I hit the mall the other day and witnessed a wonderfully beautiful sight: Spring clothing. The racks of shorts, tanks and skirts were like the (bright, patent leather) light at the end of a cold and dreary tunnel. I felt euphoric, giddy and a need to spend. I grabbed my friend’s hand and together we skipped from store to store taking it all in.

The colorful shoes.

The exotic prints.

The dresses.

The bags. Oh boy, those bags.

I would have loved to give my credit card a workout and my wardrobe a much needed pick-me-up – as I have found myself wearing only grays and blacks these past few weeks – but the price tags at Nordstrom, etc. were just way bigger than anything I could afford. I pitied myself and my dwindling bank account for a moment, but instead of throwing in the proverbial towel and heading home to sulk in a pile of black sweats, I went in search of equally fabulous, yet far more affordable, Spring pieces.

It was a cinch. Spring trends are all about bright colors, patent leather, and new shapes. Luckily for me and any other lady on a budget, these elements are all very easy to find at any price point. I scoped out my I Have to Have Them But In No Way Can I Afford Them pieces, admired and drooled over them, and then snapped back into reality and went in search of their less expensive brothers.

What I Lusted: Marc by Marc Jacobs “Posh Turnlock” Convertible Clutch

Price: $298 (Ouch.)

This bag adds much needed drama and excitement to the bar-standard black dress or shirt.

The leather is soft, the colors (I prefer yellow) are bright without being too much and the bag is perfect for going out – both in the fact that it will hold everything and can be worn as either a clutch or on your shoulder.

What I Got: Xhilaration (For Target) Envelope Clutch

Price: $17.99

This bag has so much in common with the one by Marc – the perfect size for going out, the perfect color to pop a typical ensemble, the ability to be worn both as a clutch or shoulder bag – for a fraction of the price. Just think about how much better you will feel about spilling beer on an $18 bag versus one for $300. Read More »

As a girl on a budget, shopping (or more accurately: window shopping) can be painful. When even chain stores are too pricey (really Urban Outfitters? $110 for a shirt?), what’s a girl to do? Well, I always head straight to the sale racks for some of my best finds, like the $10 leather bag I got this weekend, but sometimes the most heavily discounted stuff is out of season, ill-fitting or just plain ugly.

The thrifty girl’s best friend is, well, the thrift store. While I can’t afford to drop hundreds of dollars on clothes each month, plenty of people can and do. And when these people get tired of their outfits, they sell them or give them away. That’s where we come in.

The first step to good thrifting is knowing your stores. Scope out your town or city and figure out where the good shops are. Most cities have a Salvation Army or Goodwill, as well as various consignment shops. Bigger cities and most college towns will have thrift or vintage stores (but keep in mind–vintage is often code word for EXPENSIVE!) If you find a shop you like, go there a lot, even if you don’t buy anything when you go. You’ll get a sense for when new clothes come in, so you can get to the good stuff first. Read More »

As my friends and I gathered in my living room with drinks and dinner last night to watch the Oscars, we all recognized a very obvious fact: We were not gathered to actually watch the awards. In fact, none of us cared that much about who won anything. (especially not at the tipsy end of the evening). The truth is that we just wanted to see what everyone was wearing. We wanted to either rip them apart or drop our jaws in jealousy. And so that’s what happened.

There weren’t as many atrocities as I had secretly hoped for last night. I always kind of want Cameron Diaz to show up in a trash bag and slippers. But hey, lets face, she’d look like a babe even in that. I guess what I’m trying to say is that no one gave me nightmares last night.

Check out the red carpet looks after the jump. Click the photo to see the full gallery. Read More »

I am horrible with money. Seriously.

Which is why, for my own benefit (and my loved ones), I need to get my holiday shopping done now before I spend all my money on dresses I don’t need and beers I shouldn’t drink.

Thank God today is Cyber Monday! This silly little day is the day for online sales…like Black Friday, only for us lazy online shoppers.

So, pull out your credit cards, take a deep breath, and check out these sites for some debt-causing holiday goodness!

Get your gadgets on the cheap at bestbuy.com!

Impress those people in your life who value things like iPods and GPS devices the same way we value a hot pair of boots. When you can get your favorite techie what they really want it’s always sure to please.

And just because the prices are good, don’t be tempted to pick up something for yourself! Let someone else treat you to a new iPhone.

40% off at Barnes and Noble!

