Alternative Apparel Blog

Emily Bungert's Ultimate Alternative Must-Haves

My personal style revolves around COMFORT, which is one of the reasons I adore Alternative so much. As anyone who has ever read my Twitter page can attest to, I write about Alternative all the time and definitely feel the need to tell the world why they are so special. That being said, I decided to call out my ultimate Alternative Apparel must-have styles. Whether you’re in need of gifts for loved ones or a New Year’s gift for yourself, any of these pieces are definitely wardrobe essentials that will make you or someone else VERY happy and cozy.

Kristen's Last-Minute Gift Guide

The holiday countdown is on! For all you procrastinators out there, here are some fab Alternative styles other fun finds that make great holiday gifts. And the best part? They’re all under $100! What are you waiting for? Get shopping and cross those last few names off your list. Happy Holidays from Alternative!

Gifts for Her Under $100
1.    Control Headphones by Eskuche available at Urban Outfitters, $60
2.    Whitebread Wilkinson Pantone Mug by Velocity, $11
3.    House of Harlow 1960 Tribal Triangle Necklace available at Bloomingdale's, $80
4.    Dolce Vita Tilden Boots available at Lori’s Shoes, $91
5.    The Rocky Eco-Fleece Zip Hoodie by Alternative. $50
6.    Casio Retro Style Dial & Digital Metal Bracelet Watch by Asos, $72
7.    Kenneth Jay Lane Pyramid Ring available at Pret-A-Beaute, $90
8.    The Scout Adler Shoulder Bag by Alternative, $98
9.    Food, Fashion, Friends: Recipes & Styling for Unforgettable Parties by Fleur Wood available at Anthropologie, $50
10.    Breathe Shea Butter Handcream by Lollia, $24
11.    The Hooded Pocket Scarf by Alternative, $38
12.    Eau De Parfum, “Cleopatra” by Tocca. $68

Cooking Quinoa for the Holidays

When considering holiday dinners, I’m a fan of things that are a bit off the beaten culinary path, yet still palatable for everyone at the table. That’s why for this holiday season I’ve been interested in sharing quinoa (pronounced keen-wah)  with friends and family. Personally, I’ve been a big fan of quinoa for a quite awhile. I noticed it was popping up at several vegetarian-friendly restaurants I frequent and a friend happened to bring a delicious cold salad of the stuff to my New Year’s Eve dinner last year. So, being the curious veggie that I am, I decided to do some research. Turns out, quinoa is a pretty impressive grain-like seed. Hailing from South America, the Incas considered it sacred and called it the “mother grain.” Most recently, quinoa has turned into a sustainable source of economic development for Andean people living in Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador.

Marfa: Deep in the Heart of Texas

For my birthday this year, my husband asked me if I wanted to go to New York. I thought for a second and then responded “No, I want to go on a new adventure. Let's go to Marfa.”  Marfa, TX has had a long-standing reputation for being a center for the arts, and I have to say, I was curious. Set in the heart of West Texas, it’s part ghost town, part hipster art community.

Wrap It Up

As the holiday season draws near, all I can think about is how I am going to wrap the gifts that I'll be giving. Of course, finding the perfect present is important, but the way it is wrapped is just as critical. They say that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, and maybe the same works for presents, but you gotta admit you get more excited when you see a gift wrapped in gorgeous paper with nice ribbons and bows versus something that's wrapped in, say, the comics from the Sunday paper. I think the logic goes something like, "If they didn't put a lot of effort towards the wrapping, they probably didn't put a lot of effort towards the gift, either."

Bag Reputation: Alternative's Mollie Culligan

If you haven’t yet heard of Mollie Culligan, just ask Scarlett Johansson, Agyness Deyn or Drew Barrymore. Before taking the reigns as Alternative’s new Accessories Director last spring, Culligan was heading up her own accessories line, Jack Rabbit Collection, which was a hit with A-list celebs and top-rated publications like InStyle, Lucky and Glamour. A self-taught, award-winning designer with a sixth sense for DIY business, she started the line out of her living room and expanded into more than 300 retailers worldwide, including Harvey Nichols, Barneys and Neiman Marcus.