The Budget Fashionista

They may not be the sexiest footwear, but they are pretty darn comfortable. Flip flops are must-haves for summer as fashionistas flock to the beach, park and pool for some much-needed respite from the heat. Despite their reputation for being somewhat dowdy, there’s no reason that flip flops can’t be cute and fashionable. Instead of opting for the usual plain rubber flip flops, we wanted to look a little more stylish this summer without sacrificing the all-important comfort. Enter embellished …

On the bottom: Havaianas Crystal Mesh flip flops in Silver Moon, $195, available at havaianas.com. On the top: Merona Winda Beaded Champagne flip flops, $17.99, available at target.com.

What: Taking fashion cues from comic books and superheros. No, we’re not kidding, but maybe it’s not as bad as it sounds. What We Say: With superheroes dominating the summer movie menu, fashion is taking a cue and strong looks ensue. Should you dress up like Wonder Woman? Please, no. But can you have a little fun with your super-hero alter ego? It’s summer, so why not . Some ways to channel your fashion powers responsibly: The Logo Tee: Even …

What: News Flash—Tie Dye is a Hot Summer Fashion Trend What We Say: Here’s the trend that just won’t, uh, die—tie dye, that is. This Spring it was heralded as the next big thing (along with it’s kissing cousin, ombre), but we didn’t see it really catch fire. Now that it’s Summer, tie dye is being heralded as—you guessed it—The Next Big Thing. Hmmmm. Are we the only ones who are seeing this as a re-tread of a tired old …

Remember the eighties resurgence of last Spring? It seems like things have gone a bit asymmetrical again, with one-shouldered dresses and blouses being back on the fashion agenda for this season. This time around, the look is less eighties-glam and more Grecian goddess, as at Lanvin, where a toga-like cocktail dress complete with drapey sleeve, was belted at the waist and accessorised with vampy lips and scraped-back hair. Over at Rodarte, the queens of ethereal elegance – sisters and creators …

Sandals with a little bling have been on the radar for the last couple of summers, but we’re not tired of them yet—not by a long shot. We recently did a look for less on embellished flip-flops, and our budget-conscious point of view, we think some bejeweling on our feet is just the thing to kick up a basic summer ensemble without dumping a bunch of cash into something too frivolous. Oh, and bejeweled doesn’t have to mean tween-worthy sequins …

poll by twiigs.com

Image courtesy of Forever21.