The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Mossimo for Target Spring 2012 Lookbook




Hopefully you've had enough Oscar talk and you're ready to turn your attention to a different red carpet, namely, the red carpet at Tarjay. Here we have the Mossimo Spring 2012 lookbook, which showcases the trends you'll be seeing from both the Mossimo Black and Mossimo Supply Co. labels at your local Target stores and online at Target.com. The so-called trends are extremely subtle this year, which isn't necessarily a bad thing: Kimono and butterfly sleeves give a subtle nod to the East-meets-West influence, while belted tunics, peasant tops and flowy dresses echo the bohemian vibe that always seems "in" when the weather warms up. For colors, expect everything from pastels to soft brights, along with florals, graphic and nature-inspired prints. I'm drawn to the colorful denim and cotton dresses; the shoes also look promising. I'll leave the short-shorts to the teens. I wish the floral shorts came in a pant version, too.

MOUSE OVER ANY IMAGE for details on pricing and availability.

What do you have your eye on? Does this lookbook inspire?

Little Black Bag: A Review




Recently I got approached by the folks at Little Black Bag to check out their new interactive shopping site, littleblackbag.com. According to the press release, Little Black Bag is loosely based on a Japanese tradition known as the "Lucky Bag Sale" wherein retailers sell mystery bags of products and customers buy these bags and trade the items inside with their friends. Little Black Bag aims to bring this shopping concept to the online world.

Forever 21 Exclusive Design Collection




If you weren't "wowed" by Jason Wu for Target, don't worry, there are plenty of other ways to allocate your fashion dollars, including the new Forever 21 Exclusive Design Collection. I'm told the exclusive designs are made "in-house," meaning you won't find these cute and trendy styles anywhere else, like this sequin striped tee ($19.80) or this satiny palette top ($22.80). No designer names or knock-offs, just fun, affordable fashion.

UPDATE: I've decided to remove the product photos that Forever 21 sent me to avoid confusion because I can't find all the items online. To see all available styles, please visit http://www.forever21.com/Product/Category.aspx?br=f21&category=Promo_ExclusiveDesigns.

Doo.Ri for Impulse at Macy's Collection




Designer Doo-Ri Chung has designed a collection for Macy's Impulse, and while it won't be available for purchase until February 15th, you can preview the line now at macys.com and vote for your favorite looks. Currently, a geometric printed draped wrap dress, floor-length pleated maxi dress and painterly brushstroke coat are among the items in the lead, and I'm inclined to agree with shoppers that these are some of the best pieces in the capsule. Priced on average from $39-$159, the collection will feature soft fabrics, art inspired prints and feminine silhouettes, all grounded in blues and greys with red, black and orange infused throughout. I'm not jumping out of my seat to shop this collection but I can appreciate its elegance. How about you?