Lauren Conrad on Style

These days, being just an actress or a singer does not fully satisfy a celebrity’s spotlight requirements, so it's never a surprise when a celeb decides to venture outside their Hollywood niche and try their hand at something new. Whether it's creating a perfume, delving into the music industry, or designing clothes, it seems like being a triple-threat is all the rage.

When celebrities just use their names or pretty faces to promote their new product or career direction in a way that seems authentic, it can really turn us off.

When it comes to fashion, we don’t want to be tricked into buying a celebrity-endorsed clothing line that was not even technically designed by the famous face in the first place. What we want is authenticity, and an aesthetic that grows from something more personal than a just a strong fan following. So how do we decipher which celebrity career extensions are for real?

Many celebs are turning to pen and paper when it comes to expanding their career options. Former reality star turned designer Lauren Conrad has already penned two best selling novels under her name, and has a third on the way. Although her success as an author has been good, critics have questioned as to who actually wrote the books. The art of ghostwriting has always been a fact of the business when it comes to celebrity-penned books, and Conrad’s insistence that her words are all her own is arguable. The same goes for her clothing line at Kohl’s - but let’s just take her word for it, since she did happen to be the most likeable, grounded character on The Hills.

Next, Conrad is up to pen a style guide called Lauren Conrad Style, which will hit bookstores in October. While Conrad is no Lady Gaga or Chloe Sevingy, she does present a classic vision of feminine practicality that is a distinct aspect of Los Angeles fashion. But is she influential and unique enough to join the ranks of world-renowned fashion gurus?

Some may say that while Conrad’s fashion choices are pretty and elegant, they are not terribly unique. And while her style has changed drastically for the better since her days on Laguna Beach, this does not qualify her to shell out fashion advice to millions of readers.

Others may say that at least Conrad’s personal style is a reflection of who she is, and for that she should be given credit. With internship experience, a fashion line, and easy access to a stylist that has influenced her tasteful gravitation towards feminine frocks and Chanel purses, she’s got to have some insider tips up her sleeves that will benefit readers who have not quite set foot in the industry yet. And wasn’t she the one who brought back the little side-braid hairstyle? Extra points for that move.

Although her fashion background may seem amateur, and her styling choices less than iconic, the girl never fails to look timelessly chic. So maybe we can learn something from her.

Would you read this book and take fashion advice from Lauren Conrad?

Published June 4, 2010 on The Fashion Spot

All Over Florals

Express your love for the warmer climates by wearing florals from head to toe

Flowers are always a dominant theme that is reinterpreted season after season, and it is about time that we devote ourselves truly to this blooming print this spring as a tribute to its distinguished past. It just makes sense that designers are going into overdrive and creating looks completely centered on these timeless florals. Dolce & Gabbana and Tory Burch showcased head-to-toe floral looks that were an eye-catching explosion of color, right in step with the season’s uplifting vibe.

To keep from looking too much like the wallpaper in your grandmother’s bathroom, wear two separate pieces in different but complementary floral prints. At Dolce & Gabbana, the floral looks were all about separates: Floral on a red blouse paired with floral on black bloomer shorts. This may seem like a clashing combination, but the hues of red within both pieces, the red roses on the shorts and the red background on the blouse, tie them together to create a unified look. Color coordination is a simple trick to make all-over florals look chic rather than over-the-top.

Juxtaposing differently sized florals together is another trick to break up the repetitiveness of an all-over floral look. If one piece has large florals scattered sparingly, balance the print out by pairing it with a piece that has a dense conglomeration of close-knit florals. Shape matters when it comes to flowers, and in this case opposites attract.

No matter what kind of floral prints you play with, make sure that you wear them on sharp and sophisticated shapes. Florals already keep the eye moving all on their own and don’t need any extra oomph from extroverted details like ruffles, bows, and pleats to stand out. Keep away from the frill and stick to clean lines and simple tailoring to bring this fun print down to earth. Sleek A-line skirts, classic crew neck blouses, and practical ankle length trousers covered in vibrant florals make for a hip balance of fashion conservatism and liberalism.

If you do decide that you want to take this look all the way and wear floral separates of the same pattern from head to toe, it is even more important to keep shapes extremely simple and clean. Take a cue from the Tory Burch show, where a model wore an overly abstract floral print on both a crisp button-up collared shirt and a pair of sleek drainpipe pants. No extra ruffles or pleats here; just a clean foundation for the pattern to build itself upon.

