• Recent Comments

  • Liz opashinov on New Obsession: Lindsay Phillips Ballet Flats
  • Shortcuts to Fabulous on Spotted: Taylor Swift with Hobo International Purse
  • Dani Covelli on Designers vs. The Recession
  • Levinson Axelrod on Grammy Best Dressed
  • lydia on Crave It: Bebe Jenna Boot

• Categories

  • accessories
  • Beauty
  • Books
  • Bridal
  • celebrity
  • entertainment
  • fashion
  • Fashion Don't
  • Fashion Week
  • fitness
  • Gift Guide
  • Heart it or Hate it
  • Home
  • Jewelry
  • Sample Sale
  • shoes
  • Uncategorized

• Archives

  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
• Search for:

• Blogroll

  • Bag Snob
  • Celeb Rush
  • Couture in the City
  • Eye4Style
  • Fashion Verbatim
  • Make Her Up
  • Make Up Bag
  • Personal Stylist
  • Platinum Blonde Life
  • Shopahaulic
  • Vogue Feeds Me
• Subscribe to BellaVitaStyle
• 

By Francesca Claybrook

Hey Gossip Girl fans – I’ll be doing a weekly style update of each episode’s best (and, let’s be honest, maybe worst) outfits after each episode. I have to say, Gossip Girl made it easy on me this week – I felt like there weren’t many costume changes throughout the episode, making it much easier to pick my favorites. The theme seemed to be black and sequined this week. First up, Little J. I liked the spiderweb-y dress she wore to the ambassador’s dinner, but what I loved was the fact that someone took pity on her and gave her dramatic smoky eyes rather than the intense black eyeliner she used to wear. Blair wore black sequins to the ambassador’s dinner as well, in the form of a jacket that was actually kind of matronly – I know she’s settled down with Chuck, but I would rather have seen more of the gown she had on underneath, because it looked so chic – black, with one sleeve and a little bit of beading. Serena’s dress to the dinner was also black and, in true Serena style, much more revealing than the other characters’ dresses and not my favorite. Overall though, I’d have to say the winner is Jenny Humphrey’s makeup artist, for finally giving Taylor Momsen attractive eye makeup. The girl is gorgeous – let’s keep her looking that way!

By Francesca Claybrook

Dramatic lips in all shades of red continued to be popular on the runways – at the Milan shows we saw orangey-red at DSquared2 and shades of dark burgundy at Missoni, while Gianfranco Ferre featured bright, glossy reds. Models at Dolce and Gabbana wore both dramatic raspberry-colored lips and defined eyes, in what Allure magazine calls “classic (but modernized) Dolce and Gabbana” style. On the other end of the spectrum, Prada and Fendi both showed clean faces that emphasized flawless skin paired with big updos. In fact, updos are one of the biggest hair trends to come out of Fashion Week in Milan (Fendi even sent models down the runway with Elvis-inspired pompadours!) My favorite has to be Prada though – the clean, fresh makeup and strong brows combined with ladylike clothes and ‘50s librarian glasses is striking. Get yourselves some glasses girls, because geek-chic here we come!

Sandra Bullock looks amazing. Love this color on her

Bravo Kristen Stewart, she actually looks lady-like

Diane Kruger in Chanel Hot Couture

Demi Moore’s gown looks flawless on her. Blush will be a huge color this spring.

Anna Kendrick also went the blush route in this Elie Saab number.

Love the color and style of this Versace dress on Elizabeth Banks.

By Francesca Claybrook

The Milan fashion shows are important events on every editor’s calendar. But one editor who refuses to change her schedule to accommodate a longer Fashion Week? Vogue’s Anna Wintour. You may have heard about the uproar that erupted in Milan after the editor in chief announced that she would be in town for only three days of the planned weeklong event – several fashion houses scrambled to move their shows in order for her to be able to attend them, while Italian newspapers registered their outrage over her influence on Italian fashion. Although the planned three days turned into four, outside the Gucci show in Milan on February 27th protesters gathered wearing blonde bobs and oversize sunglasses, mimicking Wintour’s trademark look, and t-shirts reading “I Will Only Stay 3 Days.” While we’re used to seeing protesters surrounding the Vogue editor because of her love of fur, I have to say this is the first time I can remember a protest springing up over her schedule.

