Dress
The Asymmetrical Dress: Spring Fashion Trend
What: Asymmetry returns as a the dress silhouette for spring . . .
What We Say: Like most of the trends for spring, this one is really nothing new—asymmetrical/one shoulder dresses have been hovering at the edge of the fashion radar for awhile now, but when Michelle Obama selected the style for her inauguration ball gown, she pretty much guaranteed the trend a place in the spring fashion statement rotation. While we’re not sure this look is for everyone (Mrs. O, after all, has some pretty fab shoulders, as the style requires) we think if you have the physique, it’s totally worth slipping in to. That being said, we wouldn’t spend too much, because the asymmetrical look is such a specific seasonal trend that it’s not likely to live a whole lot longer. Fortunately, finding budget-friendly options—both casual and dressy—isn’t too hard. Accessorizing is easy too—skip the necklace and go with a bold bracelet and sexy heels or sandals, and go.
Get it: Baby Rib One-Shoulder Dress, $42, American Apparel
Black One Shoulder Zig Zag Dresses , $98, at eDressMe
Mossimo Black One Shoulder Occasion Dress, on sale $32.99, at Target
COLORBLOCK ONE-SHOULDER DRESS, $19.99, at Alloy.com
25% Off Betsey Johnson At Couture Candy Plus
The Deal: Betsey Johnson: 25% OFF at Couture Candy plus take $50 off orders over $175 with code Feb50
The Lowdown: Spring is in the air, which for us is a great excuse to start daydreaming about a fab Betsey Johnson frock. Yeah, it’s a stretch, but we love BJ, and for something fab and designer for 25% off? We’ll start counting the change we’ve been collecting all winter.
Nothing says feminine and spring quite like this pale blush pink frock (if anything qualifies as a frock, this does), and since back in September we reported on the prevalence of black and white in Spring 09 fashion, so we’re gravitating towards this on trend black and white Betsey Johnson mini dress (yep, it’s $380, but the 25% off will be taken at checkout AND you get $50 off orders over $175 with code FEB50—feel better?).
Shop: CoutureCandy.com
It’s a Bright Future for Target
Target will introduce its GO International spring collection to shoppers on February 1st, just in time for Valentines Day. One of our favorite new looks is the multi-color “bandage dress”, a one-shouldered, colorful, and flirty number for $44.99. The bandage dress, which isn’t like the iconic Herve Leger, is part of an eclectic mix that includes get-ups inspired by the 80s and the draped fabrics and asymmetrical cuts of the red carpet. This was a do-it-yourself project for Target; no famed designers were brought on to help. And we’re impressed. Spring couldn’t come soon enough…
Michelle Obama Look for Less: The Inauguration Sheath
“THESE PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
While many female politicos button up regularly in business-like suits, honorary budget fashionista Michelle Obama stands out for her penchant for fab dresses—particularly the sheath dress—which she’s taken from a throw-back to Jackie O., to a modern power-dressing statement. Of course we know that Mrs. O doesn’t always pay something akin to the gross national debt for her frocks (see the Michelle Obama View dress for exhibit number one) and you don’t have to either. We’ve picked five sheaths, and then one hot and super-budget cocktail dress (because we just couldn’t help ourselves), that make us feel like we could conquer the White House too. Were it not for all that pesky security.
1. Alfani Sheath Dress, $49.50, Macy’s
2. Signature Ponte Knit Collection Belted Sheath Dress, $49, Spiegel
3. Worthington Belted Sheath, $34.99, JCPenney
4. Maggy London Stretch Satin Sheath, on sale $76.90, Nordstrom.
5. David Meister Bubble Sleeve Sheath Dress, $147.90, Nordstrom (right, not super cheap, but regularly $248)
6. Woman’s Ferrera Cocktail Dress, $29.88, Wal-Mart.
Last Day of Kohl’s Big Sale
The Deal: Kohl’s is holding a big sale that ends today! Get 40% to 50% off woman's apparel that is, of course, already affordable.