By taking this advice, you will soon be on your way to mastering the art of wearing all over florals that won’t leave you looking like a walking garden. Here is a runway-inspired floral look to get started with right now.

Published June 4, 2010 on LVCMag.com

Alexander Wang Resort 2011

Take the Alexander Wang girl you know and love and imagine what she would wear if she lived anywhere besides the concrete jungle.

Wang said he wanted to explore unknown territories in his latest collection, and from the looks of it we might as well go ahead and call him fashion’s Christopher Columbus.

An organic and natural quality strongly resonates in his resort collection's nubby homespun sweaters, mesh knit tube tops and dresses, and slouchy fit pants - all in spectrums of earth-inspired neutrals like white, cream, and sandy beige.

These simple yet artful essentials seem more suited for a day by the lake in the countryside rather than at the city’s late night hotspots.

Wang set his sights outside of the city for inspiration for his latest resort collection. Unlike his signature explosion of dark and edgy looks that elevated him to superstar status just a few years ago, the prince of downtown street chic did a 360 degree turn and embraced everything easy, breezy, and unfussy about fashion’s beloved “in-between” season.

Wang has etched himself to be the voice of tough, sexy, and cool dressing, but it’s no lie that the act of living in hip-hugging leather pants all year round is close to becoming passé. Understanding the much needed break from a head-to-toe trendy club kid look, he dived right into a new interpretation of fashion’s softer, lighter, and minimalist side.

But don’t think that all is lost when it comes to Wang’s established too-cool-for-school design aesthetic. Balancing out his collection’s softer side are black leather shorts and jackets, asymmetrical hems, a zip front skirt, Matrix-approved shades, and the reemergence of a studded clutch purse that is sure to once again rev DIY-bloggers into motion worldwide. With this collection, Wang expresses a refreshing side of himself that has never fully surfaced before, but once again shows that he is and always will be a true city boy at heart. It looks like Wang wins again with this one.

Published June 3, 2010 on The Fashion Spot

Updated Classics

Take your basics to the next level by mixing and matching them in a wild variety of colors, prints, and textures

There is something both fabulously luxurious and quintessentially down-to-earth about taking classic and preppy clothes and playfully piling them on in vibrant colors, playful prints, and unexpected textures. This new way of wearing basics and essentials takes the stereotypical preppy look to a refreshing new level that doesn’t take fashion too seriously. Classic doesn’t have to mean boring and plain; instead, take inspiration from the spring shows to find eclectic ways of throwing together an outfit with just a few simply shaped separates with a fashion-forward touch that will last you throughout the season and beyond. Now that’s called easy and smart dressing.

To make the preppy look new, wear essentials and basics that are timeless and simple in shape but updated in rich colors, prints, and textures. Mixing and matching these three dimensions is the key to increasing the volume of an outfit. Who says that you can’t throw on a multi-colored paisley top, a classic white blazer, and shiny lavender trousers, such as at Isaac Mizrahi’s Spring 2010 show? This season is all about experimentation. When you dissemble this look down to its individual pieces, you will find pieces that can be recycled in a multitude of new ways fit for any occasion.

Trade in that white blazer for a candy-colored cardigan for casual weekend wear. Slip out of those trousers into a pair of slouchy chino shorts for the work week. Those who prefer a more utilitarian or masculine look can replace that pretty cardigan with a unisex trench coat in a cropped length to tone down a pair of uniquely patterned pants like the ones at the Karen Walker show.

There are an endless amount of options to rework practical basics for a modern look that is functional, fun, and fashion-forward. Learn not to be bored by your preppy basics, but embrace them as a canvas upon which you can experiment and build your own personal style. Take a risk with your everyday essentials by choosing them in exciting colors, patterns, and textures that you’ve never tried or paired together before. Before you know it, your closet full of basics and classic essentials will never look bland ever again.

Published June 2, 2010 on LVCMag.com

Acai: Beauty's Super Berry

It always seems like an endless search when it comes to finding that perfect skin cream. We are bombarded by products that promise to give us soft, glowing, smooth skin, so how do we choose?

One way is by looking at the label of ingredients. In a time and place where living green and organic is the new black, thanks to a little fruit call the Açaí berry, we can do good both beauty-wise and earth-wise.

