Free People is known for their young, eclectic, nouveau-bohemian vibe.

The same folks who bring us edgy looks from Urban Outfitters and ladylike looks from Anthropologie also bring us the gypsy-chic looks that are Free People clothing. Like Urban and Anthro, Free People delivers gloriously creative catalogs that whisk you away to distant lands and dreamy landscapes that are at once seductive, evocative and altogether too fashionable for any mere mortal to actually live out in real life. Sure, a girl can dream, but more often than not, I think their clever marketing is meant to make you cough up huge sums of cash for flimsy, fleeting clothing.

So where am I going with all this? Free People is amazing to admire, but not necessarily to buy unless it's on sale. Most of their stuff has some kind of detailing, such as lace, crochet, fringe or beading, that makes the piece unique, but tough to care for. And each item is so recognizable, it's hard to wear the same pieces over and over without getting noticed, if you know what I mean. My verdict: Free People is a "Yea" for imaginative styling, uber coolness and originality, but a big "Nay" for ridiculous pricing and overall value. Kinda ironic that this costly brand which relies so heavily on it's image is called "Free People," huh?

What do you think about Free People?

The Richard Chai for Target collection is now available in stores and online. I apologize for not posting a review but I'm leaving for my cruise on Saturday and still have so much to do beforehand. Anyways, so far, I've heard really good things--have you bought anything yet? What do you think of the collection? Which pieces stand out, which ones should we avoid? Spare no detail, ladies, let's hear it all in the comments!

xoxo,
BB

As a general rule, I try to avoid single articles of clothing that combine multiple trends, but that's just me. So for instance, I just ordered a super cute maxi dress from ShopBarbara.com, but it's solid, boring black. I figure that I can pull off the trendy maxi look as long as I opt for a simple color and casual fabric that I can spruce up with the right accessories.

Having said that, the ombre maxi is not a look I would feel comfortable wearing, but I can easily see the appeal for certain girls. Celebs like Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba make them work, Kate with her bohemian vibe, and Jessica with her hot mama bod.

As for you, my beloved readers, reviews have been mixed when it comes to both ombre and maxi dresses. For some, ombre is too closely linked to tie-dye and hippies - and it's not the polished look you're going for. Others love this dip dye technique when it's done right. The maxi is a length lots of you love for easy, summer dressing...but for others, it's too fussy and too much fabric (gotta show off those great gams of yours!)

So what's the verdict going to be for these ombre maxis? If you're on the fence, it's good to know this trend is available for every budget (my favorite happens to be the cheapest one featured above.) Can you guess which costs the most? Answers after the jump...