Archive for April, 2011

dresses, Gallery, How to Wear, Trend Alert

Trend Alert: Backless beauties for summer

By emilyborrett on April 20th, 2011

Stunning in Atelier Versace, Diane Kruger nails this heartstoppingly beautiful dress perfectly

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The good weather is officially back – yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I had myself a Callippo – and so ShinyStyle finds itself searching for the best summer trends in earnest. And here’s one that we can totally get behind: peekaboo back cleavage, a modern alternative to flaunting your bosoms to all and sundry. Sexy, not slutty, chic, not cheap, this is a trend that we can get behind.

Whether it’s just a cheeky flash of skin that you’re after to show off your blissful new tan, or full-on bum skimming backless numbers, there’s a garment out there to you to rock this summer.

As we all know, it can be so tempting when it’s impossibly hot in the summer to dig out your skimpiest clothes, never mind that you look more Katie Price than Kate Moss, and brave it in public. But the backless is sexy, elegant and chic all the way.

We’ve included in the above gallery a couple of our favourite fashion mavens showing us exactly how it’s done when it comes to showing off your back; who can forget Diane Kruger’s jaw-droppingly glitter-encrusted backless Atelier Versace number that she wore to the Inglorious Basterds première, or the plunging nude number that Kylie was seen out in earlier this month?

Check out the gallery to see how Di and Kylie worked the look, and our favourite pieces from the high street.



Beauty, News

Lauren Conrad launches beauty website

By Andrea Petrou on April 20th, 2011

Lauren Conrad has launched her own beauty website.

The former ‘Hills’ star turned fashion designer has teamed up with her hairstylist, Kristin Ess, and make-up artist Amy Nadine to create the site thebeautydepartment.com, which will show visitors how to master popular hair and make-up trends at home.

Lauren said: “Growing up, I never really learned how to do my hair and makeup correctly and the results weren’t always great. Our goal with The Beauty Department is to provide girls and young women with a basic how-to of simplified versions of popular trends and styles that they can recreate themselves.”

The website will also cover health-related beauty topics and allow readers to submit questions.

Lauren is not the only celebrity to launch her own website.

Earlier this month Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen joined forces with BeachMint Inc – a company headed by MySpace founder Josh Berman – to launch a shopping forum.

The site promises to combine shopping and social media to offer users a unique experience where they will be given recommendations for purchases based on the responses registered users give in style questionnaires.

Mary-Kate and Ashley will design products available – starting with a range of $29.99 women’s t-shirts – and create videos for the site.



Celebrity Style, News

Kate Hudson “hates” how big her breasts have become since being pregnant.

By Andrea Petrou on April 20th, 2011

Kate Hudson “hates” how big her breasts have become since being pregnant.

The 31-year-old actress – who is expecting her first child with British musician Matt Bellamy – does not like how much her body is changing because it means she cannot wear the clothes she wants to, although she does admit they are fun for “certain things”.

She said: “I hate it. I’m usually an A cup and I’m getting close to a D cup. Big breasts are fun for certain things and really not fun for other things.

“Plus, I love fashion, and having big breasts is not ideal for certain looks. They’re way more fun when you’re not in your clothes. Then, they’re a blast!”

Kate – who also has seven-year-old son from ex-husband Chris Robinson – also reveals she is unlikely to be getting married to Muse star Matt any time soon.

She told US InStyle magazine: “I wouldn’t count it out but Matthew and I kind of skipped that part and went right to the good stuff.”



Celebrity Style, Features, Gallery, Trend Alert

Celebrity Trends: Red shoes as seen on Leighton Meester, Alexa Chung and Taylor Swift

By Andrea Petrou on April 20th, 2011

With bold colours being hot this season, it was only a matter of time before we saw this trend filter through to our footwear – something that was shown on the catwalks of Prada.
One colour that’s really made a stand in our shoes is red. Known for being an all round seasonal colour – as well as the iconic hue of Dorothy’s shoes – this colour is set to be huge, getting a big foot in the fashion footwear door this season. It’s already been spotted on heels, sandals, platforms and peep toes, as well as gracing the feet of many a celeb.
Spotted in this trend so far is Alexa Chung, Katy Perry, Blake Lively and Leighton Meester. Taylor Swift also showed how to wear contrasting bolds when she turned up in a bright yellow dress and red shoes for an appearance on a television show. Kylie Minogue went the other way showing us how to spice up that classic black dress with a bit of colour. We’re ordering our red shoes right now.

See the gallery below for all the celebrities wearing this colour.

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Celebrity Style, Gossip, News

Reese Witherspoon invited Prince William and Kate Middleton to her recent wedding

By Andrea Petrou on April 20th, 2011

Reese Witherspoon invited Prince William and Kate Middleton to her recent wedding.

