Monthly Archives: May 2013

Watch This Style / Beauty Buys: Chanel Celebrates Classic Staple Hues!

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My personal nail art style includes anything sparkly or metallic. I’ve been working so much this later-spring / early-summer already, I have to keep my nails short, which means that I’m looking for a lot of neutral metallic shades, like a glittery rose gold & other non-matte shades. However, it’s these classic hues that are the focus of the latest video from Chanel, called Couleurs Culte de Chanel.

The 30-second feature includes the legendary Chanel logo, as represented through nail colors like Pirate, Particuliere, & Rouge Noir. Each lacquer whether bold & bright or sleek & neutral costs $27.00 a bottle at the brand’s official website. To shop more beauty products from Chanel, be sure to check out Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, & Neiman Marcus.

For more posts from Beauty Buys & Watch This Style, check out previous posts, including Gwyneth Paltrow’s collaboration with Butter London, behind the scenes with Kate Winslet for LancĂ´me, Kerry Washington’s cover shoot for ELLE, Kate Upton’s debut cover for next month’s Vogue, & the trailer for Karl Lagerfeld’s Once Upon A Time, starring Keira Knightley! Happy Styling!

Runway Rundown: Chanel’s 2014 Resort Collection!

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It’s resort season & Chanel has shared its 2014 collection! Full with a runway of nautical stripes, Gatsby-inspired strands of pearls, menswear separates, & plenty of black chiffon for the next major red carpet event. Karl Lagerfeld has certainly outdone himself once again, honoring the legendary of Coco Chanel herself, especially with regal touches like striped ties, cropped jackets, & lace overlay.

Take a look at the extensive 79-image gallery full of men’s & women’s fashions. Which is your favorite Chanel look? For more from Runway Rundown, check out previous posts including Kate Spade Saturday’s Fall 2013 & Derek Lam’s DesigNation collection for Kohl’s. Also, be sure to watch the trailer for Lagerfeld’s new short film, Once Upon A Time starring Keira Knightley! Happy Styling!

Luxury Look-Alikes For Less: Leopard, Metallic, & Rhinestone Flip Flops For Summer!

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Memorial Day marks the start of summer for retailers & everywhere you look, cut-off shorts, maxi dresses, & swimsuits are invading the racks at some of my favorite stores. Also, you’ll find plenty of flip-flop options, including ones with leopard print, metallic finished, & rhinestone details, which are perfect for mixing & matching with a variety of summer staples. In my search to share some of the best deals, I couldn’t help but see these trends all over, including at luxury department stores by big brand names. Of course, my goal here is to find the most affordable picks, & that it’s so easy to find look-alikes without breaking the bank.

First, I love the look of animal inspiration for flip-flops, which can work with a polka dot shorts romper, neon bathing suit, or blouse & mini skirt look. That’s why I found the Sam Edelman Gracie flat sandal ($60.00) from Neiman Marcus, & compared it to the American Eagle Twinkle flat flip-flop ($7.99) from Payless.

Next, @Steve Madden, you can find the Sandstrom flip flop ($49.95) in platinum, but you can also achieve the metallic look with the faux leather thong sandals ($8.80) in silver from Forever 21, which are also available in black, gold, & rose. Also, dress up your flip-flops with a little sparkle, as seen with the GUESS flip-flop sandals ($49.00) from Bloomingdale’s. However, for your next barbecue or beachside getaway, check out the rhinestone strap jelly flip-flop ($14.50) in black from Charlotte Russe, which is also where you can score the Buy 1 Get 1 for $12.50 deal on footwear!

Which is your favorite flip-flop trend? How do you like to wear flip-flops? For more posts on affordable fashion, check out the best maxi skirts of the season, 7 must-have sale items for under $100, & a sneak peek at 3.1 Philip Lim’s collaboration with Target! Happy Styling!

Watch This Style / Cover Craze: Kerry Washington’s Super Hot ELLE Cover For June!

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I was a little late joining the I-Love-Scandal bandwagon & shame on me for not taking Olivia Pope‘s side, especially when I’ve been catching up on the series, which stars one of Hollywood’s hottest it-girls, Kerry Washington. Not only did she have a stellar 2012-2013 with the success of Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, & her latest comedy Peeples, but the New York native has hit A-list status with her consistently glamorous red carpet appearances, as well as her powerhouse character, Olivia, on the Shonda Rhimes-created television show.

