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ASOS Awesomeness

(Lisa B Tie Caftan)

Why It's Hot: Super lightweight silk can still be an all-season choice. This all-natural fabric can keep you warm even though it's very floaty. You can throw it on over tank tops and bralettes for a very comfortable, loose look. Try it with a beany or beret with spangles.

Features: Deep v-neck, contrast trim, kimono sleeves

 
(KG by Kurt Geiger Woven Shoe Boots)

Why It's Hot: This luxurious braided style offers a fantastic texture with a soft tie. When you're pairing skinnies with booties, it's great to have some additional design details down below to captivate. Soft leather is forgiving for those who need to be on their feet.

Features: Platform heel, lace-up front, rounded toe

(Motel Knit Cardi) 

Why It's Hot: Longer cardigans are great for low-rise jeans and trousers to avoid any gapping. Drape yourself in cool oversized jewelry like hefty bangles and maybe even some pearls. Consider layering with a mini dress for a unique look.

Features: 50% rayon, poly and ribbed tonal stripes

(Paul's Boutique New Season Sports Bag; FCUK Tartan Purse; Nica Soft Flap Purse)

Why They're Hot: There are so many hot purses available this season, and these ones are just a peek. They're affordable on ASOS (starting at around $25) and continues upwards to $100+. The styles are cutting-edge and hit all price points.

Features: Faux leather for veggies, cool charms, and coin carryalls for everyone!

(ASOS Highwaisted Flare Leg Jeans) 

Why It's Hot: Highwaisted flares are not the easiest to pull off. These ones feature a shaped waistline that disguises any muffin top. It's a great choice if you like tops cut to hit above the hips, but you don't like to show skin.

Features: 2% elastane with cotton

(Princesse Tam Tam Paula Bra and Briefs)

Why It's Hot: Princesse Tam Tam lingerie is some of the best, because it's extremely high-end and well-constructed. If you need a "seduction bra (and let's face it, we all do), this is a good option for you.Matching panties have delicate details.

Features: Silk mix, velvet bow

(Gold Thread Blouse)

Why It's Hot: Romantic blouse with lace details make me think of Russia, and can be paired with poofy skirts, wide-legged pants, and dark denim. Follow this model's lead and cinch your waist for a fantastic silhouette.

Features: 100% poly, lace mesh and embroidery

Pieces We Love from Betsey Johnson

I'll just admit it flat-out: Betsey Johnson is my favorite designer. She went to my alma mater (Syracuse), and all her pieces have a funky, fun vibe. Things are poufy and bright, and to be honest, they are good to bring out your "fun, single" side. Even if you're um, not. If Betsey Johnson still wears her stuff, then you can, too!

(Funky Skull Wrap)

Vintage Betsey is interesting because it's substantially more wild. Skull logos are pretty tough when you thik about them, but for some reason, these ones are softened thanks to the shape. This cardigan is cropped in an almost ballet style, and you can pair it with ivory tops or light pink to soften it even further.

(Fairisle Cropped Sweater)

This funky piece in bright pink has a traditional pattern that, when combined with unexpected colors, make it really unique. I'd love to wear these cropped sweaters above with dark denim and long-line tank tops in deep colors like navy and brown.

(Buckle Up Intarsia)

Remember those "tuxedo" shirts from the '70s. This dress is like a cooler, more sophisticated version, and that's great for any style-conscious girl. Sophisticated black is awesome with cream accents, dramatic beads, and court pumps to match. If you want to give it edge, you can wear it with a waistcoat or vest and a great pair of thick stockings.

(Tiana Ankle Boots)

These ankle boots hit a major trend: they are textured, the perfect height, and they have a great zipper that we've seen on high and low boots. I might not be the biggest fan of "shooties," but these ones are just tops. These boots will work with leggings, skinnies, dresses, and even a playsuit if you dare. It's romper time!

(Strapless Flare Dress)

Betsey Johnson's synonymous with casual style, but that doesn't mean you can't wear something on the formal side instead. This dress has a cool sparkled effect, so it's not like all your Little Black Dresses are going to look similar to this one.

(White Square Watch Case)

This would make a great gift. This resin bow watch is available in a Limited Edition version, and when it's presented to a lucky someone in this cool box, I guarantee you it'll be the best present she's gotten all year. A true Betsey Johnson stunner.

Summer Stuff from Singer22

I really recommend items from Singer22, which covers top celeb fashions from our Hollywood starlets like Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, Katherine Heigl, and Rachel Bilson. If you're the celebrity-following type, a juniors shopper, or just a fashionista looking for a new piece, this is the place to go. They are so good, in fact, that I signed up for their daily newsletter to get alerts on celebrity pieces on pre-order and other exciting tidbits!

