The best way to ensure your fast-fashion purchases look more expensive is by finding the right fit. In this video, I outline 3 things to look for when you're shopping to ensure a polished look. (In case you're wondering where my baby bump is, we filmed this a couple months ago at H&M in NYC so I wasn't showing just yet!)

3 Easy Tips on How to Find the Perfect Fit:

1. 
   Shoulders: When shopping for blazers, jackets, blouses and dresses, make sure the shoulder seam lines up with the pivot point of your shoulder. Anything wider will make you look wider and slouchy, while anything narrower will appear tight and uncomfortable.
   


2. 
   Chest: Look for a smooth fit through the chest area - no puckering or pulling. Try moving your arms up and down while trying on a top to ensure a good fit, too.
   


3. 
   Hemlines: In general, pants should graze the top of your foot. Depending on the shoes you're wearing, you may need to take your pants up or down (or just do what I do and have different jeans for different shoes - most of my jeans work with heels or flats because they're skinny jeans that graze the top of my foot, whereas my bootcuts are longer so I can wear them with heels or platforms).
   
   Taking a skirt up or down an inch can also make a huge impact in your overall appearance, especially if you're petite. By simply altering a hemline, you can make a $20 skirt look like a million bucks!

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What I'm wearing in the video: Sofia Vergara for Kmart Blazer and leggings (also worn here)

Banjo & Matilda's star sweater in cashmere is $345 at Net-a-porter.com. A mid-priced retailer has a similar style for $88 while a fast-fashion chain carries the look for $22.80. Can you spot the real below? Click any image to check your guess!

UPDATE 4/2/13: And the giveaway winners are… #11 Amanda, #12 Jessie C., #26 Laura, #5 Angelica & #7 Nel! Congrats to our winners and thanks to everyone who participated!

Please note: The giveaway portion of this post has ended and is now closed to further entries.

Earlier this week, I headed off to Marshalls with a giftcard courtesy of the brand to track down my top spring trends and share my fab finds. It took a little digging but I managed to scout out lots of great fashions and home decor items. I ended up buying a designer polka-dot blazer (above) for just $24.99. Love the feminine fit, with subtle ruching on the shoulders and flattering 3/4-length sleeves. This is my second polka dot blazer but I just can't enough of this classic print - and it's back for spring, thank the fashion gods! I can pair it with colorful jeans now or tailored shorts and flat sandals later.

Other items I picked up included natural makeup-removing towelettes, gourmet tea, coconut butter and some luxe hand soap. These are the little things you might not think of getting at Marshalls but there's no reason not to! Marshalls is all about on-trend, brand name designer pieces/items that people want.

Ok, now you've seen what I found, time to show off your fabulous finds! I'm giving away five $25 Marshalls giftcards to some lucky readers, so read on for details...

To enter:

• Tweet or Instagram a photo of a Marshalls product in your life with a short caption about how Marshalls makes your everyday more fabulous! Be sure to include @BudgetBabe and hashtag #fabfound
  


• Leave a comment below with a link to your tweet or Instagram.
  


• Enter as many times as you'd like, just use a different item for each entry.

Giveaway ends 12 noon ET March 29, 2013. Open to US residents only. Good luck!

Keep reading to see more of the fun things I spotted on the racks at Marshalls...

Marshalls Style Ambassador Maria Menounos has hand-picked her favorite items from Marshalls for spring - fashions and trends that turn her everyday into something special. From a designer bag for date night or a bold top to help her stand out on the set of EXTRA, these are some of the designer finds at bargain prices that Maria is loving right now.

I'm on board with so many of her choices, from cap-toe heels to colorful stripes and of course, those chevron pillows! I've shared just a few of Maria's top picks above, but be sure to head on over to The Budget Babe Facebook page (here) to see the rest. Also, watch Maria's picks come to life in this short video.

What's more, inspired by Maria's picks, I headed off to Marshalls earlier this week to scout out my own fab finds, so stay tuned - I'll share what I discovered PLUS host a Marshalls giftcard giveaway so you guys can get in on the action, too!

Images courtesy of Marshalls. This is not a sponsored post.

Jonathan Adler just launched a new home collection called Happy Chic at JCPenney, so if the fashions at the evolving department store aren't wooing you, maybe this will! And if the fashions are luring you to shop more, now you'll have another compelling reason to visit. Like his signature collection, Happy Chic is pure Jonathan Adler - fun, preppy, classy, colorful and totally chic. I'm obsessed. Here are 5 of my top picks under $50 to give you some inspiration:

1. 
   "Elizabeth" serving tray, $25: You can never have too many trays. I use decorative trays to keep my coffee table and shelves organized as well as all-summer-long for easy outdoor entertaining. This chevron one is calling my name.
   
   


2. 
   "Charlotte" shower curtain, $30: I love how a simple, inexpensive change like a new shower curtain can totally change the feel of your bathroom, and this reversible shower curtain gives you two fab looks in one.
   
   


3. 
   "Katie" set of two arrow bookends, $38: Making people smile is a Jonathan Adler signature, and that's exactly what these trompe l'oeil bookends do. Use them to decorate a bookshelf or prop up magazines and papers on your desk.
   
   


4. 
   "Katie" square pillow, $32: Nothing says Hollywood Regency like a Greek key pattern, a motif that Adler uses liberally in his design work. Pop this bright pillow on a couch or chair for an instant spring update/mood lifter.
   
   


5. 
   Owl lamp, $35: When it doubt, put a bird on it. This whimsical owl lamp in chic white would add a soft glow and personality to any space. I'm seriously considering decorating an entire owl-themed nursery around it.