[Welcome to Celebrity Chic on the Cheap, where our style guru takes a celebrity look and breaks it down for you, our poor college fashionista. What does that mean? It means that while the celebrities are spending $5,000 on an ensemble (even for comfy, everyday outfits!) you don’t have to. All you have to do is click on the goods and - boom - you can buy the entire look. For cheap. Yes, we know - there is a spot for her in heaven.]

I’m convinced Blake Lively is one of those women who was genetically engineered to make 90 percent of the female population feel woefully inferior in one way or another. Her hair, her figure, her relationship with Anna Wintour, her relationship with Penn Badgley, her thriving acting career, her work wardrobe, her beautiful personal style… there’s something for everyone to hate on.

And the worst part is, she has the audacity to seem really sweet and fun, so you can’t even really hate her. In short, she is perfect.

And so is this outfit. Read More »

Who or what inspires your style? Many of us use actresses (like Taylor Momsen) or socialites (like Nicole Richie) as style inspiration even though, most of the time, they are being dressed from head to toe by the best stylists. Which we don’t have. And sometimes it’s damn near impossible to work their Hollywood looks into our not-so-Hollywood lives. I’ve made it my mission to tap into the mind of a fashion stylist and show you how to take your style inspiration – whatever it may be – and make it more you!

Remember years ago when Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani’s delicious British boy-toy, was accused of having a secret love child even from before the times of No Doubt or Bush?  I heard about it around the days when I still wore a Catholic School uniform to represent my “style” and didn’t believe it was true.  Then I never heard about it again.

Until now.

That little mistake’s all grown up and her name is Daisy Lowe. Daughter of designer/songwriter Pearl Lowe and Gwen Stefani’s main trick, Gavin Rossdale, Daisy might be the coolest “Uh Oh!” ever.

Daisy Lowe hails from across the pond (like fellow style icons Emma Watson and Alexa Chung) and was first discovered as a model. Not shocking, given her gorgeous parental units. What is surprising though, is that Ms. Lowe’s body is as far from the typical model’s body as you can get. Yes, this girl’s got some curves and she’s not afraid to show them off. Like, really show them off. As in get naked, cause a scene to start a revolution. She even told a British newspaper that she’d felt the sting of rejection from a fashion house for having a heavier body than a model should have yet she still refused to lose weight.  Boom. Roasted.

Daisy Lowe’s giving some of the non-waifs some faith in humanity.

And it’s opening many doors for her. Daisy is the face of Converse and has worked with Agent Provacateur (probably because she isn’t afraid to shower her provacative side). She was recently featured in the Vogue’s “Today I’m Wearing” feature, documenting her daily style for their May 2010 issue. And if that’s not enough, there are some rumors that she’ll be rolling out her own edgy and sexy clothing line as well.

But until then, we’ll just have to settle for pulling our own pieces together in a way that would make Daisy proud; with a  little sexy (without the trashy) and a dash of wild-child (while still refined).

Read More »

Who or what inspires your style? Many of us use celebrities (like Sarah Silverman) or movie characters (like Lux Lisbon) as style inspiration even though, most of the time, they are being dressed from head to toe by the best stylists. Which we don’t have. And sometimes it’s damn near impossible to work their Hollywood looks into our not-so-Hollywood lives. I’ve made it my mission to tap into the mind of a fashion stylist and show you how to take your style inspiration – whatever it may be – and make it more you!

Emma Watson isn’t just that charming Brit that plays that one chick in that Harry Potter flick.  She’s grown before our eyes from the awkward 11-year-old Hermione to the classy, well-mannered face of Burberry with a personal style that, thankfully, doesn’t resemble anything you’d see in the halls of Hogwarts.

Emma didn’t always have that prep-school drop-out look she’s known for now.  In some older pictures during the early 2000′s, she dressed like any average 11-year-old – a little but awkward and unsure, but still a little experimental.  But as time went on, she experimented more and more, discovering what worked and what she liked and what expressed her (not Hermione’s) personality best.

And, like magic, she succeeded and has become a force to be reckoned with, both while walking the red carpet and walking to class.  Emma Watson’s style is classy and refined, with the occasional edgy rocker moments thrown in.

I love Emma’s style because it evolved.  She tried out trends, pushed the envelope and made some mistakes. It took some time but, as we have all seen, it most definitely paid off. Today designers are courting her, photographers are hounding her and college girls from the Midwest are trying to pull together outfits to look just like her. Read More »

She's ready for the Mustachio Bash-io.

Who or what inspires your style? Many of us use actresses (like Lisa Bonet) or movie characters (like Lux Lisbon) as style inspiration, even though, most of the time, they are being dressed from head to toe by the best stylists.

Which we don’t have.

And sometimes it’s damn near impossible to work their Hollywood looks into our not-so-Hollywood lives. I’ve made it my mission to tap into the mind of a fashion stylist and show you how to take your style inspiration – whatever it may be – and make it more you!

At one point in my life, there was a time when I did think Sarah Silverman was absolutely high-larious on her show, The Sarah Silverman Program. Unfortunately, those days have long since passed, but I’m still left with something about her that I admire.

Besides her ability to nonchalantly rock a mustache at a super-formal event, surprisingly, it’s also her style.

Just to be clear, though: it’s not Sarah’s red carpet looks that I covet. While she has been known to work corsets, ball gowns and sexy frocks to big-time events, that side of Sarah’s style doesn’t interest me because, 1) she often makes major fashion mistakes and 2) she looks so…not Sarah (and really, painfully uncomfortable).

