Many of you liked what you saw when we posted our first look at the Richard Chai for Target collection, so let's see what you think of the rest of the preview pics. I could wear everything in row 5 (love the naughty secretary vibe), can't wait to snag that gorgeous trench, and I will probably pick up at least one LBD - black usually translates well to budget fashion, making any article of clothing look pricier and classier. I also think the predominantly purple and blue color palette will be a welcome relief at the end of summer and should carry us well into the fall. What do you think?













Image source

So yoga pants/jersey cropped pants and such have replaced sweats, and they're nothing new, but it looks like they're not going away anytime soon so I figured, what the hey, I might as well get you ladies to weigh in on these uber trendy, ultra popular albeit controversial pants: Are they hot or not? Sure, they're comfortable as all get out, but they have elastic waistbands, for godsakes. Personally, though it makes me cringe to admit this, I think they can look pretty cute on certain women, especially when paired with a long tank or tee that extends below the waistband (which should hit right below the belly button, not over), a jersey cardigan, and some stylish flip-flops. There, I said it. Just please make sure you have absolutely no visible panty lines, and do not push your luck by trying to wear these casual pants to work. They are good for running errands, going to the gym (hey, there's a novel idea!), doing YOGA (ha, yeah right), walking the dog, etc. Please don't sass them up with heels and a tube top and try to pass yoga pants off as club wear. Ok, I'm done. Now's your chance to speak up!

Featured above from left: Rachel Pally cropped beach pant at Standardstyle.com, $172 (yowzers!); Splendid lightweight slub crop pants at Shopbop.com, $83 (ouch!). If you guys give these a yea, I will look for budget friendly versions.

Express Fashion has finally realized there's this thing called the Internet, and guess what? They decided to launch an online store. This is good news for budget babes, bargain queens, and cheap chicas because we crave options - oh yes!

So far, it looks like the selection is slim and the prices are steep but let's give them a chance, shall we? Once they get the hang of this e-commerce thing, I expect they'll have more goodies to choose from, juicy sales, and fantastic markdowns so that we can shop to our heart's content.

>> Shop Express.com

Sunless tanners have come a long way, which makes getting a convincingly natural-looking tan at home so easy. Or is it? With a little practice, patience and finesse, we think it's entirely possible. Here's a simple 4-step process to help you get started:

Hop in the shower and scrub down from head to toe with a great exfoliator. Right now, I'm loving Bain De-Luxe Foaming Body Scrub ($4.20) in Verbena. Prior to tanning, don't forget to shave, which is another form of exfoliating.

Lightly moisturize, paying special attention to dry spots like ankles, elbows and knees. Burt's Bees Milk & Honey Body Lotion ($8.59) does the trick for me every time. If you use a moisturizing body wash, you could probably skip this step. Some say it interferes with the tanner, I say you get a more even tan.

Apply tanner to the desired areas in small, circular motions. Use sparingly on those tricky knees, ankles and elbows. I know you're supposed to wear gloves, but I feel like I have better control using my bare hands. Have a wet cloth handy so you can wipe your palms immediately afterwards without washing the tanner of the top of your hands. Personally, I only use self-tanner on my legs, and I'm happy with the results I get from L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion ($8.54).

Let your tanner dry completely before getting dressed or coming into contact with anything - about 15-20 minutes (don't rush it!) Fix streaks by exfoliating the area once the tan has totally developed. Keep your fake bake from fading by moisturizing often.

What's your favorite sunless self-tanner?