The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

New Site Spotlight: One Kings Lane



Eco-friendly, durable and grown pesticide-free, this handsome hemp doggie bed by Harry Barker has earned its stripes. ($59-$79 at onekingslane.com)


In this month's issue of All You magazine, I discovered a home decor site that offers limited-time only sales on designer goodies called One King's Lane. It's like Gilt or Rue La La for the home! Today's sale on Harry Barker dog beds might be when I make my first purchase. I've learned from experience that it's better to buy a quality bed that will last for years than a bunch of cheap ones that wear out quickly (except when they are accident-prone puppies). Please accept my invitation to OneKingsLane.com and let me know what you think!

JCPenney Discover Spring Style Event




Last Tuesday I attended the JCPenney Discover Spring Style event at the Lincoln Center in New York City to see highlights from the upcoming spring fashion collections. Celebrity designers in attendance included Cindy Crawford (Cindy Crawford Style), Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen (Olsenboye), Michele Bohbot (Bisou Bisou), Charlotte Ronson (I Heart Ronson) and Nicole Miller (Nicole by Nicole Miller). You could tell that the crowd (myself included) was thrilled to see Cindy and the Olsens briefly introduce their collections before models took to the runway to showcase the latest trends: Modern safari, brights, florals, lots of denim and bold accessories. Celebrity hoopla aside, I think JCP offers a lot of affordable, stylish pieces to get excited about this season. My favorite piece was a pink dress with a giant side ruffle, hands down! What do you think about the latest spring offerings? Have you shopped JCP yet? Keep reading to see all the looks!

Off the Rack: Jean Paul Gaultier for Target




The Jean Paul Gaultier for Target collection hit stores Sunday, and while i wasn't able to see it for myself, I recruited my sister to check it out for me and take the photos you see here. Isn't that what sisters are for? Anyways, my sister was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality and styling, despite prices that felt higher than usual and inconsistent sizing (a constant battle). Highlights for her included the brown and red leather bomber—undeniably fabulous, but then again, you'd expect it to be great for $200, she said. The tattoo print tights, tops and bathing suits, however, are reminiscent of Ed Hardy and therefore seem generic rather than special. The rolled collar floral dress was her favorite piece because of the lovely neckline and interesting detailing. She actually liked the plastic-y fabric because it holds its shape and doesn't wrinkle. All things considered, my sister says this might be her favorite Designer Collaborations line so far. Have you shopped this collection yet? What did you buy?

Off the Rack: Spring Trends at Zara

Spring's MILITARY TREND played out at Zara in structured jackets, lots of khaki and subdued camo prints. (jacket shown here, $129)

If you have the good fortune of living near a Zara, you will be treated to a sophisticated selection of early Spring fashion offerings. Gone are the blacks and grays of winter, and in their place, lots of pale neutrals, and colors like rose, camel, gray blue and off-white. Zara caters to the urban, modern shopper so a lot of the clothes are work appropriate and priced closer to the $100 mark. I was most excited about the accessories but those are tricky to photograph, as you can imagine. Gorgeous studded sandals, denim platforms, slouchy genuine leather hobos, fab belts, lightweight scarves, chic flats—the works! Again, not cheap but worth taking a look. Here are a few pics I snapped to give you a taste of what's in store.