The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Spot the Real: Loeffler Randall Cap Toe Espdarilles + Surprise Shopbop Sale

Can you guess which espadrilles cost more?
Two stylish cap-toe espadrille flats, two very different pricetags. It's the "Mara" versus the "Vera"; the genuine leather versus the faux. But can you guess which is which? One costs $225 at Barneys while the budget doppelgänger costs just $25. See if you can spot the real from the steal by clicking a link below! Oh, and style these stunners with just about all your summer looks.


LEFT // RIGHT


Good Vibes: Taylor Swift's Plaid Shirt and Ripped Jeans Look for Less

Taylor Swift casual style outfit idea with plaid shirt, ripped jeans and white sneakers
A dressed down Taylor Swift was sending out good vibes recently in her Amuse Society Bad Habits Good Vibes Pocket Tee ($38, ronherman.com). The superstar paired her simple yet so cute top with a brown check shirt, ripped jeans and white sneakers for a SoHo stroll. She finished the look with bright blue mirrored sunnies and a bold pink lip - two key ingredients that really bring a lot of vibrancy and attitude to her casual ensemble. I'm loving how easy it is to recreate this look with finds under $50, including Taylor's exact tee, so I snuck in an additional item that charges your phone on the go and also makes a stylish accessory. Read on for this editor pick and more look for less finds...

Taylor Swift casual style outfit idea with plaid shirt, ripped jeans and white sneakers


Taylor Swift Photo Credit: PacificCoastNews

Ask BB: Kate Middleton's India Tour Fashion for Less

Kate Middleton in India
Question: I came across this dress that Kate Middleton wore during her tour in India and really like it. Any idea where I can find something similar at a reasonable price? —Brenda P.

Answer: First off I'd like to say that I am happy to be bringing the "Ask BB" column back after a long, unplanned hiatus! This weekend on a whim I did a search of "Ask BB" in my email and discovered dozens of unopened messages that had been inadvertently filtered into the wrong folder (thank you, spam filters!) - so if you have tried contacting me with a question and never got a response, I am so so sorry! My favorite part of Budget Babe has always been answering reader questions, and I just figured you guys stopped reaching out around the time I had kiddos and honestly things were (are?) too hectic to get through emails each day! I was so happy to find all your questions so I will be plowing through those in the next couple of days to get everyone's fashion requests answered. Again, my apologies for the mishap and thank you for continuing to send me your questions, it means a lot.

Moving on...Kate Middleton looked amazing in a number of boho chic dresses like the one above during her recent tour of India and Bhutan. You can get all the details of her tour wardrobe from Daily Mail. To get the look for less, I would check brands like Lucky Brand, Forever 21, H&M, Xhilaration at Target and Free People.

Here are some similar dresses I rounded up online mostly under $50:

Boho chic dresses on a budget
Row One:
Embroidered smock dress • $68

FOREVER 21 abstract tile print maxi dress • $32.90

FOREVER 21 striped floral maxi dress • $19.99


Row Two:
FOREVER 21 contemporary tile print maxi dress • $16.99

Influence Long Sleeve Boho Maxi Dress • $41

Blue Paisley Maxi Shirt Dress • $98


Row Three:
H&M - Embroidered Maxi Dress - White - Ladies • $49.99

Lucky Brand Woven Dress • $39.99

Free People Cabaret Long Sleeve Maxi Dress • $58


Got a great find for Brenda? Share it in the comments!

Shown above: Kate Middleton in a Topshop dress

Kate Middleton Photo Credit: i-Images, PacificCoastNews


Spot the Real: Denim Off-the-Shoulder Dress

Can you guess which dress costs more?
We all know that the off-the-shoulder top or dress is spring's must-have silhouette, and Rebecca Minkoff's take on the trend is pretty much perfect. It's feminine but not overly sweet, and unique without being over-the-top. The chambray denim fabric makes it wearable and easy to style in so many ways. See if you can spot the real ($198) from the steal ($59.90) by clicking a link below!


LEFT // RIGHT


See if you can spot the real True Religion off-shoulder chambray top, plus see how Jamie Chung is styling her bell-sleeve top and denim skirt for spring.

Seeing Double: Emma Roberts' Denim Shirt and Distressed Jeans Look for Less

Emma Roberts in double denim and white sneakers
The key to fashion is to look like you're not trying even when you really are. Emma Roberts does just that in her latest normcore ensemble, pairing a denim shirt with distressed jeans, white sneakers and a brown leather backpack. Personally, I just love when fashion meets practicality, and nothing could be more comfortable than denim and sneakers paired with an arms-free backpack. These are pieces you'll be reaching for over and over again - and we found all the lookalikes under $48...

Emma Roberts denim look for less



Emma Roberts Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News