Watch This Style: The Style Behind Tonight’s Episode of Gossip Girl + Video Clips!

In tonight’s episode of Gossip Girl, the style meter was on fire since Serena was planning Blair’s Tiffany-themed bridal shower.  While the scheming was at an all-time high in “All The Pretty Sources,” Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, & Kaylee DeFer looked effortlessly stunning in some of the most important designers today! Not to mention that we got just one step closer to the big reveal of who the mysterious woman behind the actual “gossip girl” is!

To the far left, Serena is wearing a Dress L’Agence mini with Dolce & Gabbana shoes & necklace by Sequin.

At the bottom, Serena is an editorial vision in a Mary Katrantzou dress with a necklace by Auden & rings by Roberto Coin & Lulu Frost.  Blair, a blushing princess bride & mother-to-be, steals the scene in a Christian Dior dress with Tzen earrings.

Up top, Charlie / Ivy hides from her ex-boyfriend at the party in a dress by Bensoni with jewelry by Sequin.

Not to spoil anything for those of you who haven’t watched tonight’s epsiode yet, but here are two clips of it.  One includes a plot summary with the show’s exective producers & the other is a scene of yet another one of Blair’s classic diva flipouts!  Of course, the melodrama & over-wordy dialogue sometimes take away from the entertainment of the show, but you can’t resist loving the style!

For more on the show, check out my Style ABCs (x3) post fetauring Gossip Girl, along with posts about Blake Lively & Leighton Meester‘s red carpet style! Happy Styling!

Quickie Darling Deal & Steal: The Prettiest Pattern Tights By Vera Wang!

On a day-to-day basis, I’m wearing some sort of textured tights around the office & when going out with friends.  I’ve recently put a nasty & irreparable hole in my favorite zebra tights, but while on the search for a replacement pair, I found these Simply Vera Vera Wang tights, which are on my stocking stuffer list!

The checked control-top tights in plum ($14.00) & floral ribbon tights in black ($14.00) are currently part of a Buy One, Get One 1/2 Off sale @Kohl’s.  Usually I don’t spend more than $7.00 on tights or stockings, but when there’s a sale like this, it’s hard to resist! Both pairs are available in multiple colors & if you are a cardholder, you can get rewards up to an additional 30% off!

When you have such an elegant pattern like these on your legs, you have the opportunity to mix up prints with an abstract sheath dress, wool suit, or blouse with shorts look.  Also, pairing legwear like this is perfect for mary jane platforms, ankle booties, or knee boots!

What kind of tights are you wearing this season?  Happy Styling!

Red Carpet Review: 2011 American Music Awards With Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, & More!

Last night’s American Music Awards were full of fabulous performances, the celebration of music, & of course fashion!  There was plenty of plunging necklines, slits, & glamour to be found on stage & on the red carpet.  I’ve put together the highlights of the style scene, which showed that the celebs of today aren’t afraid of showing some skin, taking a risk, or hiking up their hemlines.

Jennifer Lopez certainly stole the whole red carpet in this embroidered Zuhair Murad gown that showed off all of her best assets.  The elaborate beadwork covered up the winner in all the right places, while solidifying her red carpet Style Darling status.  Katy Perry mixed the English & Asian inspirations with the Vivienne Westwood creation, accented by her blue peep toes. Katherine Heigl returns to the spotlight in a daring Roberto Cavalli gown that showed lots of skin.  Taylor Swift looked as sweet as always in a sequin-covered gold Reem Acra gown & straight locks. During the ceremony, you might’ve seen the country crooner sitting next to sweetheart of the Biebs, Selena Gomez, who dazzled in a slinky Giorgio Armani gown & Jimmy Choo sandals.

Longer gowns came in all shapes & sizes, including Jennifer Morrison‘s ethereal Temperley London white gown with sultry gold sandals & a flirty braid.  Mary J. Blige was all-diva in an animal-inspired Roberto Cavalli one-shoulder gown.  Hillary Scott, lead singer of Lady Antebellum, was an elegant breath of fresh air in the sparkling black Rani Zakhem sweetheart dress.  Nicki Minaj turned some heads in the corseted Oscar de la Renta taffeta gown with Alexander McQueen heels.

There were plenty of gams in short dresses on the red carpet , including Heidi Klum who donned a peek-a-boo laser-cute dress by Giles.  Also, Jennifer Hudson went with silver in a jersey drape-front dress with gunmental Christian Louboutins.  Modern Family star Julie Bowen went with a long-sleeve metallic Manish Arora mini dress & accessorized with patent leather peep toes. Model Anna Vyalitsyna mixed her red lace Emilio Pucci dress with  Giuseppe Zanotti ankle strap platforms.

