Basics For A Bargain: Pointy Toe Heels Are Here To Stay, Inspired By Katie Holmes, Stacy Keibler, Miranda Kerr, & More!

While this little Style Darling has been busy with holiday preparations & fighting off a nasty cold, I’ve been finding joy in shoes, pointy toe shoes, more specifically. While perusing through the latest gallery pics of the most recent & fabulous red carpet looks worn by my favorite celebrities, I started noticing that pointy toe shoes have been making a sneaky comeback.  Of course, celebrities have been donning these on & off, but throughout the summer & fall, they’ve been mixing up their looks with towering platforms, round toe pumps, as well as cut-out & deep-vamp booties this season. I decided to feature some affordable pointy toe shoes in classic black, nude, & fun designs for a variety of looks for day, evening, & work. 

First off, I wanted to share some celebrity inspiration with nude pumps. Katie Holmes pairs her neutral shoes with a bright magenta Narciso Rodriguez sheath dress & olive trench coat. Kerry Washington softens her leather A.L.C. frock with nude shoes & House of Lavande jewelry.  This is 40 star Leslie Mann is all smiles in a knotted coral number with a luxe cream coat.  Singer / actress Mandy Moore offsets her stunning cobalt asymmetric dress with a colorful Bvlgari clutch & super pointy shoes. 

It didn’t take very long to find some affordable counterparts, without having to break the bank.  This includes Forever 21‘s patent & faux leather pump ($27.80) in tan with a 4 1/2-inch heel, perfect for elongating your legline.  I also recommend the Madden Girl Tartt pumps ($34.99) in blush patent from 6PM, which are currently 30% off from their original $50 price tag.  Of course these shoes are perfect for any dress look, making any pair of gams long miles long, but they’re also especially flattering with skinny jeans & a tunic top, leggings & an oversized sweater, or a 70s-inspired jumpsuit. 

As for the basic black pump, a pointy toe is edgy when matched with feminine frocks, & they can even dress up the most basic of outfits.  Tina Fey shows off her digital printed top with skinny pants, whereas Kate Bosworth mixes her pumps with a sophisticated Emilio Pucci peplum dress. 

Maria Sharapova plays with separates, including a floral Zimmermann top, Tanya Taylor skirt, & Iwona Ludyga earrings for her Giuseppe Zanotti pumps. The svelte Stacy Keibler looks long & lean in her wool & leather Monique Lhuillier suit while walking the red carpet at the VH1 Divas show. Clearly, black pumps are an essential for any wardrobe, including the Nine West Love Fury pumps ($47.99), as well as the Dianna pumps ($39.95) by Diba from DSW.

Lastly, if you’re going to wear pointy toe pumps, there are some occasions when a fun & flirty shoe is a must-have.  Make an unexpected move by going monochromatic like Miranda Kerr‘s all-white look at an event for Mango, or get wild with something textured like Sarah Jessica Parker‘s Jean-Michel Cazabat snake embossed pumps which well-coordinated with her vintage Estevez dress & Fendi bag. 

Rashida Jones plays with color in her slim leg cobalt suit, Peter Pilotto blouse, Jimmy Choo clutch, & Dana Rebecca Designs jewelry.  Lastly, Olivia Wilde makes her sexy leather head-to-toe look even more enviable with spiked Christian Louboutins & a House of Lavande ring. 

For a splash of sass, I looked for pointy toe pumps with some color & personality.  @Charlotte Russe, I found the patent pointed toe pump ($25.50) in hot pink, which will pop against any all-black look, or bring out the best from a watercolor print dress.  Also, since it’s the holiday season, add a little sparkle to your pump with the Robidoux ($27.99) in bright multi from Aldo. Try these with a classic LBD, leather jacket & mini skirt, or sweater dress & tights.

Which pointy toe shoes do you like? How much do you usually spend on footwear? Do you prefer pointy toe or round? Happy Styling!

Basics For A Bargain: The Hottest Tops & Pants Looks Worn By Kristen Stewart, Alexa Chung, Kate Hudson, & More!

