Beauty & Fashion Tips - Rags & Rouges Style Tips

Is it any surprise that most of our most beautiful celebrities this year also made the best-dressed list? No, me either. Which is why these are the same ladies that keep popping up in our celebrity trend spotting features as well. But there is a reason these names keep cropping up, because these ladies really know how to pull off beauty AND style and make it look so easy all at the same time. And speaking of these names, it struck me when writing this that WOW having the name KATE in Hollywood (or any version thereof) really helps with the style factor!! Just an odd coincidence though….the name Reese seems to be working well as well.

Let’s look at our top 10 Celebrity Trend Setters for 2007, and again, in no specific order. And you know, I can EASILY see a few of these names appearing on next year’s list as well. They are just THAT beautiful. *sigh*

We are starting off with Cate Blanchett, who never plays it safe and always wows the crowds. She is most famous for wearing her Balenciaga right off the runway and this is the same woman who considers Missoni maternity attire. Here she is doing just what she does best, the wow factor. Blanchett is arriving in Armani Prive at the Rome Film Festival for the premiere of Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

An article on trendsetters just wouldn’t be the same without mention of one of America’s most famous style icons. This girl can pull off anything from old-world glamour to rock punk edge. And, as we well know, she has transferred this style to her own LAMB line and her very first line of fragrances which apparently just can’t stay on the shelves. Here is our Gwen Stefani arriving at the NRJ French Music Awards in one of her more famous looks, black and white stripes.

Speaking of Balenciaga, we have the face of their Spring 2008 campaign, Jennifer Connelly. Again, here is another girl that pulls off those harder-to-wear gems with panache. One example of such ensembles would be the sculptural floral piece from their ’08 collection, and another is the Balenciaga she is wearing here at the Met’s Costume Institute Gala.

And our second Kate of trendsetters is Katherine Heigl who made the A-list but fast this year with her Emmy award winning performances. The red carpet WAS Heigl’s runway and she has been photographed in everything from Zac Posen to Valentino. She is also the best presenter in this year’s biggest beauty trends (as we have mentioned) with bold lips and soft waves. And here she is in an eye-popping red ensemble at the SAG Awards.

Kate number 3 is none other than the previously mentioned Kate Bosworth who we showcased in a stunning bikini just yesterday. She’s been flogged publicly for some weight issues which she has just as publicly made changes about. With a few extra pounds here (as if anyone can notice) Kate Bosworth is showing she can wear anything, even those horrid bubble skirts, and make it look like it is the only trend worth wearing. Kate is showing up here also at the Met’s Costume Institute Gala in a shiny Prada piece.

Baby! Baby! Baby! Baby! Reese was the word this year when Reese Witherspoon made waves at the 2007 Academy Awards in this gorgeous number by Olivier Theyskens. This was the post-divorce Reese that appeared at the Oscars and many other red carpet events with dazzling *nothing can get me down* smiles. Maybe it was the magic of Nina Ricci by Olivier Theyskens that had her smiling, or maybe it was the fact that she became my sister KATE’S new best friend this year (which will get anyone smiling!), or MAYBE, it was just good southern grit that kept this style queen’s pretty head above the crowds when her world crashed around her. So inspiring!

Ashley Olsen was best known in 2006 as the fly glasses and baggy sweaters girl that was scarily close to making the best dressed homeless look list, but this year she changed all of that. But who wouldn’t when one of your best pals is Christian Louboutin. *sob* With her style changes she is much less grunge and much more lady as we can see here at the 2007 Golden Globes in Reem Acra. And no, her sister didn’t quite make the list. But THAT’S what happens when you have an eating disorder girls! But seriously, would it kill the girl to smile??

Our Kate #4 is the lovely Kate Moss who has made headlines this year with her breakup with greasy Pete Doherty. But this hasn’t stopped the supermodel from always looking nothing less than gorgeous. And busy! This year Kate launched her new line Topshop, chopped off some bangs, and made menswear the latest trend. Here she is in one of her own pieces at a Fashion Rocks fashion show and concert.

