It's Clinique Bonus time at Macy's, now through October 25th. Yours free with any Clinique purchase of $21.50 or more.

Your bonus includes...
Clarifying Lotion 2
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
Different Lipstick in A Different Grape
High Impact Mascara in Black
Clinique Colour Palette
Cosmetics Bag
Choice of companion bag—oblong, round or square.

Actress Katherine Heigl always looks put together. Here, she pairs a classic trench with dark blue jeans. So what makes it special? For starters, the sunny yellow color of her jacket. Then, the way she's paired it with a neutral purse and matching pumps. Our take on her outfit moves this look (which we actually first spotted a couple months ago) into fall, with a gray quilted tote from Forever 21 (it's a Marc Jacobs knockoff), and gray Cole Haan ankle boots from Bluefly.com (what you save on the bag, you can spend on the shoes). Layer a long-sleeve tissue tee or turtleneck sweater underneath this yellow MICHAEL Michael Kors trench we found for added warmth. And since we're really digging Rachel Bilson's collab with DKNY jeans (I used to be obsessed with DKNY jeans), our version of Heigl's look includes a pair of Edie Rose skinny jeans.

Could you see yourself wearing Katherine Heigl's style?

[1] MICHAEL Michael Kors Paratrooper Trench Coat, also available in black, white or khaki, Nordstrom.com, Was $179.50 Now $118.90
[2] Skinny Jeans by Rachel Bilson's Edie Rose for DKNY Jeans, DKNYjeans.com, $59
[3] Cole Haan grey leather 'Ilysa' ankle boots, Bluefly.com, Was $325.00, Now $195.00
[4] Quilted Tote w/ Buckle Tie, also available in black or purple, Forever21.com, $19.80

I'm in the process of down-sizing my obscenely large shoe collection, so if you're in the market for some gold heels for evening, these size 8.5 Seychelles may be perfect for you. Crafted from soft leather, they exude a classic Hollywood elegance with rhinestone buckle details, on-trend peep toe silhouette, and a heel height that's perfect for dancing. As much as I love these shoes, they were only worn once because I bought them a size too small. Give these beauties a good home! Click here to view the complete listing >>

20% of the final sale price will support Bottomless Closet, a nonprofit that supports women in transition by providing business professional clothing, image, and career skills coaching, empowering them to interview with confidence, gain employment, and achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Madewell, J. Crew's younger, more affordable line, has a fall/winter collection that makes me smile. If you were to give me everything in it, right now, I would be golden. I could cruise through the colder months in style and comfort. But since that's not going to happen, I have to review their looks with a more critical lens. The problem is, I've never actually been to one of their stores, so I can't attest to the quality of their clothing, and at these price points ($88 for a cardigan; $110 for skinny jeans), quality is the key factor for me in determining whether or not these duds are a good value. There's no e-commerce yet at madewell1937.com, but you can order old-school by phone.

What I love, from the images at least, are the glorious boots, the edgy takes on modern classics, and the crisp use of color. I especially love how they pair colors of the same shade but different intensity together - always a smart look. Or, pairing complementary colors such as yellow and purple to punch up neutral basics. I also love the concept of a more affordable J. Crew (I know, I need to hit the outlets!)...but Madewell is still pretty pricey. I imagine Madewell's target audience has the means to shop at either, but J. Crew needs a place to groom their future customers, and their customers need a place to start so they can graduate to J. Crew.

I know some of my readers are devoted J. Crew fans, so I look forward to hearing what you have to say about Madewell. And if anyone can comment on the quality, I'm dying to know.

The Budget Beauty Babe finds a way to fake flawless skin with a nifty, thrifty beauty product. —BB




by The Budget Beauty Babe
I am always on the lookout for a bargain coverup, mostly for under-eye darkness. During my last trip to Ulta, I found a little concealer stick made by CoverGirl on sale and decided to give it a whirl: CoverGirl Smoothers Concealer in Neutralizer. I picked a shade called neutralizer since I think it's better to neutralize then to try to hide (you usually get better results).

I have to say that although its not a magic bullet, this little stick is worth picking up if you find it on sale like I did. It does a moderate job of covering up under eye issues (the trick is to use it sparingly, too much and you just look cakey and weird) and it does a fantastic job of hiding the oft-dreaded surprise blemish.

The verdict: Worth picking up to throw in the makeup bag, good for spot treatments and touchups. Nice consistency and comes in multiple shades for all skin types.

Get it: CoverGirl Smoothers Concealer in Neutralizer at Drugstore.com, $6.25