Photo Credits: 1 – Heidi Klum, 2 – Behnaz Sarafpour, 3 – Style Scrapbook via Lookbook

The ’70s are back in a big way, especially in the denim world. If you don’t believe me, check out MK and Ashley’s new denim collection TEXTILE Elizabeth and James (Victoria Beckham is also a flare fan). Skinnies have become the norm (and will probably stay that way), but if you are looking for an alternative to your favorite straight-legged bottoms, this Fashion Challenge is the one for you.

Tips and Tricks for Rocking Flared Pants

Just try it! The best part about this challenge? Flared bottoms are universally flattering: Anyone can pull off this trend and look amazing doing it.
Take advantage of length. Wear your bell-bottoms long with heels to extend your legs for miles, like Heidi Klum does above. (Although it doesn’t hurt that her legs already extend for miles…)
Try a little flare beyond denim. Although it may be easier to find flared denim, the trend works for other bottoms as well. For examples, see the Behnaz Sarafpour slacks in Picture 2, or these gems:

See the looks and get easy and flattering ideas for rocking flared pants right here.

Oh Mary Kate and Ashley; you do fashion so well!

Whether it’s a good idea or not, celebrities love to have a hand in every possible arena. From recording contracts to fragrance deals to hair extension lines, if they have the opportunity to further their status, they will do so without question.

Unfortunately, because of this, many celebrity crossover lines and products are sub par. On the other hand, however, there are some celebrities who have done it right. Intrigued? Keep reading for our five favorite celebrity clothing lines.

Elizabeth & James by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Self described as embodying an “eclectic lifestyle by blending uptown and downtown elements with casual and traditional style,” Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s Elizabeth and James collection is “trend conscious, yet timeless.”

Named after the twins’ brother and sister and launched in 2007, Elizabeth and James features clothing, shoes, accessories and a newly added menswear branch. As the Olsen’s third venture into fashion, Elizabeth and James is a pseudo-luxury brand, priced lower than their high-end collection The Row, and priced higher than their Mary-Kate and Ashley line for discount stores. Popular with the celebrity set, Elizabeth and James designs have been seen on Dakota Fanning, Kristin Cavallari, and Jessica Simpson, just to name a few.

For locations on where to buy Elizabeth and James, check out their website, or shop online at ShopBop.

Why We Love It

Ever since I first heard the words, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…Actually it was bedtime,” I have been a Mary-Kate and Ashley devotee. In the 90s, MK&A were the girls who felt like your best friends. I grew up watching the girls first on “Full House,” then “Two of a Kind,” and finally, “So Little Time.” Beyond their enviable acting careers, however, the girls have grown into fashionistas in their own right, making headlines with their unique hippie-grunge-bohemian style.

Naturally, when I heard that the twins were teaming up to create their own high-fashion line, I was intrigued. Today, I can almost always look to Elizabeth and James for some fashion inspiration. Ruffled dresses? Oxfords? Boyfriend blazers? They’ve got it all, and their pieces are always styled in a way that looks both effortless and chic.

Mary-Kate and Ashley’s collection of smart, modified-basics is totally crave-worthy, and always on my radar… though their pieces are not so college-budget friendly. So how to get it? Whether you save for months, score a super-marked-down piece on ShopBop or opt for the Forever 21 knock-offs, if you want it, there’s a way to posses a little bit of MK&A style.

Who else made this list? And what’s so great about them? Read the rest at CollegeFashion.net!

There are a million different stilettos, combining every trend imaginable.  For the trend-shy gal with impeccable balance, wearing a stiletto with instantly add flair to an outfit.  And for everyone else, stilettos are the easiest way to spice up an otherwise ho-hum ‘fit, as well as experiment with different trends.  And though they are not practical for everyday wear (unless you’re Posh Spice), they are always little pieces of art. Seriously, when I’m not wearing them, my shoes double as beautiful bookends. Now that’s what I call multipurpose!