I’ve never been a dress pants kind of girl- until lately.  I was always the girl walking around in a skirt or dress b/c those pieces were just always easier for me to find since I wear petite bottoms in most cases, but also have a curvy shape.  However, I’m inspired by these tops & bottoms (pants, more specifically) looks that I’ve been spotting on the most photographed & stylish celebrities.

This includes actress Rashida Jones in jewel-tone trousers by Theyskens’ Theory paired with a studded blazer, an eggplant blouse, Graziela earrings, a Dana Rebecca Designs ring, & metallic cap toe pumps.  This look says so much about her edgy, but conservative style.  The rich hues combined with the luxe fabrics make looking like you’re wearing pajamas with an 80s-esque jacket look super cool.  Next is K-Stew herself, Kristen Stewart, wearing a daring Balenciaga design with a Cartier bracelet, & sleek Christian Louboutins. Critics are calling this look a ripoff of the barely there bra-top & bare midriff look that the blonde-coiffed Miley Cyrus has been sporting, but I think The Twilight Saga star has got it right here. French import / Bond girl Berenice Marlohe is ravishing in colorblocked black with feathers & a white top by Alexander McQueen, Norman Silverman studs, & Sergio Rossi pumps. I love her smoky eye, yet mature Blake-Lively inspired beachy locks, providing a fresh take on an unlikely pairing.

Kate Hudson is a vision in Alexander McQueen menswear with towering Brian Atwood pumps at the Glee premiere in September, while donning a sexy lace cami underneath.  Style icon Alexa Chung has never looked sleeker in this Maje button-down shirt & slacks with minimalist black pumps- again another menswear-ish look that couldn’t be more fabulous.  Lastly, reality star Olivia Palermo is getting on board with the volume trend wearing an Elin Kling for Marciano oversized sweater with cropped pants, ankle-strap Gucci sandals, & tribal-inspired accessories.

I gave myself the daunting task (while the power could hold out during the crazy snow storm that hit the Northeast on Wednesday) to try & replicate these looks- all in one post! Of course, I’m still working on those PhotoShop skills, but I’m happy to share affordable versions of these six looks, which cost b/w $41.50 – $124.99. If you take a look below, you’ll see that I’ve recreated the pieces of clothing from Rashida’s look, including a textured Lark Lane foil-print zip jacket ($45.00) from JCPenney, the Honey Punch ‘high-waisted hopes pants ($42.00) in red from Lulu’s, & the LC by Lauren Conrad embellished chiffon blouse ($26.40) from Kohl’s. Kristen’s look was tougher to put together, but a daring Style Darling can certainly pull off the stretch lace bralette ($24.50) from Victoria’s Secret & pair it with White House Black Market‘s legacy bi-stretch modern bootcut pant ($49.99).

For Berenice’s look, I couldn’t find feathers, but the peplum trend was easy to put together when I found the laser cut dot peplum tank ($21.99) from Charlotte Russe & the Lauren Jeans Co. Biltmore trouser pants ($44.99) @Macy’s. A winter white tuxdeo on a budget was an even trickier ensemble to recreate, but Kate’s look wasn’t too far off when I found the Bar III three-quarter open-front tuxedo blazer ($26.99) from Macy’s & the White House Black Market modern bootcut tux pant ($98.00). Alexa’s look is comprised of pieces from Forever 21, including the tail hem shirt ($18.90) & coated trimmed trousers ($22.80). Lastly, Olivia’s look was perfectly timed now that heavy knits are in stores, & I selected The Limited‘s cowlneck poncho ($49.99) & Logan fit slim ankle pant ($49.99) from Banana Republic.

For more celebrity-inspired posts, check out features in Red Carpet Review, Darling Of The Day, & Top 10 Celeb Sightings.  Also, if you’re looking for the best ways to acquire an affordable wardrobe, take a look at updates blogs in Basics For A Bargain, Luxury Look-Alikes For Less, The $100 Challenge, & Splurge or Save?! Happy Styling!

Fabulous In 4 Ways: A Metallic Faux Leather Pencil Skirt For The Ages From New York & Company!