Sequined skirts are all the rage but let’s face it, who really has an extra $1,350 lying around to shell out on this Proenza Schouler skirt (no matter how gorgeous it is) That’s when you have to be resourceful. Cynthia Steffe has a similar skirt for a fraction of the price — $96. This Georgina skirt is perfect for a night out coupled with a fun pair of tights and boots for the colder months or bare legged in the spring with some high pumps.

Barbie collectors and Christian Louboutin afficionados grab your credit cards. Today the newest installment of Christian Louboutin’s Barbie hits the shelves, err… Internet. This “Dolly Forever Barbie” is dressed in a safari-style dress and magenta fringe boots, but comes with three other pairs of the designer’s shoes so you can play dress up. The Barbie edition is even true to life with each pair coming with a Louboutin box and signature felt bag. The doll is available today on Net-a-Porter.

I personally love Milan’s fashion week and think of it as the souped up, edgier version of New York fashion week The designers seem to pull out all the stops and their shows just drip pure, sultry Italian-inspired fashion. This year’s highlights include Sicily-inspired fashion at Dolce & Gabbana’s show, mixed with tailored jackets, Versus’s mix of bondage with innocent school girl offerings and Roberto Cavalli’s gorgeous feminine frocks. Take a look at our slideshow to view the highlights.

I’m a self proclaimed Twitter addict, getting everything from my news, to friend update and celebrity musings. But I also find it’s a great resource for getting my daily dose of fashion news. Among the Twitterati are great fashion blogs, designers, fashion writers etc. and if you’re on Twitter, you’ll want to follow our top picks below.

1.@WomensWearDaily It’s no wonder this fashion trade publication has over a million followers. They tweet everything from runway coverage to trend news and fashion house shakeups.
2. @elle_com This account of one of my favorite magazines tweets features from each month’s issue as well as online extras, stylist quotes and other fun tweets.
3. @Styledotcom These guys are prolific Tweeters. Live tweets from fashion shows, pictures, musings and more.
4. @toryburch Not only does this designer talk fashion, but she interacts with her followers. I also love that her tweets give us an insight into her personal life rather than just being a mouthpiece for her brand. (IE: “Heading to @AmericanCancer Society lunch. Such an important organization.”)
5. @Rachel_Roy Rachel gives us style news from her brand, updates on what she’s doing (a few weeks ago she gave a recommendation to a fun restaurant) and hold Twitter contests for coveted items from her line.
6. DVF If you’re obsessed with Diane von Furstenberg as we are then follow this account immediately. Love that they tweet daily ongoings as well as fashion analysis and brand news.
7. @Bloomingdales be the first to know about sales, star-studded events, new collections etc. A must follow for any Bloomies addict.
8. @StellaMcCartney I love Stella’s mix of postings ranging from lookbooks, to celeb pictures, ad campaigns and behind the scenes quips. A definite must-add.
9. @ChristianDior The official account for my favorite fashion house. Follow for Dior news, product launches, events and even glimpses into the storied brand’s history.
10. @BellaVitaStyle Time for a shameless plug. Add us to get out newest posts on fashion, beauty and lifestyle as well as online extras and daily musings.

By Francesca Claybrook

Dolce and Gabbana looked to the Sicily of old for their inspiration for their Fall/Winter 2010 Menswear collection. I loved the collection, but my favorite element? The fisherman-style cap they put on many of their models. Celebs are picking up on this trend as well – for example, Kellan Lutz was spotted in a similar cap in New York City recently. How can you keep the style looking fresh? Steer clear of plaids and muted colors because they can seem too old, and instead look for neutrals like black or gray. An inexpensive version is available at H&M, where they actually have several styles in blacks and grays. (Confession: I just bought one for my husband.) These caps are perfect for men of any age – or, since menswear is such a popular trend, who says the ladies should be left out? Why not get something similar for yourself?

