Whether you’re in the midst of wedding planning or simply have a running mood board on Pinterest for fun, we can all agree that preparing for the special event can come at a high price. I won’t even go into the actual event—but when shoes, dresses, and even accessories are starting at $1k, you can guess that things start to add up. But don’t fret at the numbers just yet, because I’m here to help. Despite already have gotten married a few years back, I find myself browsing through the bridal market often. And through my search, I was able to scour a plethora of cool-bride finds that fell under the $500 price point. And whether you want your look to be opulent, understated, or trend-forward, there’s an option for everyone. After all, everyone deserves to feel luxe on their special day.
Not only did I pick out pieces from fashion favorites like Staud and Cult Gaia, but I also scrolled through pages of affordable retailers like Mango to find options that were both beautiful and very budget-friendly. If you’re looking to have that “wow” effect, look no further than the 32 finds below. Featuring party dresses, veils, shoes, and more, this shopping roundup is made for fashion brides out there. I may be already planning a vow renewal just so I have a chance to wear some of them.
Leave it to Staud to come out with a bridal line made for the fashion girls. Out of all the items, this custom veil is what truly captured my heart.
Simple yet stunning. (And under $200!)
These lace gloves will take any white dress to the next level.
These metallic wedge heels may not be the most traditional of heels, but how stunning do they look paired with this silky white number?
Reformation has tons of stunning bridal options, but this is a WWW favorite.
Because why not?
I’m always a big fan of a bridal suiting moment.
No one would ever guess these are under $100. (Even I was shocked.)
Who said you can’t wear a little black on your wedding day?
I wore this exact dress to my Bridgerton bridal shower and could not stop being asked where it was from.
It’s the ruffle detailing that really does it for me.
The draping on this dress is just divine.
I’m planning on wearing this skirt to Taylor Swift’s tour, but it will also make a spectacular option for a bachelorette. Talk about versatile.
Just take a look at that sculptural wedge.
I can’t help but imagine this top paired with sleek trousers for a casual yet cool courthouse wedding.
For the bride that simply can’t be bothered with heels.
It’s hard to say no to feathers.
Instead of diamonds, why not opt for a floral choker?
While I love Reformation’s assortment of gowns, I had to include this dreamy mini pick.
You’ll want to take this to every wedding you go to moving forward.
Having a bridal brunch? This under-$100 dress is a great and easy option.
Is there such thing as too many pearls?
My jaw is on the floor.
Bring on the drama!
Perfect for your honeymoon, bridal shower, and beyond.
When it comes to bachelorette and honeymoon dressing, accessories are very important.
In this two-part video series, we partnered with CRUNCH to celebrate making valuable memories with professional football player Cordarrelle Patterson, and his family.
Legacy is a powerful force that connects generations. In Episode 2, we see the impact a mother’s love can have across generations. Cordarrelle Patterson, a professional football star who owes everything to his mother, Catherine, reflects on being a role model to his own children, and why his mother’s sacrifices motivate him to be the best parent and professional athlete he can be.
Don’t miss episode 1, featuring Cordarrelle and his mom, as they reflect back on his football journey. Watch here.
CRUNCH has set out to bring people together to level up experiences and memories that will last forever. Make MVP Memories with CRUNCH and enter for a chance to win tickets to the championship game of your choice! More information HERE.
DALLAS — Alexis Morris took a modern route to the national championship game: from Baylor to Rutgers to Texas A&M to LSU and then through Virginia Tech’s defense. It was a long journey for a player who gets from Point A to Point B so quickly, but it will end where she expected to be in the beginning: playing to win a title with Kim Mulkey.
“We’re playing for a national championship, guys, and I just got there,” she said. “Never ever do you think you’re gonna do something like this in two years.”
Tony Gutierrez/AP
LSU’s 79–72 semifinal win over Virginia Tech came together the same way the roster did: quickly. The Hokies surprised the Tigers with a zone, partly out of design (“We knew we had it in our back pocket that we wanted to try it,” Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks said) and partly out of necessity: Forward Taylor Soule had two fouls, and Brooks didn’t want her getting a third. LSU responded by running an offense that would have made Les Miles proud: stay still, stay still, stay still, punt. By the time the fourth quarter began, Virginia Tech led 59–50.
The clock said LSU had 10 minutes to come back. Mulkey told her players they had two.
“I didn’t want them to get comfortable thinking they had a lot of time,” Mulkey said.
Morris and Angel Reese turned the fourth quarter into five straight two-minute drills. They each scored 10 points in the fourth. LSU outscored Virginia Tech 29–13. When LSU needed its stars to be great, they were magnificent.
“I just don’t think we were good enough to stop Morris coming down and playing with that confidence,” Hokies guard Georgia Amoore said. “They just really took over with the intensity.”
