The Simpson clan is no stranger to going under the knife. After all, Ashlee Simpson underwent a nose job while in the public eye. But did you know that Jessica Simpson has had her share of plastic surgery as well? The pop star has been famous for more than a decade now, but the changes to her face happened so gradually that you may have missed it. Consider this Jessica Simpson plastic surgery before/after shot: Her nose is narrower, her eyes wider and her lips fuller. While her features may have simply developed over time, it seems more likely that Jessica had a little surgical assistance along the way. A basic rhinoplasty procedure could help narrow and sculpt her nose, while injections are the most common solution for plumping one’s pout. It’s also possible that an eye-widening procedure was performed to give Jessica’s peepers a more perfect appearance. What do you think? Are the Jessica Simpson plastic surgery rumors true, or is it just another mean-spirited attempt to smear Jess in the press?

Are Jessica Simpson's full lips all natural or does she have her doctor to thank?

A lot has been said about Paris Hilton, but perhaps amid all of the sex scandals and drug charges, you missed out on one very obvious fact: Paris Hilton appears to have had plastic surgery! In fact, if you check out this Paris Hilton plastic surgery before and after, you’ll see that Ms. Hilton looks very different than she did when she was a teenager. While the shot on the left features a young, fresh-faced Paris sporting her natural nose, the picture on the right shows Paris as we see her today – and her nose couldn’t be more different. It’s clear that Paris has been under the knife for a rhinoplasty procedure, which would help narrow the bridge of her nose, giving it a more refined appearance and reshaping the cartilage at the tip. More defined cheekbones point to the possibility of cheek implants, and several different sources have speculated as to whether Ms. Hilton may have undergone breast implants as well. Of course, nothing’s shocking when it comes to the antics of this jetsetting heiress – but it’s still a bit of a surprise when you see just how obvious the change actually is. What do you think of Paris Hilton’s plastic surgery bombshell? Did you like her face better before or after her nose job?

Courtney Cox’s personal life has been a series of ups and downs lately. Her post-Friends series, Cougar Town, has been generating plenty of critical acclaim, and its ratings are on the rise. Yet Cox recently announced her separation from her husband of 11 years, David Arquette. (Although the two are separating, a divorce isn’t yet in the works, and sources say a reconciliation is a distinct possibility.) But Courtney Cox fans are probably still wondering one thing: Are the Courtney Cox plastic surgery rumors true or false? If you examine this Courtney Cox before and after shot, you’ll clearly see that the actress seems to have had some work done – particularly around her eyes and mouth. In the photo on the right, her smile lines have been minimized, her eyes look brighter, and her skin looks smoother as a whole.  Procedures that could create these effects include Botox or other injectable fillers; facelifts; browlifts; eyelifts, and more. Of course, Courtney has never been one to shy away from talk of plastic surgery in interviews; in 2008, she described Botox as “fantastic and also horrible.” While she has clearly stated that she does not
consider plastic surgery to be out of the question, she has also said that “you have to use it sparingly” for the best results. What do you think? Has Courtney Cox’s plastic surgeon been using a sufficiently light touch on her famous face, or is she already starting to display the telltale signs of too much cosmetic alteration?

Has Courtney Cox had plastic surgery on her face to maintain her youthful appearance?

Beth Ditto may not be a household name just yet, but she’s already establishing herself as an icon in certain circles: The underground music scene, and the usually exclusive world of high fashion. In addition to fronting blues-punk-dance trio the Gossip, where she’s won fans for years with her considerable pipes and confrontational/celebratory stage presence, she is also a crusader for gay rights and fat acceptance. “Fat” is not a word Ditto shies away from; in fact, she owns it and makes no bones about what it’s like to be a size 28 fashion plate:

“I don’t understand all these women who say they feel betrayed by fashion. A piece of clothing can’t talk – it can’t tell you that you can’t have it – so really, you’re just telling yourself that. You make yourself the victim, because if you want clothes that bad, then make them yourself. You have to get creative if you’re fat.”