(Tea and Honey Camomile Top in Vanilla)

Who It Suits: Nicky Hilton enthusiasts will of course adore this top in cream and black, but other people who will want to scoop it up are those who love silk top in a more modern shape. This can be worn alone as you see here, or paired with something more complex like a tulip-shaped skirt and shrug or a voluminous scarf.

Wear It With: Both casual and smart pieces, high heels or flip flops, chandelier earrings, dressed-up leather accessories.

(Tolani Lightweight Scarf)

Who It Suits: This scarf is gorgeous, so anyone with good taste will just adore it, but I have a certain group of people in mind for this one, really. If you are into budget-friendly choices that really blend into a variety of outfits, I recommend Hilary Duff's scarf of choice from Tolani. It is available in a lightweight wool and can be a year-round accessory if you'd like.

Wear It With: Jeans and a tee, jumpers, vintage gear, and don'tbe afraid of other patterns as well! Just make sure that they are small when you are pairing them.

(Love by YaYa Cotton Spandex Jersey Top)

Who It Suits: The Audrina top is dark, slick, and sexy, and that's what you should be like, too. Go dangerous, go bold, even if it's for once in your life, and select thigh-grazing skirts and pin-thin jeans to wear with this artistic shirt. A wide v-neck band is just the icing on the cake, and will frame a long neck and bust just perfectly.

Wear It With: Attitude!

(Monroe Navajo Top)

Who It Suits: This top is for anyone who appreciate Rachel Bilson's quiet approach to things. She's understated and pretty, and her top is, too. Tuck this top into a high-waisted skirt for a streamlined approach, and keep the accessories to a minimum with this one.

Wear It With: Basic items with simple lines and high-heeled pumps for day, and possibly a headband at night!

(Alice and Olivia Ombre Dress)

Who It Suits: Despite the daring nature of this dress in the picture, it can look a lot sweeter. With a little glowing tan and your hair in a chignon, this dress could almost have a Grecian appeal. It's worth a try-on for any lady, and will surprise many with its artistic shape and figure-flattering cut.

Wear It With: Stiletto heels with large ankle bows or pearl earrings.

(Jee Vice Sunglasses)

Who It Suits: Lindsay Lohan shades are for the girl with the heavy-duty drama. Are you always making a fuss, in a mess, or generally just running into trouble that you seem to always be able to talk your way out of? Congrats, these Lindsay lenses are perfect for you!

Wear It With: Slightly rumpled clothes and flowing hair.

Who's your favorite celebrity?

Stealing Style from Celebrities

Everybody might not be able to be a celebrity; however, with the right attitude, a few fashion staples and great accessories just about everyone can look like a celebrity. The key to a silver screen, fashion-forward wardrobe is the ability to never look over done and to pay great attention to the small details. So Ring the Alarm, with a few simple tricks you can look just as bootilicious as Beyonce and as polished as Jessica Simpson.

Rule number one is simple…know day from night. Elementary, eh? Well, believe it or not, to most people it's not as simple as it may seem. The biggest faux pas is too quite simply be overdone. Notice the keyword in the sentence was simply, meaning simple. As a rule of thumb, whether in fashion, or writing or talking, "Keep it simple, stupid." Now, with that said, let's move on. The quickest way to look like a joke instead of a starlet is to wear intricate and strappy shoes that are anything but comfortable on a bright sunny day. And unless you want to look like the celebrities from the Playboy Mansion on the show the Girls Next Door, save heavy makeup and tiny clutch bags for your late night rendezvous. Instead opt for the big oversized bags that work better for daytime and are oh-so stylish. However, leave the big time celebrity prices for the stars and opt to shop savvy at places like Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Filenes Closet which carries the best quality for the least prices.

The second rule to pulling off a silver screen look is to create your own signature style by accentuating your positives. Do not copy off of one person as it may not look good on your shape. Take advantage of your plusses and your negatives. For instance if you have a wider waist, but a lovely thin and defined collar bone opt for wrap dresses and blouses with deep plunging v necks. This will accentuate your lovely features around your collarbone area while cinching in your thicker waist making it appear thinner. For pudgier tummies and great backs and broad or full beautiful shoulders try oversized blouses that drop tightly below the stomach and gracefully fall off one shoulder. No matter what type of shape you have remember our first rule of keeping it simple so that you avoid busy prints that add to much. Stick with solid in bright colors and of course mettalics and black is always sexy.