Kate #5 is none other than the also known as Mrs. Tom Cruise, our girl Katie Holmes. Here she is looking stunning as ever at the Bambi Awards in Germany. Am I aging myself by remembering what a sweet little girl this one was on Dawson’s Creek? Who would guess that in 2007 she would be making best dressed lists all over the world. Moving from mildly dowdy in 2006 to elegantly chic in 2007 was an effortless switch for this young lady. Amazing what a good haircut (and an A-list hubby) can do for you! Of course, when your Italian casa is next-door to your BBQ pals the Armani’s, THAT doesn’t hurt either.

And last but not least I leave the poshest trendsetter until last. I know she is not many people’s favorites, but this does not stop her from being idolized by many for her uncanny ability to turn heads. Love her, love to hate her. It doesn’t matter if she is in Herve, Proenza Schouler, Leger, or her own dVb line, she is always gorgeous.

So we were talking about red lips the other day, and I actually got a few emails on it so I thought we would revisit the subject. Here we have our always stunning Nicole Kidman showcasing beautiful red lips. The consensus for trying red lips on ourselves seems to be universal – fear is the word I have been hearing. Now listen, big time party-night coming out tomorrow night, if you want red lips go for it. You DON’T I repeat DON’T need to have a specific skin tone. You just need to pick the right shade. Here’s how you are going to do it….

Step 1 – Look on the veins on the underside of your wrist, flip your wrist over and check ‘em out. If they appear GREEN, you have warm skin tones. If they appear BLUE you have cool skin tones. You will choose your lipstick accordingly.

Step 2 – Warm skin tones want to choose lipstick with orange hues. That’s right, they look more orangey than winey. Check out this swatch from the Kimora Lee line. This is the KLS Beauty Lip Sheer Lipstick, Freesia color.

Step 3 – Cool skin tones are going to choose colors with blue undertones. Much like this KLS Beauty Lip Sheer Lipstick, Hibiscus also from Kimora Lee. It’s that simple.

YES the color is going to look dark, its RED silly girls. Don’t let that scare you. Wear this around the house for a bit until you are used to it. When you go out POW you will be the light of the room. Trust me!

Beauty Tip – Use lip balm on your lips before applying your lipstick. This will make the color just a bit more sheer, which will make the darkness NOT so terrifying. Go out, HAVE FUN! You know you want to!

And so I am freezing my butt off way up here so I am salivating whenever I see a celeb having some beach time….in DECEMBER. But here we have Kate Bosworth enjoying some fun in good ol’fashioned Hawaiian style. She is doing the beach thing in every beach vacation must have – a two piece. I know I will get flack for saying that, but there ARE two piece choices out there for EVERY figure.

Like this look? Take the trend for yourself, you will be surprised how cheap this one is…..

And Hee Haw! I found the exact match at Net-A-Porter ON SALE for about $150 bucks. That’s a pretty sweet price for a designer bikini so snag it NOW before it’s too late. Here is a Melissa Odabash Pisa halterneck bikini . This pretty little thing self-ties at the back and neck and I just love the ruching on the bust. Perfect for flat things like me. The high-cut leg will elongate your leg and the briefs are medium coverage. To add to this cute thing, is square tortoiseshell hardware on the top, briefs, and boned siding.

How are we doing with the contest so far? For those of us just joining, and for those loyal readers who have been following us all along, here is your FINAL contest update.

Once again I am going to remind all of our readers that we are hosting a blog contest here at Rags and Rouges for those that are active participants in the blog. We KNOW you readers are out there so why not take part in supporting a cause without spending any money? That’s right, we are hosting a top commenters contest here at Rags and Rouges in support of Breast Cancer and you can participate without forking over a single cent.

This is our Weekly Updateon our fabulous contest to support the very worthy cause of Breast Cancer. Entries are slow right now so if you want in, it is NEVER too late. The blog is a top commenters blog, so the person who has the highest number of comments by the contest deadline is going to be our grand prize winner. If YOU want to raise money for breast cancer, and know that you are supporting this very worth cause, you can do so simply by participating in this blog! I am participating with you – You Comment, I Reply. This is my mantra. So know that your valuable input into Rags and Rouges is always being acknowledged.

Here are the fabulous prizes you will be competing for:

GRAND PRIZE – This exclusive limited edition Ralph Lauren Fashion Targets Breast Cancer in the color and size of your choice. Color options are blue, green, yellow, white, and a very pretty mauve.

