Scarves are a classic accessory that add effortless glamor to any outfit. Buying vintage is one of the best ways to go for unique, one-of-a-kind designer pieces, so be sure to scour thrift stores and resale shops near you. Fab treasures can also be found online: Back-in-Style has a fantastic collection of vintage scarves, many for under $50. Here are our top picks, followed by some fresh ideas for how to wear them:


[1] Lanvin silk scarf, $50
[2] Schiaparelli silk scarf, $35
[3] Retro vintage silk scarf, $20
[4] Celine silk scarf, $37.50


[1] Knot sure how to tie a scarf? No problem: Simply toss a long scarf around your neck and let it hang loose, baby!
[2] Head scarves are equally chic for conservative girls and boho babes alike. Perfect for bad hair days, too.
[3] Worn as a tie around the neck, a scarf literally ties an outfit together. Brilliant!
[4] Tuck a scarf around the neckline beneath a cardigan (or crisp white buttoned-down shirt) to frame the face with gorgeous light, color and texture. We think this photo also inadvertently demonstrates how a scarf can make a great belt!
[5] Audrey Hepburn in Charade (1963) shows us how to sport the silk square for its mystique-preserving qualities.
[6] Express your personal style by weaving a scarf through the hardware on your fave handbag. Or, just tie a scarf around one of the straps for instant panache.

Fashion and beauty blogs are quite plentiful these days, each extolling the virtues of some new amazing shoe, coat, lip gloss or purse every minute of every day. They tempt us to try new products and shop online; they tell us we "deserve" designer labels, and that coveting a $2,000 handbag is perfectly legitimate for someone who values fashion and looking good.

So are floggers in part to blame for consumer overspending and rising credit card debt?

To answer this question requires a little background info from yours truly. (Bear with us.)

We don't mean to sound overly dramatic, but we grew up with rather limited means. Seeing all the stuff you're "supposed" to have—on TV, in magazines, etc.—and what things are supposed to cost you, well, it starts to bring a girl down.…no matter how hard you try to shun materialism and march to the beat of your own drummer.

We personally avoided blogging for a looong time because well, we didn't think we could hang with all the "fashion snobs" (be they real or imagined) out there. Then we discovered The Budget Fashionista, and this girl was singing our tune! In fact, she inspired us to embrace our inner budget fashionista and start a blog of our own.

So here at The Budget Babe, we try really hard to stay true to ourselves and quite frankly, ignore the snooty snoots entirely.

Now that you know where we're coming from, here are a few things we'd like to make clear:

We do not wish to contribute to overspending among our readers, even if it's just racking up a $100 at Target and a $100 at Forever21—it can add up fast, as we all know!

We certainly don't endorse buying everything we write about—we would hope our readers know that, too.

You simply can't ignore the overwhelming element of fantasy in the digital age and throughout cyberspace: From gamers to fashion bloggers, we all enjoy creating larger-than-life avatars and personas online.

Sometimes we get just as much satisfaction writing about something as we would purchasing it. (Who knows, maybe the bloggers on sites like Bag Snob are finding that sort of bizarre gratification, too?)

In conclusion (at least for the time being), we think that as long as you can differentiate between reality and fantasy (easier said than done for some), then the pros far outweigh the cons of the worlds, communities, discussions and trends that fabulous fashion bloggers create. See you tomorrow! xoxo

Why pay $184 for a Tokidoki by LeSportsac when you can pay $38 for an Okiedoko from Baghaus?

Well, for one thing, the real Tokidoki featured above is sold out at LeSportsac.com, but you can also find them at Nordstrom.com.

Aside from that, it's hard to cough up more than $100 for a nylon bag, even though we absolutely ADORE the magical, hypercute anime world of Tokidoki.

But what do you think? Would you buy the real thing or opt for the less expensive designer-inspired bag?

Left: Tokidoki for LeSportsac "Zucca" in Trasporto print, $184.00
Right: Okiedoko Grey Buon Viaggio Tote, $38.00

If you've never shopped at LuLu's Fashion Lounge, here's your chance to look super cute for super cheap!

Budget Babe readers get 15% OFF EVERYTHING at
www.lulusfashionlounge.com now through October 19, 2007. Just type in budgetbabe at checkout to receive your exclusive discount!

Happy Shopping!

xoxo

Receive a fashion-forward collection of great beauty portables with your $35 Lancôme purchase. Choose a Warm or Cool Color Collection, packaged in a signature train case. Gotta love the leopard!

To receive your gift, enter promotional code WARM or COOL in Checkout. Includes a Color Design Sensational Effects Eye Shadow Quartet, full-size Color Design Sensational Effects Lipcolor, Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base, Définicils High Definition Mascara, High Résolution with Fibrelastine™ Intensive Recovery Anti-Wrinkle Cream and Wide-Tooth Comb in a signature train case. Online and in store.