No matter what size you are, it’s hard not to feel inspired by Beth’s unapologetic, can-do attitude. She’s essentially telling women that they don’t have to commit themselves to “camouflaging” those extra pounds – they can flaunt them instead. And flaunt them she did at Paris Fashion Week last Saturday, when she opened and closed Jean Paul Gaultier’s spring/summer 2011 show in two of his rock’n'roll-inspired frocks, pictured above. She looks happy and confident, and at one point actually burst into song during her final walk, which ended with thunderous applause and an enthusiastic embrace from the legendary designer. Could this be the beginning of true size acceptance in the world of haute couture, or do you think Beth is just an exception to the size zero rule?

October is here! And that means that you’re probably thinking about Halloween costumes, right? Well, with the economy still in a rather sorry state, you may not have substantial amounts of cash to invest in a costume – but you can still make an impression on October 31st. Why not take a cue from Ms. Tyra Banks herself, who made a splash at last night’s French Vogue 90th Anniversary Party in Paris? All you’ll need is fishnet stockings and some scissors!

First, let me preface this by saying that the event was, indeed, a costume party, so Tyra’s fishnet face wasn’t entirely out of place. Also, she is wearing a super lovely Roberto Cavalli gown paired with minimal makeup and accessories – elegant and understated, right? Well, from the neck down, at least. From the neck up, she is wearing…fishnets on her face. According to Tyra’s Twitter, the mask is “sum cheap FISHNET stockings I got n crazy store n Paris! I cut em up n made it y’all. N did my ow hair n makeup.” And lest you scoff, the old fishnet-on-the-head trick is actually startlingly similar to the fencing masks that Viktor & Rolf sent down the runway in 2008. So what do you think? Is this a viable last minute Halloween costume idea, or total red carpet abomination?

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I am one of the biggest advocates you will find of keeping skin healthy now so you don’t have to resort to surgery or needles later so you’ll look young.  For me, that means washing my face every night, keeping my skin moisturized – face, neck and chest, – and wearing sunscreen, rain or shine.  So a headline over at Yahoo definitely piqued my interest:  5 Surprising Ways You’re Ruining Your Skin.  A few of the tips were not so surprising – getting enough rest and being a serious runner – were things I already knew about.  But hearing about the dangers of tap water and steam rooms were interesting to learn about.  But I would definitely add to the first tip about getting your prescriptions for your eyes up to date.  The idea is that if you have to squint with your glasses or contacts, then you may be contributing to fine lines around your eyes.  I would definitely add in the necessity for wearing sunglasses!  Not only are you likely to squint less with shade for your eyes, but when you wear large frames like Jennifer Aniston’s in this picture, then you are protecting that delicate tissue around your eyes even further – if you have sunglasses with UV protection.  You don’t have to get expensive sunglasses in order to have UV protection.  Just make sure you read the description on the sunglasses carefully and always opt for 100% UV protection.  It is better for your eyes, to help prevent cataracts, and it is better for your skin, to help prevent wrinkles.

Yes, this picture of Jessica Biel is from awhile back.  And, yes, I’m sure the fact that her undergarments were showing was some sort of brilliantly calculated designer choice.  She looks lovely, why wouldn’t she want to show off her granny panties?  Actually – it looks more like she is wearing some sort of control-top, Spanx-like underwear.  You know, the kind that sucks in your tummy too.  Stars!  They’re just like us!

Here’s the thing:  Sometimes we try on dresses in fitting rooms or even at home and we don’t realize the transparency of the dress until we are out in less forgiving lighting.  Maybe that is what happened to Jessica.  But even if she knew her dress was sheer that doesn’t mean that we all want to wear sheer dresses.  In fact, I would argue that most of the dresses we wear these days could use a little help….hence the title of this post, Ode to the Slip.