SECOND PRIZE — $50 gift certificate for the sponsor of your choice. That would be a sponsor that we have here at Ragstyles, you can check out any of them in our side bar advertising, and we have many more. The list is endless – Net-A-Porter, Old Navy, Shop Bop, Avon, Frederick’s of Hollywood, Limoges Jewelry, True Jeans, National Jean Company, Beauty.com, e.l.f. cosmetics, For Her, Military Clothing, Bag Borrow or Steal, Forienza, efashionhouse, Amazon, and SO many more. If you want a full list of sponsors, please email me at chrissie@ragstyles.com.

THIRD PRIZE – $25 gift certificate for the sponsor of your choice.

ENTER TODAY!!

All you need to do is subscribe to the blog through the method of your choice, and start commenting. For EVERY SUBSCRIBER, I am personally donating $2 USD towards breast cancer research, and all proof of monies donated will be posted on this blog. Check here for full contest rules and details.

And here is something I can not stress enough!!

Once you have subscribed, you must leave a comment in any of the blog contest update posts, such as this one. Once you have subscribed, leave your first comment HERE or look in the Charity category for an update post to comment on. This will count as your first comment and as your official entry. You MUST comment to one of these posts to enter, as I have many commenters on this blog but not all are participating. By leaving a comment on one of these posts, I am able to organize who is, and who isn’t participating in the contest. I am also able to take note of how many subscribers I will use to calculate my final donation to Breast Cancer Research. If you subscribe and start commenting, but do not leave a comment in a contest post, I will not know that you are entered in the contest.

Again, entries are slow, so it is NEVER too late to sign up!!!! Our subscriptions are climbing every day, this is EXCITING news for our donation tabs!! Even though it might be a bit late to win the contest by subscribing to the blog you are still raising money for breast cancer. Though, you never know if you really want it, anything can happen in these last few hours!

At this point, ALL of our prizes have been officially snagged! Thanks to all of our fabulous readers!! But it’s not too late to enter the contest and scoop them from one of our current entrants!

IMPORTANT NOTE ON CONTEST DEADLINE:

Because response to the contest is slow, I am doing some promoting to get more people involved. To put it bluntly, I want to raise more money for breast cancer, and if I can do so by extending the contest deadline, then I am going to. The contest deadline has thus been officially extended to January 1, 2008. At midnight on New Years Eve the contest will close. Because this is a holiday, I may not be available IMMEDIATELY to officially announce the winner, but you will know who you are by the top commenters menu. As soon as I am able to, I will post an official announcement on the blog and get the details from all of our winners.

Contest Stats:

Flowergirl really wants that Polo-Shirt and has contributed 91 comments. Congratulations flowergirl on being this week’s leader in the run for the grand prize!! Lesha really wants that polo shirt as well and has been working her butt off with 85 coments. And many congratulations to Jeans and Tee who is also working hard for that polo-shirt with a running total of 59 comments! It is not too late for either of you girls to take the lead at this point!

We had some more subscribers this week, which is SO exciting! To date, we have raised $40.00 for Breast Cancer Research. Between personal donations and subscribers, we are doing better every week, and every dollar counts. But this is not enough!!! Readers, we NEED your help! Subscribe today, it won’t cost you a penny and by just subscribing you are ensuring $2 go towards Breast Cancer Research. Join TODAY!!!!

Just chiming in to show you some of the funky sales our sponsors are having to wrap up the holiday season. You know whenever you go shopping POST holiday you are going to find some great steals. Everyone is practically giving their stuff away, let’s see what’s going on.

Alloy.com is a very underrated online retailer. They offer a huge selection of clothing and accessories that hit the trends but not your wallet. Doncha just love these little cuffed pumps? So festive! I love the detailing, and you don’t need a fancy outfit when you are sporting these hot babies. Right now at Alloy you can get Alloy.com End of Season Clearance - Get up to 75% off!

Bare Necessities is a great place to pick up all of your pretty little underthings and they offer great names like Calvin Klein, Palatine, and DKNY among many others. But it’s not just a lingerie store, they also have a menswear selection, and awesome comfy lounging around the house things like these cozy PJ pants from DKNY. Even better? See all styles marked 70% to 79% at BareNecessities.com.

