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Gilt Groupe provides its members with access to coveted fashion and luxury lifestyle brands at sample sale prices. We just signed up - and we're lovin' what we're seein'!

Gilt Groupe handpicks both established and up and coming brands. Each Gilt Groupe Shopping Event is designer-specific and held over a one day period. The Gilt Groupe production team creates a short video reel so members can learn about each designer and brand before shopping. Joining Gilt Groupe is FREE, and membership is by invitation only.

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The vest is making a strong showing this fall as it fits nicely within the menswear-inspired fashion trend. But make no mistake: Rich fabrics like velvet, taffeta, sequins and satin give this look an up-to-date and decidedly feminine attitude. Here are a few budget-friendly vests that caught our eye...

[1] Satin Tuxedo Vest, $17.80 [2] Taffeta Vest, $19.80


[3] Hinkley Pinstripe Vest, $22 [4] Velvet Vest, $17.80


[5] Victorian Velvet Vest, $19.80 [6] Tartan Velvet Vest, $17.80


Vests inspired by the runway...


Left: Ann Demeulemeester Fall 2007 Ready-to-Wear runway; Right: Twelve by Twelve sequin vest, $26


Left: Wool Blend Vest, $19; Right: Rag & Bone Fall 2007 runway

Styling options with vests seem limitless...dress them up or down, for day or night, work or play. What do you think, will you be rocking a vest this winter?

See even more great vests - or waistcoats as they're called in the UK - at Topshop.com.

Dear Budget Babe,
Where can I find cool holiday gifts for my man that won't break the bank?
Sincerely,
Peaches

TBB: Men may not covet the latest shoe or handbag like us girls, but their costly hobbies (think electronics, cars, photography or sports) can often make gift-giving an expensive, not to mention confusing, endeavor. The trick is to be observant (take notes if necessary) and get inside your sig-o's head to understand what would really make him happy. When in doubt, go for anything edible or anything that requires batteries. But if beef jerky is all that comes to mind, heck, that's fine too. Resist the temptation to give him a wardrobe makeover or buy him beauty products. And whatever you do, DON'T buy him a tie.

With that in mind, here are some great places to start shoppin':

ThinkGeek.com: Geeky toys, gadgets and whatchamacallits
NewEgg.com: Computer everything
Target: Video games, electronics, socks, tees, boxers, PJs, candy & gourmet junk food
SierraTradingPost: Apparel and more for the rugged outdoorsman
REI: Camping and hiking gear - we recommend the manly Gerber Gator Combo Axe.
Threadless: Awesome logo tees that are sure to please plus irreverent slogan tees that say things like "Shakespeare hates your emo poems."
Hammacher Schlemmer: Unique and bizarre gadgets & gifts, like the World's Largest Crossword Puzzle.
Peet's Coffee.com: One-stop shop for coffee lovers. We recommend buying him a French press for brewing (buy one for under $30 on Amazon.com).
Calumet Photo: Everything for the avid photographer. Wallet-friendly options include memory cards, a mini tripod, camera or lens case, high-quality photo paper, or an enlargement of one of his fave prints.
Zappos: Laptop bags, camera bags, shoes, leather accessories. We heart everything by Timbuk2.
Lego.com: The Lego Ferrari will appeal to his inner child - and it's a helluva lot cheaper than the real deal.
A Collage a Day blog: Get an original work of art by Randel Plowman for $25. He'll dig it.
American Grassfed Beef: Yummy gourmet natural beef jerky - no preservatives and it's made from lean, grass-fed beef (he won't know it's good for him.)

Need gift ideas for a foodie on your list? Check out our favorite food blog wasabigelatine's holiday gift guide here.

Share your ideas for great gifts for gents in the comments!

The Budget Babe's International Travel Advisor Fifi LaMode advises us to head south in order to stretch our dollars. —TBB


by Fifi LaMode
I'm depressed. I love Europe. But I hate the prices. It was bad enough when the euro was 1.40 to the dollar. But at 1.50 - Mama mia, what can one buy? Don't get me started on the pound sterling at 2.07 either! In my previous articles I mentioned ways to stretch your euros, but at this point it's time to send a message to the commodity traders and/or EU bankers who think this is a good idea. Guys, it's not. Of course we're delighted to see all the Euros buying up all our techno-goodies and made-in-China clothes and shoes at 1/2 of what they'd pay back home - heck, I'd do the same. Welcome. But anyone who reads The Budget Babe knows the meaning of 'value for money,' so we'll give Europe a rest for now and check out new spots where our dollar is not used as wallpaper, ok?

A hot destination, especially in winter, is South America. You want fjords? Go to Chile. Great shoes and handbags? Buenos Aires is the place for you - and they have those tango shows which nobody else does better. Tropics, jungles, rainforests, samba? Hello, Brazil. Then there's Macchu Picchu and Cuzco in Peru, indescribable in their eerie beauty. If you speak some Spanish, it's good for nearly the entire continent, except for Brazil (Portuguese) and the 3 little Guyanas on top. (English in Guyana, Dutch in Suriname, and French in French Guiana). What's more, word is your dollar goes a long way there.

Another advantage: No jet lag! The flights are at night so you wake up in the morning and you don't have a major time difference to contend with (maybe 1 or 2 hrs depending on your time zone).

Another great destination, even closer, is Central America. Costa Rica has it all - volcanoes, beaches, rainforests, strange little critters running around, coffee plantations, great food, and it's still cheap. I love this place - it has soooo many natural wonders in such a small area. You can do it in a week, or chill out for longer. Then there's Guatemala with the colorful market at Chichicastenango (see? I got the shopping in) and the huge Mayan city of Tikal; Honduras with Mayan Copan, and Belize with the 2nd largest coral reef in the world.

Need I mention our neighbor Mexico? From Acapulco to Cancun to Oaxaca to Zihuatanejo, there's an abundance of culture, history and great scenery.

So readers, how about checking out this hemisphere in 2008? What do you think?

xox,
Fifi

Remember our dear fashion friend from the Fall 2007 runways, the Balenciaga piped blazer? Of course you do - we've all loved it since day one - and now Forever 21 has a similar looking blazer that will help you achieve that nouveau preppy look on a dime.

Styling Tips: Order a size up so you can comfortably layer this blazer, adding texture and warmth (Note the red turtleneck with a button-down collared shirt in the pic above). Make the look your own with a vintage scarf, brooch and colorful belt.

Forever 21 Velvet Blazer, $32.80