While the stars, designers, and the fashions were everywhere as Fashion Week kicked off today, some of the shows seem to affected by the economy.  Two designers, Monique Lhuillierand Carmen Marc Valvo, opted for smaller shows in lieu of their usual extravagant runways shows.  Vera Wang will showcase her new fashions in her downtown store. 

There were reports that some of the most famous fashion editors were complaining about taking taxis instead of their usual towncars. 

Jason Wu, middle, with two new pieces of his 2009/10 collection

Some of the most popular shows included Jason Wu, who we all know is the designer behind some of the First Lady, Michelle Obama’s, most popular fashions.  The show was packed, with standing room only.

Linda Carter in Caroline Herrera, Hillary Duff in Donna Karan, and Cicely Tyson in B Michael

The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection Show was also a fantastic hit, as the stars modeled red dress in an effort to increase awareness for heart disease.  Linda Carter hosted the event, which displayed the fashions of many well known designers, including two from England.  In addition to Linda Carter, Katie Curic, Hillary Duff, Cicely Tyson, Brittany Snow, and Nastia Liukin also modeled these beautiful red dresses.

It will be interesting to see what the next week brings.

White Silk Grecian Gown by Robert Rodrigiuez

The film industry has decided to let America vote for the best dress for this year’s Academy Awards trophy presenter.

Seven designers were asked to create a gown that will be seen more than any other gown that night.

The designers are Sam Kori George, Moire Conroy, Marianne Kooimans, Alan Del Rosario, Maria Pinto, Robert Rodriguez, and Nicolas Putvinski all had three weeks to design their gowns.

The winner is to be announced on February 22 at the red carpet show before the awards.  You can vote online at Oscar.com until February 17th.

Here it is! After months of speculation, March’s Vogue issue is out and our First Lady, Michelle Obama, is the cover girl! This makes her the second First Lady ever to appear on the cover (Hilary Clinton was the first, back in 1998). Doesn’t she look beautiful? I love the dress she is wearing - fuschia is a major hue this spring - and I love even more what she has to say about fashion:

“I love clothes. First and foremost, I wear what I love. That’s what women have to focus on: what makes them happy and what makes them feel comfortable and beautiful. If I can have any impact, I want women to feel good about themselves and have fun with fashion.”

I second that emotion! Oh, and the dress she is wearing? Designed by none other than Jason Wu. And she wears a Narcisco Rodriguez frock in the spread inside. I’m excited to get my copy!

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Lourdes Leon (Madonna’s daughter) is developing into quite the fashionista.  I love the menswear inspired look she is sporting here and how she looks youthful yet sophisticated all at once.  I am digging the way she has layered several different elements - scarf, vest, tie, tee, jacket - to create her style.  And check out her silver sneaks.  Those would make any weekend outfit more fun.  Her straw hat reminds me that spring is near and also that mixing seasonal pieces can instantly make an outfit more interesting and your wardrobe more expansive.

We’ve already talked about the fashions from the He’s Just Not That Into You premiere - now it’s time to discuss the movie itself…or, rather, what was worn onscreen! Sartorially speaking, my favorite character was Gigi, the hopeless romantic most in need of the titular advice, played by Ginnifer Goodwin. Her style is feminine and fun without being overly sexy, and I can definitely relate to her predilection for purple! (Gigi sports various shades of purple nail polish, from a light lavender to a regal metallic, throughout the movie.) I’m not the only one who’s just that into Gigi’s clothes; luckily, other bloggers are dissecting her wardrobe as well. Check out the details and find out how to recreate the looks for yourself on CelebStyle and Celebrity Fashion Tips. My favorites are the plaid Diane von Furstenberg coat (from 2007, sadly) and the purple patterned strapless dress by Sea, paired with a custom-designed teal bolero. Even if you’re coveting another character’s wardrobe (Scarlett Johansson’s sexy dresses? Drew Barrymore’s casual bohemian look? The streamlined pieces preferred by Jennifers Aniston and/or Connelly?), these sites can help you find what you’re looking for. Whose onscreen HJNTIY style did you prefer?

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Tish and Amber have given us a rundown of their favorite fashion picks for the Grammys last night. While I was a little surprised by their picks, different opinions are what makes the fashion world go round. I watched the show last night and wasn’t particularly blown away by the fashion choices. But I do need to give some love to Adele. I heart Adele. I love her voice, I love her lyrics, I love her style. And her look last night was styled by none other than the Anna Wintour. This coat is amazing! The jewel-tone shade of green is gorgeous against her skin and perfectly complements her eyes, making them pop. It is the epitome of a perfect evening coat and a beautiful choice for the Best New Artist of the Year. Also, check out her silver flower broach. Broaches are a great way to add a little intrigue to any outfit and they are going to be a major way to accessorize this year. Even our First Lady is a fan of the broach and since she is the new fashion world darling, you know it will be big.