The Lowdown: We love Kohl’s for its selection of cute and trendy clothing for women of all ages. We like the daywear—the cheery line from ELLE in particular. The office wear from AB Studio is stylish and complementary while still being appropriate.
Check out our picks:
The ELLE heart knit top, $14.99. We looked at the photograph closely, then read the name of the shirt. Hearts? Upon closer examination, we realized the swirling pattern is actually made up of small hearts. Cool!
The AB Studio striped halter top, $21.00. This halter top, with its sandy desert colors, has a neat bow in the corner. Wear with a blazer!
The ELLE yoke babydoll tank, $14.99. It’s elegant, with its sweet pleats. Comes in yellow or black.
Summer Parties, New Hairstyles, and Exercising Prettily: Web Round Up
The Budget Fashionista examines interesting fashion and beauty tips and stories around the Web!
—Is your calendar loaded up with summer parties? StyleBakery put together a guide to help those who don’t know what to wear to which party. It’s a nifty tool especially if you’ll be running into the same people at the different events. You wouldn’t want to be seen wearing the same outfit, would you?
—Styledash explores different hairstyles to wear this summer. We know we’re tired of the two easiest options: up or down.
—Many of us like to exercise, but don’t like how we look afterwards. Check out SheFind’s tips on how to look as cute as possible while working out.
Image from smartbargains.com
Summer Fashion Trend: The White Dress
“THESE PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
What: The Rise of the White Dress
What We Say: Okay, okay, we get it already! Everywhere you turn right now—and we do mean everywhere—you will find the white dress, on everyone from Jessica Simpson to Halle Berry. White dresses of all types, but primarily white sundresses —from maxi to mini, empire waisted to shift to tank to bubble skirt, you name it. Truly, there’s nothing better to show off that golden glow (natural or otherwise), and it’s a super easy option from daytime errand-running to a casual evening out. Oh, and it goes with everything, meaning that accessorizing is even more fun than usual.
Are you getting the idea that we like this trend? Yup, it’s true. So much so that we’ve picked some budget options for you to try out—all you have to do is add some colorful flip flops or wedge sandals (orange and red seem to be the, er, hot colors to pair with white), maybe a gold cuff or bangles, big sunglasses, and a slouchy neutral hobo, and you’re good to go.
American Rag Smocked Flounce-Hem Dress, on sale $36.75, Macy’s
Tiered Babydoll Mini Dress, $24.80, Forever21
Isaac Mizrahi for Target Empire Waist Dress with Tie, $29.99
Xhilaration Scoopneck Swiss Dot Dress, $19.99 at Target
Bluefly Flying Off the Shelves
What: This gorgeous Nicole Miller dress is selling fast at Bluefly—get it while you still can. It’s $252.00, down from $420.00. Click the picture to purchase and browse.
What We Say: Wear this dress to your formal events of the summer. It’s permissible for weddings, since the color is light gold, not white, and there are blue accents. The crinkly fabric transforms the dress from a standard strapless and chic number to a strapless and edgy one. Some of your relatives may want to whip out the iron, but don’t let them—the crinkles make the dress what it is. Pair with gold heels and accessorize with a funky necklace or attention-grabbing earrings.
European Fashion Trend: Strapless Dresses
What: Strapless dresses are all over High Street (main shopping streets/districts for those outside of Europe).
What I say: If you can pull off a strapless dress, go for it and even if you technically “can’t” pull it off, go for it. It’s hot, sleeves be damned! And if someone comments on your “wings” tell them it helps you to fight evil, judgmental bastards. If you’re not that bold, pair a cute lightweight cardigan (cotton or some other natural fiber) and call it a day.
Where to Buy: In the UK, pretty much any High Street store, but Primark has a solid selection for well under 15 pounds. In the US, try F21 which has a nice selection, Isaac Mizrahi at Target which has a few choice pieces, and other stores like Old Navy and Wal-Mart
all have the dresses. Don’t pay more than $30 bucks for the dress.
