Affordable Accessories: I Love Lucite

Lucite bracelet set, Forever21.com, $6.80

Icy lucite is a hot trend for spring. It's a clear, strong plastic that can be molded and carved which first became popular in the 1940's for ladies purses and jewelry. Today, it's cropping up everywhere from jewelry, watches and sunglasses to handbags and shoes.

Lucite's transparency makes it a versatile and neutral accessory that pairs well with many other spring trends, including black&white and brights. Its futuristic look also adds a modern touch when paired with floaty dresses and florals.

But since lovely lucite is just a fancy name for plastic, don't spend too much on this trend...we bought the bangle from Forever21.com (below) and that was enough to satisfy our needs.

Here are a few budget-friendly ways to get your lucite fix:


Vintage Lucite Bangle, Forever21.com, $4.80


Tobago, Ninewest.com, $89.00 SALE $59.99


RJ Graziano Square Crystal Flower Ring, Nordstrom.com, $25.00


Delphos necklace, Aldo.com, $15.00

Hippie Chic

For our mother's generation, being a hippie was a social statement that involved weaving daisy chains and smoking ganja to the sounds of the Grateful Dead. But for us, being hippie-chic is a fun fashion statement that means empire-waist frocks, breezy blouses and beaded necklaces.

Oh, the times they are a changin'.

Here's how to pull off the hippie/boho trend in today's world:

• Stick to one item at a time. It's easy to overdo this look, so stick to one hippie-chic article of clothing or accessory per outfit.
  
• Balance with something tailored. Pair a flouncy blouse with tailored shorts or a tiered-skirt with a crisp white shirt to make your look up-to-date.
  
• Add a modern touch. Think sleek silver accessories, mod lucite jewelry or fab oversized shades.

Find your inner love child with these hippie-chic inspired tops...

Tart Tunic, very Tory Burch. Forever21.com $19.80


















Vintage Summer Tunic, love the jewel tones in this one. Forever21.com $19.80

















Floral Drawstring Tunic, we've seen similar tops from BCBGirls for triple the price. Forever21.com $22.00
















Floral Tunic, colorful ethnic-inspired "embroidery" is tres hippie chic. $24.80

Sale Alert: Farewell, Forth & Towne

Gap's Forth & Towne is scheduled to close its doors June 15th. We think it was a brave venture to target style-conscious women age 35 and older, but apparently consumers didn't feel the same. C'est la vie! The good news is that great bargains are to be had in the next 6 weeks, so if you haven't checked out their classic modern designs, now is the perfect (and only) time to do so! With sizes from 2-20, there's sure to be something for every budget babe.

A few items we've got our eye on from Forth & Towne (prices shown are before markdown): [1] Woven leather clutch, $48 [2] Cotton tie dress $98 [3] Coral multi strand necklace, $58. Available in stores only.

Mom's the Word

We've found the perfect place to shop for gifts this Mother's Day— Globalgirlfriend.com, a fair trade boutique that sells eco-friendly, handcrafted goods made by women around the globe. Their unique line of products include stylish apparel, accessories and gifts. Proceeds help secure their futures by giving them a source of income. So when you buy something for your mom from Global Girlfriend, chances are you'll be helping a mother in another part of the world, too.

Here are a just a few of our favorite feel-good finds...

Lace Cosmetic Bag
$12.00
Each piece is hand crocheted by the women of Godavari Delta Women Lace Cooperative of India, a cooperative which offers not only good pay but also provides skills and literacy training.


Blossom Bangle Bracelet
$10.00
Made by a fair trade organization based in Bali Indonesia that aims to help women create sustainable incomes and encourage keeping traditional crafts and skills alive.


Summer Organic Cotton Scoop Tee ~ Turquoise
$24.00
Super soft 100% organic cotton line is made at a non-profit employment program in the Tamil Nadu region of India. Run by an order of Franciscan Nuns, the sisters employ and care for 120 young women who are handicapped and/or economically disadvantaged, providing employment training and support along with with food and accommodations. The group supports 300 local small organic farmers in the Maharastra area.


Recycled Glass Earrings ~ Turquoise
$12.00
Glass from broken and discarded bottles and bangles are fired into new beautiful and colorful recycled glass beads and fashioned into these great jewelry pieces. Made by a women’s fair trade organization in Bangladesh.


Gift Wrap ~ Spring Set of 2
$6.00
Handmade paper from Nepal is an income generation program of General Welfare Pratisthan and Free A Child. The project benefits young women survivors of sex trafficking, providing income and hope to rebuild their lives. The organization also acts as a prevention program giving girls options through vocational training.


Cold Process Soap ~ Citrus Blossom
$6.00
Made by The Enterprising Kitchen, a unique social enterprise providing transitional employment and life skills training to disadvantaged women in Chicago working toward self-sufficiency.

