Cover Craze: 2012 Goes Out With A Bang, Featuring Dakota Fanning, Marion Cotillard, Britney Spears, & More!

We’re barely two weeks into November, but already the 2012 covers for the hottest magazines have hit the web & I have a jam-packed post here, featuring ten must-have & must-see issues from here in the United States, as well as abroad. This includes a much-talked-about Britney Spears on the cover of Lucky (airbrushed much?), Cameron Diaz repeating the Chanel cocktail dress that Emma Stone wore back in June for Elle UK, Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence in Balenciaga for Elle, Dakota Fanning for InStyle UK, Australian actress Isla Fisher sharing her fitness tips for Women’s Health, Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard for Harper’s Bazaar UK, singer Nicole Scherzinger for Marie Claire UK, Selena Gomez going glam for Glamour, Taylor Swift breaking away from her good girl look for Cosmopolitan, & a showering Scarlett Johansson for V magazine, promoting her latest role as Janet Leigh in Hitchcock.

Which cover is your favorite? Which magazines are your go-to sources for all things fashion & style? Do you check out international magazines too? For more from Cover Craze, be sure to check out W‘s 40th anniversary issue, Rihanna for this month’s Vogue, & the top picks from November 2012 issues. Happy Styling!

Luxury Look-Alikes For Less: Penelope Cruz & Cameron Diaz’s Oscar Gowns Knock-Offs!

It’s been a number of weeks now since the Oscars & Style Darling eagerly featured a red carpet gallery, which showcased stunners like Penelope Cruz in Armani Prive & Cameron Diaz in Gucci. It was probably one of the most gorgeous turn-outs on the red carpet in a long time.  Fashion critics are still talking about Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford, Jennifer Lopez’s cleavage, Stacy Keibler in gold, & Angelina Jolie’s right leg!

It was only a matter of time before knock-offs of their incredibly beautiful gowns were created for the masses.  As usual, these look-alikes can be found @EDressMe! We recently featured Golden Globes looks worn by Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, & Charlize Theron!

However, if you loved the way Penelope & Cameron looked & are in need of a show-stopping red carpet-esque evening gown, check out the Penelope Cruz-inspired Oscar dress by Faviana ($318.00) & the Cameron Diaz-inspired dress by Faviana ($398.00).

Of course b/c these gowns are so elegant & perfect for many ages, both are currently sold out, but according to the website, they will be able to ship in August.

Until then, check out more from Luxury Look-Alikes, including Alicia Keys in Stella McCartney & striped dresses from Michael Kors & Calvin Klein.  Happy Styling!

Red Carpet Review: The Best (310) Celebrity Looks of 2011!

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I’ve been compiling a long list of my favorite looks during the 2011 calendar year & while there are still a few days left, I wanted to share the highs of the red carpet, press events, famous Style Darlings on the street, as well as the looks that have made the headlines.  This is the ultimate gallery of the ensembles to wear for formal occasions, out & about on the street, to a cocktail party, or a date night, including the best descriptions that I could find of who wore what!  For more looks that I’ve featured this year, check out Darling of the Day, Red Carpet Review, Magazine Must-Haves, Silver Screen Style, Style ABC’s (x3), & Watch This Style- all categories that thrive on celebrity-inspiration for your style on a budget.  I hope all of you had a prosperous 2011 & continue to do good for those around you, as well as for your style!  Happy Styling!

Basics for a Bargain: Dispell Those Turtleneck Myths with Inspiration from Claudia Schiffer, Keira Knightley, & More (Dedicated to Laurie)!

My dear friend Laurie, who I’ve dedicated a past blog to, has inspired this post with a question about the myth that turtlenecks = frompy.  However, here is the evidence that they’re not!  Of course I’m not a turtleneck-donning Style Darling myself, or anything with collars for that matter, but I can say that looking at the celebs below, there’s no way turtlenecks can be so wrong when they look so right- especially on my dear Laurie who always looks fashionable in a turtleneck.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen turtlenecks come back in style, in the most classic way, just like a good pair of trousers, dark denim jeans, a pencil skirt, & a button-down shirt. Jennifer Connelly layers her turtleneck with a blazer & pleated Balenciaga mini skirt & opaque tights.  Supermodel Claudia Schiffer makes a spring-like tunic fall-ready with a turtleneck, leggings, & heavy cardigan. Kristin Chenoweth looks super cozy in a furry sweater jacket, skinny jeans, & knee boots with her classic gray turtleneck underneath.  Reese Witherspoon multi-tasks in a black mock turtleneck, aviators, straight leg jeans, & embellished flats with a Rebecca Minkoff crossbody bag.  Amanda Seyfried covers up in the cold with a black turtleneck under a bright red romper dress for a TV appearance & matching red lips.  Keira Knightley looks like a modern-day Audrey Hepburn in a belted pencil dress & turtleneck ensemble with round toe Sergio Rossi pumps.  Disney darling Selena Gomez downplays her printed pants with a short-sleeved turtleneck & layered chains from LOFT.

And now the basic we’ve all been waiting for…. here are some turtlenecks, in stores now! @Old Navy, the ‘tropical storm’ turtleneck ($17.94) is available in five other colors & can be mixed & matched up with a skirt suit or puffer vest with white skinny jeans.  Each color is available in sizes XS – XXL for Style Darlings of all shapes! Try out some jewel tones & primary colors with the classic turtleneck sweater ($34.93) from The Limited, marked down from $49.90.  Take a skinny belt, like shown on the model, & add some modern edge to the underestimated basic piece that would look contemporary with classic stud earrings & bangles.  Style&co created this gray & black colorblock turtleneck ($21.98), available @Macy’s, also in black & red. It’s prefect for a pair of leather shorts & hoop earrings. Add some straight leg cigarette pants & platform boots to create an mod / equestrian look.