The Sarah Silverman style I love is her everyday, low key, totally casual, I don’t give a sh*t, look. On a normal day Sarah doesn’t do much to make herself look like anything special.  Her typical uniformed style is a track jacket, jeans, Converse and her hair in a ponytail.  Ravishing?  Ehhh, maybe not to some; lord knows Joan Rivers wouldn’t have nice things to say about it. But I think that style is Sarah and it sets her apart, in a good way.  Most celebrities in movies or on TV have to constantly make sure they look perfect, almost like the audience should strive to look like them.  But Sarah, on the other hand, would rather just be real and look like the audience themselves. Read More »

While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.

It doesn’t matter if it’s rain or shine; Peggy always knows how to dress so she’ll stand out in a crowd and make any girl on campus want to emulate her. She has the cutest blazers for fall, the chic-est coats for winter, and the flirtiest dresses for spring. Her outfits are always full of personality – usually very colorful and bright, just like her!

Name: Peggy
Year: 2012
Major: Psychology and Economics
Peggy in 3 words: cheery, indecisive, energetic Read More »

For the last few months, every Monday I’ve highlighted a star who I believe epitomizes style, whether because she takes risks and sets trends, or because she puts together simple ensembles that perfectly highlight her assets. In honor of the new year, I thought we should take a trip down fashion memory lane and see some of 2008′s best dressed stars. These ladies are all style icons of our time for different reasons and I’d jump at the opportunity to invade their closets any day. (To see more of these ladies’ perfect fashion choices, click on their pictures!) Read More »

[Celebrities get paid to look good and serve as a style guide to all us common folk, and part of looking good is flaunting their totally awesome fashion sense. Each week, I will be highlighting my Style Idol of the week: a celebrity who consistently shows keen fashion sense and whose closet I would raid in a heartbeat.

Of course, no celebs are immune to the occasional “what the hell were they thinking?” moment, but for the most part, these celebs look foxy and fabulous and inspire us all to do the same.]

Her hairstyle was one of the biggest fads of the 90’s, she’s dated (and married) some of Hollywood’s hottest hunks, and she’s known for her girl-next-door looks that continue to hold true even as she approaches forty(!). Jennifer Aniston typifies simple elegance, and is a style icon for many women because of her easy, casual and minimalist style. She doesn’t go for a lot of bells and whistles, but her streamlined shirt and jeans combo always accentuates her fabulous, athletic body.

Aniston even keeps it simple at red carpet events with sheath dresses or classic cocktail dresses in flattering shapes and neutral tones. She encourages women around the globe to play up their natural beauty, opting for loose, easy waves and natural makeup over the over-done looks of many other Hollywood celebs. This ability to look fabulous (even nearly nude!) without seeming to try too hard makes Jennifer Aniston my Style Idol of the Week. Read More »

[Celebrities get paid to look good and serve as a style guide to all us common folk, and part of looking good is flaunting their totally awesome fashion sense. Each week, I will be highlighting my Style Idol of the week: a celebrity who consistently shows keen fashion sense and whose closet I would raid in a heartbeat.

Of course, no celebs are immune to the occasional “what the hell were they thinking?” moment, but for the most part, these celebs look foxy and fabulous and inspire us all to do the same.]

She is known for her teeny frame, perfect pout, oversized sunglasses and some of the hottest arm-candy on the planet: David Beckham. Victoria Beckham, AKA Posh Spice, is definitely a style icon of our era. Her style causes a stir everywhere she goes and women around the world try to mimic her look, from her towering heels to her ultra-short hems. Even her ever-changing hairstyle makes front page news, leading women to rush to their hairstylists to get the latest “Posh.”

Her style varies often and Posh does everything from putting her own touch on classic styles to wearing innovative pieces that other people wouldn’t dare to try off the runway. She breaks fashion rules (like matchy-matchy accessories), sets new trends, and even has her own denim line (DVB: Denim by Victoria Beckham). Whether strutting her stuff in mini skirts and Christian Louboutins or jeans, military jackets, and boots, Victoria looks nothing short of fierce and she’s certainly an inspiration to all fashionistas out there. Read More »

It happens to the best of us. Midnight strikes, and you’re sitting on the edge of your bed, staring at your feet. A voice whispers savagely in your ear, “What the hell are you wearing?! You look like Sarah Jessica Parker’s closet threw up on you. Are those, leg warmers? Oh for godsake.” You turn and nobody is there. Yeah, it’s one of those nights.

No matter what anyone tells you (even if you tell it to yourself), never believe that a “style icon” is anything but a woman with bad (BAD) style who oozes confidence. That confidence has the power to transform even that puerile pink tutu into something chic and cosmopolitan. Alas, genuine confidence like that is so rare that, more often than not, it is misinterpreted as a blood-curdling scream for attention, when in fact it is a bold determination to play “dress up” well into adulthood.

In New York, there’s simply too many fashion “statements” going on that it hardly leaves an impression on anyone, except perhaps on the fashionista themselves…in the form of a wedgie (American Apparel leotards, anyone?).

So when that moment comes when the clock is ticking and the city beckons…and you are trying to adopt New York style (even though you can’t get rid of those Birkenstocks or Girbaud jeans) there is but one piece of advice I will pass along to you. From the wise words of Coco Chanel, “A style does not go out of style as long as it adapts itself to its period.” Read More »