While I may be a ripe old 25 years of age, I always relish ways to revisit my past and that’s exactly what my new pair of Bunny Slippers does. I just got these slippers and seriously don’t think i’ve taken them off in my apartment since. It brings back the good old days when my only care in the world was learning my spelling words rather than paying bills, dealing with boys and the stresses of the day to day hustle and bustle. Bunnyslippers.com has these in sizes for everyone from toddler to adult, and the best part is they have an array of animals from frogs to puppies and penguins. So cute. They go for $29.95 for an adult pair.

By Francesca Claybrook

It’s true. Lu Wei Kang, a Beijing native, has begun a collection of Barbie dolls modeled after the singer, each reflecting one of her attention-getting outfits. Although they are not available for sale as of yet, he would like to produce enough so that he can sell them to fans – and maybe even Gaga herself. In an interview with the UK’s Daily Mail he said of his inspiration, “nobody else dresses like Lady Gaga. She’s a fashion leader – just look at her in those amazing wigs, make-up, and outfits.” (For the full story, click here.) Want to check out his entire collection? Right now he has pictures posted on his flickr account, which can be seen here and are an absolute must-see. Quite simply, these dolls are incredible. What’s your favorite look? Would you purchase a Lady Gaga Barbie doll if they were for sale?

This Spring there is one animal prominently placed in advertisements of large fashion houses — birds. We’re not sure what it is, but two big ads by Bulgari and Louis Vuitton prominently feature the flying friends. Personally, I love Julianne Moore’s ad for Bulgari. The cockatoos help bring about an exotic vibe that the line conveys. And how amazing does Julianne look? Granted, she’s pretty much naked and the only item actually visible is a purse, but we love the look anyway. The Louis Vuitton ad features a handful of doves in a forest setting. It sorta reminded me out of something from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” What do you think of the choice? Any bets on what will be next season’s animal?

By Francesca Claybrook

This season in New York, Bebe showed a line designed by sisters Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe Kardashian. These sexy clothes are the basis of what Bebe hopes will be a turnaround in the brand’s fortunes, and it seems to be working – the line sold so quickly online and in stores that many pieces are already sold out. So what are the clothes like? For anyone familiar with the Kardashians, it won’t be a surprise – they look exactly like clothes the sisters would wear. There’s an abundance of one-shouldered dresses and oversized blazers similar to what we’ve seen on the reality TV queens before. Kim Kardashian told the LA Times, “We wanted our first season to just represent us, and what we like to wear. Me and Kourtney and Khloe all have different styles, but there are lots of one-piece dresses — it’s easiest when you’re putting an outfit together — and we wanted fabrics that were stretchy because we all have different body types and wanted something that would fit all of us.”
Many of the pieces can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion. Another popular reality TV star also in attendance at the Kardashian/Bebe runway show was Jersey Shore’s JWOWW, who is rumored to be working on her own clothing line – maybe she was picking up tips?
Bottom line: if you covet the Kardashian sisters’ sexy style, you’ll want to pick up some of these clothes for yourself. (And don’t worry – if you’re hoping to get your hands on some of the Kardashians’ pieces, you’re in luck as Bebe has re-ordered several of the most popular pieces. On their website you can choose to have them email you when your favorite design is available again, and in mid-April, a second round of Kardashian-designed clothes will be available, both on bebe.com and in stores.) SHown: Kim in a hoodie bustier dress from the line.

Yesterday was the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards, and the ladies didn’t fail us on the red carpet. Here are a few of our favorite looks.

One of my favorite leading ladies Kate Winslet looked amazing in this Stella McCartney dress. Love the cut-outs on her, which will continue to be a huge trend heading into the spring

I love this nude/gold number on Claire Danes. The Grecian look definitely suits her.

