The Budget Babe

Original, overdressed, trendsetting or trying too hard...The judges of the inaugural Daily Telegraph Style Awards sift the wow from the woeful.

>> See their picks for best and worst dressed of 2007.

Never seem to have the right shoes on hand? Then take note: Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe shares her five must-have pairs of shoes as a guest editor at Piperlime, an online shoe shop from Gap Inc.

Whether you're running to class, running errands or running late for a hot date, owning these five shoes will have you running on all cylinders in style.

We went on a hunt to track down each of Rachel's picks on a budget, and found amazing affordable versions of all of them at Target. Check 'em out after the jump...

[1] Timeless Patent: Xhilaration Skyler Patent Mary Jane Pumps, $19.99
Isaac Mizrahi for Target Andrea Platform Black Patent Pumps, $14.99
[2] Riding Boot: Mossimo Riding Boot, $34.99
[3] A Stunning Red Shoe: Mossimo Red Heidi Satin Bow Heels, $19.99
Mossimo Red Hailey Knotted Strap Heels, $19.99
[4] The Fabulous Flat: Xhilaration Sabina Ornament Ballet Flats, clearance $8.99
[5] A Wild Animal Print: Mossimo Leopard Dierdre Jet Heel Pumps, $24.99

If you like the vest worn by Nicky Hilton above (which we also featured in our earlier post on how to wear a vest), then check out this Piper Tweed Vest for $22.80 at Forever 21 - the two look almost identical - and apart from that, we think it's just a great looking, versatile piece for layering. Enjoy!

Pantone, Inc., the leading provider of professional color standards for the design industries, selected Blue Iris as the color of the year for 2008, saying the purple-blue hue best represents color direction for fashion, cosmetics and home products.

From Pantone.com: "Combining the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical and spiritual qualities of purple, Blue Iris satisfies the need for reassurance in a complex world, while adding a hint of mystery and excitement. … As a reflection of the times, Blue Iris brings together the dependable aspect of blue, underscored by a strong, soul-searching purple cast. Emotionally, it is anchoring and meditative with a touch of magic. Look for it artfully combined with deeper plums, red-browns, yellow-greens, grapes and grays."


From left to right: Spring 2008 looks from Balenciaga, Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci, Jil Sander as featured on NYTimes.com

While this press-seeking decision will hardly influence how we dress - or even how designers design - we love the idea of an annual color coronation. Different hues impact each of us in such varied emotional ways. The colors we choose to wear say so much about the person wearing them. And as an artist, colors are undeniably more important than words. While we typically lean towards warmer hues on the color wheel, we embrace this opportunity to reflect on this beautiful, cool shade and see how it plays out in the coming months.


Blue Iris is a dominant hue in one of our favorite paintings by Vincent van Gogh. Irises, Oil on Canvas, 1889