The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

JCPenney Launches Call It Spring Accessories Collection




JCPenney just launched Call It Spring, a new accessories collection of men's and women's shoes, and handbags. The collection, which is currently available in JCPenney's Manhattan store, will expand to 100 JCPenney stores nationwide and online at JCP.com this Spring and then to an additional 500 stores in the Fall. To get people buzzing, JCPenney is offering an exclusive online presale at JCP.com, where you can check out the latest Spring looks and pre-order dozens of styles. I think the collection is sort of hit or miss (a few of my favorite "hits" are above). Since Call It Spring is an Aldo Group Brand, I expected more high-street flavor but I suppose that was my mistake. What do you think?

Target GO International Designer Collective Look Book (Part 2)




Target is celebrating the 5th anniversary of its GO International Designer series will a re-release of 34 "greatest hits," so to speak, namely 34 dresses by 17 past designers such as Thakoon, Zac Posen, Tucker by Gaby Basora and many more. Priced from $24.99 to $44.99, the limited-edition collective will be available beginning March 13 at Target stores and online at target.com.

See if you can recognize all the dresses from past collections. I'll admit, some of them don't look familiar at all! Maybe I'll add one (or two) of these new-to-me styles to my existing, already ginormous collection of GO International apparel. LOL.

Since there are 34 looks, I've split the lookbook into two posts: Click here to see Part 1 (which I posted earlier), then click through to see the rest of the collection.

Target GO International Designer Collective Look Book (Part I)




This spring, Target is celebrating the five-year anniversary of its GO International program with a collection that features 34 dresses from 17 past GO International designers. Ranging in price from $24.99 to $44.99, the GO International Designer Collective will be available March 13 through April 10, 2011 at most Target stores and Target.com.

The limited-edition collective features dresses from Luella Bartley, Tara Jarmon, Paul & Joe (by Sophie Albou), Behnaz Sarafpour, Proenza Schouler (by Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez), Libertine (by Johnson Hartig), Alice Temperley, Erin Fetherston, Jovovich-Hawk (by Milla Jovovich and Carmen Hawk), Rogan (by Rogan Gregory), Richard Chai, Jonathan Saunders, Thakoon (by Thakoon Panichgul), Tracy Feith, Rodarte (by Laura and Kate Mulleavy), Zac Posen and Tucker (by Gaby Basora).

It's nice to see Target's first "retrospective." Budget fashion has come so far. (Can you believe it's been five years?!) Wonder where GO will go next...

Since there are 34 images, I'm breaking this lookbook into two posts so it won't take forever to load. Click here for Part 2!

Mossimo for Target Spring 2011 Lookbook




For Spring 2011, the Mossimo for Target women's collection highlights olive and khaki tones, relaxed silhouettes and understated florals. There are plenty of modern basics including lightweight cardigans, distressed jeans, drapey tees, and a double-breasted trench coat, plus short shorts and skinny cargos in a variety of colors. Highlights for me include the utility shirtdresses in both green and tan, the spring blazer and the shoes. Lowlights include the floral-print short shorts. I'm a big Mossimo fan so my expectations were high for this lookbook, and while I'm not thrilled with the styling (where's the wow factor?), I know I'll be shopping many of these individual pieces and getting a lot of wear out of them.

Mossimo for Target's spring line is available exclusively at Target and target.com - click through to see all the looks along with prices and availability. What do you think?

Macy's Launches New Designer Capsule Collection Series with Kinder Aggugini




Macy's has unveiled the first line in its designer collaboration series launching with Kinder Aggugini, a London-based talent who has designed for some of the world's top luxury brands, including Versace, Calvin Klein, John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood.

The "Sid Vicious Meets Coco Chanel" inspired collection features jackets, knitwear, dresses and shorts, with most of the line affordable priced between $40 and $140. Highlights include tailored leather and bouclé jackets, soft cardigans, ultra-feminine silk shorts and Kimono-style dresses with Kinder's signature touches.

Kinder Aggugini for Impulse will be available for a limited time at approximately 225 Macy's stores nationwide and on macys.com. I seriously hope I can see this line in person, Aggugini is an amazing designer and it's great to see a collaboration with a real artist rather than a celebrity for a change!

Click through for more photos.