I love wearing dresses and skirts.  And these days I can really stock up on them because most of the dresses I get are from trendy, affordable stores – like Forever 21 or H&M or Old Navy.  Which is great BUT there is a reason these garments are so wallet-friendly:  Usually, they are cheaply made.  I don’t buy a dress from one of these places and think it’s going to last forever.  In fact, I usually buy dresses from there so I can embrace a current trend without investing too much money in a look that might be fleeting in the fickle world of fashion.  But herein lies the problem:  they are cheaply made and most likely don’t have the right lining.

Not to sound like a crotchety old lady….but I don’t want you to see my crotch.  And I most certainly don’t want to see yours.  And chances are, you don’t want me to either.  Which is why I consider this to be a public service announcement:

INVEST IN A SLIP

Invest in a couple.  Buy a few half-slips in a few different colors – nude, black, white.  They are affordable at places like Target and if you want to get fancy you can pick one up at a lingerie store.  It is kind of amazing what this thin piece of fabric can do to camouflage what’s under your thin piece of fabric dress.  With so many of us embracing dress-wearing by buying them from affordable places, it makes sense to kick it old school and wear a slip.   It is just a little tool that goes a long way.

Just a quick post about how gorgeous Natalie Portman looked on the opening day of the Venice Film Festival.  Her bold red dress by Rodarte was perfectly offset with her neutral makeup choices.  I love the detail of the shoulders and the neckline on this dress.  And this shade of red is what I’m going to be looking for when I start populating my fall wardrobe.

The one thing I’m not so crazy about is the clutch that is paired with the dress.  Does it look like a makeup bag to anyone else?  Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a few makeup bags in my time that I thought could double as purses….but now I see how that doesn’t really work.  I’m sure this is some gorgeous designer bag but it stands out to me as something that should have been left at the vanity.

Back to the gorgeousness though:  the lightly lined eyes, with what looks like brown eyeliner to keep the look as natural as possible, is perfection.  The application really makes her brown eyes look otherworldly.  I am a big fan of MAC’s Stubborn Brown Powerpoint Eye Pencil to help achieve this defined yet delicate look.  It looks like a touch of white shadow was dabbed underneath on the inside corner of her eye to really make her eyes pop.

I’m feeling inspired to shop for beautiful red shirts and dresses and bags. And I’m feeling inspired to play up my eyes and neutralize my lip color.

There were plenty of red carpet looks this week, between the Emmys and the Venice Film Festival:

What looks inspired you?

We do love Drew around Latest Beauty headquarters and one of the things that is most appealing about her is her ability to seem so down to earth, despite having been in the spotlight since, well, practically birth.  Case in point:  Here on the left is Drew this past Monday in LA for the red carpet premiere of Going The Distance.  And on the left is Drew in NY yesterday for a visit to David Letterman.  Notice anything similar?  Look down…

She is rocking the same grey suede pumps at both events.

And looking fabulous while doing it!

The style and color of the shoe are the perfect where-anywhere combination.  At more formal events or as business casual, the neutral suede is one of the ideal buys for the fall.  So, of course, I did a little shopping around for you (and me).

I like this wedge option from MaxStudio that I found over at DSW.  I am forever clumsy in heels, so a wedge helps me to be less of a klutz.   If you are more adept at handling heels like a grown up, a la the lovely Drew, then you can check out these pumps from Steve Madden.  Either way is a very cool and classy way to go!

UPDATE:

Spotted!  Drew wore her favorite shoes, yet again, when she stopped by The Daily Show on Wednesday, the day this was posted:

Girlfriend knows how to pack for a road trip!  And, by the by, ShoppingtheTrend.com has identified Drew’s shoes as YSL Tribtoo Platform Pumps.  If you’re in the market for a shoe splurge, this might be the one to sink your dollars into.  Drew is clearly getting her money’s worth!