Mulkey had sought this kind of energy all night. She said she pulled Reese off the floor “a couple times because I didn’t think she was getting up and down the floor. I thought she acted winded.” At halftime, Reese had two rebounds. Two! Angel Reese gets two rebounds while brushing her teeth. She said she took the rebounding failure personally. But Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley looked at Reese’s stat line at halftime and had another thought: She’s not in foul trouble. Kitley figured Reese was going to come at her hard in the second half. She was right.
Reese finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Kitley paid the price for them, as she often does. (“That woman cops a beating every single night,” Amoore said of Kitley. “Elbows thrown, all of that.”) Reese moves so well from side to side that boxing her out is almost impossible; when she is aggressive, she just overwhelms opponents.
But Reese puts up big numbers almost every game. To advance, LSU needed Morris to do the same. Morris was not exactly a model of efficiency—she needed 27 shots to score 27 points—but she applied intense pressure on Virginia Tech on both ends of the floor. If you believe a guard can will a team to win, you could use Morris’s performance Friday night to make the case.
“You go with who’s hot and fortunately I was hot tonight,” Morris said. “I was due a good game. I owed my team this game.”
The Tigers are like no other Mulkey team and every other Mulkey team. The transfer portal sped up the process, but the Tigers have responded to the coach’s tough-love style, even when it seems more tough than love. LSU is feisty and defiant, and even on a night when the Tigers looked overwhelmed at times, they summoned a dominant stretch.
“We have that swag,” Reese said.
“Facts,” Morris said.
Maybe Mulkey did not expect this. But now her players expect even more.
“I’m super excited that we won,” Morris said. “But I’m hungry. I’m greedy. I want to win it all.”
In this two-part video series, we partnered with CRUNCH to celebrate making valuable memories with professional football player Cordarrelle Patterson, and his mother.
There’s nothing quite like the bond between parents and their children and for Cordarrelle, his mother, Catherine, holds the title of Most Valuable Parent. In Episode 1 of this series, we feature Cordarrelle and his mom as they reflect on his football journey. The unwavering support and love of a mother who always believed in her son’s potential is on full display in this feel-good story.
MVP Memories celebrates the sacrifices and dedication of parents everywhere, reminding us that no one achieves greatness alone. Check out episode 2, featuring Cordarrelle and his children, as we focus on the importance of family and passing on a legacy of greatness. Watch here.
CRUNCH has set out to bring people together to level up experiences and memories that will last forever. Make MVP Memories with CRUNCH and enter for a chance to win tickets to the championship game of your choice! More information HERE.
People might disagree with me (especially on TikTok, where edits are constantly made about this topic), but I’m obsessed with Zara‘s product imagery. From the styling to the varying locations and artistic framing, I can’t get enough of it, so much so that I end up buying (and then returning) a great deal of items that I probably wouldn’t have taken an interest in had I gone into a physical store. And of all the pieces I’ve ordered, the ones that most consistently trips me up are jeans.
I have a love-hate relationship with Zara jeans. On one hand, the price-to-quality ratio is out of this world, specifically in the case of its non-stretch, 100% cotton offerings. On the other, I’ve been burned by its jeans with elastic that lose their color and shape too quickly, the varying lengths of its denim silhouettes, and confusing sizing. Since you can’t read reviews of the denim on its website, there’s no real way to know how a style will fit or look IRL without actually trying them on. Knowing that, I decided to take one for the team and try on a ton of the brand’s coolest jeans right now and give you the 411.
Scroll down for the truth about Zara’s jeans.
If I had to share one piece of advice relating to Zara jeans, it’d be this: Stick with 100% cotton denim. Though it can be tempting to buy styles with stretch, they have a tendency to stretch out after a few wears. On the other hand, the brand’s non-stretch denim holds its shape like a $300 pair of jeans would and fits so well. Naturally, they’re going to get slightly looser the more you wear them, but each time they go in the wash they’ll tighten back up to the way they were the day you bought them.
I’m not big on colorful denim in general, but if I was, I’d want to make sure I was buying pairs that wouldn’t fade with too many washes, and since I’ve experienced the way Zara’s denim can sometimes lose a bit of its color over time, it wouldn’t be my first stop. On the other hand, I’ve had so much success with destroyed or ripped denim at Zara, this pair from TRF included. For non-stretch jeans, they’re so comfortable and soft, and they can easily be dressed up with a nice blouse or top and a pair of point-toe heels. Plus, you don’t have to deal with any hassle from people telling you not to spend loads of money on jeans that are already distressed since the prices at Zara, particularly in the denim section, are so fair.
Continuing with the stretch vs. non-stretch debate, my advice would be to stick with Zara’s wider-leg denim options as opposed to its flare jeans, which almost always have elastic in them. Even with the ’70s-era style coming back in many ways, I still suggest avoiding any silhouettes with a stretchy fit, which most of the Zara flares have. Buy those elsewhere and focus on wide-leg jeans from Zara, which are consistently high quality and flattering. This pair in particular is almost shockingly soft and would be perfect for a summer trip—perhaps to the Outer Banks, the Berkshires, or Maine. They’re definitely giving Dawson’s Creek vibes in the best way.