Let’s be real, can Audrey Tatou ever look bad? We think not.

Vera Farmiga also sported the Greek look

At first glance, Rebecca Hall’s dress may seem plain, but we love the structured look of this, especially in the shoulders.

By Francesca Claybrook

Marc Jacobs filled his Fashion Week runway show with beautiful, ladylike clothes done predominantly in shades of gray (which happens to be one of my favorite colors). The menswear look is still hot, as Jacobs mixes several of his skirts and dresses with blazers and other fitted tops, while his pieces seemed wearable in a way that many runway pieces often do not, for those of us who are not Anna Dello Russo. Critics raved about the show; the New York Times even referred to it as a “lullaby.” In an interesting twist not often seen these days, Jacobs elected to keep celebrities off the front row of his show (or, as WWD so daintily put it, the show was “devoid…of celebrity mayhem”). See the full collection here, and then tell us what you think – do you love the clothes as much as I do?

By Francesca Claybrook
Each red carpet this season seems dominated by one question: what will Lady Gaga be wearing? At the Brit Awards, which took place February 16, she did not disappoint. Wearing a beehive that channeled Marie Antoinette and a tiered dress that covered her entire body, this was one of the “Bad Romance” singer’s more conservative looks – until she changed inside the awards, revealing a nude body stocking covered in lace appliqués that revealed much more. I actually love the beehive – it manages to balance the tiers on her red carpet dress well. The singer remembered recently deceased designer and friend Alexander McQueen by putting on a toned-down, acoustic performance instead of her usual high energy routine. Still, I think it’s safe to say that once again Lady Gaga has stolen the show – and kept us wondering what she’ll come up with next time.

I love ballet flats all year round and just came across a brand I’m dying to share with you. Lindsay Phillips has a line of ballet flats that are so versatile that you can change them up to make them just right for any outfit. The toe of each flat has an embellishment — ranging from flowers to jewels and crystals — and you can pop them out and switch replacements in as needed. So if you have a black pair with a black silver flower in but plan on changing outfits to something with brown or gold tones, no need to change your shoes , just pop in a gold snap and you’re good to go! And it will make it seem as if you have a whole lot more shoes than you have. Interested? Visit her site here.

A few people have written in asking where to get these flats. Here’s the link: Snap Shoes Happy shopping!

By Francesca Claybrook

She’s gaining renown as a designer in her own right (celebrities are often pictured out in her dresses, and Jennifer Hudson even wore one of her designs to the Grammys), so when Victoria Beckham presented her Fall 2010 collection at New York Fashion Week on February 14th it is no surprise she got good reviews. Her pieces, which she chose to show on lookalike models often wearing her trademark sunglasses, are structured and sophisticated. Many reviewers noted Beckham’s unusual approach to showing her collection (she was in the room with the invited guests, and narrated each piece herself as it came out – an approach that was overwhelmingly met with positive feedback). Women’s Wear Daily notes her emergence as a very knowledgeable and sophisticated designer, while Style.com maintains that “there wasn’t one bad dress in the bunch.” (Read their full review here.) The Fug Girls gave a glowing review for New York magazine, which highlighted Posh’s growth as a designer. Want to see the entire collection for yourself? Click here for a look, and then tell us what you think!
(Further VB news: it turns out she moonlights as a personal shopper!)

Any woman knows that pain is beauty. From a young age we’re taught to pluck, wax, minimize and perfect. Well, now my pretties, men will be getting in on the fun. Spanx, which has been holding in celebrities and regular women for years, has just released a line for men! These “compression” tshirts and tanks firm and flatten problem areas on men. They look completely like a normal shirt but the material s similar to Spanx material. We think it’s a great idea, but the true test is whether men will wear them!

British model Agnes Deyn fell twice on the runway of Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief show, benefiting Haiti. We gotta give her credit for getting up and laughing it off… twice!