It's a match made in heaven—charitable giving and of all things, buying shoes! Who do we have to thank for this noble endeavor? Fashion shoe-gooder Blake Mycoskie, an entrepreneur who was a former contestant on The Amazing Race and the founder of TOMS Shoes.

The concept is simple: For each pair of TOMS shoes that you buy, another pair will be donated to a child in need. The idea was born from Blake's trips to Argentina, where he was inspired by the people and the culture (TOMS are modeled after the utility shoes of Argentine workers, which apparently are also popular among polo players and their stylish girlfriends). At the same time, Blake was moved by the poverty that he witnessed, and so his mission to improve the lives of thousands of kids through shoes came to be.

We ordered a pair to keep in the car for driving...we think they'd be great for Tai Chi or yoga, too. Or, wear in lieu of flip-flops, Stan Smiths or Converse sneaks. Any way you look at it, buying TOMS means taking a step in the right direction.


Available in 18 different colors and patterns at www.tomsshoes.com.

For our mother's generation, being a hippie was a social statement that involved weaving daisy chains and smoking ganja to the sounds of the Grateful Dead. But for us, being hippie-chic is a fun fashion statement that means empire-waist frocks, breezy blouses and beaded necklaces.

Oh, the times they are a changin'.

Here's how to pull off the hippie/boho trend in today's world:

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  Stick to one item at a time. It's easy to overdo this look, so stick to one hippie-chic article of clothing or accessory per outfit.
  


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  Balance with something tailored. Pair a flouncy blouse with tailored shorts or a tiered-skirt with a crisp white shirt to make your look up-to-date.
  


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  Add a modern touch. Think sleek silver accessories, mod lucite jewelry or fab oversized shades.

Find your inner love child with these hippie-chic inspired tops...

Tart Tunic, very Tory Burch. Forever21.com $19.80











Vintage Summer Tunic, love the jewel tones in this one. Forever21.com $19.80











Floral Drawstring Tunic, we've seen similar tops from BCBGirls for triple the price. Forever21.com $22.00










Floral Tunic, colorful ethnic-inspired "embroidery" is tres hippie chic. $24.80

Who we are: The Budget Babe is a freelance writer, illustrator and fashion blogger. Prior to launching TheBudgetBabe.com, we spent over four and a half fun-filled years producing content for Oprah.com at Harpo Productions in Chicago, Illinois. (Yes, we met her and no, we can't get you tickets—sorry!)

What we do: Ever since cheap became chic, we've been bent on spreading the fab-without-a-fortune gospel by blogging about the latest and greatest affordable fashion, beauty, style and shopping news (hey, it's cheaper than buying everything we see!).

We strive to provide fun, entertaining information for real women who want to spend a little, live a lot, and look good while they're at it.

Why we do it: We're fascinated by what we like to call the democratization of fashion, from the emergence of cheap-chic fashion-for-the-masses from retailers like Target to the designer imitation culture of Forever 21 and H&M. Oh, and cuz we like cute shoes and dressing up.

What turns us on: Good design, cheap. Consumers today expect more, yet want to pay less. We believe these thought forms breed ingenuity, innovation and evolution in the rapidly changing global fashion landscape—and we can't wait to see what will happen next!

To Our Dear Readers: Welcome! We invite you to share your thoughts, voice your opinions and ask any question about fashion, style, beauty or shopping. Please don't be shy - and don't hold back! We're grateful for each and every reader, and know you have something amazing to contribute. Peace & Love.

For media inquiries or illustration requests, please e-mail us at info(at)thebudgetbabe.com.

Icy lucite is a hot trend for spring. It's a clear, strong plastic that can be molded and carved which first became popular in the 1940's for ladies purses and jewelry. Today, it's cropping up everywhere from jewelry, watches and sunglasses to handbags and shoes.

Lucite's transparency makes it a versatile and neutral accessory that pairs well with many other spring trends, including black&white and brights. Its futuristic look also adds a modern touch when paired with floaty dresses and florals.

But since lovely lucite is just a fancy name for plastic, don't spend too much on this trend...we bought the bangle from Forever21.com (below) and that was enough to satisfy our needs.

Here are a few budget-friendly ways to get your lucite fix:


Vintage Lucite Bangle, Forever21.com, $4.80


Tobago, Ninewest.com, $89.00 SALE $59.99


RJ Graziano Square Crystal Flower Ring, Nordstrom.com, $25.00


Delphos necklace, Aldo.com, $15.00

Gap's Forth & Towne is scheduled to close its doors June 15th. We think it was a brave venture to target style-conscious women age 35 and older, but apparently consumers didn't feel the same. C'est la vie! The good news is that great bargains are to be had in the next 6 weeks, so if you haven't checked out their classic modern designs, now is the perfect (and only) time to do so! With sizes from 2-20, there's sure to be something for every budget babe.




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