If you’re a mock turtleneck kind of gal, check out Target‘s short-sleeve mock in black which can help you recreate Keira’s look, or would be fabulous with a houndstooth pencil skirt for work! Also, this turtleneck reminds me of a Fashion Flashback post featuring Marilyn Monroe with white pants & bouncy blonde curls.

Work a built-in belt with a sweater turtleneck ($17.80) like this from Forever 21 for a denim skirt & boots when you grab some hot chocolate with your gal pals on weeknight.  Probably my favorite of all the turtlenecks is the shirred turtleneck in deep teal ($28.00) by Jennifer Lopez for Kohl’s.  Also available in heather gray & black, this top is marked down from $40.00!

For those of you who still need some extra convincing, celebrities like Zoe Saldana, Emma Roberts, Lake Bell, Beyonce, & Cameron Diaz show that covering up in a turtleneck dress can be just as sexy & polished like a cocktail dress on the red carpet.  Check out a previous Basics for a Bargain post, featuring sweater dresses to see stars like Heather Graham, Eva Mendes, & Nicole Richie sporting fall-ready turtleneck style sweater dresses without any worry about if it’s a do or don’t.

Turtlenecks have come a long way.  Stay away from anything too festive, adorned with holiday-themes, & you won’t look like a fuddy-duddy.  Look for a turtleneck in a strong solid color, or in a modern print. Remember: Since turtlenecks are a must-have basic, you’re setting up the foundation to a really fashionable ensemble that could be accented with with long necklaces, a vest, belted bootcut jeans, a leather corset, mini skirt, or figure-flattering pencil skirt.

Also, for a final persuasion to any nay-sayers, check out these stunning runway looks from Chanel, Proenza Schouler, Michael Kors, Valentino, Stella McCartney, & Donna Karan.

Do you have any style myths that you just can’t figure out?  I’d be happy to show off how some celebrity-inspiration can translate into an affordable look.  Do you have any turtleneck stories?  Laurie, I hope this blog does the trick! Happy Styling!

Basics for a Bargain: Slip Into A Sweater Dress with Inspiration from Angelina Jolie, Nicole Richie, & Cameron Diaz!

It’s fall, which means that it’s time to take out your favorite knits & sweaters.  The easiest way to start your outfit is with a sweater dress, both comfy & chic.  I’m on the prowl to get one for myself, now that I’ve discovered that I too can wear leggings!  Like it was really such an epiphany lol! Anyway, you have your basic black dress, basic cocktail dress, but what about your basic sweater dress?  You can pair it with tights & knee boots, or flat boots & a crossover bag, a scarf & sunglasses, or some opaque tights & a belt.

To get a little inspired for this basic, I’ve found a slew of famous faces donning the very fall-forward look.  Cameron Diaz slipped into a Bottega Veneta with color Jimmy Choo sandals at the premiere of Knight & Day last year.  Heather Graham sports a black & white striped Diesel turtleneck sweater dress with metallic pumps. Oscar-winner Catherine Zeta Jones wore her gray sweater dress with leggings, a short-sleeved cardigan, slouchy boots, & a scarf while running errands on a chilly November day in New York City.  Lauren Conrad attended an event for Kohl’s in her black sweater dress with matching gladiators, by LC by Lauren Conrad.  Nicole Richie also did some self-promotion wearing her own House of Harlow 1960 ankle boots & a dark green sweater dress at a signing for her book, Priceless.  Angelina Jolie enjoyed a night out in Manhattan, wearing a navy cableknit sweater dress by Loro Piana with Salvatore Ferragamo knee boots.  And way back in 2006, Eva Mendes was super stylish, wearing this Max Azria turtleneck sweater dress with killer brown knee boots & stunning silver cuff bracelet.

These seven sweater dresses will instantly update your dress collection for the season & impeccably show off your figure!  @Macy’s you can find this Style&co. sweater dress / cableknit tunic ($26.98) in espresso.  The ‘Happy Place’ black & taupe sweater dress ($49.00) from Lulu’s is a little more sexy & wild for a sweater dress, but with the right black tights & black patent leather pumps, you’ll look fierce in this 80′s-inspired dress! The third pictured above is the one I want!  I’ve never actually bought anything from Dress Barn, but this cabled sweater dress with envelope collar in fern ($39.99) best represents my style in the form of a sweater dress!  The neckline is modern & flirty, but the cableknit calls on everything I love about preppy style.

I thought it was fitting to find this next dress @Forever 21, which is a burgundy ‘Angelina’ sweater dress ($27.80), since I featured Ms. Jolie up top. The matching belt is super cute & allows for its wearer to mix it up with something in leather.  The dress is also available in cream for the same price.  While clicking around my favorite store, White House Black Market, I saw that the black bateau neck sweater dress ($29.98) was marked down from $100.00! I should warn my readers before clicking that it is only available at this time in size: XL.

As for my fuller figured Style Darlings, I went nuts when I saw the ivory cabled sweater dress ($49.00) @Dress Barn, which I definitely want for myself, but it’s not available in my size.  This would look very chic with a gold belt & metallic ballet flats for a day at the office, or spice it up with something red for the upcoming holidays.  Also, the gray ruffle front sweater dress ($64.90) isn’t necessarily a bargain @Avenue, but is sold in sizes 14-28. It’s professional enough for work, but dressy enough for a special occasion dinner with your beau.

Check out my previous Basics for a Bargain posts, featuring classic items like leather pants, pencil dresses, & more! Do you have a sweater dress?  Where did you get it? Would you wear one of these sweater dresses?  Which celeb looks best in a sweater dress?  Happy Styling!