I love checking out celebrity styles, watching to see what they are going to wear to one event or another.

There are definitely some hot and not so hot ensembles displayed over the past couple of months, and here are a few of my favorite hot or not styles.

Carrie Underwood

I cannot say enough about this look. Singer Carrie Underwood showed up at the 2008 CMT Music Awards looking like a true star.

In an eye-catching cobalt-blue Badgley Mischka mini-dress and gorgeous silver strappy Rene Caovilla sandals, she is absolutely stunning.

It was very smart of her to keep her accessories minimal, as this draws all the attention to this super sexy and elegant dress.

The vibrant color is dynamite with her blonde hair and plays up her best features.

I am not always impressed with Miss Underwood’s fashion sense but this outfit I definitely give the thumbs up to.

Mary-Kate Olsen

This was definitely one of the biggest style nots in the past week that I have seen.

I constantly hear of people talking about how the Olsen twins have fabulous style and creativity, but while Ashley at least looks half decent most of the time, Mary-Kate always seems to manage to look like a hobo.

This outfit is no different, and although the floor-length vintage Missoni dress could look great on someone else, it makes Mary-Kate look huge and uncoordinated because it floods over her tiny frame.

Oh, and I didn’t even make it to the Marc Jacobs headband yet. Please Mary-Kate, just take off this disastrous outfit!

Heidi Klum

Now here is one girl who always has style. Heidi Klum always has it going on, and she looked beautiful and glowing in a purple mini-dress designed by Project Runway finalist Rami Kashou.

Recently Heidi was declared as US Magazine’s Style Icon of the Year, and it is really no wonder why.

She is definitely a winner in this figure flattering strapless dress, but then again, could anything not be figure flattering on Heidi?

The beautiful plum color is very summery and fresh, and contrasts against her ash blonde hair.

Heidi Klum is a beautiful woman and always knows how to play up her best features, as she has done here.

Gwyneth Paltrow

The ’80s style is definitely back and is … Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive?

Anyways, Gwyneth Paltrow, although we rarely see her out on the red carpet anymore, certainly knows how to wow us when she does appear.

Glowing in a vintage Christian Dior gown in hot pink, Gwyneth was positively stunning, pairing a cute black clutch with her black sash belt.

The outfit is a little too matchy-matchy for my liking and I think she could have kept the belt and bag black and added a little something special in the shoes, but regardless she was striking.

All she needs now is her other accessory Chris Martin and she’s good to go.

Molly Sims

Simple definitely can be sexy, as the beautiful Molly Sims shows us in her sunny Calvin Klein sheath.

The dress, which is available from the designer’s Fall 2008 Collection, looks fabulous with Molly’s golden complexion and dirty blonde hair.

She kept the accessories very minimal, wearing only a small black clutch, black nylons and mules and small hoop earrings.

Not many stars would be able to pull this look off and it would probably just come off as boring, but with Molly’s gorgeous face and body it is definitely a winner on her.

I first saw these Givenchy jelly gladiator sandals on Style, and although I was not sure whether I liked them or not at first, they definitely caught my eye.

They called them “the must-have shoe for spring”, and although I am usually a fan of Givenchy I have to say that I do not agree here.

They remind me of a more retro version of the “croc”, which I never really took a liking to, no matter how many thousands of feet I saw wearing them around me.

Givenchy has spun a cheeky take on Roman style with this innovative new shoe, and they are not the only one. Other luxury brands such as Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Fendi have all brought their own version of this jelly sandal to the table as well.

Chanel is also doing the jelly, with a sandal that is clean with minimal adornment, only a rhinestone by the big toe. The price of their sandals are pretty staggering at $295, especially since it is, after all, a jelly sandal, but other versions such as Steve Madden’s are much more affordable at just $39.95.

These sandals have not really been out long enough to tell whether they are going to take off or not, but I know that I will certainly not be rushing out to the stores to buy them, that’s for sure.

Okay so we already have news of clothing lines from Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port of The Hills, and now Heidi Montag is launching her own line, Heidiwood.

