Contrary to popular style belief, sometimes the most fashionable looks aren’t necessarily the fanciest. I’m of the mindset that style should exist on the daily & even on my most casual of days off, I take care of myself in the best way I know how—comfortably! Still, on those days, I have things to do like see my family or prepare a dinner date night with my boyfriend, so even if I give my face a break & go makeup-free, I like to put together an easy breezy outfit (comfy top & jeans perhaps) with unexpected twists (usually in the form of accessories).
Actress Rachel Bilson is showing her casual style with a combination of no-fuss neutrals with denim, heather gray, tan, black & silver during a sunny afternoon in Beverly Hills. Typically, one might not think these colors work together, but the Nashville / former Hart of Dixie / The O.C. it-girl knows how to style even the simplest seeming looks, especially with Old Navy’s $40 Rockstar skinny jeans! Earlier in the week, I featured Blake Lively mixing her high-low look with the same jeans in a darker wash!
Where do you like to shop for you favorite go-to jeans? Are you a fan of Old Navy’s Rockstar skinny denim? Which celebrity style appeals most to you? For more fashionable celebrity posts, check out how to recreate looks from Blake Lively & Jennifer Lawrence, as well as mixed prints on Jamie Chung & Olivia Palermo. Happy Styling!
Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with scarves. They’re perfect for fall & winter, adding that extra splash of personality to your outfit, & only this summer did I realize the full potential of my look when there’s a stylish scarf wrapped around the handle of my favorite tote & crossbody bags. This was a way to get the most use out of my ever-growing scarf collection all year long, resolving the problem of my arms getting chilly during those cool, starry summer nights. However, you can get plenty of scarf envy from some of today’s most stylish celebrities whose looks are elevated by the accessory, like Jessica Alba, Rihanna, Emma Watson, Rachel Bilson, Sarah Jessica Parker, & Ashley Olsen.
In preparation for fall fashion, I wanted to share some of my favorite picks, in prints & solids, to inspire your scarf love, especially when wardrobe budgeting is essential. Scarves can dress down a black dress for day & keep you cozy when there’s a shift in temperature in the evening. Scarves also present an opportunity to play with prints, like trying a stripe against a polka dot (in a similar color scheme) or mixing leopard with something menswear inspired.
Aside from Fashion Week & the general change of seasons (which marks ankle bootie & rich textures like suede time of year), September means that our favorite television shows are returning to make us laugh, cry, sit at the edge of our seats, & of course, be in awe of the characters’ styles. In a first ever on Style Darling, I’ve undertaken a mighty 10 television shows returning this season & found their most stylish leading ladies (two, in some cases), & found pieces & looks to inspire your fall wardrobe. Naturally, we’re talking something budget-friendly, yet still true to the small scree goddesses that have bloggers everywhere in a fashion tizzy!
Scandal(airing Season 4 premiere on 9/25 @9PM on ABC) left Olivia Pope (played magnificently by the one & only Kerry Washington) washing her hands of the controversy & turmoil that she blames herself for in Washington D.C., especially because of her torrid love affair with the president. However, Olivia’s style was only elevated by such drama, sharing with viewers the importance of a luxurious coat collection, classic & statement handbags, as well as clean lines & neutral separates since Olivia is all about getting rid of the fuss in people’s lives.
New Girl(airing Season 4 premiere on 9/16 @9PM on FOX) will surely tackle that whole Jess-Nick romance, even though the adorkable couple ended things last season. Now that Zooey Deschanel‘s character has certainly settled into her man-dwelling apartment, she’s constantly battling life with one vintage look after another, & laughter is sure to ensue. Not to mention that Jess’s girlie girl style fits right in with her job as a teacher, always conservative yet cute for partying it up after hours.
The Mindy Project(airing 9/16 @9:30 on FOX) is one of my favorite must-see shows this fall, not just because the brilliant Mindy Kaling writes a hilarious ensemble comedy, but because the show is after the hearts of its viewers with the on-again-off-again love story with one Danny Castellano, played by Chris Messina. Yes, there’s laughter too, but I’m also super excited to see what Dr. Lahiri (Kaling’s character) will wear. She’s no stranger to bright colors, wild patterns, feminine florals, & layers of preppy chic style.
Revenge(airing 9/28 @10PM on ABC) is returning this fall & Emily Thorne (played by Emily Vancamp) is back & stronger than ever in her plot against the Graysons. I love that her style recalls the effortless ease of a modern day Grace Kelly, with a luxe twist on casual wear. She wears plenty of neutral colors & no-fuss separates so that she can easily slip into scheming mode with the movers & shakers of The Hamptons setting. I love watching out for the designer pieces on this show, especially on additional key characters like Victoria (Madeline Stowe), Charlotte (Chrsta B. Allen), & Ashley (Ashley Madekwe).
When I started assembling these pieces, I realized that they have various uses, for both day & night, as well as creating looks from season-to-season. While most of our lives won’t be centered around law-breaking revenge schemes, the closest we can get to the fabulous life of Emily Thorne is recreating her style with the colorblock roll sleeve shirtdress ($109.99) in cream puff @Ann Taylor, MOD.lusive ruched sleeve long cardigan ($42.00) in white @Nordstrom, v-neck blouse ($24.95) in powder beige @H&M, & true slim chino pants ($44.99) in khaki @Land’s End.