With so many gorgeous possibilities there truly is a pair of stilettos for everyone (or every outfit). Here are a few pairs that have recently left me drooling. I want, I want, I want!

Sigh. I think I’m drooling.

How many times have I tried their look but always walked out the door looking like a clown? (Actually, on second thought, let’s not talk about the amount of times I’ve done that.) The truth is, no matter how hard I try, I never look like Mary-Kate or Ashley. It’s such a letdown. And while some people think their style is beyond bizarre-o, I happen to think they know more about fashion than half the “fashion designers” out there (are you reading, Lauren Conrad?).

This is why I was super excited when I found out they were creating a line for JCPenney. After all, clothing from The Row and Elizabeth and James are way too much weight on the wallet. Plus, did you hear about their genius marketing strategy for the new line, which they call Olsenboye? The twins traveled through New York City on a hot pink bus, showing off their line and handing out cupcakes! I repeat, a hot pink truck with cupcakes! I. Want. Their. Lives. But seriously, though.

So since I couldn’t be in the Big Apple for the trucks, I decided to bake a dozen cupcakes and look at Olsenboye online.

The cupcakes were great, but the line for JCP? Well…not so much. I hate to say anything negative about my terrific two-some (who once coined my favorite catch-phrase: “You got it, dude!”),  but this line does not do their brilliance justice! Sure, the line has a couple of cute over-sized tees, stylish flannel shirts and blazers, but it pretty much ends there. And “there” still looks cheap and watered down.

Am I missing something? Where are the grandpa-styled cardigans that we see the twins prancing around in? What about some trendy leggings or vintage necklaces that we just need to add to our collection?

I know that this line will never be as luxe as their others or even close to anything they wear, but I also know it’s possible to create something a lot better than this on a small budget. Even the Mossimo line at Target has more options! This just seems like an insult; like MK and Ashley just signed their names away without giving those of us on a budget a second thought. We may not be able to afford a $300 shirt, but that doesn’t mean we want to look like wanna-be trend-setters.

I was pumped to be able to dress like Mary-Kate and Ashley for a good price, but now I’m just even more broken up than when I (majorly) fail at putting my own pieces together in an attempt to pull of their boho-chic look. I hate to say it, really I do, but this line is no better than Lauren Conrad’s attempt at designing for Kohls.

In fact, I’m not sure it’s much better than her attempt at writing a novel, either.

1)    Happy Birthday, Donald Duck!

He debuted in the cartoon “The Little Wise Hen” on June 9th 1934, so it’s this beloved Disney character’s birthday month! Celebrate Donald Fauntleroy Duck’s birthday by playing Duck, Duck, Donald Duck (goose), rewatch some old Disney classics under a Wearable Towel (touted the “summertime Snuggie”), or sip on a Duck Cocktail.  Or just laugh at the resemblance to Miley Cyrus.

2)    MK&A’s Birthday

Not a b-day for a duck without pants this time, but for tiny twins, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. The only reason I mention them is because they’ve partnered with one of my favorite shoe designers, Steve Madden, to launch a new shoe line under their “Elizabeth and James” label. The shoes aren’t bad-looking, although a bit pricey ($200-$500), and some are strangely made from ostrich and pony hair (but we expect strange from the Olsen twins, of course).

3)    Father’s Day

Mark your calendars for June 21st when we honor our fathers and everything they’ve done for us. Get dad some floss that tastes like bacon, coffee, or waffles, or download the Hulu desktop application for him. If you’re nice enough, maybe he’ll buy you a kitten. Wings included.

4)    Wimbledon

No, not the movie. I mean the actual tennis tournament! Set on the pristine lawns of the All England Club in London, the oldest grand slam begins June 22 and lasts all the way through July 5. Plenty of time for some Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal/Andy Roddick/hot tennis guy action. Oh, and speaking of sports, don’t forget to tune in to the NBA playoffs final! I love me some Lebron.

