The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Macy's Launches Bar III with Styling Help from Fashion Bloggers




Last week Macy's celebrated the launch of its new contemporary brand Bar III with the help of top fashion bloggers. Fashion Toast, Sea of Shoes, Feels Like White Lightning and Street Etiquette were tasked with styling the modern separates, adding finishing touches with their own accessories.

"Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast recreated the relaxed, carefree hippie look of her LA hometown with the perfect fitting flared jeans paired with an embellished blouse. Sea of Shoe's Jane Aldridge used her signature thigh‐high leather boots as the platform for bar III's graphic print bustier dress to create a flirty and playful look. Travis Gumbs and Joshua Kissi of famed blog Street Etiquette illustrated that the bar III guy isn't afraid to play with his wardrobe, mixing traditional suiting with casual sportswear."

Bar III will hit Macy's stores in February 2011. The women's line will offer a wide range of pixie dresses ranging in price from $58 to $78, $20 basic tops, $68 novelty tops, skirts from $38 to $68 and bottoms from $48 to $68. Menswear will include pants for $69, shorts for $39, jackets for $99 as well as classic suit separates for $49.50; suits $495.

Unfortunately I missed the event due to a massive snow storm but Macy's filled me in and sent over a few photos of the collection, click through to see them all!

H&M Plans to Launch US Ecommerce at the End of 2011




Watch out Forever 21, H&M just announced this week that it will debut ecommerce in the US at the end of 2011! This comes on the heels of other exciting news from the fast-fashion giant, namely, H&M is teaming up with Swedish Hasbeens for a collection of cheap-chic wooden soled summer shoes. And if that's not enough for you, perhaps you'll be elated to discover that H&M is creating a plus-size line for spring. Hoorays all around!

Above: Two looks from H&M's Sustainable Style collection, via hm.com

I Heart Ronson for JCPenney Spring 2011 Lookbook




Here's a first look at the I Heart Ronson for JCPenney Spring 2011 collection, available beginning now at jcp.com and JCPenney stores. Designer Charlotte Ronson keeps her downtown girl in mind with this line of dresses, tops, bottoms and denim priced under $58. Plaid tops and army greens flirt with the grunge trend of yesterday while girly dresses and the occasional pop of pink or pretty floral print keep things fresh and feminine. I kinda love the styling of this lookbook and think many of the individual pieces are very wearable, including the shirt dresses and slim cargo pants. Love the attitude!

Click through to see the complete collection. You like?

Dress Bergdorf Goodman's Linda Fargo for Fashion Week, Win a $2,500 Shopping Experience

Polyvore wants you to unleash your inner stylist and dress the icon of chic, Bergdorf Goodman's Fashion Director Linda Fargo, for New York Fashion Week. Using pieces from Linda's closet, style a look that's both warm and fabulous for her to wear front row in the tents at Lincoln Center. Linda will choose one winner to attend a runway fashion show with her and receive a $2,500 Bergdorf Goodman gift card, a hair and make-up re-style and a private personal shopping experience. How beyond is that? Up to $1,000 will be provided for the winner's travel expenses.


Get your own Mini Editor from Polyvore


Here's how it works:

  • Create a look for Linda Fargo in the Mini Editor above.

  • Linda Fargo will select one winning set from all of the contest submissions (including those submitted on polyvore.com).

  • The contest runs from now until Monday, January 31st, 2011 at 11:59 pm PST. Read the official rules.



Good luck and happy styling!