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Nashville(airing 9/24 @10PM on ABC) is the kind of show that not only inspires music, but also fashion. Southern style is loud & clear with this show, especially when it comes to an edgy look & a splash of rock ‘n roll. The show’s leading ladies Rayna James (Connie Britton) & Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) are constantly at odds, but one thing is clear, they know how to dress. I was especially inspired by the flashy stage looks & modern casual separates that can be jazzed up for a night of music. The last season ended with both divas in trouble, both professionally & personally, but I can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen next.
2 Broke Girls(airing 10/07 @9PM on CBS) combines two of my favorite things: cupcakes & fashion! The comedy’s stars Beth Behrs as the preppy / fashion forward Caroline Chaning & Kat Dennings‘ loveable bad girl Max Black make for the perfect modern day odd couple, just trying to get back. Caroline is always neutral clad, doused in pearls & body conscious dresses, whereas Max’s fashion sense takes on a tougher city vibe in bright primary colors & boots, with a touch of menswear inspiration.
The Good Wife(airing 9/21 @9PM on CBS) keeps raking in the Emmy awards, especially with a constantly compelling performance for the show’s lead, Julianna Marguliesas the powerful Alicia Florrick. Her wardrobe includes power suits & strong jackets, much like Scandal‘s Olivia Pope. In Alicia’s world, there’s no room for floral or fussy pieces. She’s all about structure & strength, so edgy embellishments have no place among the clean details & clean lines.
Modern Family(airing 9/24 @9PM on ABC) is a comedy must-see, especially because of the show’s female leads. When it comes to style, of course there’s always a cute outfit on Sarah Hyland’s character Hailey, but the real sex-pot changing the look of a stay-at-home mom is Sofia Vergara‘s Gloria. Gloria often steals the spotlight from her family members, especially when it comes to showing off her curves in wrap dresses, V-neck tops, & skinny jeans.
Elementary(airing 10/30 @10PM on CBS) is a modern day New York City-based take on the classic Sherlock Holmes stories & what’s extra awesome about this version is that the science-minded Watson is played by kick-ass actress Lucy Liu. Instead of John, she’s a Joan who develops an intense partnership with Holmes (Johnny Lee Miller) while they’re soling crimes all over the city. Aside from her brilliant mind, I love her on-the-go style which often includes dark, layering pieces, always with a chic pair of booties.
Hart of Dixie(2015 on The CW) is the last show that I’m sharing & it doesn’t have a set premiere date since star Rachel Bilson, who plays the quirky city doctor Zoe Hart, is expecting her first child & filming seems to be halted. However, I love her character’s edgy side with dark, modern cuts in tops & leather shorts, as well as dark colors in mini & maxi dresses. She’s an accessories queen with chunky necklaces, embellished details, & the highest heels in sandals & booties imaginable. Also, it’s hard to ignore Lemon Breeland, played hysterically by the one & only Jamie King. Lemon’s style is true to the Alabama debutante ladylike way. She loves florals, sparkle, & vintage-inspired looks with a bold lip & finger curls.
For those of you who have been focusing on the red carpets of the major awards shows, there’s one carpet that I haven’t featured in the last week & that’s the 2013 Art of Elysium Heaven Gala. I didn’t know what it was, but could tell that the star-studded red carpet was fabulous, so I went ahead & learned that the gala is run by a non-profit organization which encourages working artists of the stage, screen, & so forth to dedicate their time to helping children who are battling mental conditions.
Go figure! With that, I’m happy to share the event’s red carpet, including favorites like Camilla Belle, in a dramatic Carolina Herrera gown, as well as a very pregnant Busy Phillipps in a flapper-inspired Alberta Ferretti dressm, Hart of Dixie star Rachel Bilson in an animal-print Valentino design, & Anna Kendrick‘s sweet emerald Dior party look.
I’ve returned home to the middle-of-nowhere suburbs on Long Island, known for its malls & neighboring university hospital, & as I’m preparing the daunting task of unpacking my overpacked bags from my eleven-day Southampton-based excursion of style & writing, I’m sitting here at my laptop, absorbed in checking on the latest & greatest from my favorite websites (In Style mainly) to see what I’ve missed.
While the Olympics are underway in London & the summer blockbusters are hitting theaters stateside, some of the best dressed celebrities are hitting the red carpet & posing at press events. Not to mention that all of our favorite fall television shows are returning to production & the stars are plugging their shows & pilots in some serious style. From actresses to singers to royalty, this edition of Top 10 Celeb Sightings is chalk full of chic sheath dresses, lacy frocks, revealing LBDs, & ladylike elegance, sure to spark some water cooler conversation (among Style Darlings, of course).
‘Tis the season for maxidresses, which will be staples in your warm weather wardrobe from now even until after Labor Day. As you can see, there are plenty of celebrities wearing maxidresses in a bunch of different ways. Belts, beads, heels, flats, & jackets are perfect for accessorizing these flowy floor-length frocks. First we have Alessandra Ambrosio in a tiered maxidress with a Loewe bag, Beyonce in a printed maxidress with stilettos, Rachel Bilson in a Suno maxidress, & Lily Collins in a Peter Som maxidress.
