LIFE IN THE SIX O: Binge or Budget

BINGE or BUDGET:

I was checking out some of Targets accessories for spring and I was stunned when I saw the Espadrilles. Not just because they're so cute and only $25, but take a look at their fancy older sister. Yup, Target is ripping off Chanel! And it's fine by me considering the Chanel are over $3,000! So if you're willing to live without the iconic C's, (at least for the moment) it's a good deal. And that wasn't all, I spy'd a Celine look-a-like and an attempt at a Rebecca Minkoff??? It's high style at a low price point. All the BUDGET items below are from Target and the tote bag works double duty, it's reversible and comes in several bright colors.

BINGE = $5,648

Topshop black hat $75/ Rebecca Minkoff leather shoulder bag $195 / Eric Javits hat $250

bag $53 / Sole Society Daphnee Stripe Weekender $65 / Ampersand As Apostrophe leather purse $546 / Channel Espadrill $3,000 / Celine bag $2,000 / Steven by Steve Madden pointed toe flat $75

BUDGET = $317

Merona fedora hat $13 / Cross body bag $27 / Floppy hat with bow $15 / Woven Hobo Handbag with Tassels $60 / Merona overnight bag $35 / Women's Reversible Tote $37 / Espadrills $28 / 3 Tone Handbag $27 / Sam & Libby flat shoes $75

Get Your Bargain On!

BINGE OR BUDGET:

Binge or budget with the basics today, perfect for a casual weekend. The tote is what really puts this binge over the $$$$ edge. It's beautiful, it's Celine and it's $1,200. There are lots of less expensive alternatives out there, but of course if you can afford the Celine... nah, I was going to say go for it but I couldn't bring myself to do it, even if there's drool on my chin.

BINGE = $2,280

BINGE or BUDGET Weekend Casual, the binge by fromdrabtofab

blue jeans $185 Yves Saint Laurent 3 4 sleeve top $90 / 7 For All Mankind blue jeans, $185 / Converse shoes $70 / CÉLINE leather tote $1,200 / Tory burch sunglasses $75

BUDGET = $222

BINGE or BUDGET Weekend casual, the budget by fromdrabtofab

retro round sunglasses $10 /Madewell cotton t shirt $25 / H&M high rise pants, $23 / Vans white and black shoes, $69 / Faux leather tote bag $60 / Retro round sunglasses $10 / Tech accessory $25

When you want to take your stripes to the next level, (yes you can dress up stripes!), pop on over to the style blog Atlantic-Pacific to see what fellow stripe lover Blair is wearing. She brings stripes to a whole new level! Seriously, would you ever think of putting a stripe tee under a pink dressy dress?!? So here is some inspiration from Blair if your interested in stepping out of the striped comfort zone.

HAPPY WEEKEND!

BINGE or BUDGET ~ JANUARY

Cozy sweaters and casual basics sum it up for January around here and that's even with the extreme temps we are seeing in Los Angeles. Last week for the first time in my 20 years in California I had to scrape ice off the car window! I, ( and by I, I mean my husband), had to use a kitchen spatula! It was 35 degrees at 9 AM. By lunch it was in the 60's and today it was 82. So if you're one of the people who doesn't believe in global warming you may want to rethink that. The picture on the left, which inspired this BINGE or BUDGET, is from London Fashion week. The items in the BINGE total $5,329, (attributed to the Louboutins, Saint Laurent and Barney's), and would require me to cut up my credit card. The budget pieces total a very reasonable $351, and the satisfaction of getting your bargain on ;)

BINGE

Kaliko white sweater, / Topshop black jeans, / Christian Louboutin ankle boots / Yves Saint Laurent black purse / Christian Dior sunglasses, / Rag bone fedora hat, / Barneys New York Carolina Coat Sale up to 70% off at...