Believe it or not, the best dressed part of your wardrobe is quite simply your hair. By nature, no matter how great your ensemble looks on you, if your hair is not well groomed it is still a fashion no-no. Make sure you incorporate both of the fashion rules into your hair styling. Big overdone hair will certainly take away from a classic look as well as you should definitely make sure that your hair fits your face. If you were blessed with bold striking feature like Heidi Klum or Vanessa Williams make sure you wear your hair back and away from your face. You can make a simple pony tail look stunning. Be able to change or play your hair up with the different items in your wardrobe. Therefore it is a true fashion no-no to pick a short choppy hair cut that is not able to be changed or moved.

So now you have all the keys to open the right doors in fashion, style and grace. By utilizing these simple rules you will look as gorgeous as a celebrity without all of the drama.

by Tiffany J. Prewitt

Kickin’ Up New Fashion with an Old Soul

With so many pictures, articles and what-knots about the ever-so famous Beyonce Knowles it makes you almost just want to hate her. I myself find myself wishing for a less visible Beyonce and dream of Beyonce withdrawal, but to no avail. Dubbed as ‘America’s Dream Girl’ she is singing on our radios, acting on our television set and now she is trying to get in our closets. To many, that’s just crossing the line. The mere fact that the woman is everywhere and on everything is enough. Couldn’t she just be great as a singer/dancer/actor/beautiful person? No, she had to go and be a designer too. The sheer mention of her moving into yet another superstar status category just seems to be a little over the top, makes you wonder if she is truly self-absorbed and just refuses to stop until she takes over the world. However, after close investigation of her line, I feel quite ashamed as the entire line is homage to her talented grandmother who made a modest living in the ultra racist south as a designer.

House of Dereon is indeed named after her grandmother, Agnes Dereon of Southern Louisiana who was a headstrong designer in the racist south in a time when it was exceptionally hard for Black businesses to flourish. However, the talent of Ms. Dereon kept her doors open and gained her fame and high-class clients both white and black from all over the Southeast. A true entrepreneur with an over-aggressive, can-do attitude Ms. Dereon designed custom clothing, drapes, linens and beddings along with custom crocheted and knitted items. No stranger to hard work, the talented seamstress passed this talent along to her daughter Tina, the mother of Beyonce. And from there Tina Knowles took all of the creativity that was innate from her mother and became a couture designer. Beyonce is just the kick of the Dereon line, nothing else…the person who had the power to kick it up a notch and get it started. Her mother is the designer and her late grandmother is the soul of this fashion majesty.

And it is actually a good line. With items that are able to wear all day and not just on the runway, House of Dereon is a winner. The best part of their line is of course their jeans. Say hooray for the woman with curves! Finally a line that caters to the ‘bootilicious women’ and other women with ethnic shapes that boast tiny waist and robust, high round derrières. House of Dereon jeans are darted in the back so that they stay up even when you sit down, and they fit snug around the waist, but yet allow fullness in the buttocks area. Praise them for no more panty show and the all-too uncomfortable feeling of constantly pulling a too loose waistline up. Say goodbye to the ugly pucker in the back of jeans when you take a seat and enjoy their very feminine pocket designs to enhance your great figure.

Although we all are probably on overkill right now from being spoon fed so much Beyonce, take a deep breath and check out her and her mother’s fashion line. Not the brainchild of the much too popular pop star, but just the beauty of a strong heritage and true fashion talent.

by Tiffany J. Prewitt

Fashion Week, A Natural Celebrity Draw

Fashion Week has hit in New York and in honor of the event, I’m going to be writing about some of the most star-studded shows that were put on this week. What exactly is Fashion Week? Well, if you live under a rock (or on a rock, as I do), I’ll explain it to you. Fashion Week is when major designers showcase their upcoming fashion lines. It is a celebrity studded event and Fashion Week can make or break you. For an up and coming designer, this is THE place to be, hence the popularity of a show like Project Runway with Heidi Klum which gets the final three (actually four), to show off their talent to major players in the fashion industry.

One of the star-studded shows this week was the Zac Posen (http://fabsugar.com/33706 to view the entire collection). In the front row, the likes of Rachel Bilson, Nicole Richie, and Rhianna could be found eyeballing the latest in fashion trends. Zac Posen was a menagerie of evening wear, elegant in golds, whites, and a handful of pinks and reds. The material was mostly satin, the look, decadent. Expect to see some of these creations on the red carpet sometime soon. Most of Zac Posen’s creations were flowy rather then form fitting, perhaps leaning towards the trend of banning skinny models from the runway. Though the shape may be forgiving to those with curves, the satin may be too clingy to problem areas to hide them. There was no lean to a certain era; instead, Zac Posen seemed to cover the last century—variety was a big theme in this collection.

