Even stars love a bargain sometimes

A friend tipped me off to this:

Image courtesy of Yahoo!

 Talk about mixing high and low fashion! What did the adorable Drew Barrymore choose to wear to host the Nylon magazine/Express party this week in Los Angeles? 

This gorgeous $25 metallic-printed 3/4-sleeve shift dress from a thrift store paired with $760 Yves Saint Laurent "Tribute" pumps, of course!

I thought it would be fun to highlight this given my last post about vintage shopping.  It can take some digging, but you can find some really amazing pieces shopping thrift or vintage – and you can almost guarantee that no one will be wearing the same thing as you! 

Yes, Drew is wearing that gorgeous $25 dress with $760 shoes, but a great pair of nude pumps isn't too hard to find at a variety of price points – check out ShopStyle, where you can filter your options by price, size, and even retailer.  Target also has them for just $29.99. 

Quickie: Shopping Vintage Online

If you love vintage clothes but find it overwhelming to comb the web yourself looking for quality pieces, check out Zuburbia.  Every day Zuburbia features a "VOPD" (Vintage Piece of the Day), and the site gives a weekly round-up of some of the best vintage buys on eBay.

From the site owner's mission statement:

I hope to share tips, hints, info and vintage shopping adventures in addition to bringing you my Vintage Pick of the Day (VPOD)—a vintage item I spied on one of the gazillions of vintage clothing sites that populate the Internet.

Every day I’ll be visiting sites and looking for unique, eye-catching, I-gotta-have-it pieces in all price ranges.

If you’re new to vintage, I hope these items will whet your appetite. If you’re already a vintage lover, perhaps you’ll end up acquiring an item you’ll wear with pride.

Just think of me as your own personal vintage shopper!

 If you prefer shopping for yourself, try Vintage Vixen or Vintageous.  Both sites offer a great selection from a variety of eras and detailed descriptions of each item's condition and sizing.  I've found the prices more reasonable at Vintage Vixen, but Vintageous tends to have more designer and ornate items.

$30 jeans and other sale items at Gap

Over at The Budget Fashionista, you can find five pairs of Gap jeans for under $30!



I love Gap jeans. My favorite go-to jeans are Gap Long and Leans. I usually buy one pair and wear them to death over the course of a couple of years since they run on the pricey side for non-designer denim, but Gap also has great sales like this where you can get their terrific jeans for less. They have plenty of other great deals right now too, like this great menswear-style shirt for $17.99:



They also have some pieces you can use to transition your summer clothes into fall like this cardigan that comes in four colors and starts at $14.99:


I find that Gap's tops and tees tend to run a little roomy and I usually don't need to worry about going a size up like I do some places. The fit of their jeans tends to depend on the cut and style, so you may want to try them on in-store. But if you can't get to the mall, don't be afraid to order online: Gap has a very generous return policy and takes online returns in-store.

If falling into the Gap isn't your cup of tea, check out some other denim options under $40.

All images courtesy of Gap.com.

Weekend Quickie: Hit the Sales!

It's a big sale weekend, so if you have the time, hit the stores for some great deals.

I just got this dress at New York & Company for $19.99, reduced from $56.95:

Image courtesy of NewYorkandCompany.com

It's smocked under the bust which creates a flattering line, and it's super comfortable. Plus the halter top let's you adjust the strap length.

Other retailers having big sales this weekend:

• Bath and Body Works – Up to 75% off bath and body products, perfumes, and cosmetics.
• Victoria's Secret – Get deals on lingerie, clothing, and beauty products (though the clothing is only available online).
• Gap – I saw better deals in-store than online, so check out the store in person for additional discounts if you can.
• Payless – Select styles as low as $7!

There are plenty more that I've missed, so hit your local mall if you have the time for some great summer deals.

Go get yourself some cheap sunglasses...

Christina Aguilera in two-tone sunglasses.
(Image courtesy of CelebritySunglassesFinder.com)

Time to break out the shades, people! (Actually, eye doctors recommend you wear sunglasses year-round. But spring and summer are when the new styles seem to come out anyway.) There's no need to pay for a designer price tag when you're looking for eye protection. Plenty of lower-priced sunglasses will do the same thing and look just as good.

According to EyeDoctorGuide.com you just need to keep a few things in mind:

• Look for a pair of sun glasses that provides UVA and UVB protection. Most glasses providing this protection have a label that designates them as UV safe. If they do not, do not assume that the glasses will protect you from UV radiation. Just because eye glasses are tinted does not mean they will provide you with ample protection from UV rays.

• Look for glasses that are dark enough they will help reduce sun reflection and glare, but not glasses that are so dark you have difficulty distinguishing traffic lights or signs.

• Find a pair of glasses that covers your eyes and line of site entirely.

• If buying children's sunglasses, be sure they also protect against UV radiation.

• Make sure eyeglasses do not obscure your line of site.

This year's sunglasses trends are very retro – oversized Jackie O. shades, the wayfarers look of the 1980s, and 1950s cat-eye shades are all hot right now. Brightly-colored two-tone frames (as seen on Christina above) are also popular. As someone who loves color (the more and brighter the better!), I love the two-tone look. It feels fresh and summery. But the more standard tortoiseshell or black shades are a perennial classic. The most important thing is to find a shape and color with which you're happy – if you're not comfortable, you won't wear them. And no matter how much of a deal you got, no bargain find is really a bargain if it doesn't get worn.

My current pair of sunglasses cost me $8 on sale at Target (my trusty shopping friend). You can see some of their current sunglasses here, but they have a lot more in-store.

GirlProps.com has a few different color options for only $9.99 if you like the two-tone look. (They have plenty of other styles too.) House of Sunglasses has a lot of options, from the classic to the crazy, all for just $9.99. If you want to imitate a celebrity look, try CelebritySunglassesFinder.com - just be aware that anything you find there will probably be expensive. I recommend using this site for ideas and finding a less pricey option elsewhere.

Keep in mind if you buy sunglasses online that you still want to look for that UV protection. Without it you may actually do more damage, since your pupils will dilate from the dark lenses but won't be protected from the sun's harmful rays. And remember – no trend is as important as your confidence! Find a look that fits comfortably and flatters your face and you can't go wrong.


(Thanks to ZZ Top for the post title.)

20 Summer Dresses Under $50

The temperature is going up, which means it's time to break out the breezy dresses! I love the way a good dress is an instant no-work outfit that looks put together and fab. After the jump, 20 dresses for your summer wardrobe under $50...