Style ABC’s (x3): B is for Brights on the Bottom, Blake Lively, & Betsey Johnson!

is for Brights on the Bottom! This is one of spring’s best trends & here we see Jennifer Hudson & Anna Kendrick wearing bubble gum magenta & kelly green on their lower halves.  While Jennifer is showing off her new sleek frame in a hot pink mini skirt, Anna enhances her boyish frame with some extra punch of playfulness.  Don’t be afraid of bolder hues on your bottom half, just be aware of fit & style.  Not to mention that playing these trends up is only successful when paired with neutral items like a white top & black blazer, or a basic tank to emphasize an already gam-revealing skirt! Here are two bright items to help you get started!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Blake Lively is the it-girl in fashion RIGHT NOW, no matter how much people talk about Alexa Chung or Leighton Meester.  Blake gets it right every time, which is why Chanel has asked the Gossip Girl star to be their handbag ambassador.  You can almost never find the actress without a Chanel piece, or anything designer for that matter.  At the 2009 Emmy Awards, she really turned heads in a bright red plunging-v Versace gown, setting her apart from her other fashion-frenzied peers.  Whether walking the red carpet or talking on her phone down the streets of New York, she’s the epitome of everything that’s going on in fashion & we’ll definitely be seeing more of her!

 

 

 

  

Betsey Johnson is a designers who knows how to make a woman feel sexy, especially with shoes! Whether you’re in a LBD or jeans & a tank, just pop on a pair of her sexy platforms or sandals, & you’re gonna wow anyone you come across!  Not only does the fun & flirty designer create shoes, but accessories, clothing, handbags, & intimate apparel are also included in her bright arsenal of style.  These peep-toe mary janes are from the official website & the top, bangle, & slingbacks are reduced priced @6pm & Zappos!  Happy Styling!

The Stylish Five: Beauty Buys from Ulta ($10 &Under)!

 While Sephora is a  magical land of beauty products, I am & always will be a big supporter of all things from Ulta!  If you don’t already know of the salon / affordable beauty store, they carry “drug store” brands like Cover Girl, Burt’s Bees, & Sally Hansen (which are almost always on sale in some form or another), as well as higher-end merchandise from Bob Mackie, Bare Escentuals, & Kim Vo. 

Not to mention, the Ulta brand itself carries everything from hair products to skin care to bath & body items to your everyday cosmetics.  For the last ten years (AT LEAST!), I’ve been championing all of the different shades, quads, & combinations of this brand’s eyeshadow b/c it proves time & time again successful for my daily makeup routine.  When I was preparing to travel to Italy at the end of last year, Ulta was my first stop to travel size essentials for any beauty need abroad. 

 

I love that the store is also fully equipped with a wide selection of bath & body products, sure to make a splash for any at-home spa day that we busy Style Darlings can try to fit in.  My favorite is the moisturizing Vanilla Sugar lotion, which makes my skin feeling extra smooth & smelly super sweet all day long! AND the brand produces a 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner, & bubble bath “shower smoothie,” available in Appletini, Buttercream Cupcake, & Pink Champagne, just to name a few.   

 

If you sign up to become a rewards club member (for FREE), you will receive emails about their daily specials, weekly ad, get great coupon deals, & earn points for free items ranging from salon-quality nail polishes or brand name fragrances like my favorite perfume, Happy by Clinique, or something spring fresh like Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana.  While supplies last, you can almost always can get a free gift items when purchasing a fragrance, like luggage separates, umbrellas, plush bath robes, or home decor pieces. 

 

When conducting online orders, you can always choose from three – five free samples of salon brand beauty formulas & samples of the newest perfumes!  Here are just five beauty buys, all $10 or under, to help perk up any winter blues that your cosmetic arsenal may be “facing!” Ha! 