Michael Kors (to view collection, http://fabsugar.com/130751/130709 ) has been a well known designer for a number of years; his popularity has increased tenfold due to his regular appearance as a judge on Project Runway. Who would be surprised to see a number of celebrities at his runway show? Heidi Klum, Serena Williams, Nicole Richie, Hilary Duff, Winona Ryder, Sophia Coppola, and many others attended this fashion week event. Evening gowns in camel, black, and white were highlights in this fall collection, along with sequins and satins, a hint at a trend to come later this year. Coats and jackets were mainly tweeds and double-breasted—classy, yet wearable, some reminiscent of Jackie O. With his simple, yet clean lines Michael Kors fall collection definitely leaned towards the younger demographic. Don’t forget to look for tall fur hats coming into trend in the months to come! The models were wearing it on the runway, and Melania Trump was wearing it in the front row!

Because Fashion Week is pretty extensive—I’ll try to cover it the best I can in the weeks to come. Unless you’d like pages and pages worth of blogging, I’ll break up coverage during the weeks ahead. More celebrity spotting and fashion to come!

by Susan Bynum

Wanting Moore from Mblem

With a lag between major awards shows, I’ve decided to go back to the category of celebrity clothing line. Mandy Moore has been in the news recently for her budding relationship with Nicole Richie ex-flame, “DJ A.M.” Adam Goldstein. What many of us might not know, however, is that Mandy is another celebrity entrepreneur. With singing and acting both tackled, Mandy ventured into the fashion industry in 2005 with a sweet, simple clothing line called Mblem (www.Mblem.net).

Mandy’s spring 2007 line consists of tanks, tops, and dresses, all easy to wear and functional for daytime to night. Everything is pretty basic, no frills, sequins or beads, so it’s great for practicality. The lines are all clean and simple, but not outstanding, not unlike the actor/singer herself. My favorite tee, the “signature tee” also happens to be the most daring—a black tee with a plunging neckline—very pretty and very sexy. Other tanks and tees consist of a spaghetti strapped, pink and white striped tank, very cute, a three-quarter length lavender v-neck, which would be great with jeans, and more along that line.

The spring 2007 line also seems to be the first that Mandy’s ventured into the world of dresses. There are about four in all, each is knee length, and again, are all very safe, with the excepting of a lavender dress with a plunging neckline, again, my favorite. Prices are currently unavailable on Mblem’s website, and this line hasn’t gone out to stores yet. Check in the spring season for prices.

For the available collections, you can shop at www.shoplastyle.com and www.rawclothing.com. Prices range from $120 to $50. Though this collection is cute and stylish, I still find myself craving more from Mblem. The colors are pretty, the lines are nice, but there is nothing there that will place the spotlight on you.

by Susan Bynum

SWF Shines With E Dress Me!

The Golden Globes have just come upon us and though the awards are the most important aspect of the event, all eyes were on the fashions of the red carpet. It’s funny how an awards show commending the talents of actors can shift its attention to how well that actor dresses. Why do fashion and the red carpet steal the show? I have a theory that I’d like to share. Don’t worry; this theory will tie into shopping soon enough.

My theory on this ever-growing trend is that people like to live vicariously through the actors lives. What a shocker! With the growth of tabloids, celebrity bloggers and job openings for paparazzi, the United States (and perhaps other parts of the word) have become literally obsessed with the lives of celebrities. We’ve all become stalkers of sorts, though without the legal implications. With all of this celebrity gawking, we’ve become a pantomime of “Single White Female” (males included), trying to dress like celebs, get their haircuts, and live their glamorous lives. We idolize them, so why wouldn’t we want them to look perfect as they do during awards shows?

What does this have to do with shopping, you ask? Well, there’s a way you can get those award show dresses without having to put down a few thousand dollars for each gown. E Dress Me (www.edressme.com) creates replicas of that stunning haute couture at a fraction of the price. One of my favorite Golden Globes dress this year was Reese Witherspoon’s refreshing lemon yellow Nina Ricci dress. It was a cute, strapless number that stood out amongst a crowd of whites and blacks. E Dress Me already has a pre-order list for this replica priced at only $195. Other dresses you can find on here are Hilary Swank’s plunge-backed dress she wore to the Academy Awards when she won Best Actress ($275), and Kiera Knightly’s Oscar 2006 eggplant Vera Wang frock ($285). With these low prices, it’s easy to look like your favorite actor and be them, a la Hedy.

