Dear Budget Babe,
Just got back from a weekend trip and air travel is getting nastier by the day. Anyway, due to 'heightened security measures' we now have to take off our shoes, right? In summer that means walking barefoot where other people's feet have been. Eeeeeeewwwww
Budget Babe, is it ok to relax the fashion standards a bit and wear socks for that dreaded walk down the security aisle?

Answer: It is perfectly acceptable to wear socks or nylons after removing shoes at security checkpoints—in fact, we highly encourage this. However, it is not acceptable to wear socks with sandals (sorry, Mum!). The solution? Don't wear sandals when flying. Closed-toe shoes worn with socks protect your tootsies from fungus and rogue luggage carts in the airport, and keep them warm on the plane.

Common sense dictates that you also pick socks that aren't too slippery, in dark shades that wont show dirt. No holes. If you're minding your fashion Ps & Qs, you'll probably be wearing dark jeans or slacks, so socks should be a similar hue to create the most pleasant visual line.

Young'uns or the young at heart can wear cute, colorful or patterned socks, too. Nothing wrong with that.

As for shoes, opt for ballet flats, fashion sneaks, even fashionable clogs. If you're worried about the heat, wear socks that breathe and shoes made from real leather.

If your funky foot odor is so toxic that agents from the Department of Homeland Security get called in when you remove your shoes, consider this remedy: Brew up some iced tea and soak your feet in it for about 30 minutes a day for a week. The tannic acid in the tea will cure what ails you.

If you have a fashion conundrum that's keeping you up at night, e-mail The Budget Babe at [email protected].

Summer seems to bring out both the best and the worst in us when it comes to fashion. On the one hand, we have flirty sundresses, strappy sandals and wide-brimmed hats. On the other hand, we have Daisy Dukes, unkempt feet in flip-flops and exposed bra straps (or worse). So don't get caught on the wrong side of the sartorial tracks—stay on the sunny side of summer style with the following suggestions...

• Flip-flops should not be worn to the office. Honestly, your co-workers don't want to see that. That's not to say you can't wear other sandal styles, just be conscious of the professional culture in your workplace when selecting a shoe.


• While we may offend some of our vertically-challenged fashionista friends with the following piece of advice, it must be said that platform flip-flops are one of summer fashion's biggest disasters. Sure, they elevate your toes from the nitty-gritty of city streets, but they look ridiculous. If you crave height, try a stylish wedge (or a stylish platform for that matter). But please, do not wear platform flip-flops. They're so Britney. We think that says it all.


• Which brings us to the pedicure: it is not necessary to get a pedicure in order to make your feet look presentable. In fact, announcing that you "reeeeally need a pedicure" is no excuse for unkempt feet. That's like saying, "my hair is filthy because I haven't been to the hairdresser in weeks" or "my teeth are rotting because I haven't been to a dentist in months." People, it's basic hygiene. When did we adopt the idea that you have to shell out $30 for someone else to make your feet look presentable? If you're between pedis, you still need to take the time to exfoliate and moisturize your feet, as well as trim your toenails. Nailpolish is optional.


• Another big fashion no-no is the ankle bracelet, or anklet. The only person who should be wearing an ankle bracelet this summer is Paris Hilton under house arrest. Skip the anklets, they're tacky and have yet to become chic.


• Finally, just because it's hot doesn't mean you can walk around half-nekked. Layers tank tops if necessary to cover bra straps, overexposed cleavage and midriffs. Skip the shorts shorts unless your thighs are the size of pipe cleaners. And be aware of see-through fabrics for skirts, dresses and anything white.

Sometimes women dress purely for themselves, sometimes they dress to impress other women, and sometimes they dress to impress their man. We scoured the net for a few fashion finds that we thought were cute, and then asked our boyfriend (who for the time being shall remain nameless) to weigh in. Mind you, our sweetie knows about as much about fashion as we know about cars—and that ain't sayin' much. Brace yourself as we go inside the male mind…


Exhibit A: Juniors' Mossimo® Red: Striped Tube Halter Dress - Coral/ Brown, $19.99 at Target.com

The Verdict: "Looks kind of like a beach towel."







Exhibit B: Wide Leg Linen Pant, $22.80 at Forever21.com

The Verdict: "Fine—they're pants."










Exhibit C: "Jayant" patent flat sandal, on sale for $65.00 at Ninewest.com

The Verdict: "They're sandals. They're regular."

Summer fashion's pièce de résistance is without a doubt the dress. Here's one we can almost guarantee will look smashing on any woman:

What: Shirred v-neck dress from Newport-News.com.

Why it works: Flattering neckline, ruched waistline and flared skirt hide flaws and accent the positive. Polyester/rayon knit with spandex lend support and help retain the shape, so it's totally packable for that summer vacation. Plus, it's machine washable.

Oh-so-right price: $44

If you know a few things about the retail clothing industry's calendar, you can hit big sales and score great deals. A few things worth noting:

• There are only two seasons in the clothing retail year: Spring and Fall (or Autumn). You won't hear designers and buyers referring to Summer and Winter collections because they don't exist. Summer clothing gets lumped in with Spring, and Winter clothing gets included with Fall.


• Spring lasts from February to June, making July the biggest sale month of the season! Summer merchandise hits shops in April.


• Fall runs from August to December, so look for huge sales in January. Winter merchandise makes its way into stores in October.


• Buying off-season ensures some of the best deals if you can wait six months or so before wearing the item.