And just five more honorable mentions that I simply have to recommend are… Glitter Top Coat Polish by Ulta for $2.00 (on sale!), Rejuvenating Bath & Shower Gel in Lush Pear by Ulta for $9.00, Bamboo Mini Foot File by Eco Tools for $1.19, Aloe After Sun Lotion by Banana Boat for $6.99, & a Travel Size Dermal Clay Cleanser by Dermalogica for $9.50! Happy Styling!

 

Style ABC’s (x3): A is for Audrey Hepburn, American Idol, & Ann Taylor!

 is for Audrey Hepburn, one of the most beautiful women to have ever graced the big screen, & an obvious choice to start out Style ABC’s blog series.  The star of Breakfast at Tiffany’s & Roman Holiday effortlessly changed the way we perceived Hollywood style & glamour into minimalist chic. She created the timeless LBD look & has inspired celebrities today, like Natalie Portman, Victoria Beckham, & Penelope Cruz, to follow in her very prestigious footsteps. For more dish on Audrey’s signature style, check out Steal Their Style, Allure, In Style, & Look Book Fashion! Some additional Audrey-inspired looks include Ellen Page, Bridget Moynahan, Julia Ormond, & Scarlett Johansson!

On American Idol, Jennifer Lopez  has stormed the small screen in every appearance!  Not only are audiences watching to see the competition, but I know half of why I’m watching is to see what the multi-talented fashion icon is wearing!  She sports uber-feminine ruffles, throwback scarves, glamour girl bombshell sparkles, modern minimalism, & 80′s chic all in a matter of a few weeks.  Especially after Jennifer’s recent appearance at this year’s Grammy’s, she’s proved that she still a fabulous force to be reckoned with! Stayed tuned for American Idol every Tuesday & Wednesday night on FOX for more lessons on style!

 

 

Ann Taylor is a classy brand name that mixes soft with chic in a very wearable way.  Celebrities like Heidi Klum, Naomi Watts, Milla Jovovich, & currently Katie Holmes star in the ad campaigns for this brand, which has branches for a more youthful demographic in LOFT, as well as a super stylish maternity line.  The clothing ranges from wedding to cocktail to work to everyday with ease & elegance. 

Click on the link to check out all their latest sales & if you’re a student, find out here how you can save 20% off on all regular-priced merchandise! Happy Styling!

Luxury Look-Alikes For Less: Cynthia Vincent @Bloomingdales Vs. Wedges from Mandee!

 

 

One of my favorite spring shoes is a wedge, perfect for elongating the legline, while also giving that extra support to my foot.  Part of the beauty of springtime is the variety of outfits that you can wear with a wedge like this, including a button-down & pair of chino shorts, a mini skirt with a blouse, a casual romper, & even a grafitti-inspired dress.  Scroll your mouse over these shoes to see which is $350.00 by Cynthia Vincent, sold @Bloomingdale’s & which is an affordable $32.00 @Mandee.  Regardless of cost, both sites offer free emails to receive excellent discounts & news on all the latest sales!  Happy Styling!

3/29/11 Darling of the Day: Zoe Saldana in a Leather & Denim!

 

Avatar star Zoe Saldana has made a huge mark on the fashion scene in the last two years, having wowed critics at the 2010 Academy Awards in a decadently intricate & colorful Givenchy couture gown in shades like glitttering blush, lush lavender, & regal plum!  Here we have a much more casual, yet polished ensemble, complete for daytime with an oversized Diane von Furstenberg hobo, Decades Denim jeans, a leather biker jacket, & leopard heels.  Even on the red carpet, she looks effortlessly minimal, but this look can easily be glammed up for night with a clutch & smokier eye.

I’ve picked out some very affordable pieces to help recreate the look, including a mesh tank as a suggested garment for under the uber chic jacket.  To get Zoe’s rich red smile, check out Sephora’s Make Up Forever Professional Paris Rouge Artist Intense!

For more of her fabulous & stylish looks, take a look at our previous Darling of the Day post on Zoe, as well as EW‘s Pop Watch, Elle, & People Style Watch! Happy Styling!