Kerry Washington For ELLE June 2013

Next month, the actress is featured as ELLE‘s cover girl for June 2013, & she’s never looked better. The shoot, which features amazing looks that mix both regal opulence with all-American elegance, was captured by Horst Diekgergdes & styled by Samira Nasr. Never has a pair of hot pants or the combination of denim & haute couture looked so refreshing & sophisticated.

Kerry Washington For ELLE June 2013

Kerry Washington for ELLE June 2013

Kerry is wearing some of the most sought after designers including Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, Giambattista Valli, Balmain, Christian Louboutin, Armani Exchange, Tom Ford, & Piaget! Also, in the video below, Kerry discusses the challenges she faced while taking on her slave character in Django Unchained, as well as her respect for the art of comic timing. In addition, ELLE quizzes the actress on various scenarios about what-would-Olivia-Pope-do?

Kerry Washington For ELLE June 2013 05

I’m so happy to see Kerry take center stage, especially on the covers of my favorite fashion magazines. She’s a designer’s darling & I’m really excited to see what her next big screen, small screen, & cover girl moves are. What do you think of Kerry’s shoot for ELLE? Which look is your favorite? For more magazine posts, check out Kate Upton’s Marilyn Monroe-inspired Vogue shoot, Christina Hendricks for Lucky‘s June issue, & Scarlett Johansson’s sultry looks for Marie Claire! Happy Styling!

Red Carpet Review: This Year’s Cannes Film Festival, Featuring Nicole Kidman, Carey Mulligan, Rooney Mara, & More!

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The Cannes Film Festival is still underway; however, I’ve been ravenously collecting a slew of glamorous day & evening looks from the event’s red carpets, including premieres / screenings, press junkets, & parties. Some of the most buzzed about films are being celebrated overseas, including The Great Gatsby, As I Lay Dying, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Bling Ring, & Inside Llewyn Davis. Jennifer Lawrence has been in out & about in several head-to-toe Dior looks. It’s also no surprise that Gatsby actress Carey Mulligan has been making headlines with a series of black & white minimalist ensembles from Vionnet, Balenciaga, Dior Haute Couture, & Chloe.

Other favorites include Nicole Kidman who is promoting Grace of Monaco, where she portrays the always enchanting Grace Kelly. The Aussie Oscar-winner has been staying loyal to her classic elegance with a touch of flair in a leather belted Calvin Klein dress, Alexander McQueen LBD, dreamy Dior Haute Couture tea-length dress, & fun printed column gown by L’Wren Scott. A star who I’ve been keeping an eye out for, especially from earlier this month at the Met Costume Institute Gala, is Rooney Mara who continues to share her androgynous sense of femininity in Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, & Giambattista Valli.

Be sure also to check out the gallery since I’ll continue to add more images to it, including looks by Ziyi Zhang, Freida Pinto, Emma Watson, Isla Fisher, Jessica Biel (especially in Marchesa), & more! Which has been your favorite look so far? Which movies are you most excited to see from the festival? For more from Red Carpet Review, check out previous posts including this week’s Billboard Music Awards featuring Kelly Rowland & Miley Cyrus, mini dresses on Anne Hathaway & Alexa Chung, black & white looks from Gwyneth Paltrow & Kate Beckinsale, & Revenge actress Ashley Madekwe’s Topshop jumpsuit outfit.

Red Carpet Review: The Best Looks From The 2013 Billboard Music Awards, Including Emmy Rossum, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, & More!

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Last night’s Billboard Music Awards were a big draw for viewers, attracting big names from the worlds of rap, rock, pop, & country. However, it’s the BLUE carpet that has fashion critics & bloggers buzzing today. Designer Zuhair Murad was definitely in-demand, dressing the likes of Jennifer Lopez in a deep-v gold gown, Emmy Rossum in a black velvet & sheer polka-dotted dramatic look, & Taylor Swift who showed off her gams in a blue sparkling mini dress. Also, celebrities worth noting were Hayden Panettiere who looked regal in a black Halston Heritage gown, Chloe Moretz in a printed Fendi frock, & Selena Gomez in a stunning white & neon-accented plunging gown by Atelier Versace. Additionally, some nay-sayers are also giving Nicki Minaj some heat over her red bustier gown, which channeled Rihanna‘s Azzedine Alaia dress from this year’s Grammy’s, but I think that this is almost the best that the rapper has ever looked & she should keep taking tips from Rihanna.

