We checked out the Abaeté for Payless Holiday 07 Collection and it's actually not ugly. Not gorgeous, but not ugly. The description on Payless.com reads, "Laura Poretzky’s limited edition Abaeté for Payless Vintage Holiday 07 Collection honors the glitz and glam of ’50s American film."

We think that any of these items could pass for "pricey" under the dim lights of a posh bar or swanky nightclub. And if you get caught in a nor'easter on your way home, you won't cry buckets over your ruined shoes. (Click the pics for details...)


Abaeté for Payless Kaye Pleated Boot, $48.00


Abaeté for Payless Camelia Watch, $22.00


Abaeté for Payless Rose Ruffle Pump, $35.00


Abaeté for Payless Chantal Cuff Watch, $22.00


Abaeté for Payless Bing Clutch, $25.00

UPDATE: And the winner of our "Snake Charmer Contest" is......TERESA N.!! Congratulations Teresa, and a great big thank you to all 192 people who participated.


PLEASE NOTE: This contest has ended.

Time for another Budget Babe giveaway! Tell us your favorite metal - gold or silver - in the comment section below and one lucky winner will be chosen at random to receive this gorgeous Snake Charmer Bracelet (shown above) from Ashley's Big Secret!

Ashley's Big Secret is the place to shop for fabulous accessories. The "secret" is something we budget babes know a thing or two about - namely, you don't have to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks! Ashley's Big Secret carries all the jewelry you need to doll up for the holidays - classic pearl necklaces, super shiny cocktail rings, dazzling bangles and more - all at AMAZINGLY low prices. The owner, Ashley Quinto, also runs a fantastic blog where she recounts her fashion highs and lows - but mostly highs, cuz hey, this gal's got bling!

Be sure to use a valid email address and include info(at)thebudgetbabe.com in your address book so we can contact you if you're the winner. Comments must be posted by 11:59 p.m. on December 12 to be eligible to win. The winner will be announced on December 13.

P.S. Why wait? Shop Ashley's Big Secret right now and save: Enter "BudgetBabe" at checkout for 10% off your order. Ashley's Big Secret is currently running a 20% off all rings sale, with free shipping over $50, and if you sign up for their newsletter at the bottom of their home page, you'll get a coupon code for 15% off.

Special thanks to our girl Ashley for making this contest possible!

>> Visit Ashley's Big Secret.

Earlier today, I tuned in to a fun and informative Q&A Seminar with Michelle Madhok of SheFinds, hosted by Coutorture co-founder Julie Fredrickson. The hot topic: Fashion blogging success strategies! Aww yeah. Here are some of the great tips and expert advice that Michelle and Julie shared with the group, summed up by yours truly, for all to ingest and enjoy:

Strategies For Fashion Blogging Success:

Know yourself, know your audience. What's your niche? Who are you trying to reach? What is the brand you're trying to create and promote? These are probably the toughest questions to answer, but once you do, you'll be well on your way to fashion blogging success.

Network, network, network! Michelle says networking is key to the success of your fashion blog, especially if you want to turn it into a business. Joining a fashion blogging community such as Coutorture is a great place to start, both Julie and Michelle say. Create profiles for your blog on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.com for additional exposure. (Add The Budget Babe as your friend on MySpace now!)

Syndicate your content. By submitting your content to be featured on major high-traffic sites, Michelle says you can increase visibility and gain new readers. While SheFinds syndicates content on major portals like Yahoo and AOL, beginners should check out BlogBurst.

Create and share widgets of your blog. Think of widgets as "portable chunks of the web." Find out more at My Blog Log and WidgetBox.

Share some link-lovin'. Submit your content for linking via sites like Sugarloving, BuzzFeed, and Skirt to help boost traffic.

Notify the people/companies/products that you blog about. For example, if you review a lipstick by Lancome, go to their website and send an e-mail about your product review to Lancome's general info or customer service e-mail address. Or, send an email directly to Lancome's Public Relations peeps: Michelle says Who.RepsWhat.com is an excellent resource for PR rep info.

