The Budget Babe

Here's another example of an actress whose style I greatly admire despite never having seen her act in a single film. Is that so wrong? As the ladies at Who What Wear Daily might say, "We don't care who you date or if you eat. We only care about what you are wearing." And so it is with Kate Bosworth. She is such a natural beauty and always manages to look super cool and girly without showing much skin or wearing anything particularly ostentatious. While she's a stunner on the red carpet, Kate also looks great in this casual outfit that's perfect for a laid-back summer day. In my budget-friendly version, I swapped the star's cut-off shorts with cropped jeans (a more flattering length on most gals), and found a tripped out pair of triple-strap flats from Dolce Vita that cost a fraction of Bosworth's Chloe shoes. Simple, stylish, and of course, easy to imitate without spending a fortune.

Do you admire Kate Bosworth's style?

[1] LA Made Button Back Pleated Tunic at revolveclothing.com, $52
[2] Oversized Plastic Shades at sunglasswarehouse.com, $15.95
[3] Indigo cropped jeans at topshop.com, $69.28
[4] Owl Charm Necklace at forever21.com, $8.80
[5] Dolce Vita flat with 3 buckles at shopdolcevita.com, $49.99

The line between what's hot and what's a hot mess can often be hazy what with all the tempting trends out there. I've made one too many fashion blunders because of this, and so I've decided to do a new installment here on The Babe that allows you, the reader, to help me make that distinction: Fierce or tranny?

Let's start with these super sexy Jimmy Choo "Elipse" cracked-gold leather sandals (at left). My vote: Undeniably fierce. The price ($695), not so much, which led me to search for a budget-friendly version (at right): The "Diem" platform sandal from Bakers. It's got the cracked gold leather look, the tall stiletto heel and the slight platform - but does the "Diem" hold the same allure as the Jimmy Choos...or does it scream dancer at The Baton?

Give it to me straight, ladies: Are these shoes fierce or tranny? (Please note that I use the word lovingly. But it's not the look I'm going for.)

I have a confession to make: I do not watch Gossip Girl. I know I should tune-in for the fashion alone but somehow the planets have never quite aligned in such a way that made me catch the popular teen drama. But that doesn't mean I can't admire Leighton Meester's fashion sense - both on and off the show. While Leighton's character, Blair Waldorf, is known for her eccentric, fashion-forward looks, the real-life star proves she can turn heads in something as simple and refined as a little black dress. This particular number, which she wore at the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 premiere, strikes me as especially flattering, and the shoes are drop-dead gorgeous. She's adorable, and her style is worth copying.

Are you a Leighton Meester fan? Do you love her look?

[1] Heart Petal Ring at Forever21.com, $4.80
[2] ASOS Halter Neck Prom Dress, $69.22
[3] Jill Stuart Kasia Ankle Wrap Platform Sandal at Shopbop.com, Was $468.00 Now $140.40

Asos "The Online Fashion Store" is having a huge summer sale with up to 75% off select items. Now's your chance to scoop up all those fashion-forward duds you've been drooling over for months. Great opportunity for first time Asos shoppers to get their shop on, too!

She was named "Model of the Year" in 2007 by the British Fashion Awards and tapped as one of the world's next supermodels by Vogue on the cover of their May 2007 issue. British model Agyness Deyn, whose real name is Laura Hollins, has taken the fashion world by storm with her platinum blond pixie haircut, lanky boyish figure and rock-chick aesthetic. Her style has a decidedly London vibe which I love to admire - from a distance, though, as I don't think I could pull off most of her looks. Seeing her face in Burberry ads has given the company a fresh new edge and made me look at the sometimes stodgy label in a whole new way. While I don't see her as the next Kate Moss, though many have made the comparison, I do think she's gorgeous, she's different, she takes chances and heck, the girl owes her parents for some great genes.

Are you smitten by Aggy? Do you love her look?

[1] Wayfarer Sunglasses at FredFlare.com, $10
[2] Oversized White Tank at store.AmericanApparel.net, $24
[3] H81 Cargo Pocket Satchel at Forever21.com, $26.90
[4] Xhilaration Black Shorts at Target.com, $14.99
[5] Monogram Necklace at UrbanOutfitters.com, $18
[6] Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Hi Top Red at Amazon.com, $39.99

Street style in Boston and Manhattan. (The Sartorialist, I am not.)

One of the good things about living on the East Coast is that everything is relatively close together. You can be in Boston one weekend and New York City the next without the hassle of flying. This is all rather new and exciting for a girl who grew up in Chicago, and of course, my favorite part about traveling is scoping out the local fashions.

So what is everyone wearing?

• For locals and tourists alike, the summer wardrobe across the board seems to be dresses, dresses and more dresses!
  
• Footwear is largely flip-flops or gladiator sandals (yay!).
  
• Metallic handbags are ridiculously popular for day and night. But the more stylish ladies seem to gravitate toward slouchy tan leather bags, cross-body bags or supple woven styles.
  
• Tank tops of every color and short shorts are also ubiquitous.
  
• Maxi dresses are another very popular trend, everywhere I turn I seem to see women of all ages in floor-length frocks, usually styled with a laid-back bohemian vibe.
  
• Skin is also in: When temperatures soar, no one hesitates to show lots of it.
  
• Prints run the gamut from florals and paisley to ombre, ethnic prints, checks, stripes, eyelet and everything in between!

So what makes certain women stand out in a crowd when just about anything goes?

American tattoo artist Ed Hardy's vintage tattoo graphics were the most sought after body art of his time. Now Hardy, who was the first Western tattoo artist to incorporate Japanese tattoo aesthetic and technique into his work, has lent his name (and vintage tattoo designs) to everything from apparel to watches, hats, shoes, bags and more. While there's no denying Hardy's talent as an artist, his duds carry some pretty steep pricetags. You can find authentic Ed Hardy licensed products at places like Nordstrom Rack for cheap. Or, get the look with one of the many tattoo-inspired tees available at fashion chains like Wet Seal. Are you an Ed Hardy fan?

Left: Ed Hardy EH Mum Dip-Dye Tee at RevolveClothing.com, $88.00
Right: Flying Rose Tattoo Tee at WetSeal.com, $17.50