The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Look for Less: Off the Shoulder Dress


With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it might be a good idea to find yourself the perfect red dress. While I'm not one to gush over the cliche Valentine's Day clothes, decorations, etc., I can get behind a nice red dress mostly because it can extend far beyond February 14th. I'm obsessed with this Emilio De La Morena sweetheart, off-the-shoulder dress. The neckline is incredibly flattering and the velvet fabric is extremely opulent. All of these adorable details added with the A-line silhouette, make this red dress the absolute perfect outfit for any date night, whether it's this weekend or not. The River Island dress is very similar in both neckline and silhouette making the vibe nearly identical. I would definitely pair this look with nude heels to ensure that the red of the dress is the bold pop of color. Which would you wear?

Splurge:
Emilio De La Morena Velvet Mini Dress $542

Save:

River Island Bardot Skater Dress $80

Spot the Real: Swedish Hasbeens Clog Boots

Can you guess which boots cost more?
I love the look of clogs with their quirky cuteness, and I'm loving them as a boot even more. With something like Swedish Hasbeens iconic clogs, you're paying for the look and the quality, so I'm not saying you shouldn't shell out $400 for the real thing...but if you want to test drive this style before committing, the look for less is just $30. See if you can spot the real from the steal by clicking a link below...


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The Look for Less: Self Portrait Dress


I'm literally obsessed with Self Portrait and their dresses - just browse their Instagram feed and you'll see all the fashion bloggers and celebs who are equally enamored. With their cut-outs and lace, they are the perfect combination of sweet and sexy. Self Portrait's silhouettes seem modest, but are actually quite fun and youthful. This Self Portrait Cutwork Layered Dress is a perfect example of their vision and style. It has a great underlayer of what would appear to be a bodycon dress, with the top layer being an intricate, sleeved lace. I could see myself wearing this absolutely beautiful dress with a really fabulous red lip and sleeked-back, middle-parted hair. The even greater part about this dress is that I found a very similar one for significantly less. The major difference being the silhouette of the skirt. The Self Portrait skirt has more of an A-line look, while the Rule One London Dress appears to be more bodycon. For the most part, however, the intricate lace overlay seems to be very very similar. What do you think...would you splurge or save on this style?

SPLURGE:
Self Portrait Cutwork Layered Dress, $335

SAVE:
Venice Black Netted Midi Dress, $65

For more Self Portrait knockoff dupes, search "mesh lace dress" on SheInside.com to find dresses like this one. Thanks to alert reader Heidi (@Wishes_Reality) for the tip!

Spot the Real: L'Agence 'Lola' Drape Front Blouse

Can you spot the real drape front blouse?
We all know that white shirts are a wardrobe essential, but it's nice to have some variety. For a feminine look that's suitable for the office as well as nights out, try a drape front blouse. The designer version by L'Agence is $225 (down from $345) at Revolve Clothing, while the look for less is just $22.99 elsewhere. See if you can spot the real from the steal by clicking a link below!


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Love guessing games? See if you can spot the designer oxblood tank top or lace-up top.