The ‘Water for Elephants’ actress tied the knot with Hollywood agent Jim Toth in a romantic ceremony last month and she was keen for the royal couple to attend so they would ask her to their highly-anticipated nuptials on April 29.

She told US TV show ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’: “I can’t even contain my enthusiasm for the royal wedding! I’m kind of bummed I’m not invited to the royal wedding. My girlfriend asked me if I was invited. Well, no, but I invited them to my wedding!”

While Britain’s future king and queen failed to attend, Reese – who has two children, Ava, 11, and seven-year-old Deacon, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe – says she enjoyed every minute of her big day.

She revealed: As my girlfriend says, ‘You only get married for the second time once!’

“It was so much fun. My daughter helped me pick out my dress. She was my maid of honour. It wasn’t stressful.”

Reese recently revealed she “didn’t have to think” before accepting Jim’s marriage proposal because she was absolutely certain she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

She said: “I knew he was The One all right. A clue was when he asked me to marry him and I said yes right away. Didn’t have to think about it. It just feels like the right thing at the right time in my life.”



Celebrity Style, News

Erin O’ Connor doesn’t follow fashion trends

By Andrea Petrou on April 20th, 2011

Erin O’ Connor doesn’t follow fashion trends because they bring out people’s “insecurities”.

The 33-year-old model prefers to stick to clothes she knows suit her rather than wearing the latest styles and wishes everyone had her confidence to wear what they want.

She explained: “I have a default style. Ironically I have never coped with trends very well. I am much more of a classic dresser. I have always felt trends bring out all sorts of insecurities.

“I feel once you have got to grips with your body shape, it is best that you continue to dress with what suits you and what you feel good in.

“That’s the most important thing – there is nothing wrong with wanting to go out dresses as a peacock every now and then, as long as you are simply feeling the moment.”

While Erin likes to keep fit, she refuses to push herself too hard when it comes to exercise because she believes it can be destructive.

She told the Daily Record newspaper: “I do feel that self-acceptance is very difficult when we are all aspiring to be one certain shape, which is why I am never too hard on myself when I exercise.

“It’s easy to forget that models are people too and it is easy for people to criticise.”



Beauty, Celebrity Style, Gallery

Beauty looks of the week: Reese Witherspoon, Julia Stiles and Rihanna

By Andrea Petrou on April 20th, 2011

Julia Stiles

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Rocks the plain look at the Water for Elephants premier Elizabeth Pantaleo/ABACA/USA Empics

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Beauty, News

Kimberly Wyatt has given her support to a new campaign to stop animal testing on cosmetics.

By Andrea Petrou on April 20th, 2011

Kimberly Wyatt has given her support to a new campaign to stop animal testing on cosmetics.

The former Pussycat Doll and British actress Joanna Lumley have asked people who are buying Easter presents to help save rabbits by only buying beauty and personal care gifts that have not been tested on animals. These can be easily identified by the Leaping Bunny Logo which symbolises the BUAV’s Humane Cosmetics Standard, the internationally recognised gold standard, which guarantees a company does not test their cosmetics and toiletries on animals.

Kimberly, founder of new cruelty-free cosmetics brand BM Beauty, said: “Please be kind to bunnies this Easter – don’t buy animal tested cosmetics and toiletries when choosing gifts for your loved ones. Look out for the BUAV’s Leaping Bunny logo.”

Joanna added: “I’m helping rabbits this Easter by only buying cruelty-free cosmetics. Look out for the BUAV’s Leaping Bunny logo.”

Despite bans in the UK and EU that prevent animals from being used to test cosmetics and toiletries, products that have been cruelly tested on animals in other parts of the world are still allowed to be sold and the BUAV is campaigning for a ban that will prevent this from happening.



Celebrity Style, Gallery

Arthur Premier: Katy Perry, Russell Brand and Helen Mirren

By Andrea Petrou on April 20th, 2011

Helen Mirren

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Anthony Harvey/ Picture group/ Empics Entertainment

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Fashion Crush, Gallery

ShinyStyle loves: Accessorize Royal Wedding collection

By Andrea Petrou on April 19th, 2011

London Crown keyring

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Celebrity Style, News

Victoria Beckham is craving Lucozade and sweets

By Andrea Petrou on April 19th, 2011

Victoria Beckham is craving Lucozade and sweets.

The pregnant fashion designer was spotted sipping the fizzy energy drink between bites of Thorntons toffee during a recent shopping trip.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “She was shopping in Selfridges last week and stopped every few minutes for a toffee and a chug of orange pop.”

The former Spice Girl – who turned 37 on Sunday (17.04.11) – is expecting her first daughter with her soccer player husband David Beckham, with whom she already has three sons, Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, eight, and six-year-old Cruz.