Not such a creative title, since we already have so many copies of the Hollywood name and this little Heidiwood thing reminds me of a lame spinoff of the lovely Dolly Parton’s Dollywood … but moving on.

Heidi debuted her new fashion range last week in Hollywood, looking cute in giant black stilettos and a skimpy zebra print halter top.

Her style is decent but I certainly do not think that sales will skyrocket for this clothing line she has just released.

Oh, did I mention that her boyfriend Spencer Pratt proposed to her on stage, giving her two dozen long-stemmed pink roses before kissing her on the lips?

So her clothing line may be a little stripper-esque and her claim to fame came from an … ahem … reality TV show, at least she and good ole Spence are happy.

Via: The Hollywood Gossip

When most of us think of riding on an escalator we think of hurrying through the airport in sneakers and sweats or shopping at the mall in jeans and a t-shirt.

Dita Von Teese has now shown us how to really ride an escalator and look great doing it.

In a gray swing coat and gorgeous Christian Louboutin mary janes, Dita looked every bit the ’40s pinup beauty.

I have always admired this dark haired beauty for her classic style of authentic retro mixed with punches of modernity.

She is truly the leading woman behind a renaissance of vintage glamour, a look that no one can pull off better than her.

This escalator pic reminds us of just how impossibly gorgeous this lady really is, but then again we all know that Dita Von Teese could be working in a dump and still look picture perfect, so let’s not be too hard on ourselves.

Via: OSoYou

One of my all-time favorite stores, as I have mentioned before, is Victoria’s Secret. They cater to the sophisticated woman and yet manage to keep their designs flirty and fun.

With summer fast approaching, there is no better time than now to check out the 2008 swimwear collection available through Victoria’s Secret now.

Whatever your size and style preference you will find the perfect bathing suit, and with their low prices you can even afford to get more than one.

Although there are over one hundred different gorgeous styles to choose from, here are a few of my personal favorites.

Vix Floral Sequin Sliding Triangle Top & Adjustable Tanga Bottom

This is a stunning bikini that offers as much luxury and elegance that you can find in a two-piece swimsuit.

Exclusively for Victoria’s Secret, this little number offers decent coverage, with sequin embellishment and embroidery, lined cups for no see through, and is made of imported Brazilian polyamide/elastane.

It is available in sizes XS-L, top $110, bottom $60.

Beach Sexy Shimmer Stripe Sliding Triangle Top & String Bottom

A little bit disco-esque, this two-piece is full of sparkle and shine.

Trendy and flirty, you will definitely stand out on the beach in this one, with a center rhinestone heart and contrasting red string ties.

Crafted from imported nylon/spandex, this bathing suit will shape to your body like a glove, is available in sizes XS-L, top $32, bottom $24.

Rampage Metallic Triangle Top & Low-Rise Bottom

Featuring an all-over scroll print, light removable padding, neck tie and back clasp, this gorgeous little number is fully lined and made of imported nylon/spandex.

The flirty flippy skirt bottom accentuates your curves and covers you up a bit more if you want more coverage on the bottom.

Available in sizes XS-L through all Victoria’s Secret outlets, this set is $49 for the top, $51 for bottom.

Very Sexy Ombrè One-Piece Monokini

As you can see I’m more of a bikini girl myself, but there are a couple of one-piece suits that I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on.

Take this monokini for example, which features blended ocean-blue and mauve colors.

This one-piece has an open back and is fully lined. It ties at both the neck and back and features a plunging neckline, for a price of only $60.

Vix Jeweled Cut-Out One Piece

This is another of my favorites. A stone-bold stunner, this one-piece comes with beveled jeweled stones on the front and a one-shoulder asymmetrical silhouette that connects the top and bottom on one side.

With minimal back coverage and the bright white color, this bathing suit screams sex appeal.

Available in sizes XS-L this one-piece is yours for a very reasonable price of $165.

These are just a few of the swimsuits Victoria’s Secret is featuring this year, so make sure that you check out their retail stores or website to view the full collection.

