My shoe closet overfloweth, but that doesn't seem to stop me from buying more sandals! Thanks to this tip from alert reader Julianne G. of NYC, I might just have to add yet another espadrille to the mix. She noticed that the Dolce Vita 'Giselle' espadrille wedge, which sells for $72 (down from $120) at shopbop.com looks a lot like the DV 'Kolie' which sells for $24.74 elsewhere (and also comes in black). See if you can spot the real from the steal by clicking a link below!



P.S. Julianne also highly recommends the DV 'Kim' huarache wedge in tan or white, true to size, so comfy and cute with summer dresses!

This week I paid my first visit to Primark, an Irish fast fashion chain that's just beginning to open stores stateside. I visited the Danbury, Connecticut location (thanks to a tip from alert Budget Babe reader @booshabear about the store opening), and while I realize this post will be a bit of tease for many of you (Primark.com does not have e-commerce yet), it may only be a matter of time before this discount clothing retailer comes to a town near you. So what can you expect when it does? Think fast fashion quality (Forever 21, H&M) in a vast yet highly organized set-up. Rather than multiple styles on a rack, as is the case at Forever 21 or H&M, Primark has fewer styles available in multiple sizes (which is juniors sizing as far as I could tell).

Over the weekend, we paid a visit to Westfield Old Orchard, one of my favorite places to shop when I'm back home in Chicago. I had lunch with my blogger friend/kindred spirit Heidi Doud (Wishes & Reality) at Epic Burger - seriously, so lovely to finally meet IRL. Then it was time to ride the mini train with my sister and nephew, followed by a nursing break, more playtime (this time by the lifesize chess set), followed by more nursing, ice cream at Godiva and naps. By that point I was tired and ready to head home, so I did not actually engage in any actual shopping. But I did spot a pair of sandals while passing through Nordstrom that caught my eye...the Steve Madden 'Slithur' ($89.90, down from $109.95). The moment I saw it, I realized it looked identical to the Mossimo 'Kylea' sandals ($34.99) I had just blogged about in Saturday's post. So, all was not lost. See if you can spot the real from the steal by clicking a link below!




Update: After posting this, I noticed while browsing Pinterest that the Steve Madden shoe is actually a copy of the Schutz 'Juliana' caged sandal, which is $190 at shopbop.com!


Have a good eye for fashion? Check out more Spot the Real taste tests!

In the latest travel-ready ensemble, Milla Jovovich shows us how small details can take an otherwise ordinary outfit and make it pop! Here, Milla wears a bright yellow plaid button up and pairs it with hip-hugging flare jeans, a silver tote, bright red wedges and sunglasses. I love the contrast between the clothes and accessories in this look, the red color makes a bold statement against her already colorful top. Plus I love her bellbottoms, totally on trend! Milla's hair and beauty were kept simple, so in my re-creation I added a sheer balm to emulate the hint of color on her lips. Steal Milla's style by shopping the rest of my picks, with items starting at $5.





Happy Fourth of July! Shop our can't-miss Independence Day Sale picks here.