The Açaí berry is harvested in Brazil and carries the most powerful antioxidants of any fruit known today. More powerful than blueberries, red grapes, and even pomegranates, it gives the greatest benefits to protect skin cells and works to reverse some of the damage that is a result of our daily exposure to harsh elements like the sun and cold.

The antioxidant-filled berry is able to kill free-radical scavengers that break down the collagen and elastin of skin, as well as attack the skin’s immune system. Açaí berry extract contains phytoserols, which protect collagen to keep our skin wrinkle-free and hydrated. It is also rich in flavanoids, which help to fight inflammation and preserve the skin’s resistance and protective barriers to lessen the likelihood of premature aging.

For these reasons and so many more, a great amount of beauty brands are incorporating high levels of Açaí into their skin care products.

Kiehl’s is one such brand, offering a broad selection of cutting edge Açaí-formulated products made from the finest natural ingredients that are animal-friendly, certified organic, 100% natural, and packaged in 100% post consumer recyclable material. Other brands like Sugar and Pangea Organics are also following suit, using Açaí and all-natural ingredients rather than harsh chemicals that can be destructive to both our skin and the earth.

This little fruit also seems to be popping up everywhere from health food stores to the local mini-mart, usually found in concentrated drinks, capsules, and even energy bars.

So get ready for superb skin tone, smoothness, texture, and clarity, while being green at the same time, with the help of some of these products.

Acai Damage-Repairing Serum from Kiehl’s - $49.00

Its absorbent formula quickly penetrates skins surface to repair the effects of visible damage to skin tone, texture, and elasticity due to environmental oxidation, sun exposure, and other external skin stressors.

Acai Damage-Correcting Moisturizer from Kiehl’s - $45.00

This non-greasy moisturizer helps skin repair the visible effects of oxidative environmental stress, and makes the skin look visibly renewed, smoother, and more even-toned.

Fresh Sugar Acai Age-Delay Body Cream from Sephora - $65.00



This cream provides high anti-oxidant protection, helping to firm your skin.

Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry Facial Mask from Sephora - $40.00



The harmonious blend of green and white clay, sea vegetables, sugarcane, jojoba, sunflower seed oil, tea extract, açaí, and goji berry will nurture your skin and senses.

Published June 2, 2010 on The Fashion Spot

Fall Color Trend: Gray

Designers waved away the intense, bright statement colors of spring, and experimented with a wide spectrum of moody gray hues for Fall 2010 instead.

Maybe the effects of a still unsteady economy has them sinking their teeth into a more realistic portrayal of fashion that’s less playful and more serious. Or maybe they just want to kick back and enjoy the simple things in life.

Whatever the case, this color digression is finally coming to the forefront, and it sure is turning heads.

Out of all of the Fall/Winter 2010 collections, Marc Jacobs made the sharpest turn in his design aesthetic. Usually known to whip his audience with wonderfully cartoonish designs, vivacious colors, and a whimsical theatrical flair, he sent model after model down the runway in refined ensembles, many of which had a purely gray color scheme.

Jacobs’ timeless and classic shapes in the monochromatic color were a nostalgic vision of subtlety, grace, and practicality, maintaining an irresistible chic factor suited for the modern, fashion-forward girl.

That famous Marc Jacobs sparkle that we are all so fond of was not lost amongst this collection’s gloomy grays. He made up for his lack of extravagance and flash by being generous with small but eye-catching details, such as carefully rounded collars, crisscrossing necklines, exotic fur trimmings, low croc heels, knitted tweeds, and sparkling metallics.

The 3.1 Phillip Lim show also opened up with a selection of gray city girl looks which were lightened up with crisscross suspenders, slouchy tomboy sweaters, dainty tailored skirts, woolly schoolboy plaids, and raw suede. He literally made us believe that gray will never be boring again.

Even Chloé sent a head-to-toe gray blouse and trouser combination down the runway and topped it off with a striking black bowtie and skinny brown leather belt.

What would be an otherwise mundane ensemble all on its own is taken from frumpy to striking in an instant with just a few added accessories.

So don’t fill your mind with dim thoughts when you think of gray. It is not a loud color, but this may be exactly why you should be wearing it this fall.