I must say that there are relatively few pieces that cannot be somehow made to work and look great, but there are still those few styles that I just don’t get.

The Steve Madden chap has started to become quite popular, and even though I keep going back to the website and into stores to check out the shoe now named as “Steve Madden’s Most Wanted”, I still don’t see what all the fuss is about.

There are actually about 20 different versions of this shoe that Madden presently has available, some of which I will let off the hook for the time being while others I simply have to make a point about.

I don’t care who you are, you cannot tell me that these do not remind you of your professor’s worn out old shoes only with a heel stuck on the bottom.

I tried, I really did, to come up with any possible outfit that this shoe could even remotely look decent with, and there was nothing.

Unless you are dressing up as a senior citizen for Halloween, I can’t imagine why anyone would like these shoes - sorry Steve.

Then there is also the Shawnee, which really does a disservice to the moccasin.

Talk about bland and boring - I usually love Steve’s designs, a combination of youth and sophistication, but with these I have to say he has gone off track.

Maybe if there was a higher heel or the fringe and string were scrapped … maybe not. What do you think?

We are now fully fledged into the spring season with the warm summer weather on the way and here are some just as hot spring/summer 2008 pieces that you will want to add to your wardrobe.

Vibrant Colors

Just as we reported recently on sunglasses, neon shades are in for apparel as well. Try a bold splash of lime green or sunshine yellow in your ensemble or go all out with a solid colored dress in an eye-popping shade.

If you really want to heat things up this summer, try one of these gorgeous dresses. The dress on the left you can purchase from Costume National, the similar hot pink version offered by Nanette Lepore.

Flirty and Romantic

Romantic looks covered in frilly and lacy designs are totally in this season, much to my delight. These feminine, flirty looks are gorgeous to wear either on a warm summer day or for an evening out.

Here are a few of my favorite versions. On the left is an admirable spring dress from Max Azria, with a skinny natural-hued leather belt that helps to accentuate the waist.

The typical romantic style dresses are done in light pastels and whites, but for a more daring look you could choose a dark romantic dress, seen here by Calvin Klein from his fall 2008 collection which could easily lose the tights and be worn with a pair of strappy heels to make it more suitable for the warmer weather.

Retrosexual

The styles of the ’50s are definitely back and all the rage, and I for one am a true fan of this timeless style. Think Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly, the overtly feminine yet subtly sexy apparel that will never really go out of style.

If you are interested in getting the bombshell ’50s look for yourself, here are a few staples you will need to include.

You will want to invest in some knee-length pencil skirts which will help to accentuate your curves and give you more of an hourglass figure. Sleeveless silk blouses work well as do shaped t-shirts and fitted jackets.

This is an adorable bathing suit from the Abaete Spring 2008 Ready-to-Wear Collection and a Kimono jacket and pencil skirt from one of my favorite designers, Michael Kors.

With these beautiful looks and the right accessories you will be ready and set for summer, the epitome of a true fashionista.

Some people idolize Victoria Beckham’s style while others go into a frenzy when they see that she continues to make one “Best Dressed” list after another.

Either way it is safe to say that she is not going to have much success with her clothing line, as it was dumped soon after it was released.

Kitson and Fred Segal have dumped Beckham’s line after poor sales. There was also a serious lack of promotional work, as Victoria even refused to do in-store promotions to advertise her line, which definitely did not help things any.

As reported on Holly Scoop, Fraser Ross, owner of Kitson, says that:

We asked her PR people so many times for her to appear but she didn’t. Celebrity lines are no different from an album or music tour. They have to be promoted to sell.

To some people this news is sad, while others are thrilled. Apart from her time with the Spice Girls, I think Victoria Beckham’s style is quite stylish and pretty, and she looks darn good after having two kids.

With her lack of promotional work however, whether it be due to laziness or ignorance, it is only expected that her entrepreneurial efforts here would fail.

So the summer season is fast approaching and what better way to start it off than by buying your first bathing suit of the year.