Books are always a fantastic present. I don’t care if you’re a lit major or one of those people who “don’t read”, B&N always has something for everyone.

If you’re not into buying reading material for someone special, check out their journals, calendars, DVD’s, and games! Read More »

MTV has gone above and beyond lame by giving Lauren Conrad her own fashion line—and making it expensive as hell.

The annoying blond from The Hills (doesn’t narrow it down at all, does it?) has been an intern at Teen Vogue for a while, and I guess after two years of licking envelopes and putting dresses back on hangers, MTV decided she had enough training to put out her own line of boring, expensive crap.

Looking like stuff you could pick up at Forever 21 or H&M for $20, Conrad’s designs (named after herself. How imaginative) range from an $85 to $150 dollars, totally slamming the door on any of her teenage fans who don’t have their parents credit card handy.

After clicking through the small array of rayon shirts and dresses (and a headscarf that costs $25.00), I can’t decide which pisses me off more; the fact that MTV has become so obsessed with money that it no longer applies to normal people, or the fact that girls will actually buy expensive stuff designed by a chick who has no official training whatsoever.

All I’m saying is, if I’m going to buy something that’s almost 90% rayon, I’ll push past the 10-year-olds to the Wet Seal at my neighborhood mall.

Check out the entire Lauren Conrad Collection after the jump! Read More »

I toured NYC seeking some waist clinching hotness… four Urban Outfitters and three hours later, the stone wash faded dark denim shorts I heard about were sold out and not expected to return.

Balderdash! And they look so damn cute!

If you’re thinking ‘grandma pant’, forget about it. No, my friends, high-waist everything: shorts, jeans, skirts and jumpers are making a slam-bam come back.

This style isn’t just flattering to one shape, either.

Curvy, plus sized, and teeny tiny babes can work ‘em. Embrace the shape! The cut creates an amazing hour-glass figure, even if you’re boy-shaped, like myself.

Farrah knew what was up, or at least, her stylist did. We’ve all seen the fashion come and go…and then come back again, but today how much better could we have it? The mix of seventies and eighties offers an ‘anything goes’ fashion perspective.

Baby doll tops, bell-shaped dresses, minis that show the leg but not the belly pooch, and now… keep your eye out for the high-waisted numbers. Snag yourself a vintage pair and really work it. Read More »

Roll-Up Sleeve Shirt Dress $14.99; Tie-Waist Shirt Dress $99.99; Solid Ruffled Shirt Dress $69.50

When it comes to fashion, I can’t say I’ve ever been one to get in touch with my masculine side. Ties, suspenders and loafers really don’t do it for me — or flatter my figure for that matter. However, ladies. Wearing shirts as dresses, now that’s sexy and trendy.

Yep, shirt dresses keep on making a comeback. I absolutely adored one that I bought from Express in high school. And I’m kicking myself now for letting my mother convince me to part with it. Hopefully, whoever snagged it at the Salvation Army appreciates its timelessness.

But as someone who always looks on the brighter side, I’m making the best of my loss. I’ll just have to buy a few to replace it. Yes, a few. Just in case Janet (my mom) decides to do any more spring cleaning — gotta have some back-ups. Read More »

I have always been a fan of pockets. Back in my LipSmacker days, I used to tuck the tubes into the fifth pocket of my jeans and between the rolls of my cheerleading shorts. So obviously, when pockets started popping up on all of summer’s cutest dresses, my lipgloss and I were pretty stoked.

These pocketed frocks come in shapes and styles that look good on every body type and any type of budget. Ranging from super luxe (hello, Vanessa Bruno!) to less (I’m stopping by Forever21 tomorrow), these dresses were made for warm weather. All you need now is a new shade of gloss to stash in those pockets.

Pocket Tube Dress, $297; Paillette Baby Doll Dress, $440; Poof Paillettes Dress, $297

I’ve always been a total sucker for sequins. I heart them. I also heart Alice+Olivia. For those of you unfamiliar with this completely amazing designer, Stacey Bendet launched the line in 2002 on a personal quest to create the perfect pair of flattering and form-fitting pants. Her signature style was met with instant success, and “Stacey Pants” (what a name!) quickly became a must-have denim alternative for the sophisticated ladies who lunch but also have yen for smooth retro styling. Read More »

Yellow dresses are all the rage in Hollywood and let’s face it, yellow is just a fun, cheerful color that looks good on many different skin tones. Here are a few options for those of us that don’t have Hollywood bank accounts. Read More »