The whole “stars without Photoshop” thing is really running rampant lately – but I think that just goes to show that magazines rely on digital airbrushing way, way too much. I understand that fashion mags want to create an air of “fantasy” for their readers, but there’s a difference between fantasy and complete fiction, and in many cases, that line has been crossed so many times that it can be downright jarring to see pictures of a celeb looking less than flawless. I submit, for your consideration, this unretouched picture of Jennifer Aniston, taken at a photo shoot several years ago, but just released today:

[Photo Removed]

Comments on these photos have ranged from “That’s where too much partying and not enough sunscreen will get ya!” to “She looks her age, but she’s also gorgeous.” In case you’re curious, here’s a Photoshopped pic from the same shoot:

Yes, she’s pretty either way, but the difference is really astounding. So what’s your take on these shots? Do you find Jen “au natural” surprisingly attractive, or just…surprising?

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Edit 8/20/10:  We received a cease and desist email from someone at Management + Artists + Organization, who we suppose own the untouched photos, and they “demand” that we take them down due to unauthorized use.  So there you have it.  They also used about 16 asterisks in their email, so we’re not sure if we should take them seriously.  In any case, we don’t want to be sued over a little blog post.

Hermione, what have you done to your hair?!

So shooting recently wrapped on the final Harry Potter film, and it’s not surprising that the young stars of the series might want to do something a little “out there” to celebrate their newfound freedom. Yet I was still a little startled by this shot of Emma Watson sporting her brand new pixie cut instead of her longer Hermione locks. I love it though! It looks great. A little Mia Farrow, a little Jean Seberg; a great summertime cut, and one that is very flattering on women with delicate, feminine features. What do you think of Emma’s new ‘do? Are you a fan, or do you miss the length?

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Such a pretty hair color…such an unpalatable name. That pretty much sums up my feelings about the latest hair color craze, a brown/blonde hybrid that has been inelegantly dubbed “bronde” by professional colorist/Shear Genius judge Kim Vo, who enthusiastically declared, “If blonde and brown were to have a love child, it would be bronde!” when asked about the new trend. Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, Miley Cyrus, Gisele Bundchen and Jennifer Aniston are just a few of the celebs who have been making waves with this new color lately. The look is achieved by painting two different shades of blonde highlights onto the upper layer of brown hair. (You’ll probably want to visit your stylist for this one, unless you’re really, really good at coloring your own hair at home.) So do brondes have more fun? Let’s settle this once and for all!

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The necklace Jessica is wearing is on sale today!

Wendy Culpepper Jewelry is having a one-day-only sale today and it is kind of epic:  

All of their gold vermeil pieces are on sale today for 50% off – no code needed!  

I own the ring pictured here and it is one of my favorite pieces that I wear all the time. It is usually $115 but today you can snatch it up for $57.50.  There are rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets all for really good prices and I am totally going to take advantage of the deals.  I’ve had my eye on a few of the pieces from the Alligator Collection for awhile now – no better day than today to finally make some wishes come true.  There is one ring that I love that is only $20 today – that is a steal!!  If you love jewelry, then you have to check out the artistry of Wendy’s designs.  These are truly unique pieces that you’ll get tons of compliments on – Wendy Culpepper has a major celebrity following and has been featured in some of your favorite magazines and tv shows and movies.  Truly designer, truly special, truly worth it.

Speaking of inventive beauty tie-ins and Halloween-appropriate nail polish, here’s a fun little set that combines both! In case you’re not aware, there is currently an Addams Family musical that is doing very well on Broadway, starring Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia and Nathan Lane as Gomez. Morbid though she may be, Morticia has always been quite the style icon; from Carolyn Jones on the ’60s-era TV show to Anjelica Huston in the ’90s films, no one works a little black dress and severe makeup quite like Morticia – and the current Broadway iteration of the character is no exception. Even if the Addams matriarch leans a little too far toward the dark side for you, you’re probably up for a vampy manicure every now and then, especially once fall rolls around. Enter Morticia’s Nails, a trio of morbid shades created by Essie with creative input from Neuwirth and her husband.

