The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Win Cool Stuff: Charming Charlie Swag Bag


Win a Charming Charlie swag bag!

I've teamed up with the fantastic accessories boutique Charming Charlie to give one lucky Budget Babe reader the chance to win an amazing swag bag filled with outfit-making summer accessories! Your prize package will include items similar to the ones you see shown above, which are all inspired by Charming Charlie's Pinterest color of the month: Zesty orange. Think tangerine, coral and citrus hues that look great with a summer tan and pop against the season's whites and neutrals.

Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


60 Second Beauty: Natural Essentials Nourishing Shampoo, Conditioner and Dry Oil

Natural Essentials review

There's a new hair care line on the scene called Natural Essentials that incorporates ingredients used by traditional cultures around the world for modern-day, naturally beautiful hair. From beauty secrets used by Geishas to superfruit hydration solutions from Central America, Natural Essentials aims to harness the power of so-called unconventional ingredients to target all your hair needs.

Of course, this is nothing new - it seems like every other day, our fave beauty brands are touting the benefits of some new "super" fruit, flower or what have you found in nature, whether it's coconut oil or olives or açaí berries. The list goes on and on. But with summer here, I'm always on the look out for products that will tame my tresses in the most pleasant way possible, so I was eager to test out Natural Essentials Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner as well as their Strengthening Dry Oil and Healing Dry Oil. Whats more, the pricepoints are totally budget-friendly for what sound like premium products. So, here's how it went:

Off the Rack: June Highlights at Target


Target fashion

If you're planning a trip to Target this weekend, you'll be greeted by an impressive selection of summer fashions marked by bold prints, bright colors and laid-back silhouettes. It's all about easy day dresses, elastic waist skirts and relaxed tops.

Xhilaration has the most adorable prints from polka dots to folksy florals on summery dresses. Mossimo offers up cool denim (white jeans with tuxedo stripe embroidery feel Isabel Marant-inspired), colored blouses and edgy abstract prints on tank dresses, skirts and tops. I was loving their tropical leaf-print dresses and striped maxi skirts. Merona keeps things a bit more classic with preppy shorts, cropped capris and day to night dress options. I am absolutely in love with a navy dress featuring a red seahorse print and if I knew my post-baby size I'd scoop it up in an instant.

Instead, on this trip, I purchased this Circo chevron fitted crib sheet on clearance for $4.98, plus this nursing bra from Gilligan & O'Malley (one polka dot, one striped), this soft robe, these sleep pants, and this pack of colorful Xhilaration socks for my hospital bag. Oh, and an irresistible onesie that says "I love my Dad" - here's hoping baby BB comes by Father's Day!

See anything you love?

The Look for Less: CC Skye 'Mercy' Spike Bracelet

Every good arm party needs a spike bracelet. CC Skye's "Mercy" spike bracelet is $185 at BoutiqueToYou.com.



I spotted these spike bracelets at Target today for $14.99 each in gold, gunmetal or rose gold. They look expensive.


Spike bracelets at Target


You could also get the look for less with this set for just $7.80 at Forever21.com.



Zac Posen Is Designing Affordable Wedding Gowns for David's Bridal

Zac Posen for David's Bridal

Zac Posen is teaming up with David's Bridal to create a collection of budget-friendly wedding gowns called Truly Zac Posen. The six-gown collection called goes on sale online and in 50 stores February 2014. Prices for the gowns will range from $850 to $1,350, in sizes 0 to 26.

Expect to see elements of the designer's sartorial signatures, including figure-flattering corsetry and pintucked, herringbone-like seaming.

Five social occasion dresses, in neutrals and one lavender-threaded silvery jacquard print, will also be part of the collection and will sell for $195 to $225.

Zac joins the ranks of Vera Wang who as you know has had a line of affordable wedding gowns with David's Bridal called White by Vera Wang for 2 years now. If Zac's collection is anything like Vera's (that is - AMAZING!) then brides on a budget around the country will be in for a real treat.

I can't wait to see this collection in person. I really love Zac Posen - not that I know him personally, but things like observing him backstage at one of his shows during New York Fashion Week and watching him as a judge on Project Runway have given me an appreciation for his intellect and genuine personality. I expect he'll put a lot of thought and craftsmanship into his collection for David's Bridal, just as Vera Wang has done with hers. David's Bridal's designer collabs have been very hands-on - they don't just slap a designer's name on some generic gowns - so I'm very excited to see what Truly Zac Posen will bring.