Fashion Advice

Scarves are a classic accessory that add effortless glamor to any outfit. Buying vintage is one of the best ways to go for unique, one-of-a-kind designer pieces, so be sure to scour thrift stores and resale shops near you. Fab treasures can also be found online: Back-in-Style has a fantastic collection of vintage scarves, many for under $50. Here are our top picks, followed by some fresh ideas for how to wear them:


[1] Lanvin silk scarf, $50
[2] Schiaparelli silk scarf, $35
[3] Retro vintage silk scarf, $20
[4] Celine silk scarf, $37.50


[1] Knot sure how to tie a scarf? No problem: Simply toss a long scarf around your neck and let it hang loose, baby!
[2] Head scarves are equally chic for conservative girls and boho babes alike. Perfect for bad hair days, too.
[3] Worn as a tie around the neck, a scarf literally ties an outfit together. Brilliant!
[4] Tuck a scarf around the neckline beneath a cardigan (or crisp white buttoned-down shirt) to frame the face with gorgeous light, color and texture. We think this photo also inadvertently demonstrates how a scarf can make a great belt!
[5] Audrey Hepburn in Charade (1963) shows us how to sport the silk square for its mystique-preserving qualities.
[6] Express your personal style by weaving a scarf through the hardware on your fave handbag. Or, just tie a scarf around one of the straps for instant panache.

Fashion and beauty blogs are quite plentiful these days, each extolling the virtues of some new amazing shoe, coat, lip gloss or purse every minute of every day. They tempt us to try new products and shop online; they tell us we "deserve" designer labels, and that coveting a $2,000 handbag is perfectly legitimate for someone who values fashion and looking good.

So are floggers in part to blame for consumer overspending and rising credit card debt?

To answer this question requires a little background info from yours truly. (Bear with us.)

We don't mean to sound overly dramatic, but we grew up with rather limited means. Seeing all the stuff you're "supposed" to have—on TV, in magazines, etc.—and what things are supposed to cost you, well, it starts to bring a girl down.…no matter how hard you try to shun materialism and march to the beat of your own drummer.

We personally avoided blogging for a looong time because well, we didn't think we could hang with all the "fashion snobs" (be they real or imagined) out there. Then we discovered The Budget Fashionista, and this girl was singing our tune! In fact, she inspired us to embrace our inner budget fashionista and start a blog of our own.

So here at The Budget Babe, we try really hard to stay true to ourselves and quite frankly, ignore the snooty snoots entirely.

Now that you know where we're coming from, here are a few things we'd like to make clear:

We do not wish to contribute to overspending among our readers, even if it's just racking up a $100 at Target and a $100 at Forever21—it can add up fast, as we all know!

We certainly don't endorse buying everything we write about—we would hope our readers know that, too.

You simply can't ignore the overwhelming element of fantasy in the digital age and throughout cyberspace: From gamers to fashion bloggers, we all enjoy creating larger-than-life avatars and personas online.

Sometimes we get just as much satisfaction writing about something as we would purchasing it. (Who knows, maybe the bloggers on sites like Bag Snob are finding that sort of bizarre gratification, too?)

In conclusion (at least for the time being), we think that as long as you can differentiate between reality and fantasy (easier said than done for some), then the pros far outweigh the cons of the worlds, communities, discussions and trends that fabulous fashion bloggers create. See you tomorrow! xoxo

How much should a woman spend on clothes, shoes, handbags and other fashion paraphernalia? Here's one way to break it down according to personal finance expert Jean Chatzky, a regular money contributor to the Today Show and The Oprah Show.



Clothing falls into the "Other Living Expenses" category, along with Entertainment, Vacations and Eating Out.

Depending on the day—and our mood—we both thank and blame Chatzky for reinforcing our budget-minded mentality, what with her constant incantations of "boring is better" and "make your money work for you" and "save don't spend." But ultimately, she's taught us so much, and we think her pie chart is a valuable tool for managing your money wisely. (Mmmmm...pie)

So how much do you budget for clothing? (You do have a budget, right?)

We recently caught an episode of Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, the show where Project Runway fashion guru Tim Gunn transforms fashion victims into stylish individuals with the help of former supermodel Veronica Webb. It's a makeover show that's one part "feel-good," (like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition) and one part "rip 'em to shreds" (a la Dr. Phil).