Reality stay Audrina Partridge went for an eggplant mini with lucite platforms & Kwiat diamonds.  Sarah Hyland wore an age-appropriate embellished dress by Amen.  Newlywed Vanessa Lachey was all smiles in a glittering white mini dress with nude suede platforms.  Kimberly Perry, of The Band Perry, went with a vintage-inspired lace dress by Bottega Veneta (worn previously by Emma Stone at the MTV VMAs, but still cute here) with metallic sandals.  For more red carpet looks, check out Red Carpet Review!  Happy Styling!

Watch This Style: Maroon 5 Feat. Christina Aguilera in “Moves Like Jagger!”

Of course this isn’t an exclusive sneak peek for the music video, but after watching Sunday night’s American Music Awards performance between Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera of “Moves Like Jagger,” I had to click on over to YouTube.  I usually just get my fix of the song on the radio b/c it’s playing all the time & I love it, but having seen the bad, bad fashion choices of Ms. Aguilera throughout 2011, I was seeking some serious style from the once ultra glamorous star.

I’d like to point out that I believe that it doesn’t matter what you look like, what your size is, or how you’re shaped. Own it & work what you’ve got in the best way you know how.  Despite all my advice on what looks flattering here & there, it’s so important to go around on a day-to-day basis with confidence in your step for the body that you were born with & you’re responsible for taking care of.  I find that for me, it happens in a really sexy pair of shoes & when I’m working out & eating right.

However, when you have a curvy body type like Christina does now, there are more flattering & sexy ways of showing that off without looking like you’re trying to look like a Snooki impersonater inside of a sausage dress.  Am I being too harsh?  Sorry Xtina!

ANYWAY… The music video is a fun throwback to the legendary rock star style of Rolling Stones frontman, Mick Jagger.  During the band’s very long & successful career, he has singlehandedly changed the way we look at rock stars & their style, which can be seen in current powerhouse performers today like Pink, Lady Gaga, & Gwen Stefani.  Not to mention that Adam Levine isn’t so bad on the eyes & Christina looks really good donning a mens dress shirt, black tights, & a 70s-inspired floppy hat in the video.  Happy Styling!

NYC Street Style: It’s a Leggings World & We Just Live In It!

I spent part of this weekend in the big apple, celebrity the birthday of a fabulously stylish good friend, Stacey, whose only requirement for attending the karaoke festivities was to wear some time of funky, cool legwear- specifically leggings.  I showed up in leopard patterned tights under my skirt, but that was still very acceptable (I hope!).  However, because of my trip, I was inspired to post a blog, dedicated to some of the edgy & cool leggings out there on the market.  As I saw at the party, it doesn’t matter your shape or size, it only matters if you own it & walk confidently in your leggings.  This excellent message has brought me to consider some of these as options for leggings, especially with the coming holiday season where there will be plenty of outings with friends & parties to attend.

For starters, I’d like to point out the leopard print leggings & zebra ankle length leggings (both $10.80) from Forever 21, available in sizes 1x-3x!  They’re perfect for under a long tunic top or with a leather mini skirt!  Keeping with the animal-inspiration, the Material Girl leggings ($26.00) are from Macy’s & would jazz up any mini LBD or work with an oversize tee & bright heels. For something a little more preppy, perhaps under a sweater tunic top, the textured knit leggings ($14.99) in ivory from Charlotte Russe are sweet & soft in cable knit.

If you’re into the less traditional style of leggings, then check out Bluefly‘s Romeo & Juliet Couture black stretch cotton ripped side leggings ($36.79), which are marked down from $78.00!  To get ready for the holidays, a little sparkle never hurt, like with the sequin leggings ($98.00) from Express which are perfect for a chunky black sweater, a red one-shoulder top, or studded tank & leather jacket. Also, for something a little bit more out there, try the tie dye cotton spandex jersey legging ($27.00) in mauve & bright blue from American Apparel, which are marked down from $34.00 & also available in evergreen & green, as well as almost black & white.

My friends know that I’m a sucker for Hello Kitty & when I saw the intergalactic Hello Kitty leggings ($15.80), I went bonkers! Though I’m not sure when I would wear these, except for the comfort of my own bed or around the house when I’m having me / sleep time, but they’re super adorable for that playful Style Darling!

I recently posted about Pippa Middleton wearing leggings as pants & the blogosphere wet bananas b/c her bum was showing.  What’s you best leggings look?  Where do you buy your favorite leggings?  Are you a classic black leggings with boots kind of gal, or do you go for wild textures & patterns?