Vera Bradley Outlet Sale May 3-4

We only recently became aware of accessories designer Vera Bradley. If you're not familiar with the name, you've probably seen her neo-country, quilted handbags, purses and totes in their distinctive and colorful floral and paisley prints around town.

Vera Bradley bags are reasonably priced to begin with, but if you want to score an incredible deal, head to the 2007 Vera Bradley Outlet Sale, held from May 3rd through May 4th at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Or, if trekking through Midwestern cornfields isn't doable, shop online at verabradley.com. We can picture pairing our favorite polo with this Large Tic Tac Tote in Citrus, $69, for a leisurely weekend trip to an outdoor farmer's market or antique book sale...


If you're caught up in the whimsy but aren't sure how long this fad will last, try a similar-looking style like this Xhilaration® Reversible Tote from Target. (It's not Vera Bradley, just looks like it.) Can't go wrong at $14.99.

Snag a Deal, Don't Splurge, on The Latest Shoe Trends

We're wild about [1] Manolo Blahnik's Zebra Print Mary Janes, but we'd also be legally insane if we spent $565 to buy them. Instead, tame the shopping beast with [2] Bandolino's Zebra "Berry," $80, piperlime.com.


These red patent leather platform wedges by [3] Sergio Rossi scream "YES!" but the whopping $643.95 price tag groans, "NO." The happy alternative that will leave you smiling when you see your credit card bill: [4] BCBGirls "Gion," only $73.95 at Zappos.com.

Yikes! Brights!

A patchwork of color. A splash of hot hues. This season's runways challenge us to take risks with ::gulp:: COLOR. Be prepared to taste the rainbow with bright, bold fashion statements—from your handbag down to your shoes—and if you're really brave, give the new colored denim trend a try.

Lux Technicolor Skinny Jean in kelly green, Urbanoutfitters.com, $68.00


Tiered Tunic in yellow, jade or orange, Forever21.com, $19.80


Proenza Schouler Button Front Skirt in Avalon Sea, Target.com, $20.99


Recycled Silk Handbag, Target.com, $49.99


Isaac Mizrahi for Target® Riley Almond-Toe Pumps in Red Patent, Target.com, $29.99

In Full Bloom

Floral prints continue to dominate as one of the season's hottest trends. Yeah, we were a little scared at first, too...but we gotta admit—they're starting to grow on us.

Everything's coming up roses for top designer Oscar de la Renta (left). Get the look for a whole lot less with this Woven Floral Dress (right), $29.80. Forever21.com

Roses are red, violets are blue, we love Anna Sui and so should you! On the left, a blouse by Anna Sui available at Bergdorf Goodman for more than we'd like to say. Try this Floral Puff Tunic (right) instead, $19.80, Forever21.com.

Budget Beauty: Summer Skincare

Posted by The Budget Babe's Beauty Expert
Summer is almost here, and we all know what the means—skin skin and more skin!!! Beautiful skin from head to toe is just a couple bucks away with these great products that I personally use for glowing, soft, and gorgeous skin!

For a beautiful fresh face I have a product that I think I would literally die without (actually I have several, I’m freakishly attached to my regimen). I’ve tried a lot of face washes, and never have I come across a product that has such obvious and consistent results. It’s the [1] St. Ives Swiss Formula Medicated Apricot Scrub with Salicylic Acid for Oily/Acne Prone Skin. Its not strong at all, never leaves my skin dry, and makes me feel clean not tight. It’s fabulous. It also comes in different formulas, sensitive and renew & firm. All really great (I’ve tried them all!) Each one only costs $3.79. Use it daily for best results.

In the summer, I love to follow up with a very light moisturizer that cools, refreshes and depuffs skin. Also creates a perfect base for any kind of makeup (I could go on about how great this stuff is for hours!) I adore the [2] St. Ives Swiss Formula Cucumber & Elastin Eye & Face Stress Gel for all skin types. So cheap ($3.99), and worth is weight in gold! Hard to find in stores, but readily available at Walgreens.com or Drugstore.com. Loves it!

For a soft, supple body from the neck down I recommend [3] Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Conditioning Cocoa Butter ($5.79). Not greasy, sticky, or too thick, you’ll get perfect moisture and beautiful skin. This is the first lotion I can honestly say I think has improved the quality of my skin (I’m talking about stretch mark repair), and considering I’ve tried them all, that’s saying a lot. Smells lovely, a definite bargain.

Hot summer tootsies bringing you down? Try [4] Burt’s Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion ($8.99). Its 100% natural, and 100% effective! Peppermint brings a tingly cool sensation to tired feet to soothe and calm, while softening Beeswax and Vitamin E prevent against roughness.

Stock Up on Basics

There's really no reason to pay more than $10 for a basic tank. Made from 100% cotton, these Perfect Fit Tanks from oldnavy.com are just $2.99 a pop, and are available in white, black, heather gray and terra brown. You can't afford not to buy one in each color. Get 'em while you still can!