Though I’m all for the low-rise jeans trend, if I’m going to wear them again, I need the style to be a perfect fit that really compliments my body, so I probably wouldn’t go to a big retailer like Zara. More universally flattering and comfortable rises, like mid or high, are easier to get right, especially when ordering online. In fact, some of my favorite mid- and high-rise jeans came from Zara and have gotten years of wear.
I know Prada and Ferragamo are making a case for skinny pants in 2023, but I’m simply not ready to welcome them back into my closet just yet. Instead, I’m embracing a slimmer-fit mom jean like this pair from Zara, which allows you to tuck in boots like you would with a skinny jean without that uncomfortable, super-tight fit. The rise on this par in particular is super high and perfect for pairing with cropped T-shirts or tank tops.
The low prices on Zara’s jeans make the store a perfect place to start when a new denim trend—like this style, known as a barrel or balloon cut—enters the scene. Test it out, get to know it, and figure out if it’s for you by spending just around $50 as opposed to diving head first into the trend with a $300 to $500 pair of jeans that you might not end up even liking. However, if you’re trying to find that one perfect pair of jeans that you’ll wear, well, forever, I’d suggest splurging on a really well-constructed pair from a denim expert like Levi’s, Frame, Khaite, or Agolde.
Zara jeans are notorious for being shockingly long, which bodes well for someone my height—I’m 5’8″—but makes buying denim tricky when you’re below 5’3″. If that’s you, I suggest opting only for cropped styles like these kick-flare jeans, which hit way above my ankle but would fit great on someone a few inches shorter.
Caitlin Clark left no doubt that she was ready for the bright lights in the Final Four.
The Iowa star poured in 41 points and eightassists to lead the Hawkeyes past South Carolina, 77–73, lifting Iowa to its first national championship game in program history.
While the Gamecocks had the size and clear rebounding advantage, Clark’s display of offensive prowess was on full display—finishing in the paint underneath the Gamecocks’ length, nailing several patented deep three-pointers as well getting her teammates in position to score in transition and in the half court.
In addition to Clark recording her 19th game this season with at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists—which leads all players in Division I—forward Monika Czinano finished with 18 points and three rebounds in Iowa’s win.
With a 73–71 lead late in the game, Clark missed on a long-range three pointer with 20 seconds to play. However Iowa guard McKenna Warnock secured the rebound and was able to kick it back out to Clark, who was fouled with 14 seconds remaining. Clark notched a pair of free throws to bring her total to 39 points, an NCAA tournament semifinal record, before hitting two more in the game’s dying seconds to bring her total to 41.
We all have seen the recent come back of the classic mall brand Abercombie take over our TikTok feeds with try on hauls and unboxing videos. I must say I see why people are giving the brand a second shot, the products have a completely different feel from the skin tight logo tee shirts and ultra skinny, almost painted on jeans of Abercrombie’s past. This new Abercombie is way more fashionable, minimal and dare I say elevated? After months of watching on the sidelines I decided to take a deep dive into the Abercrombie website and see for myself what new things they have in store for spring and summer. On my deep dive I found so many items that checked all of my boxes. Great linen pieces for summer? Check. Sandals perfect for the beach? Check. Chic day time dresses to wear around New York City? Check.
Keep scrolling to take a peak at the 30 Abercrombie items that I can’t wait to wear.
The sweetest linen mini dress.
A pair of straight leg jeans are a must have if you ask me.
These flat sandals are so good, I need them.
I’m a sucker for a great baby doll dress.
I love a good summery bucket bag.
Summer is almost here and you can bet that I’ll be wearing linen 24/7.
These are simple but just sexy enough to wear them on the weekend.
Don’t sleep on this high rise relaxed jeans.
These look so comfortable and easy to wear.
This slip midi is so versatile. It comes in so many colors and I want them all.
A classic tailored pant is a must have.
Did someone say beach day?
This skort is too cute. You can pair this with a matching corset.
A basic that your closet needs.
Party shoes.
The ultimate summer time blazer.
I’d pair this dress with some sleek mules for a dinner date.
Immediately adding to my cart.
Your new favorite spring-summer mini skort.
Tweed but make it summertime.
I absolutely love this sun hat, I need to order it ASAP.
What can I say, I love white linen for summer.
The perfect easy beach sandals.
Move over skinny jeans.
This one is great for day or night, week day or weekend.
So into these mules.
This flutter sleeve adds a certain romance to this dress.
I could live in jumpsuits like this, I’m actually wearing one
I love a good toe strap sandal, they just go with everything.
A good tailored short for when you’re going for a French girl vibe this summer.