If I was an officer of the Fashion Police, I would certainly fine whoever it was that let the lovely star of the upcoming ABC series Mistresses, Alyssa Milano, out in that awkward palazzo pant ensemble by Emilio Pucci, as well as Jenny McCarthy‘s stylist for the 90s-homage tank & maxi skirt look. Sure, she’s in her 40s, has a great body, & her makeup looks gorgeous, but there are definitely better options out there for the VH1 talk show host.

Who wore your favorite look? Which artist gave the best performance at the show? Did you like the blue carpet looks? For more from Red Carpet Review, check out previous posts including my recent gallery for Top 10 Celeb Sightings including Jennifer Aniston & Victoria Beckham, this year’s Met Costume Institute Gale featuring Emma Watson & Amanda Seyfried, & a complete look at Oblivion actress Olga Kurylenko’s press tour & premieres. Happy Styling!

Cover Craze: Kate Upton’s American Vogue Cover Channels A Modern-Day Marilyn Monroe!

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Kate Upton for Vogue June 2013 01

To be completely honest, I wasn’t crazy about supermodel Kate Upton at first like the rest of the world has been; however, after seeing the beyond-amazing spread in the June 2013 issue of Vogue– the model’s first major American fashion magazine cover- I was won over! She channels a modern-day Marilyn Monroe with classic all-American style, bombshell curves, & old-fashioned ambition to break away from the typical supermodel mold. The shoot was photographed by the ever-legendary Mario Testino, which includes looks & pieces from Dolce & Gabbana, Cartier, Rochas, Ray-Ban, Donna Karan New York, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, Max Mara, Jason Wu, Stella McCartney, Michael Kors, Tom Ford, Hermès, & Matthew Williamson.

Kate Upton for Vogue June 2013 03

Kate Upton for Vogue June 2013 04

While Kate looks more voluptuous than most models walking the catwalk, she’s a healthy size 4 & responds to nay-sayers about her shape with the following: “The things that they’re rejecting are things that I can’t change. I can’t change  my bra size. They’re natural! I can work out and I can stay healthy and  motivated, but I can’t change some things.” The Sports Illustrated beauty is breath-taking in sleek separates looks, flirty swimwear shots, & evening couture.

Kate Upton for Vogue June 2013 02

Kate Upton for Vogue June 2013 05

In a behind-the-scenes look at the model strutting her stuff in Uruguay, Kate shares her tips for having the ultimately stylish summer, including how having the right sunglasses & some comfy sandals can make or break your vacation! The resemblance to Marilyn Monroe in uncanny, but it’s really gorgeous to see the celebrated hairstyles of vintage Hollywood starlets like Monroe teased in contrast to contemporary fashion.

What do you think of Kate’s Vogue shoot? Do you think she’s worth all the fashionable fuss? Which is your favorite look from the cover story? For more stylish posts, check out Christina Hendricks for Lucky‘s June issue, Rooney Mara’s latest ad campaign with Calvin Klein, Diane Kruger’s short film for Jaeger Le-Coultre, the latest red carpet looks from Jennifer Aniston & Kerry Washington, & 3.1 Phillip Lim’s designer collaboration with Target!

Ad Madness: Rooney Mara Is The Face Of Calvin Klein’s New Fragrance, Downtown!

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Rooney Mara has certainly cemented her status in fashion, especially after co-chairing this year’s Met Costume Institute Gala with Givenchy‘s Riccardo Tisci. Now the Oscar-nominated actress is the latest face for Calvin Klein‘s new fragrance, Downtown. The cool, edgy scent is geared towards a 25-35 woman, which can be seen in the upcoming, yet-to-be-seen David Fincher-directed TV spots. The print ads were photographed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, featuring a fresh-faced leather jacket-wearing Rooney, leaning against a brick wall.

Rooney Mara for Calvin Klein's Downtown fragrance

“I am very excited to be included in the group of amazing women that have been featured in the iconic advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein fragrances. It’s an honor to be part of a brand with such a legacy of breakthrough advertising. The Downtown fragrance holds true to the chic, confident and simple feeling of the Calvin brand,” says the actress about the perfume which will be featured in 3,000 department stores nationwide.

