Basic tees get a fashionable jolt with photo-realistic sea creature designs. And isn't that neon green just yummy?

The other day I "discovered" a new-to-me Walmart store in my area which carries—get this—both the Norma Kamali for Walmart collection and To the Max! I was ridiculously excited, in part because when the Kamali collection first launched, I called just about every Walmart within a 25 mile radius of my house and was told by store managers that they didn't carry the line nor would they be carrying it in the future. Well, guess they were wrong! Anyways, if you live near a Walmart that carries these two lines, they are definitely worth checking out. I try to avoid impulse buys (operative word is "try"), so on this visit I just scoped out the new spring stuff, then I picked up a couple pieces from the To the Max line on clearance, including a very artsy ombre sweaterdress, for just $7 a piece. Here are some pics I snapped off the racks to give you a feel for what's in store. Anything catching your eye?

I'm pretty sure I've seen Rumi rocking these jeans on Fashion Toast. If you can pull off the acid-wash/bleached denim look, these jeans cost next to nothing and look just like the couture denim on the runways!

This army-green draped dress is so unbelievably fabulous and designer-looking and cheap! I need it. Pick this up for your summer vacations, ladies! Five stars all the way.

Here's another eye-catching top for days when basic black feels boring. The cranes are so happy-looking, too.

The mannequin displays seem stuck in a time warp (note the bouquet of fake flowers). Kmart needs serious help in this department.

I recently scoped out the clothing department at Kmart, a store I have not visited in years. When I was a kid, shopping at Kmart was not something you advertised, even though most of us and our families sorta had to out of necessity. I think the stigma of shopping for clothes at Kmart has diminished somewhat simply because the store has been overshadowed by competitors such as Walmart and Tar-jay (which Kmart is definitely NOT). I don't see myself going out of my way to buy clothing at Kmart since the nearest store is 30 minutes away, however, I will certainly keep an eye on their online offerings, which have improved significantly in recent months. You just never know where you'll score that next bargain that will have everyone asking, "Where did you buy that?" And the secret will be yours to keep, or share if you're feeling generous. Do you shop for clothing or accessories at Kmart? Why or why not?

This rack held plenty of breezy, basic cotton tops that would be perfect for summer but I couldn't find my size. On the flip side, there was no shortage of sizes M-XL, and almost everything was between 25-40% off.

These coordinated knit-tops and skirts were almost cute but the prints lacked sophistication.

I recently made my first purchase from Walmart's To the Max collection, an affordable clothing line from high-end design house BCBG Max Azria Group—and I am in love! I know many other budget fashion bloggers out there have been fans of To the Max from the start, but for me, it's like I just uncovered the secret Holy Grail of cheap chic recessionista style! For research purposes (ahem), I bought a ton of great stuff—practically enough clothing to last an entire season—for just over $100 including shipping. My favorite piece, however, has to be this 3/4 sleeve pleat knit dress, which is work appropriate and can be worn many ways. The interesting neckline, pleat detailing, tulip skirt and loveable pockets make this dress a perfect example of budget fashion that looks convincingly like designer fashion. I also appreciate the thick fabric, which makes this dress suitable for fall and winter, and the hidden side zipper. Oh, and did I mention it only costs $15? I'm thinking of buying it in navy, too. Five stars on the fabuless scale, ladies!

Browse the entire To the Max clothing collection at Walmart.com.

Dexter Paige Flower Sandal, $22.99

The good thing about Payless is that their stores are conveniently located in strip-malls across America, so after a recent trip to the grocery store, I ducked into the neighboring Payless to see if they had anything decent and snapped some pics for that "real life" footage many shoppers appreciate (product pics can be so misleading!). Nothing really blew me away on this visit, but they had a couple cute pairs of sandals like the textural flower thong sandal (above), which comes in 4 colors and has a quirky-chic, designer feel. Check out their newly revamped website for dozens more styles including eco-friendly shoes from zac&zoe, these adorable ribbon-striped heels from Lela Rose, and these potentially fierce gladiator platforms from alice + olivia. Also, Payless.com now offers flat rate ground shipping for $5.95, in case you didn't know.

Have you picked up any new shoes at Payless this season? Anything catch your eye?

(MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE JUMP)

During my last trip to Target, I was flipping through the clearance racks when I stumbled upon this McQ Alexander McQueen for Target jumpsuit—the very one I had been lusting after since the first lookbook pics were released. Mind you, my Target did not carry the McQ collection, so when I found this lone piece, in my size, I was overjoyed. And, it was on sale! $40 down from $59. I tried it on in the dressing room and thought it was just about the best thing ever. Gleefully, I took my prize to the register, where a Target employee explained that their store had received a very limited quantity of McQ merchandise (I assumed it was an online return. If your store never carried the collection, check the sales racks and you might find something.)

Fast forward to this past Wednesday: I stepped into my jumpsuit and snapped myself in (I was gonna wear it to the Rachel Roy event)...but as I gazed in the mirror, my illusions were dashed. What was I thinking?? This jumpsuit did absolutely nothing to flatter my figure. It puckered when I sat down, and pulled in all the wrong places when I tried to bend over or just move around. How it went from hero to zero in such a short time is a mystery, but then again, it wouldn't be the first time I bought something that looked great in the dressing room and terrible at home. Moral of the story: Don't get caught up in the hype (but you knew that already!)


This story of shopping woe has a silver lining. Those CK pumps I scored at DSW? Still AMAZING. They make my legs look miles long and the platform in front makes them reasonably comfortable. Here's me wearing them with a Forever 21 skirt, Target button-down shirt, Target belt and turquoise necklace. Ah, much better than the jumpsuit, don't you think?

Anyone else have a recent fashion blunder they'd care to share?