The Budget Babe

Following our previous post on the hot ikat fashion trend, an alert reader pointed us in the direction of some gorgeous authentic ikat items on the cheap. She writes, "Although the print version of ikat makes it affordable, real ikat represents the precise skill and hard work that goes into hand weaving this complex textile. For affordable real, traditional ikat, check out these handwoven scarves from Aid to Artisans:"

Silk ikat scarf from the city of Margilan, located along the legendary Silk Route in the Fergana Valley of Uzbekistan. Woven by Rasulijon Mirzakhmedov, who represents five generations of silk ikat weavers. Cream/copper, $42 (18.5"w x 64"l) Or...


Silk ikat scarf from the city of Margilan in deep royal blue/light green, $42 (18.5"w x 64"l)

"Forty-two bucks is a steal for traditional, handwoven ikat (we couldn't agree more!). Aid to Artisans is also a great company that provides fair wages and income earning opportunities for artisans around the world."

Visit www.aidtoartisans.org for more info.

Truly happy shopping

Debbie Matenopoulos, Brittany Snow and Kristen Bell don ikat-inspired dresses.
Ethnic-inspired ikat is the "it" print of the season, so it seems, and I'm in love. This style of cloth that uses a resist dyeing technique similar to tie-dye has been used for centuries by cultures all over the world, from South-East Asia to South America (thank you, Wikipedia!).

You may not have known the word "ikat" until recently, but I'm sure you'd recognize this design when you see it. I feel like I've seen ikats used in home decor for a while, and I've definitely seen ikats at The Art Institute of Chicago (my fave art museum) - some of the handwoven ikats from back in the day (I'm so technical) are truly works of art. This is probably why this fabric reminds me of, well, art, culture, travel, exotic locales, and faraway places - all that good stuff that fills our daydreams. The word "escapism" comes to mind...

But never mind me: Ikat is a gorgeous way to get some printed pieces into your wardrobe, and it can be done on a budget thanks to the trickle down from the runway to the high street. This summery ikat tank ($49) by INC International Concepts at Macy's is a sweet and simple way to wear this trend. Another effortless way to incorporate some ikat into your wardrobe would be with a scarf, like this woven number ($9.80) from Forever 21.

And naturally, Topshop has an assortment of stylish ikat options, including this long red and white cami ($49), a folksy blue ikat skirt ($62), or a breezy ikat sun dress ($62). Leave it to ASOS to bring us some of the most high-fashion ikats without the high pricetag - we're loving this ikat shift dress ($60.56) for warm weather partying, or this Ikat mini puffball skirt ($60.56) that looks plucked straight from the Etro SS08 catwalk.