There are some fantastic new trends in bathing suits this year, and as reported on one of the leading fashion websites, Suite101:

New York Runway trends for African inspired tribal and jungle prints can be seen in the new collections. Victoria’s Secret Designer Collections include a Red Carter Giraffe cut-out one-piece and a sexy Tiger print & dots push-up tankini top.

Colors and prints are really all the rage for the upcoming swimsuit season, and also, from the runways of Milan we are seeing a lot of geometric prints featured heavily on tops and bottoms.

Of course bikinis are still as popular as ever, and they seem to just keep getting smaller and smaller. So it is then not surprising that tiny bikins giving minimum coverage are in this season, however one new aspect that has not really been covered yet is the reversible bikini.

Many swimwear retailers are now offering reversible bikinis. This is a really cute idea and gives you two bathing suits for the price of one. FigLeaves is one of the most popular companies now offering these hip bikinis, so be sure to check them out.

Embellishments on bathing suits are also very in this year:

This season’s trend of “embellishments” which proliferate dresses, shoes and handbags are carried through into swimwear. Fringes, appliqué, beads and bows can be seen adorning swimsuit bottoms and tops.

The new swimwear trends for this year are dramatic and yet subtle all at the same time, but all make a statement in their own right.

Also don’t forget about the many fabulous Australian designers that are making their mark in the swimwear world, such as Zimmermann and Seafolly.

As a tall girl myself at 5′10″, I understand firsthand just how difficult it can be to find pants that fit. We all hear about the shorter women who have problems finding the right size pants but at least they can get theirs tailored, whereas we tall girls are left looking like we are waiting for a flood!

I used to find myself shopping around from store to store trying to find pants that were long enough for my legs, and more often than not would end up frustrated, with no luck.

I know a lot of other women as well who are taller than average and who deal with the same problem, and this combined with the simple fact that I would like to know where I can go and find pants that are going to fit and look great, made me decide to do some research.

Alloy

One of the best companies I have found to date is Alloy. They offer pants with inseams up to 37″ which includes even women who are over six feet tall.

I especially love their denim collection, which features all the most popular styles of jean including wide leg, flare, skinny, destroyed, new washes and treatments, and even crops and capris.

They are only available online which is unfortunate because then you are not able to visit an actual retail store to try on the pants first, but I have ordered many times from this company and trust me, you will not be returning or exchanging anything.

Not only do they offer an incredible selection of jeans but also pants, hoodies, tops, dresses, shorts, skirts, accessories, swimwear, and more.

Gap

Gap is another clothing retailer that offers pants in extended sizes. Their women’s apparel is actually divided into two specific categories: petite and tall, to make the shopping experience as easy for you as possible.

Their pants are available in five different sizes of inseam ranging from 29-36 inches long. Another thing I love about the Gap is that they have different styles of jeans listed including boot cut, curvy, straight, and fashion denim, which makes it easier to choose just the right pair of jeans for every occasion.

The pants are also actually affordable which is often hard to find when you are shopping for a specialty item, which apparently extra-long inseams are.

I love how comfortable these pants fit and how they keep their shape even after washing and drying them. It’s great knowing that whenever I want a pair of cute new pants I can head here and find a great selection.

Victoria’s Secret

One of my favorite stores of all time, Victoria’s Secret, is the third to make my list here. Not only do they have a gorgeous line of lingerie and swimwear, but as well apparel including pants with extra-long inseams.

They have a great selection of pants for both work and play, and they too are very affordable which is important to me because I simply cannot reason with paying hundreds of dollars for a single pair of jeans.

If you are not already aware, they offer the VS Uplift pants, which feature a built-in powerful mesh panel that lifts from the inside but which is invisible from the outside. This gives the ole tush a little lift, which no woman can complain about.

I have found a few other stores that cater to tall women and which I have visited a few times, but these are definitely three of my favorite. If you are a tall girl like I am who is looking for a pair of pants with a great fit, I am sure you will have success at any one of these places.