The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Pattern Play: Cat Deeley's Printed Jumpsuit and Strappy Sandals Look for Less

catDeeleyPatternedJumpsuitLookforLess
Rompers and jumpsuits bring warmer months to mind, but Cat Deeley shows us how simple layering can make these closet staples wearable whenever. The TV personality stepped out in her Ella Moss Wanderlust Crossfront Jumpsuit ($230), pairing it with a fitted navy blazer, a large leather crossbody, strappy heeled sandals and dark brown aviator sunnies. I love the bright, bold patterning of the Ella Moss design and the heels are a must-have, adding length when paired with the skinny style of the pant leg. In this recreation we made sure the romper was still the focal point of the ensemble, making sure that our look focused on a similar wrap style and bold pattern. Read on to get Cat's look for less...

Off the Rack: More Spring Shoes at Target (See 20+ In-Store Pics)

Cute spring shoes at Target
Target has been rolling out their spring shoes (see my posts here and here) and now even more adorable styles have cropped up. I could see myself wearing the Merona 'Elke' ($22.99 in gold, cognac or black), 'Eve' demi-wedge ($24.99 in red/brown, black, brown or navy stripe/brown), and 'Indra' ($27.99, black or cognac) all summer long with jeans, shorts or dresses. Styles like the 'Kady' lace-up flats are on-trend and no less wearable. A must-have for spring 2016. From Mossimo, the 'Gretchen' ($29.99) is a high-fashion look for less that I think you'll love, while the casual 'Sonora' ($19.99) is especially tempting in navy stripe. I'd say we've got some good options going forward this spring, what do you think??

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* Spend $75, save 20% on clothes, shoes and accessories at target.com. Excludes dv. Offer expires 02/27/2016 at 11:59pm PT.

Look for Less: Dragonfly Brooch

Dragonfly Brooch Look for Less
Anyone else feeling brooches right now? They were a huge hit on the fall 2015 runways and are just now making their way to the streets. Olivia Palermo included an assortment of brooches in her curated collection for BaubleBar, too, in case you needed another reason to love this trend. Mind you, these aren't your grandma's brooches. Or rather, they needn't be worn in traditional ways. Mix things up by clipping a brooch onto your heels or pin one in place of a tie on a collared, button-down shirt. The pops of color and sparkles make these modern brooches feel cool and not stuffy.

Consider, for example, Kojis diamond dragonfly brooch. I'm obsessed. I mean the greens, blues, and purples in this pendant are really stunning. I can see this pinned to a moto jacket for an elevated level of swag. To get the same cool girl vibe as this brooch, this Kenneth Jay Lane pin ($35) is the perfect look for less. While it may not have the same colored gems as the Kojis brooch, the look for less still would look so impeccable with a cargo jacket or a trench coat for spring. Feels very Audrey Hepburn-esque, doesn't it?

Splurge:
Kojis diamond dragonfly brooch $1,320

Save:
Kenneth Jay Lane pin, $100 at saksfifthavenue.com (use code FEB16 to save up to $200 off your online order thru 2/24/16). We also love this beetle brooch in gold or iridescent green ($28), part of Banana Republic's new Jeweled Bug collection.

Off the Rack: New DV Dolce Vita Spring Shoes at Target

DV Skye
Thanks to a Facebook message from alert reader June G., I discovered new shoe arrivals by DV Dolce Vita at my local Target. From espadrille flats to wedge sandals and metallic thongs, these affordable spring shoes are all kinds of amazing. I can't speak to comfort but by looks alone I'm loving just about every single pair. DV really speaks to my personal style, on trend without looking trendy, wearable but not boring. Take a look at my in store pics and I think you'll agree. The DV Skye espadrilles (shown above) are especially good looking in real life, and also come in brown for $24.99. And don't get me started on the Paige flats. Yes. Please! Have you seen these in stores yet? Shop all DV for Target (including bags!) online at target.com.

Simple in Serenity: Taylor Swift's Boatneck Sweater and Black Jeans Look for Less

Taylor Swift Look for Less
One of Pantone's 2016 Colors of the Year, Serenity, a pastel cornflower blue is the perfect shade for the spring season. In this look Taylor Swift shows us how to add a little edge to the trend using a minimalistic approach. The singer paired the boatneck cable-knit sweater with black skinny jeans, leather booties, a chic structured handbag and a classic red lip. I love the simplicity of this look, it's so clean and understated but the black pieces make the blue shade pop and the contrast of her signature lip is the icing on the cake. Read on to discover my go-to red lipstick and get the rest of Taylor's look for less...