Lemondrop

Today, The Budget Babe, queen of affordable style, shows us how to recycle fashions from last fall into trendy new clothes for this season.

If you were rocking these fall trends in 2008 (or 1998), good news -- they're all back and totally "in" this season. So rather than spend money on a slightly updated version of your plaid button-down from last October, save time and money by recycling last year's looks with items you already have in your closet. Read on for ways to make these seven trends fresh for 2009:

Plaid: This classic print is a perennial fall favorite that never goes out of style. To make it feel new for 2009, layer a plaid shirt under a boyfriend blazer or tuck an oversize plaid shirt into a sleek pencil skirt paired with ankle boots.
Click here to see the rest of the trends.


Leggings: Ladies, these aren't going away anytime soon, so you better dig deep and find some love to give to these versatile, essential wardrobe items. Slip on basic black leggings under a printed boho dress, top with a fitted denim jacket and add ballet flats for an effortless daytime look. Feeling more adventurous? Try printed leggings, leather-look leggings, jeggings (jean-look leggings) or even sequined leggings.

Leather jacket: Time to pull out your leather jackets, be they bombers or moto-inspired styles, real or faux, fall is all about the leather jacket. Wear yours with ripped jeans and boots by day or layer it over a flowy cocktail dress for a night out.

Boots: From ankle booties to over-the-knee styles, boots of every style persuasion are in the spotlight for fall. Try pairing those peep-toes from last season with leggings and a boyfriend blazer. Pair your western-style boots from seasons past with a floral dress and faux-fur vest. And if you've been hiding your thigh-highs in the back of your closet for fear of being labeled a woman of the night, now's the time to rock them with confidence -- these sexy boots are mainstream, baby!
Red: Prada, Marc Jacobs and DKNY all showcased this vivid go-with-anything hue on the fall 2009 runways. Breathe new life into old red sweaters, scarves or dresses by pairing them with unexpected shades like oranges, pinks and purples.

Boyfriend anything: Boyfriend sweaters, boyfriend jeans, boyfriend watches -- basically anything that looks borrowed from the boys is still hot so long as it's balanced with more feminine shapes. Cinch an oversize cardigan with a belt to create an hourglass silhouette and add knee-high boots. Wear your boyfriend jeans with a sequin blazer, white tank and cage heels.

Scarves: You probably own a half-dozen or so of these instant outfit-makers, so make sure you wear them. They lend a certain je ne sais quoi to any ensemble. Learn a few new ways to knot a scarf and voila! Parisian chic on a dime.