The Budget Babe

Hey, look everybody! It's your favorite judge from Project Runway. ::grins:: Ok, so listen: I don't know Nina Garcia from Adam, but what I do know is that I like this look, which was brought to my attention by alert reader TexNYQueen. For my budget-friendly spin-off, I found a simple satin sheath that gets pruced up with a black patent leather belt (cinching the waist continues to be a great trend I just love), a natural straw tote and killer wedge platform wedges--killer style, yet so kind to your feet! And since the dress doesn't have rhinestone embellishments like Nina's does, I found a glamorous necklace to doll it up instead. What do you think of Nina's look?

[1] Puff-Sleeved Satin Dress at Oldnavy.com, $34.50
[2] Beaded necklace at BananaRepublic.com, $39.00
[3] Black patent leather belt at Forever21.com, $9.80
[4] Straw beach bag at JCrew.com, $45
[5] Tahiti Wedge Sandal at Shopdolcevita.com, $79.99

As a general rule, I try to avoid single articles of clothing that combine multiple trends, but that's just me. So for instance, I just ordered a super cute maxi dress from ShopBarbara.com, but it's solid, boring black. I figure that I can pull off the trendy maxi look as long as I opt for a simple color and casual fabric that I can spruce up with the right accessories.

Having said that, the ombre maxi is not a look I would feel comfortable wearing, but I can easily see the appeal for certain girls. Celebs like Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba make them work, Kate with her bohemian vibe, and Jessica with her hot mama bod.

As for you, my beloved readers, reviews have been mixed when it comes to both ombre and maxi dresses. For some, ombre is too closely linked to tie-dye and hippies - and it's not the polished look you're going for. Others love this dip dye technique when it's done right. The maxi is a length lots of you love for easy, summer dressing...but for others, it's too fussy and too much fabric (gotta show off those great gams of yours!)

So what's the verdict going to be for these ombre maxis? If you're on the fence, it's good to know this trend is available for every budget (my favorite happens to be the cheapest one featured above.) Can you guess which costs the most? Answers after the jump...

Continue reading "Luxe vs. Less: The Ombre ... »