Budget Fashion

Target is back in the wedding game, having just launched an in-house collection of 4 wedding gowns, 10 bridesmaid dresses, two flower girl frocks and two ring bearer ensembles, ranging in price from $29.99 to $129.99 exclusively on Target.com. Note that I said "back in the game" because some of you may recall Target's first foray into bridalwear was in 2007 when they teamed with Isaac Mizrahi on a cheap-chic bridal gown collection (here).

The new Target wedding gown collection is called Tevolio (loosely translated from the Italian phrase for "I love you") and features classic, simple styles in ivory or white, like a satin cowlneck gown ($99.99) or a v-neck ruched gown ($129.99)



For bridesmaids, highlights include a strapless chiffon maxi ($69.99) or flirty short chiffon dress with a flattering sweetheart neckline, both available in ten on-trend colors in sizes 2 - 28W.

I think the bridesmaid dresses are especially tempting because of the range of styles, sizes and colors. The only downside is that Target's bridal collection is only available online at Target.com, but shoppers can return anything that doesn't fit as long as they adhere to the retailer's return policy.

What do you think of this collection? Would you wear a $99 gown on your big day?

Target announced it is collaborating with NYC-darling Phillip Lim on an exclusive collection for women and men debuting September 15. I can hear the squeals of glee already!

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target will feature a range of apparel and accessories, including shoes, bags and travel accessories, priced from $19.99 to $299.99 for apparel and $19.99 to $59.99 for accessories.

The collection will be "rooted in a classic fall palette of neutral tones and prints." Expect to see stand-out bags, dresses and a trench coat for women, and shoes and a leather moto jacket for men. Travel accessories, such as a duffle and multipurpose pouches, round out this collection for on-to-go gals and guys.



To follow the buzz on Twitter, use hashtag #PhillipLimForTarget. 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target will be available Sept. 15 at most Target stores and Target.com.

Who's skipping lunch to save up for this?

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I don't watch many commercials these days thanks to modern-day TV-watching conveniences, but last night I happened to catch a new JCPenney commercial that made my jaw absolutely drop. In the commercial, titled "It's No Secret," JCP apologizes to customers for the changes they've made in recent months and practically begs shoppers to come back. It made me feel uncomfortable to see such a big brand behave so desperately, but at the same time, I knew exactly what they were trying to accomplish. Poor JCP's sales have plummeted ever since they tried to offer customers everyday low prices while eliminating things like coupons and sales. As it turns out, shoppers are not rational. They don't want everyday low prices - they want deals! And so, JCP is changing course once again by raising prices and bringing back sales and coupons. Sounds crazy cakes, doesn't it? And yet that's how things have played out.

This quote from ScienceNews sums up the entire situation perfectly: "We see a $14 shirt, and conclude based on its price that it must be a low-quality garment made in a sweatshop somewhere by overworked, underpaid workers. On the other hand, seeing a red line through the $50 price tag on a shirt that's marked down to $14 indicates to us that the shirt is of high quality and that for $14, it is a steal."

I love a good deal, too, don't get me wrong, but at some point - maybe it was the early 2000s - I noticed that my $30 t-shirt from the Gap was just as lousy as my $6 t-shirt from Forever 21. So I stopped shopping at the Gap, waiting for sales, etc. and started shopping at Forever 21. I still get a kick out of seeing a red line tag or scouring the clearance racks at Target (I'm only human after all) but the rush isn't as big. My time is more important now-a-days, so I'd rather just be able to shop low prices all the time at JCP and not have to fuss with sales or coupons, be they mobile, printable or online. Apparently, I'm in the minority.

What do you think of JCP's new ad? Have you seen it? Will it woo you back? Were you rooting for the new JCP to succeed?
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While running errands in a neighboring town, I stopped by the "fancy" Walmart to check out their spring fashions. I was pleasantly surprised to find a wide assortment of colorful spring/summer must-haves like bright maxi dresses, striped tees and colored denim (and somewhat jealous, too, because my Walmart never gets this stuff!). A lot of these pieces have serious potential - I could just imagine Penny Chic styling some hottie L.A. blogger in the ikat maxi dress, topping it with a denim vest, tossing on a fedora, some flat sandals and stacked bangles and bam, she'd look like a million bucks! Use your imagination as you peruse the photos I snapped - could you see yourself on vacation in one of the short jersey dresses topped with a denim jacket and print scarf? Heading to a BBQ in some coral jeans and a breezy white blouse? With everything priced under $20, it's hard not to.

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If you're starting to build up your spring and summer wardrobe, a trip to Kohl's is a must. The LC Lauren Conrad collection has lots of warm-weather essentials, like the perfect denim shirt, denim vest, denim jacket and white skinny jeans. If you follow my daily "Dress by Number" posts, you'll see these pieces come up again and again because they're so versatile and work with almost any style aesthetic, whether you're bohemian like Alessandra Ambrosio (seen in a white jean jacket here), chic like Miranda Kerr (seen wearing a denim shirt here) or trendy like Jessica Alba (seen wearing a denim vest here). But instead of paying hundreds of dollars for designer takes on these pieces, you can find them for under $30 or $40 at Kohl's. Sometimes less. Other highlights included cute day dresses, pretty blouses and breezy skirts. See more of my real-life photos after the jump (I couldn't resist mixing in a few items from other in-store brands, too, so let me know if you have questions about any of the items).

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