Free Shipping from Target: Daily Deal
The Deal: Spend 50 bucks in women’s summer apparel, swimsuits, shoes and jewelry and receive free shipping from Target.com. This offer ends August 2, but we suggest you don’t wait that long to shop for your summer wardrobe.
What We Say: Ah, Target, every budget fashionista’s second home. We can head there to buy orange juice and diapers and leave with a bathing suit and three necklaces. Their prices are so affordable that our willpower is at its lowest there. With designs by Isaac Mizrahi, Converse, Mossimo, Cynthia Rowley and many others, they have clothes for every type of woman. Free shipping is a good reason to head to their website and pick your favorite trends for cheap.
This swimsuit is playful and cute, and only $17.99.
Instead of a basic black or white cami, choose one with endearing details like this eyelet tank, $7.99.
Pictured: Dress, from Jovovich-Hawk. Only $7.49! Its tiered ruffles make it perfect for going out to dinner or a concert.
Avenue: Daily Deal
The Deal: Get 20% off your entire purchase at Avenue.com. Swimwear is already discounted up to 40%.
What We Say: Avenue is a great place for plus-size women who do not want to cover up their body with drab clothing just because they’re voluptuous. Their merchandise is just as stylish and updated as that of a store for smaller-sized women. Avenue knows how to make a plus-sized woman feel great-looking and confident with clothes that complement a woman’s attributes. Now is the time to scour their extensive collection of dresses, shirts, tops and bottoms. Their already reasonably priced items are even more appealing when you get 20% off at check-out.
Pictured: This glamorous, purple sleeveless top matches black slacks. We like the peek-a-boo keyhole in the back. Check out www.avenue.com for more great styles.
The Maxidress: High vs. Low
“THESE PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
This edition of “High vs. Low” is all about how to get the maximum statement for your money, with a look that’s long on style. Alright, alright, all puns aside, the maxidress is huge for spring – and the best part is, it’s available at any price point. Can you tell the designer dress from its discount counterpart?
Exhibit A: a Rachel Pally dress from ShopBop.com, a splurge at $267. Exhibit B: the Maxi Tube dress from Old Navy, now on sale for just $14.49 (!) at OldNavy.com
. Graphic floral print? Check. Long silhouette? Check. Dress that manages to be both comfortable and chic? A big check – for both the blowout and the bargain version. While the Rachel Pally dress is a dry-clean-only jersey knit, ON’s interpretation is made of a blend of cotton and Modal, making it not only supersoft but super-resilient (a must for summer vacay packing!)
But before you rush out to your nearest Old Navy, let’s lay out a few ground rules for how to wear the maxidress. For starters, the sheer length of the dress makes it a little trickier to wear – this is one look that’s easy to overdo. Pairing a maxi with heels is a surefire way to look overdressed and a bit contrived. Instead, stick to less-substantial footwear, like strappy gladiator-style sandals or a pair of metallic thongs (like the one the model on the left is sporting), to maintain that laidback, boho-chic vibe. Secondly, keep all other accessories to a minimum. A few delicate bangles or a pair of earthy-looking coral or turquoise earrings is all you need – anything more will just compete with the bold print and statement-making length of the dress.
And the splurge is…? Exhibit A, the Rachel Pally number, is on the left.
Best Prom Dresses on a Budget: Reader Advice
Hear that? It’s the sound of millions of girls in a prom-preparation frenzy. Being that many of them will be operating on a budget, they’ll need a little direction. We don’t always want to be the ones doing the talking—sure, we can tell you what sources we like for prom dresses on a budget (eDressMe.com’s dresses under $99, great sales at Macy’s) but we think you probably have some great tips too. So help the girls out—what are your picks for best source for a fabulous prom dress on the cheap?
The Maxi Dress: High Vs. Low
“THESE PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
The maxi dress is on the comeback for spring and though they may not be the favorite of oh, say, petite fashionistas, they’re still a nice change from the hemlines that force us to seriously consider knee liposuction (well, almost). As usual, we have the bottom line in mind, so we’ve picked two options—equally current with their bold, orange floral patterns—but only one will make a serious dent in our spring wardrobe budget. So which is which?
