If you're a beauty addict on a budget, visit FreeBeautyEvents.com and enter your zip code to find out what makeover, gift-with-purchase, spa open houses and sampling events are happening near your home. Sign up to follow the site on Facebook and Twitter, too. In addition to listing in-store makeovers, Freebeautyevents.com also features a blog on product reviews (http://www.freebeautyevents.com/beauty-blog) and a monthly contest http://www.freebeautyevents.com/contest.

This month, for example, Prestige Cosmetics will be at college bookstores in Pennsylvania and Virginia with a free basket raffle for Prestige products, as well as free makeovers. In addition, in December Coty will be promoting their holiday fragrance gift sets at Rite Aid in New York and Pennsylvania.

For the month of October ten winners will receive a University Medical AcneFree Sport Clear 2-Go Skin System. Consumers have until 10/31 to enter and winners will be chosen on 11/5/2010. It's a great resource that puts all free beauty events in one convenient location!

Please note: In exchange for blogging about freebeautyevents.com, I will be receiving a P&G Gift Bag. I'd blog about them regardless, and the goodie bag will allow me to review more beauty products.

The Rachel Rachel Roy "Roye" in a military-inspired wedge suede bootie which comes in blue or black for $159.


Get the look for less with the Boutique 9 "Radd" bootie, currently $135 at 6pm.com. Thanks to reader Liz C. for the tip - she spotted these on sale for $90 a few weeks ago!

To celebrate the opening of Gilt's Wedding Shop on October 20, Gilt Groupe is launching the hunt for the next Gilt Bride. Become Gilt's style ambassador for its next wedding event and win a dream honeymoon worth $5,000!

To make this vision a stylish reality, get your free Gilt membership, check out the selection in Gilt's Wedding Shop from Wednesday, October 20 though Sunday, October 24, then log on to www.facebook.com/GiltGroupe - there, you can upload a photo of you and your betrothed along with tips on how you would use Gilt to create an unforgettable wedding.

Hmm. Think they'd let the engaged-to-be-engaged crowd participate?!

Back in April I attended the LOFT Fall 2010 Collection preview where I lusted after these gorgeous brown leather over-the-knee boots, certain that I would never be able to afford them. Now, LOFT has totally spoiled me by sending me a free pair, shown here. If you only buy one new pair of shoes this season, splurge on these beauties. They truly can take a simple outfit from boring to beautiful.

Regarding sizing, I measured the widest part of my calve at 15" and there's maybe an extra 1/4" of space remaining. For your reference purposes, I'm 5'8" so that gives you some sense of how tall these boots are. I realized after taking these photos that you can adjust the boot if you have narrower calves with the buckles to kinda tighten the boot shaft, but I haven't tried doing this yet. The shoe part fits true to size, I'm a 9.5 and I probably could fit in a 9 or 9.5 boot (which is what I was gifted.)

This style is called the "Peter Over-the-Knee Riding Boot" and it's available in black or brown for $198 at LOFTonline.com and you can click the image below for more info. I'll keep an eye out for budget-friendlier takes on this hot fall trend. In the meantime, drop hints to your sig-o that you want a pair as an early holiday present!

More LOFT...

Outfit details: Forever 21 tweed vest with faux-fur collar (got this a couple years ago); Old Navy plaid shirt; Work Custom "Hemingway" Cargo Pants in Olive (via Ideeli.com); LOFT boots

Shearling jackets were all over the fall 2010 runways including 3.1 Phillip Lim, Burberry Prorsum and Mulberry (shown above from left to right), and now we're seeing this irresistible trend show up everywhere from Target to Forever 21. Pair this outerwear with everything in your fall wardrobe, from skinny jeans and chunky sweaters to lace skirts and ladylike blouses.

Read on for shearling-look jackets at affordable prices. Click any image for product details.