5)    Summer Movie Flicks

When it’s too hot outside to play tennis, why don’t you grab an Icee and head to the movies for the beginnings of the summer movie reels. For all you Office fans out there, John Krasinski will be starring in the contemporary comedy, Away We Go. Will Ferrell is in the remake of Land of the Lost, and Mariah Carey shows us her theatrical side in Tennessee. With Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock, The Proposal is definitely on my list to watch, as well as Year One, with funnymen Jack Black and Michael Cera. The biggest box office hit will surely be Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, because with Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, you can’t go wrong.

I’ve been a fan of the Olsen twins since Full House, and a closeted fan ever since their enrollment to my school, New York University, was met with open hostility and disdain. I couldn’t get enough of it—their grandma-chic outfits that look like they were put together by a casual stroll through a high-end Salvation Army, their oversized sunglasses that look like they weigh more than the both of the them combined, even their movies that I watched like I watched Lifetime movies, with secret delight.

But after reading Ashley Olsen’s interview in the September issue of Marie Claire, I think I may finally be ready to come out of the closet with my Olsen love. Because, well, it turns out Ashley is kind of…cool. Quirky, a bit strange, and maybe not exactly “the coolest girl in the world,” as Marie Claire dubs her in the title of the article, but surprisingly self-aware and likable.

My only brush with Ashley took place in an NYU bathroom, after which I promptly texted my friend, “Oh my god, I just peed next to Ashley Olsen.” But save for that, and scattered incidents of getting peeks of her crazy outfits on campus, she has remained an enigma to me. Until now. Some juicy facts that I learned about my favorite Hollywood waif:

- That clothing lines she works on? She actually, uh, works on them. Unlike a lot of celeb-turned-designers, her involvement with designs for The Row and Elizabeth and James is not limited to showing up to the launch for some photo-ops.

- Birthdays are tragic for the twin. In fact, she used to cry every year on her birthday, until her 21st. In my experience, childhood birthdays are usually the ones to enjoy, but hey, I guess if you’ve been working since you were nine months old, you might have something to cry over.

- Don’t expect to see any paparazzi shots of her frolicking on the beach with her beau du jour. Ashley’s got a secret boyfriend and she’s happy to keep it that way. He must really be something—I haven’t had a secret boyfriend since 2nd grade, when I “went out” with the boy who ate paper.

- She’s not jumping on the nip-slip and crotch-flashing bandwagon anytime soon. In fact, as much as she’s prefer to go without, Ashley says she wears bras especially because of the paparazzi.

At first there were a few labels by celebrities like Sean John by rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs and L.A.M.B. by singer Gwen Stefani. In these beginning stages the public could realistically believe that these few celebrity/designers had a genuine interest in contributing to the fashion world.

It wasn’t long before other celebrities smelled the money making, publicity friendly empire. Labels consisting of basic tanks, oddly shaped jeans, and tacky looking accessories were assembled and thrown into the market. Countless celebrity fashion lines later, it’s quite obvious that this is no longer about the clothes.

As the consumer, we can easily dodge crappy labels and opt to spend our money elsewhere. However, the consumer is not the victim in this story. Those who suffer from the carelessly assembled celebrity fashion labels are young up-and-coming fashion designers. These kids who have wasted thousands of dollars at design school and slaved away for hours in front of sewing machines only to discover their work doesn’t mean a thing. Sadly, an overpriced t-shirt made from cheap material “designed” by a celebrity is generally going to sell quicker than an interesting piece by a breakthrough designer.

Of course there are still a number of individuals around who appreciate decent style and give a handful of young designers the chance to succeed. It’s not impossible for a nobody to break through and become recognized for their extraordinary designs, but this obstacle makes the process a hell of a lot harder.

Personally, I think that most of these celebrities should just stick to what they’re good at- singing, acting, whatever it may be. Of course their clothes will sell, but no respectable woman will ever view a J-Lo velour jumpsuit as the height of fashion. Give the designers a break and if you must, invade a new industry.