I've been meaning to feature more sneaks and just comfy shoes in general, so when I got this press release, I knew I had to share it: New Balance has teamed up with aerie by American Eagle (the intimates and dormwear line from American Eagle Outfitters) to create the New Balance 600, a new ladies fitness lifestyle shoe designed to complement aerie f.i.t., aeries fitness and workout wear line.


The NB 600 features a comfort molded EVA sole unit, Abzorb (a proprietary cushioning foam that resists compressions for all day comfort) and a lightweight mesh upper. Priced at $65, the 600 is available in two trendy color combinations of grey/pink and white/lime, the perfect solution for the girl who wants an athletic look without sacrificing fashion.

If these shoes motivate you to work out more, then they'll be worth every penny.

Check out the New Balance 600 at aerie.com. All Labor Day weekend, get free shipping plus 15% off your entire purchase with discount code 56841723.

Chinese Laundry patent leather "Alist" pumps, orig. $99 now $19.95 at 6pm.com

The Deal: Friday 9/4 to Sunday 9/6: Chinese Laundry Footwear – All Styles $19.95 This Weekend!

Why You Need It: Chinese Laundry is a lot like Steve Madden—all the latest trends and designer-inspired styles—but with lower prices. Whether you want to pick up sandals for next summer, cute pumps for work or sexy heels for partying, definitely hit up this sale at 6pm.com where all Chinese Laundry shoes are just $19.95. Impossible to beat!

The Jimmy Choo for H&M accessories collection won't launch in stores until November 14, 2009, but this newly released photo of over the knee boots from the line is already creating quite a stir. While it has been confirmed that these boots are indeed real leather, according to Nitro:licious, they're still really pricey at $299 U.S. dollars and your chances of actually scoring a pair are pretty slim. Sad, I know. ::sniff sniff::


But don't give up just yet! If you love this style, I found a great alternative. It's no Jimmy Choo, but I think these over-the-knee boots from Colin Stuart for Victoria's Secret will look just as hot. They're made from imported leather and cost $189, plus you can get 20% off these boots right now with code 20VSBOOTS. See? All better.

Browse more great over-the-knee boots currently available at VictoriasSecret.com below…

Some of you just aren't feeling the faux leather jackets this fall, so I've rounded up a list of some of the best places to shop for an affordable (though not cheap) genuine leather jacket. Most of them are still full price and cost between $200 and $300. Like I said, not cheap, but if it's real leather you want, here's where you can get it for less than, say, Shopbop, where designer leather jackets average around $700:

Where to Buy Real Leather Jackets on a Budget

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  Zara: On the plus side, Zara's leather jackets look borrowed from the runway. Downside: There aren't many locations in the U.S. and you can't shop online.
  


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  H&M: If luck is on your side, you can find real leather jackets at any one of H&M's many locations, also with a high-fashion vibe.
  


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  Topshop: This is where Topshop really shines, IMO, for those unique, hard-to-find pieces that no one else is making. Fierce leather jackets fall into this category, like the belted leather blazer above.
  


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  AE.com: I'm loving their brown leather bomber (see above). Though described as a moto jacket, I think it's very Amelia Earhart chic.
  


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  Urban Outfitters: Great selection of faux leather and a couple real leather gems to boot. Close proximity to many college campuses make UO a back-to-school shopper's paradise.
  


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  Victoria's Secret: Serves up styles to suit both your soft side and harder edge, like this luscious aviator jacket. Wait for their great sales and always use a promo code.
  


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  Asos.com: It's worth the wait and shipping cost when you can get a Balmain-inspired leather jacket like this one for under $200.
  


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  Spiegel: I've said it a million times: If you can look past the cheesy styling, you will be rewarded with designer-looking pieces at really low prices, including this ruched leather jacket.
  


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  Bebe: Designer-inspired shoes and clothing make Bebe an important resource for fashionistas on a budget. Where else can you find an of-the-moment leather military jacket that won't break the bank?
  


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  Club Monaco: How I wish we could shop this store online. But we can't, so visit a store near you (usually located at upscale malls) for an affordable, modern-classic leather jacket.

Personally, I'm loving my faux leather jacket from Forever 21. It wipes clean and doubles as a rain coat!

Some of you have also had luck at places like eBay, Nordstrom Rack or during clearance sales at department stores like Saks. Fashion blogger Wanderlusting just opened a store where she's selling some hot leather jackets for as little as $30.

Keep posting your leather-jacket success stories in the comments, these are going to be hot all season long!