And we of course have our Liz Claiborne. There is so much here I just never know where to start, so as usual, I go to shoes. I love these pearlized patent flats. Jeans, dresses, minis, leggings, whatever. These shoes will add just enough dress-up to any outfit. And right now, Liz is offering some great steals as well. New styles just reduced! Shop now and save at LizClaiborne.com

National Jean Company is another of my favorites. Where else can you get such great brand names at such low prices. If you are thinking jeans, True Religion and Seven for All Mankind are always on sale here. If Juicy Couture is your thing, you can find it here as well. I love the velour casuals at NJC, particularly when it comes to Juicy. I have a few of these in my closet as well, and I swear by them on the weekends. What’s more, these are the kind of comfy clothes you actually CAN step out of the house with! And guess what? Products on Sale at National Jean Company!

Onlineshoes.com is another of our favorites when it comes to choosing names like Jessica Simpson, BCBGirls, Kenneth Cole, and so many others. I know some of you have already done some shopping there, so you may want to check out their current post-holiday extravaganza!!

Classic Closeouts is another of our most recently added sponsors. Check out how far your fashion dollar goes here. Basics are always on sale here — socks, underwear and more from just $1.99! Lovely lingerie is never more than $9.99 for a 2-Piece matching set! Tees, tanks and other layering pieces are always available for under $5.00! Or if you are looking for some additions to your winter wardrobe, zip up and step out in style with a padded parka for less than $16! Look cool and stay warm with soft sweaters starting at only $4.99! Cute cozy hats, warm winter gloves, super-soft scarves, from just $1.99. What’s even better is you can do shopping for your whole family here, and they don’t restrict to teensy sizes. Find bras and panties in just about every size and yes, even strap width if you so choose. So pretty, and for less than $10 bucks??!! And take advantage of their FAMOUS FREE SHIPPING on all orders that total $40 and over.
which is SO easy to do at this store. Super cheap!
And whether you are looking for a hot piece like this one for a special occasion like wedding, prom, or just something to knock his socks off, you can find any style of dress you want at edressme.com like this Nicole Miller piece. WOW. They have such a huge selection from casual to evening wear, but I could not let this one go without at least showing y’all. Oh, and with any purchase at edressme, they will thank you. Free Rebecca Taylor tote with purchase!

Well, we saw a lot of do’s and don’ts like we do every year. But this year seemed to be a big one for major dramatic changes. Generally, the big dramatic changes don’t last, but oddly enough, I can see some of these sticking around for a while. And uh, some not. Let’s see what gets the thumbs up, and which ones, uh….don’t.

In no specific order, here are the top ten beauty trends coming out of 2007.

The Big Bang Theory – Thumbs UP. Bangs started off huge this year, we first saw them emerging as a real trend at the Oscars and then, as usual, they were everywhere. Funny what bangs can do for your face, I recently went back to bangs and WOW 10 years right off (so I am told). If you are considering a major change that isn’t TOO dramatic, go with bangs like Kate Moss, Reese Witherspoon, and Irina Lazareanu have. This is a comeback that is going to be a stay back, so go for it.

And Thumbs Up to Eco-Friendly Beauty OR Fashion as it is not going to go away any time soon, so BIG BIG thumbs up to this one. The trailblazer on this in the beauty world is our Stella McCartney. She took a stand long before it was cool to do so by leaving Gucci due to their work with animal products. And now, she has just introduced Care, an all-organic skin care range. These products include yogurt and honey to replace the standard salicylic acid. You can find this in all the big name department stores.

Big red lips — Thumbs Still were big this year, all over the red carpet and all over the runways. This one is not an easy to look off, we have done a few beauty tutorials on how you can do this though. The red lip has been hotter in 2007 than it ever has, so I am guessing you are going to get at least a few more seasons out of this one. Not one of my favorite looks, neither thumbs up OR down, but I am seeing this one last.

Off with the Hair – BIG Thumbs up! Cutting hair drastically has been THE thing to do this year, everyone has gone short short. And I know I’ve been blahing about it myself (hush now, this may be a resolution in the making for me). Katie Holmes wins as the most spoken about do, and I love this new look on her. A brand new kind of sophistication. Gone with the girl, and in with this elegant woman. Rihanna was another that made waves when she chopped hers off. Her label was NOT happy, but huh, the rest of us were so go figure. I can see more stars following suit, and many of us little people doing the same.

