Not long after I featured eShakti.com in this post, I was contacted by someone from the company who asked if I would like to review one of their garments free of charge, so I picked out a mock two-piece dress that I felt would work for a number of occasions. eShakti.com lets you customize items to your specifications (if you choose), so I provided measurements for the bust and waist, as well as a custom adjustment for the neckline. Not to nitpick, but I'm pretty sure I inputted "wide scoop" for the neckline, yet the dress appears to have a "regular scoop." I'm sure I could have resolved this with the company but I liked how it came out, so I didn't bother.

I am headed to New York City for a 4 day, girls-only trip near the end of May. I was hoping you could help put together some practical, yet stylish, outfits for touring the city as well as something to go out for dinner in. I am on a low budget and in dire need of fashion advice! I love the effortlessly stylish looks you've put together in the past. If you could help, that'd be amazing! Thanks!!!! —J

Springtime in New York City is beautiful. May temps go into the 70s, a little cooler in the evenings, but it's always a good idea to dress in layers since weather is predictably unpredictable. Wear comfortable shoes so you can do lots of walking and pack light so you can do lots of shopping! Bring things you can wear more than once and accessories that do double duty (like the adorable metallic cross-body bag I found, you'll see it below!)

Here are three outfit ideas featuring items under $100 (most are much less) to help you enjoy your NYC vacation in style & comfort:

Faux leather jacket in gray, $29.99. Fit great and felt surprisingly soft!

Last week I wrote about spring fashion trends at TJ Maxx, and today I have a few highlights from my trip to Marshalls and the adjoining Shoe Megashop. In the bag department, I spotted a cherry red cross-body bag in soft leather by MICHAEL Michael Kors which I recognized from an online sale at Rue La La just days earlier. Similar styles sell for about $160 at Macy's; the Marshall's price was $79.

Sort through GoJane.com's "Formals Under $60" section to find a great party dress without breaking the bank.

GoJane.com, an online fashion store that's well-known among frugal fashionistas as the place to get dirt-cheap designer-inspired shoes, also carries a small selection of rather decent formal dresses under $60. I'm not saying all the dresses in this category are winners, because some of them are quite bad indeed even by clubwear standards, but a remarkable number of the dresses are not only wearable but surprisingly chic. Just use a very discerning eye to sort the good from the bad, and you could surprise yourself with an amazing party frock for very little cash. Paired with carefully selected accessories, many of these dresses could work for prom, summer weddings or graduation parties. See my top 6 picks after the jump.

Celebrity style at the Coachella Music Festival.

I'm going to Coachella Music Festival for the first time and I was just wondering what I should wear, what kind of bag I should bring and most importantly what kind of shoes since I will be on my feet all day. They say it gets really hot during the day and really cool at night. And from what I hear Coachella is very trendy hipster so I want to look good but not spend alot and please keep in mind that I'm on a college student budget aka a starving student. jk only when the food doesn't look good. Thanks For Your Help, Desiree

The Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California, attracts a style-conscious crowd of free-spirited music lovers and celebrities alike. Whether you want to blend in or stand out, consider lightweight breathable natural fibers, comfortable shoes and lots of sunscreen. I've never been but I read it gets cold at night (as you mentioned) so bring a cardigan or denim jacket to cover up when the sun goes down. In terms of sticking to your budget, you can find tons of indie-hipster options for cheap at stores like Target, Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters.

Here are three outfit formulas I put together to help you get inspired!