones with the perfect amount of ankle slouchiness. Otherwise, wide-legged jeans (even bootcuts) with heels always feel awkward on me. Like I'm trying to pull off a lady-sailor look or something. Plus, what's the point of even wearing heels instead of flats if your pants are going to conceal them? So, without further adieu, tons of cigarette jeans -- some '80s-inspired -- at a host of price points...

($174, Deener, Couturecandy.com)

I really love the slightly Western detail of the stitching and on the pockets.

($174, Furst Premium Denim, LF Stores)

Okay, please don't kill me. But I actually sorta love these totally '80s acid-washed jeans. Have I been brainwashed? Regardless of whether or not you now loathe me, you must admit: Furst does some on-point skinny jeans. And perhaps you'll find these less of an affront on your anti-retro tastes.

($159, Joe's Jeans, PinkMascara.com)

Perfect ankle-to-heel ratio!

($139, Earnest Sewn, RevolveClothing.com)

For those of you not tubular enough to rock the Fursts.

($111, J Brand, RevolveClothing.com)

Perhaps you recall past posts where I slammed colored jeans. Well, I am a big fucking hypocrite. While I don't own any jeans that aren't a shade of blue, black or grey, I've come around and am warming to the idea of denims in shades other than those usually reserved for pens. I have discovered that I'm really not into bold, primary colors, but I am into the more muted, dusty shades that don't aren't a blinding assault on the eyes but instead a nice subtle alternative to blues and greys. (Again, yes, I'm a total hypocrite). Case in point: these great J Brand jeans in "gingerbread." Hee! Gingerbread!

($72, J Brand, RevolveClothing.com)

These J Brand jeans in "Brick" might have to be my next purchase.

($58, Paper Denim, Labelspree.com)

Not my 100% faves, but a great deal. BTW, has anyone shopped Labelspree? Legit or not?

($49, Rock N Roll, Lip-service.com)

According to the site, Lip-service.com deals in punk and goth gear and festishwear and is a destination for fashion freaks. I fall under none of those categories (except maybe "fashion freak," though probably not in the way they're referencing). I have a grand total of three piercings -- all in my ears -- and the only ink on my body is the occasional errant pen mark. But, I'd definitely try these out for $49. Check out the lavender ones too.

($38, Rock N Roll, Lip-service.com)

Cute! And stretchy! Will buy! (Minus the wallet chain, of course).

Beauty Bloggers Unite!

As you may've noticed, we’ve been starting to do more beauty coverage on the 'Binge lately. Why? Because eyeshadow is like crack to me, and, as I told Mary-Kate, I realized one day that I have about 20 lipglosses in my bag at any given time, so I might as well do something constructive about it.

On that note, last night I went to a dinner thrown by MAC and met some wonderful beauty bloggers and editors including, but not limited to...

+ Erika at Makeupbag.net
+ Fellow New Yorker Anne of TheJetSetGirls.com
+ Marina of Makeuplovesme.com
+ Amber of Beauty Blogging Junkie
+ SpoiledPretty's Daneen
+ Shannon of GottaSpa and MakeupMinute (she lives on top of a mountain!)
+ Canadian Beauty's Henna
+ Kristi of Beautiful Decay mag (she has extremely awesome hair that in my wildest dreams I could never achieve. Wah! Annoying.)
+ And the fiesty, fiery Julia of All About The Pretty

We laughed, we boozed, we exchanged cards, and yes, there was lots of talk about “that New York Times article.”

When I read it the other day, I found it fairly ridiculous. (The beauty bloggers I spoke to (there were a few who were quoted in the article and pretty much poorly represented) all agreed that they DON’T write positive reviews about products they actually hate (if they hate them, they either don’t blog about them or they SAY that the product sucked) AND that of all of the products they receive for free, they spend exponentially more on products they’re going out and buying anyway. It’s the job of PR people to send out products out to review. Companies are getting smart and listening to bloggers. But beauty bloggers would be going out and buying products even if they weren’t receiving them. And they’re putting their share of cash back into the industry too (and, yes, you could argue that the industry doesn't need any more money, but that's not the point here).

I loved that Julia of All About the Pretty railed against the article, saying that what wasn’t highlighted was the $300-some-dollar Chanel face cream she walked into the store and bought.

And BeautyBloggingJunkie has aggregated a ton of responses from beauty bloggers here.

The products beauty bloggers buy often get as much attention as the ones they get for free. (Music bloggers go to free shows all the time – and there’s no backlash about that, as well there shouldn’t be. If they see a show for free and the band sucks, they still sucked, you know?)

The NY Times piece also seemed to make these women out as though they sit around on life-sized white powder puffs, wearing silk robes, drinking (free) champ, looking like a pre-Sunset Boulevard Gloria Swanson while their live-in makeup artists apply free buckets of NARS eye shadow by the shit-ton or something.

But from the women I met, that couldn’t have been farther from the truth – these women are working day jobs (some have more than one), they have kids, they're supporting themselves (and others), and they’re going to Fashion Week on their own dime. For almost all of these women, beauty blogger (like most blogging) is a labor of love. It's a relief. And like Gottaspa’s Shannon said: even if she never got free products, she’d still be buying products.

Anyway, it was great to meet these women – they’re smart, funny, well-informed women who know how to hustle. They’re basically running online business for free. No one’s paying them. They’re working for free because they love it, and they’ve turned their passions and hobbies into communities and constructive creative content they can share with others, which, at least for me, is most of the fun of – and the point of -- blogging.