The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Mara Hoffman Spring 2013




Bringing a taste of the Tropics to the Stage at Lincoln Center, Mara Hoffman wowed us with color, prints and skin-baring pieces from her Spring 2013 collection. With strategically placed cut-outs and electrifying prints throughout her collection, Mara definitely made me want to book the next flight to some exotic locale, where I could kick up my heels (literally) in a hammock and sip fruity drinks. Incorporating live flowers and leafy accents also showcased the designer's out-of-the-box thinking. And neon? Mara let us know it's here to stay (yay!). —by The Budget Babe Correspondent, Megan Zietz

bebe Spring 2013


When you hear words like rebirth, substantive and paradigm shift, the first fashion brand that comes to mind probably isn't bebe, but that's exactly what the brand hoped to conjure with Monday's Spring 2013 collection presentation held at a Chelsea art gallery. There were no lines wrapped around the block, no Snooki (as was the case last season) but rather a stark oval room with dimly lit models poised like Stepford wives from the future behind a wall with portal-like round windows. New Age music set a sci-fi tone for the simple yet striking pieces in leather and tone on tone patchwork in a magnolia inspired palette of yellows, whites, greens and blacks, structured with patent and mesh shaping and punctuated by striking prints and textures. This was the dawn of a new era for bebe, which is aiming for a more "upscale" market. Perhaps this is bad news for budget babes. But then again, there are always sales, even in the year 2013.


Backstage Beauty with John Frieda at Zac Posen SS13




Backstage at Zac Posen, I caught up with the John Frieda team to find out how they achieved the Spring 2013 hair looks. For his Spring 2013 collection, Zac Posen envisioned rich, vibrant hair color to make the runway looks truly pop. John Frieda® International Creative Consultant Harry Josh brought this vision to life, using John Frieda® Precision Foam Colour to enhance models’ shades with saturated colour and shine that complemented Zac Posen's whimsically elegant spring pieces.

Next, in order to enhance the richness of the colour, John Frieda® Global Creative Consultant Luigi Murenu melded two looks into one – creating a graphic style in the front and a soft wave in the back. Drawing inspiration from polished wood, Murenu described the look as "chic, elegant and timeless."

Keep reading for more of my backstage photos, plus step by step tips to get the look at home.

Backstage Beauty with Mally Roncal at Tracy Reese SS13




Backstage at Tracy Reese, I caught up with Mally Roncal to talk about the ever-so-slightly '80s inspired beauty look her team created for the Spring 2013 show. Mally focused on clean, fresh skin paired with a soft, smudgy eye and a Brooke Shields-y eyebrow. Think slept-in-my-makeup chic. "There's something really beautiful about just letting it go, and letting it be that way," says Mally. "Everything doesn't have to be so perfect all the time." Amen to that.

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Tracy Reese Spring 2013 Nails Looks by Sally Hansen




Sunday afternoon, I had the chance to go backstage before the Tracy Reese Spring 2013 show to get the scoop on the unique nail looks that the models would be sporting on the runway. Never one to shy away from a bold nail, Tracy worked with Sally Hansen Nail ambassador and celebrity manicurist Tracylee to create a custom nail look for the show, which was a unique triangular half-moon manicure featuring four different nail color combinations. The designer also worked with Sally Hansen to create three new exclusive polish shades to complement her Spring 2013 collection: Butterscoth, a warm yellow, Soy Latte, a creamy beige, and Hot Lava, an Orange Red Flip (all three coming out in March for $7.99 each).

I watched Tracylee hand paint the triangular half moon Manu onto Tracy Reese's nails and it looked totally doable at home. You know I'm going to try! Keep reading to see more of my backstage photos. Are these colors and designs something you would rock?