This was my first time attending a Lela Rose runway show and it did not disappoint. I had a hard time narrowing down my photographs for this post because I loved each look from start to finish. This season, the designer took her inspiration from the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. My husband and I were just in Spain a few months ago for our honeymoon and we were wowed by the Calatrava buildings we saw in Valencia, so I had those mental images in mind as models walked the runway. The show began with ladylike coats and geometric prints. I especially loved a zig zag print sweater paired with a mustard yellow pencil skirt. The show progressed from separates to chic cocktail dresses, culminating in some stunning red carpet-worthy gowns.

Lela Rose also debuted her fall/winter footwear collection for Payless, due out in September '12. Keep an eye on www.paylessontherunway.com where the collection should be posted any day now; styles include the Merida pump, Ponteverdra t-strap, Lucerne pump, Wholen ankle bootie, and Cascine cocktail heel. Watching the shoes walk the runway, you'd never guess they were Payless. They looked amazing!

Keep reading to see more photos including a few peeks of the shoes and my encounter with Lela Rose's pup, Stitch!

What do you think of the collection?

The Budget Babe was invited to the bebe BLACK Fall 2012 collection runway show yesterday, presented by Style360 and held at the Met Pavilion in New York City. Since I was ill, my girl KC covered the show for us!

Inspired by film noir with futuristic influences, the vibe was retro and ladylike with a dark edge - think Gwen Stefani getting dolled up. Bangs were brushed into a big, pin-up curl with loose voluminous waves in back. A red lip and red manicure added the perfect glam touch to the assortment of tailored coats, capes and knee-length dresses in wool, leather and velvet.

Exaggerated shoulders with nipped waists, corset seaming and lace paneling paid homage to the femme fatale. The palette was mostly matte black with glossy black accents, with the addition of deep crimson and a rich teal, reminiscent of Old Hollywood glamour.

Remember last spring's all-white see-through collection that was a Marie Antoinette-meets-Lady Gaga mash-up? Bebe is clearly headed in a completely new direction for fall and I, for one, am loving it. I'd like to get my hands on some of the plaid pieces and the capelet-topped trench.

What do you think of Bebe's fall collection?

Sorry for the lack of posts, I seem to have caught the Fashion Week flu so I'm home recuperating. But in the last week, I saw enough runway shows and street style to inspire me for months. One of the trends I was loving the most among the fashionable show-goers had to be neon! Some subtle, some not-so-subtle pops of neon yellow, orange and pink added a jolt of color and energy to mostly neutral looks. Here are 5 ways to inject a pop of neon into your wardrobe now for under $50...

{The Inspiration (from left): A bright bag that I spotted at Fashion Week, A Pair & a Spare's neon denim; Nanette Lepore's Spring 2012 runway}

UPDATE: And the winner is… #155 Steph Speer! Congrats to our winner and thanks to everyone who participated.




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

I've teamed up with my friend and Stella & Dot stylist Wendy to offer one lucky BB reader the chance to win a little Valentine's Day bling for herself! I recently attended my first-ever Stella & Dot trunk show (I know, I'm a little behind the times) and I was really impressed with the designs and quality. What I didn't know is that there are dozens of chic options under $50, which makes Stella & Dot a very affordable way to get the latest jewelry trends on a budget.

To enter:
Visit stelladot.com/wendysilkey, then tell us the name of your favorite jewelry piece priced under $50 in the comment section below. One lucky winner will win her pick!*

Optional (for one additional entry each; please leave a separate comment for each):

• 
  Follow Wendy on Twitter
  


• Tweet this giveaway using the twitter button below
  


• Like this post using the Facebook button below

*Subject to availability. Entries must be posted by 12 noon ET on February 21st 2012 to be eligible to win. Open to US and Canadian readers.

Good luck and Happy Valentine's Day!!

A girl can only be in so many places at one time, so it was with great sadness that I missed covering the nail looks by Deborah Lippmann for Kate Spade's Fall 2012 collection. Luckily the team filled me in post-show and shared these photos of the amazing polka-dot nails! Are you swooning yet? This season, Kate Spade envisioned a bold and fun nail, so celebrity nail tech Deborah Lippmann came up with a polka-dot nail that's feminine and long with a rounded tip. The base is Fade to Black, an opaque vinyl record black, topped with sporadic polka dots in I'm Not Innocent, a clean creamy peach, to add the perfect pop of color.

Both polishes are $16 each at www.deborahlippmann.com.

This is one mani I can't wait to try at home, the trick will be creating those dots but as you can see, they don't have to be perfect. Would you wear a polka-dot manicure à la Kate Spade?