On the right, the high priced option, a Joie “Roll the Dice” Floral Maxi Dress, $324 at Bloomingdales, meaning our more budget-friendly option is on the left, the Jaclyn Dress, $49.50 at dELiAs.
Every Dress on Sale at Arden B: Daily Deal
THIS SALE HAS ENDED
The Deal: Shop The Dress Event at Arden B. through March 23, 2008 for sale prices on every item!
The Lowdown: Build up that going-out wardrobe without going overboard on the budget with The Dress Event at Arden B. Every dress is now reduced by up to 30%+, but for a limited time only. If you’ve been waiting to pick up that Little Black Dress, now is the time to buy one (or two!).
Shop It: Arden B.
High Vs. Low: The White Eyelet Dress
“THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
White dresses are popping up all over, and eyelet seems to be a favorite way to add a little texture to the snowy hue as we look ahead to spring. Can you get the look for less? Of course. Here, we’ve picked a high-end designer frock that’s priced to shock, and a budget option that’s just as sweet to look at, but with a price that goes down ever so much easier. So which is which?
The dress on the left is by Akris, priced for pre-orders at $3,500 at Saks. On the right, a flattering wrap version at LaRedoute, for just $49.99.
Trend Alert: The Body Conscious Party Dress
What: The new shape in party dresses? Form-fitting.
What the fashion heads say: This from The New York Times style page: “What happened to last winter’s easygoing party frocks that replicated simple geometric shapes, the circular pouf, the triangular trapeze, the rectangular shift? Turns out they were all square. ‘The baby-doll dress is dead,’ Sarah Easley, an owner of Kirna Kirna Zabête, the directional SoHo store, said with no small degree of satisfaction. ‘The designer customer is looking for a little more tailoring.’”
What we say: This could be very bad news, indeed, for those of us who actually enjoy a Christmas cookie or two this time of year—however, while slinky, form-fitting dresses may be the very latest, we’re still seeing plenty of cute tunic, trapeze, and sheath style dresses making the rounds, enough so that you should feel good about picking whatever shape fits you best. And remember, it is all about fit—form-fitting doesn’t mean sausage casing. Just something to think about.
~Angela
Cheap Holiday Dress: Giraffe Print Dress by Tracy Evans, $39.99 at Overstock.com
The Lowdown: Not every holiday party requires layers of taffeta and velvet, so here’s a great option for those informal events. Giraffe prints are the new “it” animal print and this version, with it’s all over print, slims you down by camouflaging any potential figure issues. However, if you buy this dress you must promise me that you WILL not wear any other animal printed (including giraffe print) item.
Who’s it for: Fashionistas heading to office holiday parties and bar gatherings, mature fashionistas, square body shapes, those of us with lumps
Buy it: @ Overstock.com . Before you buy, don’t forget to check here to see if there’s a coupon available for Overstock.
Cheap Holiday Dress: Isaac Mizrahi Black Sequin Tunic Dress, $59.99 at Target
“THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
The Lowdown: Look sequins are back and this black sequin tunic dress, from Isaac Mizrahi, is priced about $30 cheaper than similar dresses. Wear it with a pair of black tights to a holiday party or with a pair of black or hot pink tights and knee high black boots for a night on the town.
Who is it for: Socialites in Training, Sassy Mamas, Teens, Mature Fashionistas with flare
Buy it: $59.99 at Target.
What to Buy Spring 2007: The Shirt Dress
“THESE PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
The cotton shirt dress (along with the baby doll/trapeze dress) is the dress to buy for spring/summer. This versatile can be worn both to the office as well as to summer events like weddings, all with the change of shoes and bags.
Isaac Mizrahi for Target Shirt Dress, $34.99 at Target
Necessary Objects Poplin Shirt Dress, $44.25 at Macys
Midnight Blue Shirt Dress, $34.99 at Target
Dropwaist shirtdress, $69.99 to 79.99 at Spiegel.com (available in Petite and Plus).
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