And the Award for the Most Expensive Product — Thumbs DOWNGoes to…….Gucci! They say money can’t buy happiness, but apparently it can buy some damn good product. Gucci Westman’s has reached an all new peak when it comes to being over the top. Here is their Goyard trunk for Lancome. Suggested retail value? A mere $18,000. I am all about spending a good dollar if you are getting a good product, but you know what? Nope, sorry Gucci (though I do love you) there are just FAR too many starving children in the world for me to justify a thumbs up here. Soooo unnecessary.

Big Brows – Thumbs not moving. Here is a look that you really need to have the face to make it work. Not just anyone can pull this off. But just about every rag and runway spoke accolades to the big brow. These really were everywhere, but I don’t seem them lasting. Collections like Chanel, Dior, and Balenciaga were the leaders here in trying to get this look off the ground. This one though for me, is too face specific to say it’s a trend that will keep up with the pace.

Mine Eyes, They Have Wings! Thumbs Down! Ah yes, Amy Winehouse has left the world with a rather untraditional look, that of the winged eye. Again, thumbs not moving here, though if they were, they would be leaning down. Her signature look with the cat-like eyes has been copied on the runways of Prada and Louis Vuitton and many celebs have taken it to the red carpet as well. Again, you completely need the facial structure for this one (and I’m not saying even Amy has it). But dramatic black eyeliner is definitely a look that was prominent this year. Don’t hold your breath though, I really think this one is going to fade with more than a little bit of makeup remover.

Thumbs WAY Up! The Fragrance of the Year Award Goes to…..L by L.A.M.B. for Gwen Stefani. Yep, this girl is not just a talented designer, performance artist, but also a smell queen in the making. This was the most sold out fragrance this year, and the biggest celebrity launch in fragrance in 2007. You will love the freesia, pear, orange blossom, and sweet pea scents you find here. Oooh, I haven’t smelled it yet but just writing about it makes me warm and fuzzy! Gwen is Gwen and has been around since No Doubt. Her products and her wonder are not going away any time soon. TWO big thumbs up for you baby!

Good ol’ fashioned Hollywood Glamour. Well, if I hadn’t just finished watching ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ for the 3rd time this holiday season I would almost forget what this look was about. But Donna Reed certainly pulled off what is today still a stunning look. And here is Veronica Lake then and now re-emerging as a beauty icon with gorgeous full lips and even fuller pin curled soft waves. This Hollywood glamour look was rampant on the runways of Valentino, Gucci, and Missoni. And yes, thumbs up as this is a beauty you can not just let go of. I hope we see MORE of this.

Thumbs WAY WAY Up! Stick Figure is SO Out! Yes, many of you will be happy to know that the stick figure look is out, and hopefully out for good. Big names like Nicole Richie, Tyra Banks, and Jennifer Love Hewitt have spoken out and LOUDLY I might add, on how sick they are of the Hollywood stereotype. Being big IS beautiful, and these women are flaunting it. Ok, so Nicole has a baby bump to make her a biggie, but she has voiced her issues about her figure since then and does not want women to want to look like she used to. I hope more celebs jump on this bandwagon. The more that women and teenage girls (the age group most prone to eating disorders) can hear that being big is ok, the better off our world will be. So kudos to these ladies for inspiring girls everywhere, being big IS beautiful…or even, NOT being a stick figure is beautiful. And Big Thumbs Up!

As usual, wherever Beyonce goes, some sizzle is sure to follow. Here she is in Milan, where she launched the Emporio Armani Scent Diamonds. She lit up the room in a sizzling holiday inspired red satin halter dress with some chunky heels.

Like this look? Take the trend for yourself for less than $100!

I fell in love with this similar look and even more so with the $34 price tag! This dress will turn heads just as easily as Beyonce’s in its sultry and sophisticated style. The dress features a light silky spandex to add just enough shimmer AND figure flattering appeal. The bustline ruching and empire waist also work to flatter that figure of yours. Add the rhinestone and tiered ribbon detailing, and you have the perfect little holiday dress.

Snag these gorgeous Harmony pumps by Gabriella Rocha from Zappos. These feature a D’Orsay pump, leather uppers, and cute little heart-shaped ornaments on the vamp. You will also like the peep toe and light padding in the footbed. Careful though, these vampy shoes, though pretty, come with a 4 ¼” heel!