The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Spring Trends 2008: Neon + Neutral

Designers electrified the Spring 2008 runways with pops of bright neon color - but subtle neutral pairings served as a dimmer switch to tone down the dayglo effect, thereby creating a sartorial synthesis that was equal parts intensity and refinement. We've got our eye on this trend in particular because it shan't be difficult to translate to real life: Mix an affordable, vivid-toned tank or camisole with a khaki skirt or shorts and you'll generate instant fashion chemistry.

Spring Trends 2008 Neons and Neutrals
Spring Trends 2008: Energizing fluorescents are tempered by subdued neutrals on the runways of 3.1 Phillip Lim, Jil Sander, Akris and Blumarine. Image Source: Style.com


Love it? Hate it? Can't wait to wear it? Share your bright thoughts on Spring Trends for 2008 in the comments.

Hit or Miss: Stylist Rachel Zoe

Stylist Rachel ZoeAt some point or other, stylist-to-the-stars Rachel Zoe has been the fashion force behind such Hollywood "It" girls as Mischa Barton, Lindsay Lohan, Kiera Knightly and her now-famously estranged client, Nicole Richie. Love her or loathe her, Zoe (pronounced "Zoh") is showing no signs of slowing down: She released her first book, Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour, and recently signed a deal with Bravo to star in her own reality-tv show, The Rachel Zoe Project.

While Rachel has been criticized for creating mini-clones (known as Zoe-bots) and promoting super-skinniness among her A-list clientèle (debatable), her boho-glam style is actually quite easy to imitate on a budget - and that makes her A-OK in our book! All you need are some oversized vintage sunglasses, layers of gold jewelry, and a peacock feather clutch or two to get goin' with the Rachel Zoe look.

In addition to espousing a "fab-without-a-fortune" style philosophy, Rachel has also dressed gorgeous gals like Salma Hayek, Liv Tyler and Jennifer Garner - not just controversial starlets. Lest we forget, she even put Cameron Diaz in what was perhaps the most stunning red-carpet look of last year: a Dior by John Galliano gown for the 2007 Costume Institute ball. How can we hate on the person responsible for that marvelous fashion moment?