It gets tiresome feeling as though people pick on Paris Hilton, but this little number just does not fit in with the rest of the attendees.  It looks almost like a negligee (or as MTV Newsroom put it “a swimsuit cover–how functional”)  Maybe I am simply overloaded with formal wear at this year’s Grammy awards, but this 2003 Versace “dress” should have stayed in the closet!

Of course, Paris doesn’t get my only vote for the worst dressed.  Here’s another:  Estelle.  While her distinictive fashion sense often borders on the extreme, (but she usually pulls it off), this looks like some sort of alien/space costume gone horribly wrong.  It’s a Bernard Chandran dress, but what is up with the Guiseppe Zanotti open toed boots/shoes?

While there were some lovely dresses and very handsome tuxes at tonight’s Grammy Awards, there were a few people who should have consulted a professional.

Carrie Underwood is usually very fashionable, but this dress simply doesn’t make the grade. With the multiple bands around the waist, Carrie, who we all know is very trim, looks about twenty pounds heavier. If this is the new spring style, I may not leave the house.

Lady Hannah also looked like something you expect to see in a local thrift store window. I’m not sure if it was the ghastly black shoes or the way the pink made her look like someone on the verge of a blood transfusion, but this outfit is BLAH.

Seriously ladies, with all the talented people you surround yourselves with, maybe it’s time to find someone who knows fashion!

I love watching the Grammy’s just to see what everyone is wearing and this year was certainly not a disappointment.  As the stars arrived, it seemed most of them looked positively beautiful as usual. 

So far, Lisa Rinna’s gown has to be one of my all time favorites!  It’s is absolutely stunning on Lisa’s perfect body and designer Zuhair Murad certainly has a hit.  During an interview January, she had stated she was wearing one of Murad’s gowns, but wasn’t sure what she was wearing to the Academy Awards.  I have no doubt she will choose well.

 Kathy Griffen didn’t disappoint either, this beautiful navy blue gown (navy is very hot this year) looks incredible.  She was very playful, as expected on the red carpet, and looked fabulous.

Many of the gowns this year were off the shoulder or one-shouldered.  This was really no surprise, as this is one of the hottest trends of the year.  Heather Schmid almost reminds me of mermaid in this gown.  Love the color, but I didn’t care for the length.

Lauren Knudsen with Dweezil Zappa looked like a breath of spring in this beautiful bright yellow gown.  Not everyone can pull of this color, but I think she managed it fabuously.

I will keep you updated as to designer, fabric and other information about these and other beautiful gowns from the 51st annual Grammy Awards.  Just couldn’t wait to share these photos, but let me say, there are a few dresses that must hit the “Oh I wish she didn’t” list as well!  Stay tuned for more!

Puffy dresses were a hit at tonight’s Grammy Awards. We have seen these on all the runways lately, and apparently so have the stars. I love this look that was worn by Phoebe Price.  As you can see from the pictures, this  puffy dress style was a hit. I love this pink dress worn by Phoebe and it is a great way to hid those not so friendly hips, (not that she has anything to worry about).  This dress really makes a statement, whether it is on the red carpet or at the local club. However, my only question is “What the heck was she thinking with the head piece?” She looks like she might fly away any minute.

How many times have you been walking behind someone, only to notice their  panty lines are as obvious as a neon sign?  While thongs aren’t for everyone, here’s a great pair that actually sit tight against the skin, without any bunching.  Flingz are even packaged in little plastic bags for a quick change if needed.

Kate Hudson has perfected the behind the scenes lineless look in this unbelievably chic Alexander Wang number.  Love the color!

Robert Pattinson is set for the cover of the April 2009 edition of GQ, the popular men’s fashion magazine.  In an upcoming issue of  What’s Hot for 2009, the “Twilight” star is said to the cover model for GQ, sporting a new shorter hairstyle.  Not much has been heard from this teen idol since November’s premier as he’s been hiding away in the UK for the past few months.  While Pattinson’s publicist won’t confirm or deny the “rumor,” Celebuzz says a source has confirmed it’s a “for sure.”

