The Budget Beauty Babe sees how well Suave products stack up to their pricier, brand name competitors. —BB


by The Budget Beauty Babe

The folks over at Suave have a new campaign targeted at recessionistas everywhere, women who are looking to cut back on expenses without cutting back on their lifestyles. Suave calls it "Suavenomics," and the premise is that you can save money by switching from more expensive brands to their Suave equivalents.

Could this be true? Are Suave products just as good as their more expensive counterparts? We decided to put their Humectant Shampoo and Conditioner to the test, compared to Nexxus Luxurious Moisturizing Shampoo and Humectress Ultimate Moisturizing Conditioner.

I'm in love. My parents always wanted me to fall in love before 30 and I finally have...sadly the object of my affections is a purple suede boot by Marc Jacobs that will surely be out of my budget. Any idea where I can find something similar? Here's a picture of the boot as featured on the Marc Jacobs fall 2009 runway (above). —Bootless

Dear Bootless, You're not first girl to be seduced by Mr. Jacobs. But I think we can make this relationship work! Over-the-knee boots were a hot commodity this past season, and thanks to your keen eye, it looks like they're going to continue to be the must-have shoe next fall. Since retailers are mostly stocking sandals and summer styles right now, your best bet for recreating the Marc Jacobs purple suede over the knee boot at the moment would have to be the wildly popular Turbo boot by Chinese Laundry.

Now I know what you're thinking: It's not PURPLE! However, it's got the great over-the-knee styling you're looking for in either black, gray, or brown suede. And I would bet that Chinese Laundry will be making them in purple (or other colors) for next fall if you can wait. Best of all, these boots are under $90 which makes them a reasonable purchase considering how much you are going to want to wear them.

Shop it: Turbo Over-the-Knee boot at Chinese Laundry, $89.99

Everyone seems to be loving the spring fashions at H&M, so if you plan to shop there this weekend, be sure to print out this great coupon first so you can save some cash. Happy Shopping!

COUPON VALID FEBRUARY 19TH - 27TH, 2009. One coupon per customer. Coupon must be surrendered at time of purchase. Offer not valid on previous purchases, for H&M Gift Cards, or in conjunction with any other discounts. Offer valid at H&M stores in the United States and Canada only.

To receive H&M's monthly newsletter and other information regarding upcoming promotions and special offers, visit www.hmfriendsandfamily.com

Jeweled cuff bracelets are really big right now, both literally and figuratively, and I must say I'm loving the playful, go-bold-or-go-home attitude they exude. Maybe it's all that time I spent rummaging through bins of costume jewelry at church rummage sales during my formative years, or maybe it's just my preternatural penchant for shiny things. Whatever the reason, I am ready to rock this trend. The trick will be finding the perfect cuff at the perfect price, and right now Erickson Beamon for Target is seeming mighty nice. What do you think of bejeweled cuffs: Tempting or tacky?

[1] Kendra Scott Multi-Stone Cuff, Was $188 Now $94 at Gilt Groupe
[2] Erickson Beamon for Target Jeweled Cuff, $59.99
[3] Heirloom Cuff in Ivory, $138 at Stella & Dot
[4] Kenneth Jay Lane Multicolored Jewel Cuff, $205 at Net-a-Porter.com

Spring collections have been steadily rolling out at all our favorites stores over the past couple weeks, and H&M is no exception. Since this fast-fashion giant doesn't have an online store, it's often neglected by this blog (sniff sniff), so I snapped some pics of the latest offerings to give you a taste of what I'm seeing here on the East Coast. A few key trends include the color coral, light denim, colorful florals, breezy chiffon blouses, khaki pants, flirty dresses and lacy corsets. I am so ready to shed my dark winter wardrobe and start shopping towards a brighter fashion future! How about you?









More photos after the jump!