I was so excited in August to share one of my newest categories, Fabulous in 4 Ways, especially since the debut post was dedicated to my good friend Laurie, as inspired by her fabulous lace-up knee boots from Victoria’s Secret!  Now, I’m talking about faux leather & pencil skirts, but before we dive into the outfits, I turned to some of my favorite celebrities to get some inspiration in how I would style such a classy & modern take on the figure flattering piece.

Kate Bosworth rocks a Proenza Schouler leather-trimmed pencil skirt at the brand’s New York boutique opening with a relaxed white blouse & strappy sandals.  The First Lady, Michelle Obama, wore a high-waist pencil skirt in navy with a cropped cardigan & purple top, while visiting a Wisconsin school.  Mad Men bombshell Christina Hendricks mixes her old school glamour with a Dolce & Gabbana blouse, red clutch, & classic black pencil skirt.

Total Recall star Kate Beckinsale plays with colorblocking with a chic H&M tank, Diane von Furstenberg turquoise skirt, & spiked neutral pumps.  Rashida Jones is polished & professional with a touch of menswear while making an appearance on Good Morning America, wearing a printed button down shirt & white pencil skirt.  Aussie starlet Cate Blanchett showed her support for Givenchy in a head-to-toe look with Roger Vivier heels.

Also, at Fashion Week for the upcoming Spring-Summer 2013 runway collections, the pencil silhouette was everywhere, as seen in Runway Rundown posts, including Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry Prorsum, Christopher Kane, & Oscar de la Renta.  Also, these pieces were shared by more fabulous designers like Nina Ricci, Tadashi Shoji, & Salvatore Ferragamo!

To recreate a pencil skirt look, I’ve selected the faux leather bronze pencil skirt ($59.95) in metallic bronze from New York & Company, which challenged me to find a way to wear this for work, day, date, & cocktail occasions.  If you want to get the most out of your wardrobe for the office, check out the zippered contrast sweater ($24.80) in black from Forever 21 with the short tab sleeves top ($24.80) in teal available @Windsor Store.  The colorblocking & relaxed details tone down the metallic texture of the skirt, especially when paired with Express‘ diamond texture body shaping full tights ($22.90) & suede cap toe chunky heels ($21.50) in black from GOjane.

The look to the right (above) is fun for a day with the girls or feeling like mixing it up because of the contrasting details in Lord & Taylor‘s CK JEANS cable-front cotton cardigan ($29.99) in black over the tab-sleeve plaid-chiffon shirts ($29.94) in black combo from Old Navy.  Of course affordable pieces like these can be reworked with skinny jeans or leggings & chunky accessories.  @Payless, I’ve found the Dexflex Maye strappy boot ($59.99) in black & Minicci micro fiber tights ($6.99) in burgundy to add some extra dimension while playing with trends this fall.

Depending on where you’re headed for a date, this kind of pencil skirt is perfect for an elegant & upscale look, without breaking the bank.  I’ve chosen pieces with luxe details to put this look together, including the Jennifer Lopez pleated mesh overlay tank ($19.80) in tuffet from Kohl’s & glitter lace almond tow pump ($38.50) in champagne from Charlotte Russe.  To complete the ladylike feel, I’ve added the round stone drop earrings ($13.60) @Cache & The Limited‘s zip around wallet ($29.90).

Don’t forget that pencil skirts are perfect for building a sexy cocktail look. Of course, a dress will save you lots of time, but to get the most out of your wardrobe, why not play with separates in unexpected ways with the snake-print tiered bustier ($88.00) in amethyst from White House Black Market, paired with the Emma WP platform pump ($39.99) from Bakers Shoes.  Also, I love Forever 21‘s looped drop earrings ($7.80), which look red carpet ready, especially with the Mossimo basket weave print clutch ($16.99) in black & white @Target.

How would you wear this pencil skirt? Are you following the metallics trend? What are your favorite work, day, date, & cocktail looks? Happy Styling!

Red Carpet Review: White Hot Style At The White House Correspondents’ Dinner!

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The hot red carpet ticket this week has been the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, featuring celebrities like Charlize Theron, Kate Hudson, Rachel Zoe, & Ginnifer Goodwin. Of course the stars are showing their support for the president, but the biggest news coming from the celebration is the fabulous fashion. Take a look at the gallery below & share your favorite looks! Happy Styling!

