I need your advice: I love the Hermes Picotin bag, but of course do not love the price. I have searched, but I haven't been able to find a bag similar at a more reasonable price. Any ideas or suggestions? —Amy

The Hermes Picotin bag is a gorgeous handbag that retails for $2,200 at usa.hermes.com.

I'm not sure what color you're looking for, but I recently saw a picture of Katie Holmes carrying her Picotin in orange, and it's really eye-catching. I love the classic shape and vibrant color.

So when I popped into Zara yesterday during a trip to NYC and spotted this bag (below), I was instantly reminded of the Picotin. The Zara bag is made from genuine leather and sells for $149.90. It appears more red in my photo but it's more orange in real life. It's also a bit bigger than the Picotin, maybe one-third larger, but for the price, I think it's a great way to get the look on a budget. Visit your nearest Zara store to purchase.





P.S. Zara's semi-annual sale started today! Shop items like blazers from $29.99, party dresses from $15.99, summer shorts from $15.99 and accessories from $12.99.

I get more requests for Herve Leger bandage dress knockoffs that any other item of clothing. If you've ever seen these dresses in person, you'll know that the construction is pretty darn impressive. Modern marvels of textile engineering, they are. A Herve Leger bandage dress will suck you in, smooth you out and give you the body Mother Nature didn't. But all that sexy sculpting comes at a high price tag. This ombre Herve Leger bandage dress is $1,590 at Nordstrom. Oh yes.

More Herve Leger...

Looking for a less expensive option? The latest crop of "inspired" designs comes to us from Modcloth. Here are four unique options priced under $60. Click any dress to shop.

More Clothing...

This look for less find comes to us from reader Rebecca! This lovely Halston Heritage pleated dress is $435 at CUSP.

Sidenote: This style comes in a couple different colors, and I actually rented this exact dress in black/metallic from RentTheRunway.com a couple months ago. I never wrote a post because it didn't really work with my figure, it's a very fashion-y silhouette that's also great for disguising your midsection but does nothing to create curves on a boyish shape like mine. Still, it's a beauty, just not right for moi.

More Halston...

Anywho, Rebecca spotted this amazing dress that looks oh-so-similar to the Halston Heritage - but it's just $22.80 at Forever 21! I think I actually prefer it to the Halston Heritage!! Available in sand...





...or vibrant coral. Click the image below to shop!

More Forever 21...

For a nautical look that will look spiffy by the sea or on city streets, scoop up Steve Maddens' "Yachtt" boat shoes in cherry red, $49 (down from $49.95). Or, get the look for $30 less elsewhere. See if you can spot the "real" from the "steal" by clicking on either image below.

I have been trying to get into the swing of things, fashion-wise, which isn't always so easy, especially with the crazy weather going on (at least here in NYC!). One obstacle that I've been trying to overcome is the lack of affordably priced flatform shoes. When this trend was announced early in the spring, I danced a little jig because I am a bit on the short side (I'm 5'2") and I am not used to high-heeled shoes or wedges with a sharp incline. I find I can't wear them for more than 20 minutes without my feet crying for relief. But these seem to be a fantastic alternative to that since they will give me the height, but not the pain. I keep searching, though, and I can't seem to find anything that isn't exorbitantly priced. Do you think you could help me out? —Sam

I've also noticed the lack of affordable flatforms this season, and I think it's because most budget retailers decided this was not a trend for the masses. Your best bet is to stalk runway-conscious brands like Steve Madden or Topshop. Here are some options mostly under $100:

More Steve Madden...

Alternatively, I would recommend trying a low wedge from a comfort brand like Aerosoles, Naya or Kork-Ease. Pick something with straps that don't dig into your feet and good arch support and you'll be stylishly set all summer long!

Here are some ideas, if you can try them on in person before you buy that would be ideal:

More Spring Step...