When you're on a tight budget, it's important to buy versatile items that will go the distance in your wardrobe and take you from day to night and beyond. Inspired by this reality, and by a spread titled "One Dress, Three Ways" in the August 2008 issue of InStyle (pp. 108-109), I decided to see how I could stretch one simple PLEATED SHIFT (which I purchased for $14 at Target!) in three different directions. Here are the results.

1. Sweet Charm Simple and chic for a day of shopping and lunch with friends. SHOES Dark brown faux-leather gladiator flats, Forever 21, $19. PURSE Blue Patent Leather, Sigred Olsen. BELT Brown faux-leather, Forever 21, $13.50. BRACELETS (featured in all three looks) Gilded rubber bangles, Urban Outfitters, $5


2. Downtown Diva An edgy look for work or girl's night out. SHOES Black leather peep-toe Mary Janes, Aerosoles, $19.99. JACKET, Zippered biker jacket, Bebe, $39. LEGGINGS Twelve by Twelve, $18.


3. All Glammed Up Dolled up for dinner and dancing. SHOES Metallic leather slingback heels, Nine West via Marshalls, $28.99. NECKLACE Vintage faux pearls, Rummage sale, $1. PURSE Quilted Eggshell Leather Clutch, BCBG Max Azria via Marshalls, $80. BRACELET Black leather & gold cuff, Givenchy via Filene's Basement. BELT Thin black suede belt, Forever 21. BLACK TIGHTS.

I always underestimate the fashion potential of shorts, but these highwaisted dress shorts (left) from Sienna Miller's Twenty8Twelve line have me envisioning countless possibilities of chicness. But despite their high-style factor, I am reluctant to pay a lot of money for shorts. After all, they're only like, half a pair of pants if that, and therefore hardly worth $185.00 (or even the sale price of $92.50). Instead, I'm considering the pair on the right from Forever 21 for $15.80. Honestly, could you tell the difference if you paired them with a tight white tank, pricey clutch and fabulous heels? Didn't think so.

Left: Twenty8Twelve Bartus High Waisted Short at Shopbop.com, Was $185 Now $92.50
Right: High Waisted Dress Short at Forever21.com, $15.80

Avril Lavigne's Abbey Dawn juniors sportswear line is now available at Kohl’s stores and online. In keeping with the sk8er chick's personal style, the collection includes rock ‘n’ roll printed T-shirts, plaid shorts with pocket chains, suspender tees, tiered mini skirts and hoodies. Weird how the fringe went so...mainstream, huh? Not my cuppa tea (I'm part of the Alanis Morissette generation), but for those interested, everything is priced at just $40 and under.

>> Shop Abbey Dawn at Kohls.com

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale begins tonight when the clock strikes midnight...so that's technically Friday, July 18th. Save big on fall's finest (gulp! I do not want to think about fall fashion just yet...but hey, a sale's a sale!)

The Budget Babe's International Travel Advisor Fifi LaMode revisits Paris and discovers the more things change, the more they...well, you know the rest. —BB


by Fifi LaMode
PARIS - Plus ça change... OK, OK, I know I said I'd focus on places other than Europe, but heck, it's France and I couldn't stay away. It's 3 years since I was last in Paris and here's an update on what's changed and what hasn't:

What's changed: The prices. Big time. The cute boutique hotel we stayed at for 120 Euros is now a Best Western and charges 290 Eu. Ouch. I also switched from cappuccino to the local brew, i.e. espresso, because it's 1/3 the price and I discovered you can sleep after you drink it. Anyway, it's much cooler drinking the teeny cups of mud, er, coffee, than big globs of foam which stay on your upper lip marking you as a tourist. There's a reason they charge 3.5 Eu for these things.

They've also discovered yuppification where wine is concerned, i.e. charging stupid amounts for a glass of something that costs little more than that for an entire bottle. Shame on you, Paris. I recall my student days when no matter how little money we had, we could always get a decent bottle of vin rouge, a loaf of bread, and some cheese. The bread and cheese are still cheap and good, but even the locals complain about the high price of everything. Mr. Sarkozy, please, you love America, learn a lesson from us. If it's a moneymaker, run with it. French wine and cheese are why folks keep coming back - really. Keep those taxes down!