You may have heard by now that none other than Katie Holmes (that little fashion plate!) has signed on to be the face of Miu Miu’s Spring 2009 ad campaign. It’s a pairing that makes sense; love her or hate her, you can’t deny that Katie has taken more than her share of fashion risks. (Don’t believe me? Scroll through some past LatestBeauty posts - we have analyzed her outfits on many occasions!) And finally, the ads have started to surface. Katie pretty much epitomizes the term “fierce,” with her aggressive stance and almost-scary facial expressions, and the drapey dresses and setting seem to evoke ancient Greece. What do you think? Are these ads working for you?

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Kristen Bell looked great this week, combining a sweet floral skirt with a laid-back grey tee and toughening up the sweetness with a black leather jacket.  It’s casual and laid-back while still remaining pulled-together.  It’s just the kind of outfit I’d want to wear to a dinner with friends or on a date with my hubby.  Floral prints with leather jackets are my go-to in spring and soft grey tees are my go-to all year round.  I also love her sassy red toenail polish peeking out in her gladiator-caged-combo heel.  Nicely done!

Behold Rihanna, the fashion chameleon.  I love how she doesn’t feel pigeon-holed into her fashion choices and can go from rock-n-roll tough to preppy chic, from day to day.  Yesterday she was at the Grove looking adorable in a simple button-down oxford shirt paired with a linen mini-skirt.  She tossed on some pearls choker-style, several chunky bangles and some high-heeled nude sandals (not pictured) to elongate her legs.  Giving us a preview of how to work it this spring (and yes, it was spring-like here in LA yesterday), I can’t wait to try out a look like this, putting my own spin on it.

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The biggest news at the He’s Just Not That Into You premiere, besides the adventurous (if a bit questionable) fashion choices of the film’s five leading ladies - Jennifer Aniston and Ginnifer Goodwin looked gorgeous in a slim-cut black pantsuit and a short pumpkin-colored cocktail dress, respectively, while Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly and Scarlett Johansson wore an enormous satin bow, a Dynasty-esque sequined dress with huge shoulder pads and what appeared to be Grandma’s drapes, respectively - was hair-related. It is with a heavy heart that I report that Ms. Johansson, nearly as famous for her light blonde locks as she is for her pillowy lips or her curvy figure, has forsaken peroxide and gone brunette.

Thoughts? While I generally prefer darker hair colors, I actually think ScarJo looked better Before. The blonde hair really lightened up her strong features and brought out her eyes. Then again, perhaps it will help to see her new hair in a wavier, more full-bodied style, instead of center-parted and stick-straight. (And again, that dowdy floral-patterned gown is doing her no favors.) What do you think of Scarlett’s new hair color? Vast improvement or serious downgrade?

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Jenifer Aniston does it again at the premier of “He’s Just Not That Into You.” She looked stunning on the red carpet and as usual she has included the most popular trends in her outfit. Read any blog, fashion magazine, or check out the runways, and you will find that blazers, chunky jewelry, and wide leg pants are this year’s hits. Of course, messy up-dos are also a hit. Aniston has it covered this time. I love this look on her! Unlike a few other stars who looked like they had pulled outfits out of the 1980’s, Aniston is very fashion forward.

I have a confession: I like Renee Zellweger. I know a lot of people who find her annoying - particularly the way she tends to squint and purse her lips whenever a camera is pointed in her general direction - but she’s been in several of my favorite movies. How can I not l feel affectionate toward the woman who brought both Bridget Jones and Roxie Hart to life on the silver screen!? Anyhow, given my secret Zellweger love, I was extremely happy to see her looking ravishing in red for a recent Letterman appearance to promote her movie New in Town.

Aren’t you loving this!? Her slim-cut, one-shoulder (call it the Michelle Obama effect!) Nina Ricci dress, a glorious shade of crimson with sparkling accents, is complemented by equally intense ruby-hued heels and a huge red cocktail ring. The color gives Renee a much needed dose of - well, color. I think she could’ve even pulled off a bold red lip and gotten away with it! But then again, this was a talk show appearance, not the red carpet. Speaking of which, how can Renee go from that bizarre Caroline Herrera get-up she wore to the Golden Globes to this in a matter of weeks? Did she fire her old stylist or merely come to her senses? In case you can’t recall what she wore to the GGs, here’s a little refresher:

Yikes. Nothing, but nothing, she wore that night did her any favors. But cast your eyes back up to the red Letterman dress! See, Renee’s still got it! She’s just been…hiding it from us for a little while. What do you think? Does Renee deserve the Most Improved Fashion award or what?

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