Deliver your content in a variety of formats. Offer content feeds and/or newsletters via Feedburner and Feedblitz. Other newsletter services include MailerMailer, iContact and Constant Contact.

Promote your giveaways. Submit giveaways that you run on your blog to sweepstake sites (a Google search for "sweepstakes" will point you in the right direction, Michelle says). Coutorture members should notify Julie, as she may be able to help promote your sweeps on Coutorture.com.

Don't be afraid to reach out. Contact other bloggers and fashion industry peeps with your questions and ideas. "People are more accessible than you think," Julie says.

Make the most of your day job. Learn as many skills as possible at your current job that will help you with your blog or your next, new endeavor, says Michelle.

Do a little something every day. You don't have to do everything all at once. Focus on tackling one or two of the strategies mentioned above at a time, and update your site daily with new information.


>> If you'd like to partner with The Budget Babe for a giveaway or cross-promotion, drop me a line at info(at)thebudgetbabe.com.

Recently, we became a proud member of Coutorture, a fashion blogging community that gives fashion lovers news and commentary in one great location. Why did we join? Because we long-admired Coutorture's incredible, high-caliber content as well as their mission and purpose to gain greater visibility for its members and give fashion bloggers a stronger voice in the fashion community.

We also joined in hopes of learning more about making our blog a success, connecting with other style-obsessed writers, and expanding our readership. Most of all, we joined in hope of being able to offer our readers more cool stuff. Happily, Coutorture is helping us in all of these arenas. Note, for example, the awesome weekly giveaway in our right nav, courtesy of Coutorture. It's something we could not have offered our readers without said blissful association - so be sure to take advantage and ENTER!

We are just beginning to explore the possibilities that Coutorture has to offer its members, and by extension, our readers. Thanks to all our fans for your support - and here's to bigger and better things at The Budget Babe.

xox,
The Budget Babe

I love winter, but I hate being cold. The simplest way to stay warm and stylish is with what I like to call a "winter uniform" - a few classically chic pieces that can be mixed and matched and worn just about every day, everywhere - ALL winter long.

This winter, my uniform consists of a black wool peacoat (distinguished by antique star-shaped bronze buttons and a colorful satin lining), black knee-high leather boots with a short heel, a black oversized faux-leather handbag, and dark wash skinny jeans. Fabulous gloves and scarves round out the look and add a personal touch, not to mention more snuggly warmth.

Strolling around town this weekend, I noticed I was certainly not alone in my thinking - seems like every fashionable gal was wearing some combination of the following:

• Dark colors: Strategically mixing black, navy and brown is no longer a fashion faux-pas


• Large leather purse and coordinating knee-high boots: Nothing too matchy. Make sure boots are comfy and waterproofed. Big purses are a fashion statement - don't overpack.


• Dark tights: Along with gray, black and navy, deep purple or blue work well, as do textured styles.


• Scarves, especially the pashmina kind are everywhere - and they are fab.


• Black: It's always in style.


• Wool coats: All you need is one great fitting, warm wool coat. Look for one with a belt (or add your own) to create a slimming silhouette. In addition to black, I love wool coats in red or houndstooth.


• Flat or low-heeled knee high boots in dark brown or black leather: Choose wisely according to how much walking you do; pick a heel that can withstand ice and snow.

The best part of having a winter uniform is that all its essential components (listed above) can be purchased at reasonable prices. You also can't go wrong spending a little bit more on pieces you'll wear season after season, say, a black wool coat or sturdy leather boots. Buy inexpensive accessories like scarves, tights, gloves, hats, leg warmers, belts and yes, even handbags, at budget fashion shops like H&M, Forever 21 or Target. These add instant character and renovate your look.

Share details of your winter uniform in the comments.

Here are some pics I snapped to showcase a classic "east coast" winter uniform. The first two photos demonstrate this pretty well.




Looks like these girls were going out; as temps drop, I'm guessing they'll add tights and boots, too...