For more celebrity ads, check out previous posts including Diane Kruger’s short film for Jaeger Le-Coultre, BeyoncĂ©’s new ad campaign for H&M, Marion Cotillard for Lady Dior by Dior, Kate Winslet for Lancome, & the latest from Kate Moss for Stuart Weitzman! Happy Styling!

Cover Craze: Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks Is Lucky’s June Cover Girl!

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Christina Hendricks for Lucky June 2013 01

Christina Hendricks has been one of the most watched out for celebrities on the red carpet, especially with her success on the drama, Mad Men. Plus, it wasn’t that long ago that I featured the curvy actress in another Cover Craze post for her feature in Canada’s Flare magazine, however the fiery redhead is now the face for Lucky magazine’s June 2013 issue.

Christina Hendricks for Lucky June 2013 02

She talks to the magazine about her favorite red carpet moments, famous for wearing designer duds by L’Wren Scott, Christian Siriano, Zac Posen, & Dolce & Gabbana. Also, her Mad Men fame & iconic role as Joan have created a signature style for the actress who embraces pencil skirts, high heels, & anything bra-friendly. She’s also a bargain shopper as a fan of Nine West & J.Crew, as well as international boutique for vintage-inspired pieces.

Watch the video above to get a behind-the-scenes look at the magazine’s shoot & hear Christina first-hand charm the pants off of us! Christina can be seen next in the Ryan Gosling-directed film How To Catch A Monster, & the Neil Labute ensemble dramedy Seconds of Pleasure. For more magazine posts, check out Scarlett Johansson for Marie Claire, Hayden Panettiere’s beachy shoot for Glamour, & last month’s Lucky cover with Drew Barrymore! Also, be sure to check out InStyle‘s inside look at the costumes worn by Mad Men‘s leading ladies! Happy Styling!

Splurge Or Save… On A Striped Maxi Skirt!

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Most of my spring go-to looks consist of black & white outfits, but as I’m trying to find a balance between lightweight & frilly separates, while warding off the chill from cooler nights, I’ve been thinking a lot about maxi skirts. They’ve been all over storefront windows lately & I’m loving the idea of a modern skirt that can be dressed up for a date or made casual chic with gladiator flats.

Even though I’m usually a fan of black & white in polka dots, houndstooth, or zebra print, I’m getting on board the stripe trend for spring, especially since there are so many different versions of this skirt to pick from. This includes the plus size a.n.a. striped maxi skirt ($19.99) from JC Penney & Dress Barn‘s Roz & Ali two-toned striped maxi skirt ($30.00), which will pair nicely with solid tops in red, pink, or mint. You can find the third option @Forever 21, which is the striped jersey maxi skirt ($15.80), available in sizes XS – L.

My fourth selection is the BCBG striped knit maxi skirt ($48.30) from Last Call by Neiman Marcus, which has been marked down from its original $98.00 price tag. Lastly, the TWO by Vince Camuto nautical stripe maxi skirt ($79.00) from Zappos offers a summer-ready look for boat shoes & a crochet tank.

Which striped skirt do you like the best? How much would you spend on a maxi skirt this season? For more posts from Splurge or Save? check out black peplum tanks inspired by Naya Rivera & Amy Adams, leather moto jackets from True Religion & Jil Sander, Kim Kardashian’s silver Jimmy Choo pumps, & pink skinny jeans by Michael Kors & Ann Taylor! Happy Styling!

Watch This Style: Diane Kruger Stars In A New Short Film For Watch Brand, Jaeger Le-Coultre!

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Former model / actress Diane Kruger is a German-born beauty who ranks among the A-list when it comes to red carpet appearances, & has certainly proven her acting chops in such films as Inglorious Basterds & Farewell, My Queen. She has any & every designer begging to dress her, as she dazzles fashion critics with her bold choices, graces, & timelessness. Speaking of time… The Swiss-based watch company, Jaeger Le-Coultre, recently featured Diane in a short film called Reinvent Yourself, which asks the question, how many times can you reinvent yourself in a lifetime?