Inside the adorably goth packaging, you’ll find three colors: Midnight Tango (a deep navy blue), Bone Chilling White (a stark white creme) and Blood Curdling Red (a bloody crimson). The entire set is $30, with all proceeds benefiting the Actor’s Fund, a non-profit group that raises money for the performing arts.

So which set would you rather have on hand this Halloween?  Morticia’s Nails, China Glaze Awakening…or something else entirely?

(Photo from Just Jared)

Jessica Alba at the Christian Dior show in Paris.  She’s wearing a gorgeous pink and white strapless chiffon dress.

(Photo from Just Jared)

Blake Lively in Chanel at Paris Fashion Week (can you tell I love Chiffon dresses?)

(Photo from Just Jared)

Jessica Alba in Chanel (I love Chanel & Jessica Alba at Paris Fashion Week).  I would say that she’s probably having the best week ever.

(Photo from The Hills Gossip, who credits Fab Sugar)

I’m not sure who this Olivia Palermo chick is, but apparently she’s on The Hills spinoff, The City. Whoever she is, she has great style!  Jetting around from fashion shows in Paris to Berlin.

And, not a celeb, but I thought this was pretty awesome:

(Photo credit: The Daily Beast)

Christian Dior, floral inspired show.

More pictures to come!

Lindsay Lohan made quite a stir at her recent probation hearing, where she was sentenced to 90 days in prison. (Of course, she’s planning to appeal the decision, so time will tell whether LiLo actually ends up in the clink.) But one thing’s for certain: People aren’t likely to forget about her courtroom manicure anytime soon. It appeared that Lindsay decided to show her displeasure with the proceedings by scrawling a certain, um, message on her middle fingernail, on top of her swirly, multicolored pastel polish. Now, in Lindsay’s defense, she claims that the profanity wasn’t intended for the judge at all. Instead, she and a friend had painted their nails “as a joke” the night before, and it just so happened that the mani coincided with her fateful court date. Others have speculated that the message was actually intended for the paparazzi. What do you think of Lindsay’s manicure? Kinda funny, or totally inappropriate, given the circumstances? It certainly doesn’t seem to have worked in her favor as far as the verdict is concerned…

P.S. Elaine over at Lacquer Laine did a really fantastic job of duplicating this unusual manicure (sans profanity) – check out the pics and a step-by-step how-to on her blog!

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Isn’t Salma Hayek’s sizzling hot white and red ensemble just the most summery, retro sexy outfit ever?! I’m in love with it. Just goes to show that you don’t need a lot going on in terms of detailing or accessories – you just need to create a compelling combination of elements. Specifically…

1. A white strapless dress with a bit of structure.
2. An eye-catching red belt to nip in your waist and add a bold pop of color to break up all that white.
3. Bold red suede platform heels.
4. A boxy black clutch to reinforce the retro vibe.
5. And, of course, a vibrant red lipstick to tie everything together, like NARS Jungle Red.

Keep the rest of your makeup and accessories to an absolute minimum (I think Salma could have added some red polish without going over the top, but she looks lovely with nude nails too), and you’re ready for some hot summer nights! Oh, and feel free to try out a mysterious, Veronica Lake-inspired hairstyle for a little extra drama.

Oh that Miley Cyrus…making headlines all over because of her fashion choices.  Miley has been experiencing backlash lately because of her more “risque” performance outfits at recent appearances.  The most recent was at the MuchMusic Awards in Toronto on Sunday.  She had two performances and wore two equally skimpy styles and now fans are questioning, “Where did little Miley go?”

Miley made a good point when she defended her choices by stating the double standard that women are faced with in this industry :  Taylor Lautner and Zac Ephron are being photographed and encouraged to take their shirts off for roles and for magazine shoots, despite their young ages, and no one takes it personally.  People seem to take it personally when Miley shows a little leg and a hint of sexuality.

