I was wondering if you could suggest an outfit for me? I'm going to Atlantic City, New Jersey, to celebrate my 25th birthday with some friends and my boyfriend. We're gonna be dancing and gambling all night. I am going crazy trying to find the perfect outfit and shoes to wear. —Courtney

Great question, Happy Birthday in advance! You are going to have a fun night

So when I need a party outfit, I usually head to Forever 21. Do you like their stuff?

If you like to be comfy, you could pair this amazing top:



...with your fave dark-wash jeans and some black boots. Carry a black open-front drapy cardigan that you can toss on when you're cold, then bunch up in a ball and toss in your purse when you don't need it.

If you want something more girly, try this dress:




or this dress:



...wear with dark opaque tights, comfy black boots (like these) and top with a black blazer that you can keep on or take off depending on the situation.


Clutches are fun but you might forget it someplace, so I'd opt for a fun evening bag with a strap so it stays close by. You could always wrap your cardi or blazer kinda over the bag to keep hands free.

Dear readers: What did you wear to celebrate your last birthday?

Never before has a single article of outerwear garnered so much attention as the leather jacket for Fall 2009. I can't back that up with any hard data, but it certainly seems that way. Earlier in the season, I outlined some of the best places to shop for leather jackets on a budget.

Now the fashionable folks at Stylehive.com have taken it to another level with a round-up of some of the most stylish leather jackets under $250. And if that still seems to high, consider that all these jackets are sold at stores with frequent sales and the occasional online coupon. Plus, a real leather jacket is one of those things you can wear forever.

Are you wearing a leather jacket this season? Did you go faux or real?

Comb your tresses with the Rolls-Royce of hair brushes, the 'Popular' Mason Pearson hair brush, long revered by beauty buffs for its famous boar and nylon bristle combo, rubber cushioning and easy-grip handle. Yours for $151 at Barneys New York.


Get the same luxurious locks at a fraction of the price with Sonia Kashuk for Target's Bristle Hair Brush instead, currently $13.49 at Target.com.

Co-written by The Budget Babe and Kiki Bella

I don't particularly like doing laundry (who does?) and one of the most annoying things are those delicate items—like bras, embellished tops and tights—which can easily get ruined in a washing machine. Been there, done that.

I'm not a fan of dry-cleaning (expensive and bad for the environment), so what I've typically done in the past to avoid washing-machine casualties is wash my delicates with Woolite in the sink. Don't get me wrong, Woolite is great—I've been using it for years—but I recently had the opportunity to test a new low-suds liquid called Soak, courtesy of the company's PR team, and I'm glad to have been introduced to this worthy alternative.

You can use Soak the same way you'd use Woolite: Fill your sink (or a bucket in the tub, if your sink-stopper doesn't work) with cool water, add a cap-full of Soak, let sit 15 minutes or while you watch Project Runway, come back, gently squeeze out the water, then lay flat to dry (a pop-up dryer is very handy for this!) or let bras drip-dry in the shower. Couldn't be easier.

Christian Siriano for Payless Geneva Front Zip Boot, $49.99

The Christian Siriano for Payless Holiday 2009 Collection is now available at select Payless stores (read: the stores farthest from my house) and at Payless.com. Prices range from $29.99 to $49.99 for styles which include a peep-toe zipper boot, gold and black pump, gold flats, floral flats and a strappy sandal with a cone heel. There are also two handbags which I can't seem to find on their site at the moment so just keep an eye out for those. I would have liked to have seen a low-heel boot included in this sizzling collection. Aside from that, I think Siriano is definitely bringing The Fierce to Payless. Think you'll pick up something from this collection?


Payless BOGO - Buy One Get One Half Off Everything.