The Budget Babe

Pierre Hardy is a name worth knowing (he's a highly acclaimed French accessories designer with his own eponymous line of highly coveted shoes and bags). But his collection for the Gap, which hit select stores and Gap.com today, is regrettably forgettable. The capsule consists of a dated pointy toe flat, a drab three-strap platform and an uninspired flat sandal. With prices ranging from $78 to $98, these shoes are still too expensive - and they're not even stamped with Hardy's name (all the shoes are just labeled "Gap Design Editions"). The verdict: Next!

I love Vera's play on proportions and smart color choices in this latest crop of looks from her Simply Vera by Vera Wang collection for Kohl's. She mixes various volumes and lengths, adds a touch of brights tempered by subdued hues, and incorporates some of the whimsical watercolor, painterly prints that are so popular this season. When you add it all up, everything about her collection suggests she takes women seriously. Comfortable, dare I say, practical looking shoes suggest she respects the fact that women actually have places to walk to without pain or breaking an ankle. She's also succeeded in convincing me that an anorak can be both functional and cute. Even the way the lovely models are styled says, "We can think, too." It's just refreshing, that's all. Bravo.





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• Simply Vera Vera Wang Brushstroke-Print Dress