During the makeover, Tim invariably turns to his mentee and hands them a list of must-haves that every woman should own in order to establish a fashionable wardrobe.

There are no surprises on his list, and we can't really argue with them, but we wondered how many women actually do have these items and wear them on a regular basis. See for yourself...

Tim Gunn's 10 Essential Items Every Woman Needs
• Basic black dress
• Trench coat
• Classic dress pants
• Classic white shirt
• Skirt
• Blazer
• Day dress
• Cashmere sweater
• Jeans
• A comfortable alternative to a sweatsuit

See? Nothing new, just basic, versatile and timeless pieces that can work for just about any occasion. Unfortunately, shoes are missing from this list, but we'd guess he'd recommend a pair of black heels, a stylish flat, cute boots and sneaks.

Now if you're like us, this list seems mind-numbingly BORING. In fact, we'd wager most women don't follow these guidelines because following them would be tantamount to admitting that you were boring, too.

But it doesn't have to be that way: The trick is to personalize each item to fit your individual style. For example, one woman's cashmere sweater could be a preppy J. Crew v-neck, whereas another woman's cashmere sweater could be a flirty pink number from Juicy Couture.

Having these ten items in your fashion arsenal provides a solid foundation that practically guarantees you'll look consistently polished. You'll also save time and money in the long-run. And besides, who doesn't love cashmere?

Tim Gunn's Guide to Style airs Thursdays at 10 ET on Bravo.

The key to making magical homecoming memories is to pick a dress that accentuates your best features and makes you feel beautiful. Focus on flaunting one asset at a time, such as your décolletage or your legs, but not both. Have fun with accessories but don't go overboard. Wear shoes that are cute yet comfy enough for dancing. And above all, don't forget to leave a little something up to the imagination.

Here's where to score a fab homecoming frock without breaking the bank:

Nordstrom has by far the most impressive collection of any department store we checked out for fun, flirty and tasteful homecoming frocks, many under $100. Check out their outlet, Nordstrom Rack, for great shoe finds.

T.J. Maxx and Marshall's carry designer names for less. Scouring the racks is for the adventurous fashionista who has a clear vision. The reward for the hunt: No one else will have your dress.

eDressMe.com has dresses for every occasion and every budget. Huge selection to choose from.

Bluefly.com has a great selection of designer dresses including BCBG, A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz and Nicole Miller at 40-70% off the regular price.

BetseyJohnson.com has a fantastic sale section. BJ's girly frocks are young, playful and perfectly over the top.

Target.com: Turn heads without dropping a lot of cash at our favorite big-box boutique, Tar-zhay. Head straight to the "party dress" section for many online exclusives. Best part: you'll have money left over to accessorize.

Back-in-Style.com: Vintage pieces are a perennial favorite for celebs looking to find something special and unique to wear on the red carpet. Get your retro-glam on by perusing Back-in-Style.com's high-quality inventory of vintage dresses and gowns.

JCPenney surprised us again with the cute sequinned frock shown above. Dazzling and very of-the-moment. On sale for $99.

Imitating an outfit you love doesn't mean you have to copy it to the letter. Here's our spin-off of a lovely layered look for fall...

A look for fall from See by Chloe (left), with a more affordable rendition (right)

What caught our eye: In the look on the left, we loved the layering—an oversized tunic dress worn over a pleated gray sweater provides warmth, comfort and movement. The eye-catching scalloped skirt gives you just the right amount of additional length.

Color theory: The gray turtleneck, tights and muted olive dress provide a neutral base; yellow, green's neighbor on the color wheel, is used as an accent and really pops against the darker shades. Finally, the ochre of the shoes ties in with the skirt and pulls the outfit together.

Our (affordable) take: We maintained the layering elements and the color relationships. The gray sweater and tights form a foundation. Next, we swapped eggplant for olive, and fuchsia for yellow (because green is to yellow as purple is to pink...sounds like an SAT question, no?) Flirty, retro sandals flaunt both magenta and purple tones, which we think adds a nice touch to the overall look.

Et voila: Perhaps this is already a fine-tuned strategy that you employ with your own wardrobe. But if not, next time you spot an ensemble that speaks to you, try creating your own version. It doesn't have to be exact—just break it down and built it back up again...on a budget, of course!

Items: [1] sweater, [2] tunic, [3] skirt, [4] tights, [5] shoes