Here’s the thing:  she is still only 17.  And so technically she is still a child star.  But then again, Taylor and Zac were under 18 when all the hoopla started surrounding them too.  So I get her point about the double standards…

But.

Why is it that to show the world that you are “growing up” you have to be overtly sexual?  Maybe I’m a prude but, to me, there are plenty of other ways to assert your new status as an almost-adult.  Maybe not in the music industry though?  Maybe since Lady Gaga doesn’t wear pants, no other pop star can either?

To Miley though, little clothing has a different meaning:

“I work really hard to be fit and to know I can wear whatever makes me feel most comfortable, and I feel most comfortable dressing with a little less. And that’s kind of how I’ve always been, it’s just now I’m able to do that a little more freely.”

(I hear ya, girl.  I’ve been working out and yesterday I put on a pair of shorts that are shorter than I would normally be comfortable in…but dang if they didn’t look good!  I wanted to show off my hard work too!)

Honestly, when I look at these two photos though I don’t see a highly sexualized image.  I see a young girl putting on a show and in need of a different stylist.  Seriously – those black booties have got to go.  They make the poor girl’s feet look like hooves.

Enough about what I think!  What do you think?  Is Miley trying too hard to be “grown up?”  Do you think this is a natural progression?  Or do you think it is much ado about nothing?  Let us know what you think with a comment!

It’s a strange choice for me, I’ll admit, but I think I’m going to cast my vote for Gwyneth Paltrow’s stunning, 60s-inspired hot pink Prada minidress as Red Carpet Look of the Week! The star stepped out in this unapologetically girlie dress at the National Movie Awards in London on Wednesday, and I can’t get over how much this shade of pink pops against the red carpet. (In fact, it kinds of borders on clashing, but I honestly dig that about it!) What I love most, however, is the way Gwyneth has really committed to her cause of wearing pink from head to toe, anchoring her bubblegum frock with Barbie-esque Louboutin heels and a pedicure to match. Fun, retro, and surprisingly subversive…what do you think of Gwyneth’s “pretty in pink” moment?

Yes…I have to admit…I wasn’t entirely planning on seeing Sex and the City 2 this weekend.  I know that a lot of people are gathering their girlfriends, grabbing some cosmos and buying their tickets – if they haven’t already.  The movie officially opened yesterday and I wasn’t sure if I would set aside time to see it while its theaters.  But there is something about the above picture of the ladies doing the red carpet thing at the London premiere that makes me want to make some room in my schedule.  They all look stunning and I’m wishing I was in on this conversation.  Kim has got something juicy to tell,  SJP is eager to hear, Cynthia isn’t sure if she buys it and Kristin is shocked.  They epitomize their characters in this picture and it makes me want to see the movie, just to feel like I’ve gotten a glimpse into this picture on the big screen.  Even if it was just a clever ploy to get me to buy a ticket…it may have worked.

By the way, let’s just talk a little fashion for a moment.  SJP is paying homage to her friend, the late and great Alexander McQueen by wearing one of his runway pieces.   And notice the black band on her arm?  A subtle and classy way to honor a friend’s passing.  The color of Cynthia Nixon’s dress is stunning with her skin tone and hair color.  And I love the way the bodice pulls off the one-shoulder trend.  Can I say enough about Kristin Davis’ dress?  From the elaborate gold to the flattering waistband this dress is something I wish I had hanging in my closet.  And Kim Cattrall looks like a classic Old Hollywood siren.  The cleavage and the slit are sometimes too much when paired together but Kim shows us how to do this daring look just right.  Blake Lively should take some notes….

And I love the vibrant color on Kim’s nails.  It may just be classic red but this picture makes it look like there may be a slight orange tone to the polish.  Fire!  I know what color I want to paint my nails for this holiday weekend now.

A quick search over at Essie is leaving me feeling satisfied.  Doesn’t this red-orange shade called Vermillionaire look awfully similar to Kim’s mani/pedi?  I think it is time to paint the town red-orange with a little help from my girlfriends…both real and onscreen.

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