The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's Holiday 2012 Lookbook


Have you started thinking about the holidays yet? If this morning's Target x Neiman Marcus gift extravaganza didn't getting you dreaming, perhaps this LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's Holiday 2012 Lookbook will (I'm guessing both will have you salivating.) Some of the styles hitting Kohl's stores now through January include party dresses with a lot of sparkle and glam high heels, plus feminine blouses and pretty sweaters that are special enough for festive occasions but still exude a casual vibe. I've got my eye on the allover sequin dress ($80, available November), the heart applique sweater ($50, available November) and the pewter metallic "Johanna" pumps ($59.99, available January).

Keep reading to see all the looks.

Target x Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection: The Complete Lookbook


Here's the complete Target x Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection lookbook for your viewing pleasure. Featuring more than 50 unique gift items by 24 CFDA designers, the collection will be available December 1 at all Target and Neiman Marcus stores as well as online at Target.com and NeimanMarcus.com. Prices range from $7.99 to $499 (for the Alice + Olivia bike), with most items under $60. I featured some of my favorite items in the collage above, including fashions by Lela Rose and Tracy Reese, who both did a stellar job representing their brands and giving customers real bang for their buck (only $39.99 for a set of 4 Tracy Reese dessert plates, very reasonable! And they're fab!). Other designers could have been a bit more creative, like Marc Jacobs (love him, but a black scarf? boring), Carolina Herrera (pencils), and Judith Leiber (those $59.99 rhinestone compact mirrors look awfully cheap). Overall, it's a strong collab with something for everyone, including a $1 million donation from Target and Neiman Marcus to the CFDA. Bravo.

Which items are going on your holiday wish list? And do you think this collection will sell out Missoni-style?

Maison Martin Margiela for H&M: 14 Looks


Here's a peek at 14 looks from the upcoming Maison Martin Margiela for H&M collaboration, a 140-piece collection which launches next month. Six additional looks are still under wraps, but I think we can get a good sense of what to expect: Androgyny, asymmetry and oversize silhouettes. Yes, the collection is a bit cerebral but then again, so are many H&M shoppers even if they don't all have deep pockets. Kudos to H&M for not dumbing things down for the budget crowd. Love it or hate it, I think we can all agree on one thing: Those oxblood boots with lucite heels are killer.

L.L. Bean Signature Fall Winter 2012 Lookbooks




If you need ideas on how to be stylish while staying warm and toasty this winter, look no further than the Fall/Winter L.L. Bean Signature lookbooks. Chunky sweaters, flannel shirts and plaid skirts stay true to the heritage of the Maine brand, while updated colors, prints and styling keeps things fresh and modern (Signature has even enlisted the styling advice of The Glamourai's Kelly Framel). Prices top off around $349, which is reasonable when you consider the top-notch quality. You can find these pieces and more at llbean.com/signature.

The Complete Narciso Rodriguez for Kohl's Lookbook


As promised, here's the complete Narciso Rodriguez for DesigNation only at Kohl's Fall 2012 lookbook (see the sneak peek I shared earlier here). Narciso is a three-time CFDA Award winner and celebrity favorite who made fashion history when First Lady Michelle Obama chose to wear a dress from his Spring 2009 collection the night Barack Obama was elected president. Now his signature silhouettes will be accessible to everyone thanks to this limited-edition collection which was inspired by a trip the designer took to Istanbul, Turkey, earlier this year.

Rodriguez's collection for Kohl's includes outerwear, dresses, skirts, pants and blouses with prices ranging from $30 to $150, and will be available exclusively at Kohl's and kohls.com on November 7th. I appreciate the use of both graphic black and white pieces as well as bold colors and interesting prints. It's not my personal style but that could all change once I see more of these items in stores. We shall see! So far, the response from readers on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and in the blog comments has been really positive. How do you feel now that you've seen the full lookbook?

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