What should I wear with one of those cute maxi dresses that are so popular for summer?

Keep your look chic and effortless by pairing an ankle-skimming maxi dress with metallic or embellished flat sandals, a beachy straw tote and plenty of exotic bangles. Here are some budget-friendly finds to help you get started:




[1] Floral-print halter dress at Newport-News.com, Was $69.00 Now $39.00
[2] Deep Blue V-Neck Braided Halter Dress at Target.com, $19.99
[3] Limited-Edition Straw Bucket Bag at Target.com, $39.99
[4] Resort-inspired maxi dress at OldNavy.com, Was $34.50 Now $19.99
[5] Mosaic Bangles at Forever21.com, $8.90
[6] Triangle lacquer metal bangle at Forever21.com, $6.80
[7] Embellished Leather Sandals at OldNavy.com, $19.50
[8] Martha Stewart Collection Straw Beach Tote at Macys.com, Was $60.00 Now $29.99
[9] Patricia Field for Payless Empress Sandal at Payless.com, $25

Memorial Day used to mark the start of the season when self-respecting ladies could wear white once again. That fashion convention has pretty much been blasted by today's "anything-goes" attitude, but we figured now was as good a time as any to mention this perennial summer favorite. Just remember...

• White won't make you look bigger - it's the fit, cut and fabric that matters, not the color.
  


• White won't get dirty after one wear. Unless you live with my dog, in which case, your whites will get covered in mud and drool in under 5 seconds. But that's what washing machines are for, right?
  


• White will keep you cooler. It reflects sunlight...or something. Trust me, you'll feel cooler wearing it.
  


• White will match everything in your wardrobe. Winter has black; summer has white. You can't go wrong.
  

Shown above are just a few ways to wear white for less green:
[1] Cotton Lace Trim Top at Forever21.com, $22.80
[2] Soutache embroidered surplice dress at Newport-News.com, Was $79 Now $49
[3] Style&co. Belted Wide-Leg Linen Capri Pant at Macys.com, Was $44 Now $30.80

Get ready to do some serious shopping with 20% off any purchase of $60 or more at any H&M in the United States, May 23-26, 2008. Visit www.hmfriendsandfamily.com to get your coupon now.

Above: ABS Deep V-Neck Halter in Teal, orig. $200 now $29.99; Dream Society 'Bella' Cardigan, orig. $138 now $25 (ordered mine today), both at Regent's Secret
There's a new, private, members-only retailer on the block that offers leading fashion brands to its members at discounts of up to 70% off retail prices. It's called Regent's Secret, and each private sale lasts for only a short period of time or until all of the products being offered are sold.

Membership can only be obtained via invitation from an existing member or from Regent's...and that's where we come in! Regent's Secret has extended a special invite to all Budget Babe readers. In the interest of full disclosure, they're also offering the referrer (that would be me) 5% of total sales that my fashionista friends make - but wait, there's more! Join now using the link below, then invite your friends and earn 5% of all their purchases in cash or merchandise for life!!

Click here to join Regent's Secret now.





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Stila fans have a big reason to smile: The cosmetics company with a cult following recently launched BeautyCrunch.com, an authorized resource for some of the most sought-after vintage stila products. It's the smart place to look for hard-to-find items and discontinued shades.

Take a peek...we spotted some super super deals, like this starter brush set (right), originally $75 now just $30.

P.S. Get free shipping on any order of $50 with coupon code INTRO