The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Off the Rack: September Offerings at Old Navy




Recently I received a $100 giftcard and an invitation from Old Navy to check out their latest fall offerings and share my experience with readers. So I headed to my nearest Old Navy store yesterday and within minutes, I had found my perfect lightweight fall jacket, an olive green cargo-style number with an upbeat rose plaid lining, utilitarian pockets and hood. The price was right too, just $44.50. I've been following the whole cargo jacket trend for what seems like months now, and this affordable option from Old Navy seems to be a great way to get in on this trend for less. I can wear it while walking my dog with jeans and oxford flats or pair with my edgy leather-look leggings and combat boots when I'm feeling more fashion-y. The next item I scooped up was a super soft fitted plaid shirt which I thought was a little pricey at $26.50 but the cut and color was perfect, it felt feminine not lumberjack, so I scooped it up. Finally, I picked up some totally basic black sweatpants and a zip-up hoodie for $15 a piece because I needed them for an upcoming camping trip and lounging around the house once. Total spent was $84!

Keep reading to see what else was in store!

OneStopPlus.com Spring 2011 Runway Show




On September 15, I attended the OneStopPlus.com Presents Belle Époque: The Spring 2011 Collection runway show at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. I was super excited to see this show because it was history in the making, the "first-ever plus-size fashion show during New York Fashion Week," according to OneStopPlus.com President Stephanie Sobel! The show did not disappoint, from the beautiful venue to the celebrity guests to the feminine yet strong fashions. The collection was grouped into five themes: Artisan Drape, Aquatica Lace, Etheral Denim, Cargo Femme, and Guilded Shine. I appreciated the use of color, charming embellishments and flattering silhouettes. Part of me couldn't help but notice that the models just looked like gorgeous "average" size girls but compared to the extremely thin models walking the runways elsewhere during fashion week, the contrast was duly noted and I thought OneStopPlus.com did a bang-up job.

Scroll down for more photos!

Tory Burch Spring Summer 2011 Presentation


Tory Burch Spring Summer 2011 Presentation

On September 15 I attended the Tory Burch Spring Summer 2011 presentation at the Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Tory expertly combined retro references from the sixties and seventies with global influences, modern silhouettes and a vibrant color palette for that one-of-a-kind Tory Burch aesthetic beloved by ladies who power-lunch. One of my favorite looks was a Chanel-inspired tweed jacket paired with chic navy & white Japanese woodblock print shorts and platform sandals, an eclectic mix of textures, patterns and cultural references that just worked. I also loved the leather pencil skirts paired with ladylike blouses and the plethora of unique statement-necklaces. The highlight of the presentation had to be seeing designer Tory Burch herself walking through the collection with Vogue editor Anna Wintour; both women looked beautiful and I was a little giddy after that. Oh yeah, and Kanye West was there too, I snapped a pic of him looking rather serious but he seemed to be having a good time mingling with guests and posing for photogs. See if you can spot him as well as Wintour and Burch below.

More photos after the jump!

Off the Rack: Tucker for Target


With Fashion Week over, I finally had a chance to head to my nearest Target to check out the newly launched Tucker by Gaby Basora collection. I found a delightful assortment of blouses, camisoles, skirts, dresses, one fur jacket and one tweed coat. The prints look expensive and the fabrics, though mostly polyester, work well with the designs and for once, they're not sheer! Hooray. The cuts are cool and wearable for women of all ages. Sizing seemed off; I could easily have taken a size L for the furry jacket (although the $79.99 pricetag was a major turnout) whereas I fit comfortably into a size XS tunic-style dress. The looks had a feminine retro feel that I'm really into right now and I could see the inspiration that designer Gaby Basora took from the movie The Passenger, which I rented after reading an interview in which Basora sighted the film as an inspiration. (Strange but good, I recommend seeing it.) I didn't buy anything because I need to save up and plan my fall wardrobe judiciously but I really liked a lot of the pieces and hope I can find them on sale in the coming weeks. What did you buy/love from this collection?

Exclusive Giveaway: Autographed Bottle of Outspoken by Fergie

And the winner is… #1.1 Subrina, who wrote "To be bold fierce and fabulous means that you have confidence in yourself no matter what you're doing or wearing."

Congrats to our winner and thanks to all who entered! Special thanks to Avon and Fergie for extending this awesome prize to a select number of bloggers.




Please note: This giveaway is now closed to further entries.

We've teamed up with Avon to offer one (1) lucky Budget Babe reader the chance to win a signed bottle of Fergie's signature scent for Avon, Outspoken!

Unleash your inner rockstar and find out what it means to be bold, fierce and fabulous.

Inspired by Fergie's rock-and-roll persona, this steely floral scent is pleasantly layerable, giving you the option to keep it light and sweet or strikingly sexy. The alluring notes include:

Top Notes: Star Fruit, Iced Berry, Wild Saffron
Heart Notes: Tuberose Absolute, Midnight Jasmine, Passion Flower
Base notes: Racy Black Leather, Raw Ebony Wood, Smokey Vetiver


To Enter:

  • In 30 words or less, tell us what it means to be bold, fierce and fabulous in the comments section below.

  • Open to US residents only, sorry.

  • Comments must be posted by 12 midnight on September 24, 2010 to be eligible to win.


Good luck!!

Outspoken retails for $28.00 and is available exclusively through Avon Representatives. To locate an Avon Representative call 1-800-FOR-AVON or visit www.avon.com.