OR

BUDGET

Kaliko cableknit sweater, / Lapel coat / Jeans / Black bootie boots, / Pointy toe boots, / H m purse, / Donavon bentley hat, / Quay retro round glasses

Binge or Budget ~ Summer Musts Haves

Due to my love of navy, white and stripes (with a pop of color) this binge or budget post accidentally became great outfit ideas for the 4th of July. The most important thing about these pieces is that they all mix and match with ease, and ease is key for an easy breezy summer right!? And due to some sales a few of the Binge pieces are now border line budget too!

What are your plans for the 4th? I plan on family time, floating on my pool raft, grilling some creative healthy BBQ and watching fire works at our local park. A perfect celebration for America's (and my) Independence Day ;)

BINGE

This Free People white T-shirt started a little bingy for a T at $48 then turned into a budget going on sale, now $24! ~ Stripe skirt on sale as well for $34! The Blazer also on sale for $103 from $205, Rag & Bone white jeans $165, Alexander McQueen Sunnies $395, Kate Spade Seaside Stripe Tote also on sale for $208, Tory Burch Mini Messenger $235, Toms flats $54, Tory Burch Espadrill $195, Vince Stripped Maxi $200. Total BINGE = $1,613

BUDGET

Same T today for both, that never happens! Free People $24, Vince Camuto Maxi $74, JCrew Blazer $98, Stripe Pencil Skirt $20, White Jeans $24, Shore Thing Stripe Tote $18, Soludos $36, Michael Kors Wedge $99, Sunnies $5.80, Red Cross Body Bag $21. TOTAL BUDGET = $420

Happy 4th of July and have a fabulous long weekend!

BINGE OR BUDGET

I fell in love with everything in this great Polyvore set by capturethecastle, everything except the price tag! So check out the budget version I made below. Now is a great time to fill in your winter wardrobe, everything shown in the set is on sale!

BINGE = $3,579

Untitled #363 by capturethecastle

BUDGET= $160
not including Chanel

budget by fromdrabtofab

H M black sweater, $13 / Pea coat $50/ Forever 21 shoes $14 / Forever 21 black handbag $15 Accessorize pom beanie $29 / Cat-eye glasses $9 / Merona Men's Scarf - Black $17 / Perfume fragrance / Gap Gapshield Uniform Trouser Pants - true navy $13

TODAY IN THE CLOSET:

Binge or Budget Fall Basics ~ There are things I splurge on and things that I can't bring myself to splurge on because I can get something so similar for so much less. I tend to get my bargain on with the trendy pieces and save the investment pieces for things that never go out of style, well kind of. Here's a basic color piece pallet in grays and black. You may be a cream and brown kind of girl, or a lover of pastels or brights, the point is to have basic pieces that work together to dress up or down, add color to and accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! The BINGE below totals over $4,000, the Mullberry coat alone is $3,100! And the sweater's are Cashmere. The BUDGET pieces total $260. The sweaters are a Cashmere blend from Target, that's right Target and cashmere who'd a thunk it. Funny how a sweater at Target for $49 makes you stop and think "that's too much, this is Target" yet a cashmere blend sweater for $49 in an expensive store is "wow that's so cheap!" It's all in our little bargain hunting heads. So on your next shopping trip if you like it and it looks good on you, that's great and if you're getting your bargain on too, well, that's just fabulous!

And it wouldn't be November on my blog if I didn't complain about wanting to wear sweaters and boots and it's still 80 degrees. So when the mornings are cool and 'fall like' I ignore the weather report and dress for the crisp morning air. Yes, I'm the girl you see at lunch time among the sandals and sundresses, looking stupid and sweating.

BINGE

The Mullberry coat here is $3,100 making the total of these pieces over $4,000!

J.Crew cashmere sweater / Organic by John Patrick long sleeve cardigan / Mulberry /coat DKNY skirt / Yummie Tummie cami / Tory Burch leather boots / MAC Cosmetics lipstick / Black nail polish

BUDGET

The total for these pieces is $260. Cashmere Blends make Cashmere affordable and pick up a few camis, incredibly inexpensive and great for under everything!

