Presenting NYC's Best Budget-Friendly Store: Babel Fair

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"Look great and still having money left over for cocktails" should probably be Babel Fair's motto. The indie favorite just expanded its great selection of international labels from its Nolita home to Williamsburg last month, and now it has something else to celebrate: Babel Fair is the Racked Awards 2014 choice for best budget-friendly store!

A recent visit to the new location revealed the expected dosage of cute (but not too cutesy) pieces from international designers, including tons of dresses that were fun without veering into tragically trendy Nasty Gal territory—and relatively affordable, at that. Prices, while mostly in the three-digits, rarely venture above $200, and you won't be hard-pressed to find dresses, tops, bottoms, and accessories for around $100 apiece.

Though these prices may not jump out as "budget" to many shoppers, the quality and uniqueness (read: you'll never have to worry about awkwardly sitting next to to another girl on the subway wearing the exact same Zara dress) of Babel Fair's clothes warrant special attention. Plus, anyone who remembers their insanely cheap sample sale last spring, where all the clothes you could fit in a bag were just $40, can attest to the store's commitment to budget-friendly shopping.

"I didn't want an intimidating boutique at all," owner Erica Kiang told us last year. "I always feel like it's really important to talk to customers and be friendly, and not to look down and stare at them. We have such an eclectic crowd, so it's really important to me that people feel welcome when they come in here." That's what makes Babel Fair stand out—but an awesome green lipstick doesn't hurt, either.

· Babel Fair [Official site]
· Babel Fair's Brooklyn Shop Is Like, 'Oh, You Want Cute Dresses?' [Racked NY]
· Why Erica Kiang Opened Babel Fair During a Recession [Racked NY]
· Racked Awards 2014 [Racked NY]