Diane Kruger for Jaeger-LeCoultre

Well, we can surely ask the powerful likes of Madonna or Lady Gaga that; however, in this beautiful two-minute piece, we are privileged to see a music-video-like project, set to the powerful voice of Shirley Bassey with “(Where Do I Begin) Love Story.”

During a recent interview, Diane had this to say about “It felt very authentic about my life and my friendship with Jaeger Le-Coultre…It pieces together my professional life and my personal life, and I’m very grateful for that.” She also adds, “Everybody in life can relate to laughter or cry for joy or just that moment of something ending, so that was the inspiration there… I had a couple of sad thoughts going through my head on that one…” In addition, she wanted the film to end on a positive note, one that hopefully inspires women. She says, “You’re not just defined by your job, but also by the choices you make as a woman. You can be anything, if you put your heart to it.” This is certainly the truth for a stylish chameleon of the red carpet.

What do you think about Diane’s style? Do you like the video? For more fashionable videos, check out previous posts from Watch This Style, including 3.1 Phillip Lim’s collaboration with Target, Chanel’s short film Once Upon A Time which stars Keira Knightley, BeyoncĂ©’s latest commercial for H&M, & the trailer for the documentary Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf’s! Happy Styling!

Quickie Darling Deal & Steal: Seven Must-Have Sale Items For Under $100!

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Now that I’m in the throes of dual employment, it’s become clearer than ever to be conscious of what investments I’m making in my wardrobe. I always love to find end-of-the-season deals on sale, especially when they feel like brand new pieces the following year. However, I’ve been seeing a lot of cute separates & accessories that I’m eager to mix & match on these cooler spring nights, into the summer, & eventually include for some fashionable fall outfits. Making tiny purchases here & there are easy on your budget & can really change the way you reinvent old favorites.

Recommended sale items include Dress Barn‘s shimmer stripe sweater ($19.00) in silver, which is perfect for over a maxi dress with ankle boots, or how I recently wore it with leggings & sparkly ballet flats. Also, the Just Chic tee ($7.99) from Forever 21 is exactly what it advertises to be; try wearing this with leather skinny pants & a bold boyfriend blazer, or to dress down a peasant skirt & gladiator flats. I’m always one for a cute skirt, which is why I’ve included the striped jersey pencil skirt ($12.99) in blue from Old Navy. It’s casual enough to wear for brunch with a pullover & a denim jacket, but it can also be worn with a blouse & belted cardigan.

My favorite piece is the Drew dotted cuffed ankle pant ($22.49) from The Limited, which mixes spring’s trendiest fabric, chambray, with the always-classic polka dot print. These will pair well with a nautical-inspired top in stripes or a neon embellished blouse. Affordable accessories include the faux suede colorblock flat ($13.95) in red from GOjane, jewel drops diamondite stretch cuff ($9.25) from Claire’s, & the snakeskin embossed metallic skinny belt ($13.93) in ivory from Express.

The total for these pieces is under $100, ringing in at $99.60, which is quite the bargain! How would you style some of these pieces? What sale items are you eyeing? For more posts on affordable fashion, check out the details behind 3.1 Phillip Lim’s latest collaboration with Target, Ashley Madekwe’s Topshop jumpsuit look, spring-ready cardigans for under $25, & stylish shirt dresses for any size! Happy Styling!

Top 10 Celeb Sightings: Mini Dresses & Leather Accents, Featuring Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway, Victoria Beckham, & More!

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On this very bright & sunny Happy Mother’s Day, I wanted to share the best looks from the last week, worn by our favorite celebrities & some really noteworthy up-and-comers. Of course, there’s more to come since the opening of The Great Gatsby this weekend, fashionistas of the world will have to up their game with inspiration from pearls, sequins, & other luxe embellishments. However, today’s gallery includes some regulars like Victoria Beckham‘s chic travel look when landing at JFK recently, Stacy Keibler‘s sculpted leather dress by Monique Lhuillier, & the always lovely Scandal star, Kerry Washington, in a designer mix featuring Marni, Isabel Marant, & Jennifer Fisher.

Also featured are Alexa Chung in a head-to-toe Dior look, Anne Hathaway‘s mod mini by Givenchy, Gwyneth Paltrow‘s continued obsession with black & white in Barbara Bui, Jennifer Aniston‘s gray suede shift dress at the Living Proof website launch, Fast & Furious 6 star Jordana Brewster in a stunning Jenny Packham column gown, Kate Bosworth‘s edgy flared skirt & pointy toe pumps at the Black Rock premiere, & Olivia Munnn‘s minimalist J. Mendel–Christian Louboutin combination.

