Get The Look For Less – Rachel Bilson At Showtime’s TCA Event

Rachel Bilson, looking fabulous as always, puts a feminine twist on the menswear trend at Showtime’s Summer TCA (Television Critics Association) party at the Pagoda in Beverly Hills last week. Bilson’s sheer cream with black detail sleeveless blouse by Malene Birger and pointy toe (the new silhouette for fall) Shoemint pumps are incredibly gorgeous, but the standout piece is undoubtedly the high-waisted black cropped pant with pocket detail by Alexander McQueen.

But they are also what puts the price tag so far out of reach for many. Not to worry, you can get this look for less, much less. With the aide of ASOS’s sleeveless blouse ($29.00) and Vince Camuto’s fantastic skinny ankle pants ($79.00) you have an equally fabulous look. Since we all need a little touch up through the night, not to mention a smart phone, I added an awesome snakeprint over-sized clutch ($34.95) to complete your look for less!!

Clockwise from top left: ASOS Sleeveless Blouse $41.43 on sale for $29.00 www.asos.com, Vince Camuto Skinny Ankle Pants $79.00 www.nordstroms.com, Urban Expressions Cleopatra Clutch $34.95 www.dsw.com, Aldo Romelia Pump $80.00 www.zappos.com.

Shoes That Sparkle & Shine For The New Year

If you want to add some sparkle and shine to your New Year’s Eve outfit but sequin or metallic dresses are a bit much for you, choose a pair of shoes from our curated selection of sparkle and shine. These shoes take a chic LBD to outright WOW with an infusion of pizzaz.

We’ve covered every budget imaginable – from Michael Antonio’s Love Me Metallic pump from DSW for $34.95 to Charlotte Olympia’s black velvet platform pumps for $875.00 from Net-a Porter. We even covered the in-between area with Kate Spade’s Latrice red satin pump for $298.00, and found designer shoes on sale – Stuart Weitzman’s T-Strap sandal in silver and Loeffler Randall’s Gold Natene lace-up stiletto.

No need to worry about your LBD being boring, not when you add a pair of shoes that SPARKLE and SHINE.

Clockwise from top left: Stuart Weitzman T-Strap Sandal $498.00 on sale for $373.50 www.neimanmarcus.com, Loeffler Randall Natene Lace-Up Stiletto $625.00 on sale for $438.00 www.loefflerrandall.com, Kate Spade New York Latrice Pump $298.00 www.nordstrom.com, Charlotte Olympia Dolly Velvet Platform Pumps $875.00 www.netaporter.com, Michael Antonio Love Me Metallic Pump $34.95 www.dsw.com, Steve Madden Showstop Black Satin Sandal $149.00 on sale for $96.85 www.jildorshoes.com.

Get The Look For Less – Demi Moore

Demi Moore looked glam yet rocker-chic in leather leggings, a sheer white tie blouse, black blazer, along with Brian Atwood black patent pumps and a metallic clutch.

To get Demi’s look, start with leather-like leggings, wear a loose white tunic, preferably one that’s a bit see-through and/or has a deep-V neckline. Underneath the slightly sheer top, wear a sexy black bra like Demi’s. Next, add a black blazer (this one actually has a slit opening in the back!) – it adds polish to the look and provides an extra layer of warmth. Finally, throw on some black patent pumps, and grab a metallic clutch, like this beautiful gold beaded one, and you are ready for a night out!

Here are our picks to get Demi’s look for less:

  

(Clockwise from top left: Warehouse Faux Leather Leggings $80.86 on sale for $48.52 www.asos.com, Wyatt Ruffle Blouse $117 www.bluefly.com,  Level 99 Fiona Blazer $128.00 www.chelseabrentwood.com, Kelsi Daggar Pump $79.95 www.dsw.com.)

From My Closet To Yours – Styling Tips By Kristin

I’ve been obsessed with my Paper Crown – Lauren Conrad’s new line – bright navy blazer ever since my closet became it’s new home a few weeks ago. I’ve been wearing it with my boyfriend jeans and simple tee’s or with casual tee shirt dresses and am just loving it.

Besides the pop of color it adds to my basic jeans/tee outfits, I love that it contains 4% spandex for a snug fit that’s extremely comfortable. For my birthday dinner at Hal’s in Venice, I decided to dress it up. As my present to myself (have to wear something new on the bday), I got the new Haute Hippie Lace Shorts ($225.00) and paired it with a Hanes wife beater (they also look fantastic when paired with a black silk blouse), opaque tights and my  Zigi Soho Alison platform ankle booties (marked down to $39.90). The cherry on top was my Cynthia Desser druzy necklace -  my bday present from the designer herself -  which has ownly left my neck when I sleep.

To score the best deal on Hane’s wife beaters (can’t they come up with another name for that) buy them at Target for $9.99 for a package of 5 ( in store only) or at target.com for the premium cotton – package of 6 for $22.99. Such the deal!! I buy them in mens x-small and shrink them down. You can get the Paper Crown Blazer ($265.00), which also comes in black, at Chelsea’s in Brentwood (310)471-4770.

Happy Shopping!!

Trend Report – LadyLike Fashion

What makes fashion so exciting is that it never stays in one place for long. Trends may carry over from one season to the next, but the difference in those seasons spares the trends from a copycat existence. The ladylike trend has been slowly introduced back into fashion and has hit a fever pitch this Fall/Winter 2011 ( and stayed for Spring/Summer 2012).

Just to be clear, we’re not talking dowdy or matronly, but more along the lines of feminine and soft while retaining a healthy dose of sex appeal. It takes more than fashion to make a women “ladylike”- I’ll never forget Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady repeating, “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plane”, over and over again or learning to walk with books atop her head – yet there is nothing like the feeling of wearing a chiffon or lace dress to make you feel feminine and womanly.

Perhaps, Ken Downing, the senior vice president and fashion director at Neiman Marcus summed up the Ladylike trend best when he was quoted as saying, “Coming out of a challenged economy, designers have given great thought to what women want to wear. The clothes are ladylike, closer to the body and designers are really embracing color. Colored pants are everywhere in the market and everyone is doing a trench with trim. Feminine blouses with ruffles and lace are a continuation of dressed-up looks”.

Clockwise from top left: Juicy Couture Guipure Lace Dress $330.00 www.netaporter.com, Enzo Angiolini Cornell Pump www.dsw.com, Banana Republic Tie Neck Blouse $49.50 www.bananarepublic.com, Love 21 Knee Length Pencil Skirt $17.80 www.forever21.com, Nauticus Pleated Dress In Mocha $49.95 www.shoprouche.com J Crew Edie Purse $238.00 www.jcrew.com.