Red Carpet Review: Heidi Klum, Drew Barrymore, & Zooey Deschanel In Glitters, Sparkle, Pastel, Details, Pink, & Pretty at the 2011 Emmy’s (Part Three)!

When it came to glitz, & glamour, the stars were on hand at this year’s Emmy Awards.  There were no details left behind during the red carpet festivities & we learned that the ladies love some sparkle & pastel hues.  In a hodge-podge of images below, we see some of our favorites succeed with their luxury looks & some give it an honorable try.

Jennifer Carpenter wore this blush beaded Tony Ward Couture gown with Martin Katz jewelry.  Cat Deeley went for some super glamour in this gold beaded Monique Lhuillier gown with Bulgari diamonds & a metallic clutch to complete the look.  Taraji P. Henson could’ve used a little help in this embellished Blumarine column gown, although her Fred Leighton drop earrings & cocktail ring helped the look.  Maria Bello glowed in the one-shoulder Kaufmanfranco column gown with a satin clutch & Martin Katz cocktail ring.  Christina Hendricks never shies away from showing off her best assets & this Johanna Johnson gown hugs her curves in all the right ways.  I could’ve done without the slit in the front, but she still looks like a million bucks.  Drew Barrymore took the stage with the new cast of ABC’s Charlie’s Angels in a Givenchy couture gown with Jimmy Choo platforms & gems by Van Cleef & Arpels.

Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss was stunning in this encrusted illusion gown by Marchesa.  Padma Lakshmi looked golden in this Armani Prive gown with Jimmy Choo sandals & her own jewelry.  Jane Krakowski looked a little over-tanned in this white deep-v gown with a jewel embellishment, but for a lady who recently had a baby, her body looks fantastic.  Kudos to her for showing it off!  The Good Wife star Julianna Margulies puzzled critics in this Armani Prive lampshade-corset white gown with peculiar embellishments.  Heidi Klum supported Project Runway winner Christian Siriano in a custom-made greige (gray / beige) ruffled cocktail dress with colorful jewelry by Lorraine Schwartz & extra high Christian Louboutin heels.  Charlie’s Angels star (& former Grey’s Anatomy doctor) Rachael Taylor made her Emmy’s debut in a memorable way with this iridescent beaded Giorgio Armani column gown with diamonds by Neil Lane.

The stars were also pretty in pink, for example, Modern Family‘s Ariel Winter showed that she’s all grown up in this powdered pink botanical-themed halter dress with diamond flower studs & matching ring by Jamie Wolf.  Jayma Mays channeled her inner ballerina in this tiered Zuhair Murad gown with a Swarovski clutch, Brian Atwood shoes, & Neil Lane jewelry & brooch.  Rashida Jones looked ladylike in a pink Alberta Ferretti strapless number with bangles by Van Cleef & Arpels.  Footloose star & former Dancing with the Stars champ Julianne Hough took a risk in this multi-tonal Carolina Herrera gown with jewelry by Forevermark.  Zooey Deschanel disappointed in this bubble gum pink Monique Lhuillier gown with a red sash. Even though she’s so pretty & stylish, the whole look seemed like a costume.  Anyone agree?

I wanted to feature Raising Hope‘s Martha Plimton in my red-theme Emmy post, but was unable to find an adequate image at the time, so here is she is, looking beyond gorgeous in a curve-hugging sparkly Zac Posen dress.  Elizabeth McGovern wore a merlot-hued sweetheart dress, but I wish that the clutch didn’t blend in so much- something gold would’ve been especially gorgeous against the rich hue.  Hostess of the night, Jane Lynch, turned heads in a strapless David Meister gown with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.  Sarah Hyland also collaborated with Christian Siriano with Grecian-inspired coral belted dress & Lorraince Schwartz jewelry.  Julia Stiles has never looked better on a red carpet wearing this lavender Georges Hobeika gown with a clutch by Kotur.

We’ve seen dozens of looks from the stars in red, black, blue, & now the paler, sparkly hues… Have you picked your favorite?  Do you think Taraji P. Henson & Zooey Deschanel could do better?  What would you have liked to see them wear on the red carpet?  Happy Styling!