Forever 21's must-have of the week is a deliciously oversized woven handbag, the sight of which instantly brought to mind a scrumptious bag I had seen by Cole Haan. I have not had the pleasure of owning anything by Cole Haan, a designer whose name conjures images of classic design, quality and luxury. Ya know, something my mom might carry. But really, I gotta hand it to them with this whole woven line of bags which I've seen advertised all over the place. They really caught my eye with their great texture and slight slouch, which makes them a little less rigid than some of their usual styles. Maybe it's the economy, or the changing of the seasons, but something keeps drawing me to quality and modern classics. Something less fleeting, less disposable, and rather, something that will last. But as poetic as that sounds, is a purse worth $600? If your answer, like mine, is "no," consider Forever 21's version, available in either brown or black faux leather for $29.80.

Left: Cole Haan Woven Denney Bag at NeimanMarcus.com, $595
Right: Campion Oversized Handbag at Forever21.com, $29.80

Inspiration from Rachel Bilson, Kate Bosworth, Kate Moss and Nicole Kidman

I'm on the hunt for a black leather jacket, one of this fall's most popular trends. Unfortunately, a quality leather jacket can be expensive: Shopbop has 21 drool-worthy choices with an average price of approximately $800. I'd love to splurge and get a real nice, buttery black leather bomber that will last for years and get better with age - much like a good wine - but I really don't have the funds to fulfill that wish. I mean, that's the thing with budget fashion...most of the time, we're not being cheap, we're being frugal out of necessity. I know that sounds...depressing, but at the same time, it's really not the end of the world. There are certainly worse situations to be in than not being able to afford a chichi designer bomber, right? Which is why I can find solace in the fact that just about every fashion chain has a black leather jacket to offer me this year that will keep me in the black, money wise, while still looking fab.

Here are a few options I've found. It's tough to gauge the quality of leather or faux-leather online, so you may want to track one down in stores, or be prepared to ship it back if the quality is sub-par. But I think I've found some goodies, so here goes:



Ashton Pleather Jacket at Delias.com, $69.50


DKNYC Women's Black Lamb Leather Jacket, Was $349 Now $173.99


Mossimo Faux Leather Jacket at Target.com, $34.99


Silence & Noise Motorcycle Jacket at Urbanoutfitters.com, $128


Motorcycle Faux Leather Jacket by Bagatelle exclusively for Ann Taylor, $148


Full Tilt Moss Faux-Leather Moto Jacket at Tillys.com, $34.99

Oddly enough, today's post was inspired by Fringe, that new J.J. Abrams show on Fox where special agents investigate a mysterious sequence of unexplained phenomena (aka really weird sh*t). It's not as jaw-dropping as, say, Lost, but it's definitely entertaining. And anytime there's a badass female lead, I take notice. (Plus Joshua Jackson's in it, how can you not love that?) Anna Torv, who plays FBI Agent Olivia Dunham is, of course, as good-looking as she is talented. She's smart, fearless and determined, and has a clean, classic style to match. In the last episode, the clever folks in wardrobe styled her in a crisp white button-down shirt, black pants, black boots and a lightweight black trench. It's a look that's sophisticated, polished, professional and chic...for crime-fighting FBI agents and everyday budget babes alike.

Here are a few reasonably priced options, but I'd recommend buying the best quality trench you can afford because it will be a beloved wardrobe staple for years to come. Nothing "fringe" about this fashion!



Guinevere Trench Coat at Forever21.com (also available in black), $37.80


Kenneth Cole Reaction Nylon Belted Trench at KennethCole.com (also available in stone), Was $260.00 Now $129.98


Antonio Melani "Olena" Trench Coat at Dillards.com, $179


Polished trench coat at Talbots.com (also available in red), $188