Unlike the overly studded, distressed, and amplified looks of past seasons that often take too much attention away from the girl in the clothes, gray forever stays understated and classic.

From an intricate shoulder detail to even the tiniest button placement, gray provides the most versatile backdrop for our personal fashion tastes to build upon. Even a head-to-toe gray outfit is far from shabby.

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1. Kissan Pants from Theory - $255.00

2. Bop Basics Cashmere Stripe Button Back Sweater from Shopbop.com - $240.00

3. Jal_Jacko Glittered Oxfords from Forever 21 - $20.80

4. Pearl Collar from Forever 21 - $15.80

5. Well_endowed Ring from Forever 21 - $5.80

6. Eleanor Elastic Bracelet from Forever 21 - $9.80

Published June 1, 2010 on The Fashion Spot

Molly Ringwald, 80's Style Icon

Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink. If you are a fan of 80's popular culture, then you probably recognize the connecting factor from all these Brat Pack flicks - Molly Ringwald.

With her head of bright red hair, lithe figure, and pouty lips, it's no wonder she was the reigning teen sensation of the 80's.

She flawlessly played poor little rich girl Claire in The Breakfast Club, and was secretly pining after the most popular guy in school as Samantha in Sixteen Candles. It was easy to relate to her character's John Hughes-created troubles.

But Ringwald wasn't only known for her realistic portrayals of the brooding girl next door trying to survive her tumultuous high school years. Her insanely cool outfits that mixed a tough masculine edge with frilly feminine influences - not to mention serious DIY chops - have inspired adolescent girls to embrace their quirky side like no other style icon has.

Nobody wore oversized florals, high-waisted long skirts, massively padded blazers, and kitschy ankle boots with socks more effortlessly than Ringwald. Thanks to her, thrift shopping and print mixing instantly became hot again.

Both on-screen and in real life, Ringwald had a brave sense of style that was in a league all of its own. She named off Edie Sedgwick, Marilyn Monroe, and Diane Keaton as a few of her style inspirations, and it's not hard to see their influences in her eclectic way of dressing that was never overly sexy, but always statement-making.

Ringwald's detached outlook towards the Hollywood scene set her apart as an actress, and this was reflected through her fashion sense.

Never truly acknowledging herself as a teen queen, she viewed Hollywood and the fame she achieved from an outsider's point of view, and never really understood what all the hype was about.

She was always just herself, from every red carpet interview to her one-of-a-kind outfit creations. She never tried to fit in or conform amongst the sea of spandex bodysuits that were all the rage during the decade. It was her unique personality and whimsical fashion choices that made her a star adored all around the world.

From dealing with boy issues to overcoming the high school caste system, we have all learned a lot about life from Ringwald. But we also learned how to do it all in style.

Her grungy brown bomber jacket in The Breakfast Club, her effortlessly layered tops and piled-on bangles in Sixteen Candles, and her floral vest with matching bowler hat in Pretty in Pink all made for unforgettable fashion moments that still resonate with us today. Because of her, cutting up tulle for prom seems like the right thing to do, and wearing pink from head to toe doesn't seem like such a horrific idea.

So let's pay tribute to one of our favorite '80s movie icons by incorporating a little bit of Ringwald into our own modern day wardrobes.

Playfully patterned rompers, menswear brogues, and electric blazers are not hard to find, as today's designers are fully embracing the vivacious style of the decade.

Even updated basics brand American Apparel is bringing back numerous 80's fads like hair scrunchies, clingy aerobics apparel, and neon windbreakers.

Thankfully, Ringwald defined a much more chic and longer lasting side of the bright and loud decade.

Take a look at these two Molly Ringwald-inspired looks that you can wear today.

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1. Supple Buckle Shoulder Bag from Forever 21- $32.80

2. Garden Floral Dress from Forever 21 - $22.80

3. Pins and Needles Tuxedo Blazer from Urban Outfitters - $68.00

4. Ankle Color Socks from Forever 21 - $6.50 for 7 pairs

5. BDG Macrame Oxfords from Urban Outfitters - $48.00




1. Urban Renewal Gauze Blouson Top from Urban Outfitters - $58.00

2. Scout Cropped Trouser from Nastygal.com - $52.00

4. Deena and Ozzy Side-Buckle Bootie from Urban Outfitters - $68.00

Published June 1, 2010 on The Fashion Spot