Which are your favorite looks? Who is your go-to star for red carpet inspiration? For more celebrity posts, check out the complete gallery from this year’s Met Ball including looks worn by Jennifer Lopez & Katie Holmes, Keira Knightley in the Karl Lagerfeld-directed Chanel film Once Upon A Time, BeyoncĂ©’s latest ad campaign for H&M, black & white looks on celebs like Kate Beckinsale & Jennifer Lawrence, & Scarlett Johansson’s recent cover shoot for Marie Claire! Happy Styling!

Watch This Style: 3.1. Phillip Lim Is The Next Designer Collaboration Featured @Target!

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3.1 Phillip Lim for Target

As a regular Target shopper, I’ve been privileged to seeing the evolution of the retailer’s apparel collection. Over the last few years, we’ve seen magic in collaborations with Jovovich Hawk, Missoni, Prabal Gurung, & most recently Kate Young. Also, this past holiday season saw luxury finds from Neiman Marcus regulars like Marchesa & Robert Rodriguez. However, the latest high fashion name to join the ranks of Target greatness for the mainstream shopper is 3.1 Phillip Lim, whose vision for the collection includes men’s & women’s apparel & accessories, ranging from $20 – $300. Extras also include shoes, bags, & travel goodies, which are designed for a wardrobe that’s 24 / 7. In a recent video, the designer talks about his point of view for the line, which looks every bit casual chic with some street smart edge for the modern shopper. In a recent statement, Lim shares, “Since an early age, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of design evolution… One of the reasons I wanted to collaborate with Target is because I felt that together we could create a collection that would inspire—one that is cool and chic, but still very accessible.”

The collection makes its debut for Target in September. Which designer collaboration has been your favorite for Target so far? Do you find the price points for these collections to be affordable for the average Target customer? For more posts on affordable fashion, check out Revenge actress Ashley Madekwe’s Topshop look, stylish spring cardigans for under $25, a budget-friendly red-white-&-blue look for under $100, look-alike flat sandals as seen on Katy Perry, & BeyoncĂ©’s latest ad campaign for H&M! Happy Styling!

Red Carpet Review: Complete Coverage Of The 2013 Met Costume Institute Gala, Featuring Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Richie, Miley Cyrus, & More!

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This year’s Met Costume Institute Gala‘s theme was “PUNK: Chaos to Couture,” which means that we expected to see a lot of black, leather, cut-outs, sheer panels, & edge on the red carpet, but I don’t think fashion critics quite expected so much interpretation of the rock & roll vibe. This included some amazing looks worn by a platinum Anne Hathaway (in vintage Valentino), gothic Ashley Greene (in Marchesa), plaid-happy Christina Ricci (in Vivienne Westwood), spiked Miley Cyrus (in Marc Jacobs), a pretty Jennifer Lawrence (in Dior Haute Couture), Kylie Minogue‘s colorblocked look (in Moschino), as well as headlining statements of style from a silver-haired Nicole Richie (in Topshop), an under-stated Nicki Minaj (in Tommy Hilfiger), BeyoncĂ©‘s show-stopping ensemble (in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci), Sarah Jessica Parker‘s powerhouse pieces (by Giles & Philip Treacy), & Nina Dobrev‘s brave one-piece (in Monique Lhuillier).

Enjoy the nearly never-ending slideshow, which also includes a bottomless Madonna (in Givenchy), elegant Jessica Alba (in Tory Burch), awkward babydoll look from Lena Dunham (in Erdem), funky & fringed Kelly Osbourne (in Marc Jacobs), sophisticated Claire Danes (in Oscar de la Renta), dramatic Kerry Washington (in Vera Wang), uber-sexy Jennifer Lopez (in Michael Kors), coy Katy Perry (in Dolce & Gabbana), & sultry Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (in Gucci). Which looks were your favorites? Who do you think played it too safe? Which designers do you look for on the red carpet? Happy Styling!

5/6/2013 Darling Of The Day: Ashley Madekwe’s Checkered Topshop Jumpsuit!

