Fashionistas who adore bright, summery hues won't have to give them up this winter season. Designer boutiques and fast fashion retailers have filled their outerwear racks with chic coats in just about every color of the rainbow, from juicy reds, oranges, and yellows, to rich blues, purples and pinks. You don't need a pot of gold to get in on this trend - find your own amazing technicolor dreamcoat at budget-lovely shops like Target, H&M and Forever 21.

[1] Annabel coat, $44.80
[2] Murray 3Q swingcoat, $34.80
[3] Jacqueline peacoat, also in pink, $49.80
[4] Canary Coat, $49.80
[5] Brooklyn lady coat, also in mustard, $44.80
[6] Sateen jacket, $24.80
[7] LS Paris coat, $49.80
[8] Faux fur wool coat, $54.80
[9] Katie coat, $44.80

We love the metallic jacket trend because A, we love metallics and B, we love jackets. Tough formula to follow, right? Here's a metallic jacket that we picked up at Forever 21 - and it is fab. Looks much better in person. It's also soft and has an adorable collar and smooth cotton lining. When you wear it out at night, it doesn't look quite so flashy. Be prepared for people to make bad 80s jokes while you're wearing this (it's ok, they just wish they had one, too.)

Metallic Faux Leather Moto Jacket, $34.80 >>

>> Related post: Fall Fashion: Metallic Jackets

We checked out the Abaeté for Payless Holiday 07 Collection and it's actually not ugly. Not gorgeous, but not ugly. The description on Payless.com reads, "Laura Poretzky’s limited edition Abaeté for Payless Vintage Holiday 07 Collection honors the glitz and glam of ’50s American film."

We think that any of these items could pass for "pricey" under the dim lights of a posh bar or swanky nightclub. And if you get caught in a nor'easter on your way home, you won't cry buckets over your ruined shoes. (Click the pics for details...)


Abaeté for Payless Kaye Pleated Boot, $48.00


Abaeté for Payless Camelia Watch, $22.00


Abaeté for Payless Rose Ruffle Pump, $35.00


Abaeté for Payless Chantal Cuff Watch, $22.00


Abaeté for Payless Bing Clutch, $25.00

UPDATE: And the winner of our "Snake Charmer Contest" is......TERESA N.!! Congratulations Teresa, and a great big thank you to all 192 people who participated.


PLEASE NOTE: This contest has ended.

Time for another Budget Babe giveaway! Tell us your favorite metal - gold or silver - in the comment section below and one lucky winner will be chosen at random to receive this gorgeous Snake Charmer Bracelet (shown above) from Ashley's Big Secret!

Ashley's Big Secret is the place to shop for fabulous accessories. The "secret" is something we budget babes know a thing or two about - namely, you don't have to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks! Ashley's Big Secret carries all the jewelry you need to doll up for the holidays - classic pearl necklaces, super shiny cocktail rings, dazzling bangles and more - all at AMAZINGLY low prices. The owner, Ashley Quinto, also runs a fantastic blog where she recounts her fashion highs and lows - but mostly highs, cuz hey, this gal's got bling!

Be sure to use a valid email address and include info(at)thebudgetbabe.com in your address book so we can contact you if you're the winner. Comments must be posted by 11:59 p.m. on December 12 to be eligible to win. The winner will be announced on December 13.

P.S. Why wait? Shop Ashley's Big Secret right now and save: Enter "BudgetBabe" at checkout for 10% off your order. Ashley's Big Secret is currently running a 20% off all rings sale, with free shipping over $50, and if you sign up for their newsletter at the bottom of their home page, you'll get a coupon code for 15% off.

Special thanks to our girl Ashley for making this contest possible!

>> Visit Ashley's Big Secret.

Earlier today, I tuned in to a fun and informative Q&A Seminar with Michelle Madhok of SheFinds, hosted by Coutorture co-founder Julie Fredrickson. The hot topic: Fashion blogging success strategies! Aww yeah. Here are some of the great tips and expert advice that Michelle and Julie shared with the group, summed up by yours truly, for all to ingest and enjoy:

Strategies For Fashion Blogging Success:

Know yourself, know your audience. What's your niche? Who are you trying to reach? What is the brand you're trying to create and promote? These are probably the toughest questions to answer, but once you do, you'll be well on your way to fashion blogging success.

Network, network, network! Michelle says networking is key to the success of your fashion blog, especially if you want to turn it into a business. Joining a fashion blogging community such as Coutorture is a great place to start, both Julie and Michelle say. Create profiles for your blog on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.com for additional exposure. (Add The Budget Babe as your friend on MySpace now!)

Syndicate your content. By submitting your content to be featured on major high-traffic sites, Michelle says you can increase visibility and gain new readers. While SheFinds syndicates content on major portals like Yahoo and AOL, beginners should check out BlogBurst.

Create and share widgets of your blog. Think of widgets as "portable chunks of the web." Find out more at My Blog Log and WidgetBox.

Share some link-lovin'. Submit your content for linking via sites like Sugarloving, BuzzFeed, and Skirt to help boost traffic.

Notify the people/companies/products that you blog about. For example, if you review a lipstick by Lancome, go to their website and send an e-mail about your product review to Lancome's general info or customer service e-mail address. Or, send an email directly to Lancome's Public Relations peeps: Michelle says Who.RepsWhat.com is an excellent resource for PR rep info.

Deliver your content in a variety of formats. Offer content feeds and/or newsletters via Feedburner and Feedblitz. Other newsletter services include MailerMailer, iContact and Constant Contact.

Promote your giveaways. Submit giveaways that you run on your blog to sweepstake sites (a Google search for "sweepstakes" will point you in the right direction, Michelle says). Coutorture members should notify Julie, as she may be able to help promote your sweeps on Coutorture.com.

Don't be afraid to reach out. Contact other bloggers and fashion industry peeps with your questions and ideas. "People are more accessible than you think," Julie says.

Make the most of your day job. Learn as many skills as possible at your current job that will help you with your blog or your next, new endeavor, says Michelle.

Do a little something every day. You don't have to do everything all at once. Focus on tackling one or two of the strategies mentioned above at a time, and update your site daily with new information.


>> If you'd like to partner with The Budget Babe for a giveaway or cross-promotion, drop me a line at info(at)thebudgetbabe.com.