It seems Victoria’s cravings for sweet treats are evolving as early on in the pregnancy she was reported as having a particular penchant for marmalade on toast and tea.

A source said: “Victoria is having a lot of tea and toast with lashings of marmalade. She can’t get enough of the stuff. Mostly she’s been having it on toast, accompanied by lots of cups of tea.”

To celebrate her birthday, she enjoyed a family lunch with David, their kids and her parents Tony and Jackie Adams in Beverly Hills’ French restaurant Bouchon Bistro at the weekend.

She wrote on her twitter page: “Thank u so much for such beautiful birthday messages!!!! So many beautiful flowers and messages!!!! having a wonderful day with my four boys!!!! x vb (sic)”



Swimwear, Trend Alert

Top five Summer Bikinis

By Andrea Petrou on April 19th, 2011

Admiral stripe bikini

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Go all nautical with this triangle bikini set from Topshop

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Celebrity Style

Nicole Richie owns over 200 pairs of sunglasses

By Andrea Petrou on April 19th, 2011

Nicole Richie owns over 200 pairs of sunglasses.

The reality TV star-turned-designer – whose House of Harlow accessories line carries the eyewear – is often voted one of the world’s most stylish women and admits she has a huge number of shades to help accessorise her fashionable outfits.

She told Teen Vogue magazine: “I view them as fun masks to accessorise your face. In my defence, I make sunglasses, so I have to research-shop, and I own every pair I’ve ever designed.”

Nicole is well known for her signature bohemian look and says she relies on extras to transform her wardrobe staples of jeans and a T-shirt into something special.

She explained: “You change the look with accessories. And by accessories, I mean sunglasses, head scarves, shoes, bed jackets.

“I’m always missing that in-between layer. On the West Coast, you don’t need a full jacket, but you want something more than just a tank.”

The designer also creates footwear but says because she is only 5ft 2in she is more interested in comfort than style.

She said: “Comfort takes precedence for me. These are super-high, but because they have a built-in platform, they don’t feel like it.

“I am not that girl who can do super-arched heels. All the shoes I design have a cushion and a platform.”



Celebrity Style, dresses, Features, Gallery, Oscars, Red Carpet

Top ten red carpet awards dresses for 2011: Oscars, Baftas, Grammys and Golden Globes

By Andrea Petrou on April 19th, 2011

It may not be the end of the year, or in anticipation for the next awards event, but let’s be honest, we really don’t need an excuse to put together a list of red carpet award dresses.
This year an abundance of A-listers have turned up to celebrate key red carpet award events including the BAFTAs, Oscars, Golden Globes and of course the Grammys. Each have chosen a frock, which they hope sets them apart from the rest, and while many did that, there, in our eyes can only be a top ten.
First up in our top ten is Angelina Jolie who looked stunning in a green sleeved Versace  dress at the Golden Globes. Also sporting a best dress at this event was Christina Hendricks who showed off those enviable curves in a red frock.
Over at the Oscars, we had three ladies who really wowed. First up was Michelle Williams who went for a white dress with on trend beading and capped sleeves. She’s followed here by Helena Bonham Carter for her sheer eccentric black outfit, which she teamed up with glasses. Also at this awards event is the lovely Natalie Portman who showed off her baby bump in a cute scoop neck purple frock.
Rihanna’s white and sheer Jean Paul Gaultier frock at the Grammys also gets a mention, while Jessie J’s BRIT playsuit also comes in top here.

Emma Watson’s one shoulder lace frock at the BAFTAs gets in too as does Amy Adam’s  gold strappy number.
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Celebrity Style, Designer Fashions, Designers, News

Donatella Versace not worried about celebrity designers

By Andrea Petrou on April 19th, 2011

Donatella Versace has rubbished the efforts of celebrity designers claiming they are no competition to her.

The 55-year-old Italian – who took over as creative director of Versace after her brother Gianni was murdered in 1997 – has slammed a “lack of creativity” in lines designed by famous stars.

She said: “I think it is more a question of marketing. Some of these collections are for cheaper, mass market fashion. I don’t think that creativity is there.

“You need to live among real things, you need as much information as possible.”

While Donatella did not single out any famous person in particular, there are a number of celebrities with their own clothing lines including Victoria Beckham, Gwen Stefani, Katie Holmes and Jessica Simpson.

Although she’s not a fan of celebrity designers, Donatella – whose famous fans include January Jones and Angelina Jolie – has previously revealed she is worried that young designers find it difficult to get started in the industry, saying: “Since the big fashion groups started, of course, it’s harder for young people to get started. Now you talk about merchandising, marketing, where to put a product, how much it should cost, entry prices, and for someone straight out of college, that’s scary. I think that the pushing of the commercial side of fashion over the past 10 years has maybe killed creativity a little – I’m talking generally here – but that may be changing again now.”




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