The Budget Fashionista

John Malkovich is arguably one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood. Now everybody’s favorite quirky dude has his own fashion line. Yep, you can “be” John Malkovich by wearing items from his collection. For the most part the collection is pretty boring (think homeless man meets librarian), featuring items that well, John Malkovich would wear.  What is neat about the collection is the beret hats, which look great on baldies. Also 10 percent of all proceeds go to support theaters …

Bill Cosby wore them. Michael J. Fox had a whole closet full of them. Arsenio probably got canceled because of them. Yep, we’re talking about ugly sweaters. Every guy has these sweaters somewhere in their closet. Maybe they were given to them by their senile Aunt Martha, who thought burgundy, gold, and green were really “smart” colors. Or maybe you purchased them during your stint as a manager at the local Chess King. Or maybe your mom bought them to …

Trend forecasters observe cultural, economic, and social factors affecting society to determine the “next big thing”. Since fashion often reflects the mindset of a society, these factors are excellent cues to what will be in demand at your local department store. For example, the popularity of California based shows like The OC and the influence of Hollywood celebrities like Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson has made elements of west coast style like the mini-skirt and Ugg boots, must have items. Another …

I just got a scoop from a fabulous new friend who is a major player in the plus size world regarding Queen Latifah and Wal-Mart. Apparently the plus size diva (who looks absolutely FABULOUS in the her new movie “Last Holiday") is in talks with the superstore to do a fashionable plus size line, possibly an extension on her deal with Curvation, an intimate apparel line for plus size women owned by Vanity Fair Corp., parent company of such brands …

Gisele, Tyra, Heidi, and Ashlee? What the . . . Ashlee Simpson has signed on to be a Victoria’s Secret model. Okay normally I wouldn’t care, however Ms. Simpson and her new nose is on the cover of this month’s Marie Claire Beauty and Body Issue with the following copy inside: “She’s had it with Hollywood’s twisted view of feminine beauty. Her goal: to get women to appreciate their diverse shapes and sizes. Along with a group of teens, Simpson …

The Consumerist lets the world know how to save money by adding water to hand soap. They offer instructions on how to make it less thick, allowing you to use it in a foaming soap container. In this economy, we’re looking to save money any way we can! SheFinds helps us out with finding an alternative to Samantha’s great oversized hat from SATC: The Movie. We suggest you wear it with a sweet floral dress or a white tunic. Be …

What: Sheryl Crow is designing a clothing line consisting of jeans, t-shirts, and other laidback styles that jive with Crow’s persona as a rocker chick, according to Styledash. This line is a bit different from your standard celebrity designs, however--it’s eco-friendly. The line will be called Bootheel Trading Co. by Sheryl Crow. What We Say: All we wanna do is...find out when and where we can check out these new clothes. We never knew Sheryl Crow to be a fashionista, …

We’d never recommend using a cellphone as a weapon nor can we recommend wearing all white while digging in the garden (we’re pretty sure Naomi doesn’t do her own laundry). That being said, we love the simple fresh look Naomi Campbell sports for this photo op, which reminds us of how easy it is to look great without all the bells and whistles. And the power of a simple bright white tee. If you’re feeling it (and have a good …

It seems the gray t-shirt dress is the latest mid-summer trend amongst the Hollywood set, and we can’t really argue with it’s comfort or ease. We can, however, argue against paying too much for one. Clearly, you don’t have to, and here’s proof: We’ve picked two t-shirt dresses—one carries a pricetag far too hefty for a slip of cotton, while the other just slightly easier on our bottom line. So which is which?

On the left, the high version, a Splendid Heather Gray Shirt Dress, $138, Fashion Chateau. On the right, a more budget-friendly option, a Lux His for Her Dress, $38, Urban Outfitters

Get the latest buzz from readers on the TBF forum: ~ Most of us suffer for fashion in one way or another, but some more than others apparently as readers share their fashion limits. ~ We’ve all had plenty of time to play with the latest beauty offerings this season, so readers are dishing on their can’t-live-without summer beauty products. ~ This discussion’s only just begun but forum readers want to hear your take: Does anyone care about celebrity fashion anymore? …