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Usually when I post something for Darling Of The Day, I share look-alike pieces that are much more affordable than what a celebrity is wearing. However, Revenge actress & style blogger extraordinaire Ashley Madekwe (who is making her second appearance in DOTD) calls on the pajama trend for a recent red carpet in support of a Topshop event. She showed up in the brand’s check dungaree jumpsuit ($110.00), which is currently available for purchase online. Yes, it’s a lot higher than I would pay, but the one-piece has a lot of versatility & plays with the same light flirtiness of a maxi dress.

To complete this look without breaking the bank, I’ve selected affordable pieces from Forever 21, including the essential layering tank ($2.80) in white, Love pendant necklace ($1.80) in gold, & lacquered geo hinge cuff ($5.80) in cream / white. Also, other pieces to build the outfit include the strappy faux leather heels ($22.60) from GOjane & Lulu Townsend flower snap box clutch ($34.95) from DSW. I also wanted to share that Ashley’s showing off some major toe cleavage & her pedicure looks fantastic with this season’s greatest color trend. To achieve this look, I recommend the salon formula nail lacquer ($6.00) in mint condition @Ulta.

What do you think about Ashley’s stylish overalls? Would you wear this look? Do you follow Ashley’s style blog, Ring My Bell? For more celebrity posts, check out the most recent update from Top 10 Celeb Sightings, Olga Kurylenko’s latest red carpet looks, Gwyneth Paltrow’s promotional tour frocks for her latest cookbook, spring floral looks inspired by Elizabeth Olsen & Miranda Kerr, & Scarlett Johansson’s Marie Claire cover shoot! Happy Styling!

The $100 Challenge: Fun & Flirty With A Bicycle Print Blouse!

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Since starting my second job, I’ve been re-thinking my spring / summer wardrobe & have found a lot of inspiration from unusual prints, for example: the bicycle print keyhole to ($38.00) in navy from Dress Barn. This really struck me since I’m so used to wearing polka dots, stripes, graphic prints & watercolor florals, however I’ve taken a new look at the possibilities for this top. This includes a white skirt, colored jeans, or an opposing, yet color-coordinated print for the bottom.

I recently wore this top to a friend’s baby shower with red pants & nude canvas wedges, but I wanted to re-style it with The $100 Challenge in mind. I couldn’t get the idea of navy & red out of my mind, which is also why I picked the rockstar super skinny jeans ($25.00) in ‘apple of my eye’ from Old Navy, which are available in sizes 0-20.

Accessories that make for perfect finishing touches to this look include the ankle-strap single sole pump ($25.50) in nude from Charlotte Russe, the Croft & Barrow silver tone striped bead drop earrings ($5.40) in red white from Kohl’s, & Forever 21‘s multi strand woven cuff ($4.80). This whole look has a nautical feel to it, not to mention the Americana color combination that’s sure to liven & brighten up the season. I really love how each piece can be mixed & matched with other wardrobe essentials, as well as reinvented with pieces like the blouse with a hot pink pencil skirt, the jeans for a sequined tank, or the shoes with an embellished sheath dress.

Would you wear a bicycle print blouse? Which details are your favorites for a blouse? Would you wear red, white, & blue in an outfit? For more posts on affordable fashion, check out previous posts including Katy Perry’s white & silver sandal flats, spring-ready shirt dresses, my favorite latest dress purchases, & Derek Lam’s DesigNation collection for Kohl’s. Happy Styling!

Watch This Style: The Trailer For Chanel’s “Once Upon A Time,” Starring Keira Knightley!

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Once Upon A Time, starring Keira Knightley.

To mark the 100th anniversary of Chanel‘s first boutique, designer Karl Lagerfeld has cast Oscar-nominated actress Keira Knightley as leading lady, Coco Chanel, in a short film about the designer’s first outpost in Deauville, France. Once Upon A Time… will premiere on May 8th in Singapore, but will also be available for viewing that night on Chanel-News! Check out the very short trailer for the film, which also features French actress Clotilde Hesme & American model Lindsey Wixon.

For more stylish videos, check out previous posts from Watch This Style including BeyoncĂ©’s commercial for H&M, the trailer for Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf’s, Drew Barrymore’s cover shoot for Lucky magazine, & Taylor Swift’s stylish collaboration with Ked’s. Happy Styling!