Grey Cashmere sweaters / cardi / Shawl collar coat / Mossimo quilted pencil skirt / Forever 21 lace trim camisole/ Charlotte Russe faux-leather boots / Revlon lipstick / Essie nails

TODAY IN THE CLOSET:

Welcome to Fab Finds Friday! ~ If you're looking for something to add to your fall wardrobe that's edgy and current try something quilted. And we're not talking about your Grandmas quilting!

BINGE by julieshops featuring a pocket skirt

BUDGET by julieshops featuring a spiked moto jacket

TODAY IN THE CLOSET:

Fab Finds Friday ~ On a recent stroll through the mall I passed the Coach store and a pair of nude pumps in the window caught my eye. A few minutes later I passed Payless and a very similar looking pair of nude pumps was in the window. I've been on the hunt for the perfect pair, my criteria, aside from looking good, is that they have to be comfy and priced right so I decided to do a comfort test. One of my early blogs, way back when, was about a shoe test I saw on Good Morning America. Twins walked a mile around central park in a pair of black pumps, one pair was Payless, with painted red bottoms and the other pair was Christian Louboutin, with the authentic red bottoms. The test was to see whose feet didn't hurt at the end of the walk. Was the expensive leather shoe a better walk than the faux pumps? No, each sisters feet were equally tortured by the end of the mile. Moral of the story, it doesn't matter what you spend, if you're going to walk a mile on cement don't wear high heels! Oh and as for my test, although I liked the way the Coach pumps looked better than the Payless, the Payless shoe, (from their line called Comfort Plus), won my comfort test.

The Nude Pump is the perfect transition shoe to go into spring and summer. It looks as good with a work outfit as it does with a pair of boyfriend jeans. And the nude color will make your legs look longer. Look for the heel and price that fits your style.

BINGE or BUDGET

Payless $34.99

Jessica Simpson $89

Brian Atwood $590

Christian Louboutin $625

Coach $158

Nine West $78.99

Payless $19.99

Christoan Louboutin $700

Steve Madden $90

Payless $26.99

TODAY IN THE CLOSET:

Monday Must Haves - a great outfit! Nothing like starting the week looking good because it may be cliche but it's oh so true, when you look good you feel good! So here's a Binge or Budget that I think is really a close call except for the price of course. The total binge look is $1,926 (ouch) and the total budget look is $212. That's nice and leaves room for a Soy Chai yes?

BINGE

Rebecca Taylor colorblock sweater $295
rebeccataylor.com

BCBGeneration fake leather pants $98
bcbg.com

Rupert sanderson $1,095
rupertsanderson.com

Michael kors handbag $298
macys.com

Michael kor $140
marissacollections.com

BUDGET

Cropped pullover sweater $15
alloy.com

Cut off pants $15
loveculture.com

GUESS lace up bootie $94
macys.com

Forever 21 $28
forever21.com

Banana republic $60
bananarepublic.gap.com

TODAY IN THE CLOSET:

Summer in California offers so many great weekend getaways and to me that means a lot of mix and matching so I don't over pack. But before we get to fashion I need to ~~brag~~, I mean share, my amazing news. For those of you that don't follow me on Face Book, Twitter or fromdrabtofab on Instagram, where I have sufficiently blabbed about this, this week I was nominated for an Emmy Award as a writer! What makes it extra special is that it comes from work I do writing Public Servcie Announcements, (in conjunction with Women In Film Los Angels), for charities that cannot afford them. I have won several awards for these as a writer and producer but this is my first Emmy nomination. It's the icing on an already sweet cake :)

So, happy almost 4th of July! I always like to wear something red, white or blue on the 4th because I like to be festive or as the Teen Fashion Police would say, I'm a dork.

This Binge or Budget should really give you a good idea of how you can recreate any look that you like for less.

This first set is all designer and the 4 pieces total $1,563.

My version of 4 pieces with a similar feel total $139. This would be a perfect outfit for our upcoming trip to Lake Tahoe.

BINGE