The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Lunch Hour Shopping: Free Shipping at Swirl




Today at Swirl, get free shipping on your order when you enter code AUGFSHIP at checkout. With the money you save on shipping, you'll have more to spend on pretty blouses by Maiya, cool timepieces by Freelook, flirty dresses from the Love Shop and cool basics under $50 by Mark and Estel. Offer ends August 26, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.

Shop it online:
Swirl Free Shipping Promo

Sneak Peek: Tracy Reese Spring 2012


One of my fave designers Tracy Reese will be presenting her spring/summer 2012 collection in just a few short weeks at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. Here's a sneak peek from the designer:

For spring 2012, designer Tracy Reese is inspired by a land of pure delight. Softly voluminous styles pair with lean, refined silhouettes, evolving proportions with a focus on modern fluidity. "A feminine yet relaxed mood is achieved through the juxtaposition of romance and sport, comfort and flattery. Subtle hues of khaki and blush mixed with pastel shades of waterfall, misty blue and aqua tears gradually intensify to deep saturated tones and neon brights, making a bold splash for the transition into summer. A drapey culotte jumpsuit in waterfall, complimented with drawstring waist and seductive neckline details, pairs with a lemon zest hat and printed platform sandals to embody the relaxed mood of the season," says Reese.


I'm loving the sound of the color palette (hold on to your neon brights for next season!) and can't wait to see the complete collection.

Kmart Fashion Fall 2011 Lookbook


Kmart Fashion Fall 2011 Look Book

Kmart has shared their Fall 2011 look book with us, and it features some of the key pieces and trends you'll be seeing in stores for the fall season. There's some good-looking outerwear, amazing boots and knit dresses that can go from day to night with a quick accessory change. I've got my eye on the capelet (capes are huge again for fall), all the wool-blend coats, lace-up fold-over ankle boots, faux leather shorts, and faux leather skirt. Kmart is slowly but surely stepping up their game, now if only they would overhaul their website to make shopping online a bit more enjoyable.

Click through to see all the looks, is this enough to get you into a Kmart store?

Alexander Wang Is Creating A Nail Polish Collection with Sally Hansen




Alexander Wang is teaming up with Sally Hansen to create a line of nail polishes which will debut in just a few short weeks at the designer's New York Fashion Week Spring 2012 show. (via Style.com). Sally Hansen is also collaborating with designers Prabal Gurung and Tracy Reese again this season, which means we'll have plenty of designer-inspired colors to choose from, most likely priced under $8. I can't wait to see what they come up with. We budget babes know and love Sally Hansen for their amazing products at great prices, so I'm beyond excited to see them align with the cool kids at Fashion Week.

Shown above from left: Designer Alexander Wang; A look from his Fall 2011 runway show (via Style.com)

Splurge vs. Steal: Green Eyes from the Chanel Fall 2011 Show

Chanel is always setting the top beauty trends each season, and this fall we'll be seeing a lot of green eyes inspired by the Chanel Fall 2011 show. Makeup artists used Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre Eyeshadow in Epalant to create the look seen below. ($36, chanel.com)





Another luxe eyeshadow palette that will help you achieve a sultry ombre green look for fall is this Dior All-In-One Artistry Palette, which includes forest green, sheer glimmring mint, seafoam green, ivory sheen, and dark green cream liner. ($59, sephora.com)



Christian Dior at ShopStyle



Get the look for less with Maybelline's Eye Studio Color Explosion Luminizing Eyeshadow in Forest Fury. The colors are a bit more vibrant but depending on your eye color and skin tone, these might create an even more desirable look. ($10.99, ulta.com)



Maybelline at ShopStyle



Need another option? Wet n Wild Color Icon Eye Shadow Trio in "I Dream of Greenie" is perfect for a gorgeous, green eye. ($2.99, mass retailers and drugstores)





I love the Chanel look, it's a beautiful way to try some color around the eye without going over the top. Will you be trying out a green eye look for fall?