Also, for some more celebrity-inspiration, there’s Lauren Conrad in a belted Heartloom maxidress, Olivia Wilde in a Yigal Azrouel maxidress, Emma Roberts in an Isabel Lu maxidress, & Nicole Richie in a floral printed maxidress. With all these celebrity images, you can see how a maxidress is perfect for a red carpet event, daytime luncheon, or summer date night.
I’ve been compiling a long list of my favorite looks during the 2011 calendar year & while there are still a few days left, I wanted to share the highs of the red carpet, press events, famous Style Darlings on the street, as well as the looks that have made the headlines. This is the ultimate gallery of the ensembles to wear for formal occasions, out & about on the street, to a cocktail party, or a date night, including the best descriptions that I could find of who wore what! For more looks that I’ve featured this year, check out Darling of the Day, Red Carpet Review, Magazine Must-Haves, Silver Screen Style, Style ABC’s (x3), & Watch This Style– all categories that thrive on celebrity-inspiration for your style on a budget. I hope all of you had a prosperous 2011 & continue to do good for those around you, as well as for your style! Happy Styling!
At this weekend’s Teen Choice Awards, young Hollywood came out in full force style! Some of these ladies in line are going to be the next Gwyneth Paltrows, Julianne Moores, & Kate Hudsons of the red carpet. This is evident in their choice of styling, but let’s get down to who’s wearing who! First up is Twlight star Ashley Greene who sticks to the pencil dress trend in a color-blocked design by Givenchy. Zoe Saldana goes metallic in a belted Lanvin frock with shoes by the late great Alexander McQueen. The Vampire Diaires leading lady, Nina Dobrev, was probably my favorite in this figure flattering D&G dress with a Salvatore Ferragamo clutch. Canadian singer Avril Lavigne does some shameless advertising for her brand, Abbey Dawn in a chic LBD & patterned peep toes. However, it is a nice chang eof pace for the usual punky blonde. The svelte star of CW’s Nikita, Maggie Q, went all white in a two-piece Max Mara look with black & white pumps- very Mad Men looking, eh?
Next, Lucy Hale took a risk in this sparkling Cengiz Abazoğlu mini dress with Giuseppe Zanotti ankle strap platforms. It-girl of the moment, Emma Stone, juggled her press tour for The Help, by showing up to the ceremony in a Christian Dior shift dress with jewelry by Irene Neuwirth. Current In Style Makeover cover girl, Rachel Bilson, looked ultra-femme in a ruffled Chloe dress with Brian Atwood studded ankle booties. Country crooner, Taylor Swift, channelled Marilyn Monroe in a Rafael Cennamo LWD halter & of course, donned Neil Lane diamonds & bowed silver peep toe pumps. Last, but not least is Selena Gomez, looking all grown up in an asymmetrical Erin Fetherston minidress & strappy Brian Atwood sandals.
Which is your favorite look? Who’s your favorite young Style Darling? Are you loving the little white dress trend? What’s your favorite black & white look? For more scoop on red carpet glam, check out Red Carpet Review! Happy Styling!
I was so pleased to find these (sort of) look-alikes! One pair is just over $30 from GOjane & the other is a big whopping $850.00. That’s of course b/c of the label: Michael Kors. Although one is a buckled peep toe platform & the other is a bow back platform, you can still achieve the same sense of a covered-up ankle. Sometimes I think this style of shoe cuts off the legline, but both pairs are also available in nude & there, you really can’t go wrong. That’s when the style became a focal point of illusion. For example, take a look at Rachel Bilson back in February sporting peep toe shooties.
If you’re in constant pursuit of finding affordable & stylish shoes, subscribe to the GOjane emails! If you’re looking to learn more about the designs of Michael Kors, check out Neiman Marcus, where this item is sold. Happy Styling!
Jennifer Aniston is the quintessential California girl with a cool, casual style, but her laid-back, effortless glamour is what makes her a stand-out Style Darling. The actress, whose career was jump-started by her iconic role of Rachel on Friends, has become a best “friend” to fashion with easy, yet timeless looks. Even though the movie Picture Perfect wasn’t a colossal success, I have to say that I love her character’s style in it & that’s what originally made me notice how she wears clothes & doesn’t let them wear her.
The items that I’ve selected are all affordable- although the blazer (which is nearly a clone of the one Aniston is wearing) may be a little bit over budget for some. It’s from Banana Republic, therefore its quality will stand the test of time. You’ll definitely get your money’s worth by making the investment, but I also recommend some blazers from Ann Taylor LOFT, New York & Company, & Express to pair with any classic button-down.
SHOP: tee @JCPenney (shop plus here), jeans @Old Navy, sunglasses @Target, hoop earrings @Charming Charlie, satchel @Charming Charlie, & Trope sandals by Steve Madden @DSW. 
I was so pleased to find these (sort of) look-alikes! One pair is just over $30 from 
Jennifer Aniston
Style Darling Daily 