But tread with caution, ladies and gentlemen, and remember, it’s one thing to look like the crème de la crème of famous faces…it’s another to try to envelop them. Their lives may be glamorous, but the amount of privacy they live with is just grotesque. Sound good? Go ahead and let your star shine!

by Susan Bynum

Famous Fashions Found in One Click

I’m going to take a breather from celebrity fashion lines for a week, and take up surveying the looks that the celebrities themselves wear, partially because it fascinates me, and partially, I won’t like, because I found this awesome website, www.famousfashionsfound.com.

Always wondered where Jessica Simpson gets her jewelry you see snapped by the paparazzi? Where Jennifer Aniston’s “Rachel” gets her stylish outfits? Where jet setting Angelina Jolie got her jacket? Well, instead of hunting for each article of clothing, each earring, each boot individually, Famous Fashions Found has compiled a database of clothing and accessories that these stars are wearing. Though not necessarily of the “it” moment, this is probably the best way to dress like a celebrity.

One of the great things about this website is that you don’t have to leaf through mounds and mounds of pages before you get to the celebrity’s style that you love. With the use of a “shop by star” button, you can click and choose what famous person’s look you’d like to copy. Many of use have that one celebrity whose fashion choices we love, and this makes it easier to narrow down those items to capture that infamous “celebrity” fashion. Famous Fashions stocks a wide variety of items so you’ll more then likely find something you like on this site.

One star’s style I’ve always admired is Jennifer Lopez, and this site has several tops (sequined coverlet, $175), a pair of skinny jeans (on pre-order), and her famous fedora she’s been spotted wearing more then once ($242). It also has some accessories she’s worn over the last year or two, which to me, is helpful. I believe it’s much harder to hunt down the maker of an accessory then a designer of a dress or a shoe.

If you really want to be a like a star, then this website is for you. If you want a little originality, something no one’s ever seen before, then it’s better if you veer away from this site. Chances are, if you buy from here, millions have already seen it in a magazine. Good for you, if you like you’re clothes to be adored by millions….even if you weren’t originally wearing it!

by Susan Bynum

Vintage Feminista: When Fashion, Retro, and the Woman Collide in Jovovich-Hawk

In the last few weeks, I’ve been writing about actors and singers who morphed into fashion designers. Why, I asked myself, am I not spotlight those instead who use fashion as a living? The runway is still the major way for designers to present collections; one of the most important factors in a successful runway show are the types of models wearing the clothes. So who better would know fashion then two top tier supermodels?

Milla Jovovich and Carmen Hawk are the creators of Jovovich-Hawk, the girly, yet sexy fashion collection. Debuting in 2003, this line was available exclusively at Fred Segal and sold out to fashionistas everywhere. With three years under their belt and their forth looming, their Holiday 2006 collection is strong. Filled with frocks of lace, stockings, and brassieres, Jovovich-Hawk manages to capture this season’s trends with a very girly-girl twist on things.

To get a glimpse of Jovovich-Hawk, log on to www.jovovich-hawk.com. Though you can’t purchase from their website, you can see the holiday 2006 collection there. The spring/summer 07 collection can be viewed in www.millaj.com, though I don’t believe it’s available in stores yet.

The most popular aspect about Jovovich and Hawk’s line are their dresses. They are renowned for feminine and vintage edge. Perusing the 06 and 07 collections, you’ll find lots of lace and ruffles, though none are reminiscent of your sixth birthday party. One of my favorite dresses is the Lady Jane velvet mini dress, available at La Garconne (www.lagarconne.com). Though originally part of the fall line, this little velvet dress can take you throughout the winter season with a pair of dark tights and boots. It could also be worn over jeans for a casual look, or even over a pair of dark, skinny slacks, for a dressier, office friendly kick (retail $495, www.lagarconne.com).

Of the spring/summer 07 collection, my personal favorite was the black and white polka dotted chiffon dress. With the retro feel of the polka-dot, mish mashed with a splash of lace, I fell in love. It is a wear-me-now dress, sure to be hot in the next season. Matched with a pair of white, t-strap pumps or platform wedges, this outfit will be to die for.

To sum it up, out of all the collections I’ve reviewed so far, Jovovich-Hawk is one of my favorites. It’s inspired by the modern women, yet still has the trendiness of vintage which has loomed so big over the last year. Though hard to find online, the search will definitely be worth it. Now hand me my t-strap pumps to wear with that chiffon dream.

by Susan Bynum