Cheap Party Dresses for Christmas: Celebrity inspired frocks

We're over halfway through the cheap party dresses rundown (thank God!) and today I've done something a little special, with a gallery of celebrity-inspired frocks for around £20 - £60. If you fancy getting the look of Gwyneth Paltrow, Megan Fox, Victoria Beckham, Anna Faris, Eliza Dushku or Ashley Tisdale, look no futher than these cheap chic items. Click the image below to view the lot!

Gwyneth's Antonio Berardi dress was a love it or loathe it tabloid fave, but Topshop's alternative is a bit easier to wear. It's also only £30 in the sale.

Megan Fox is a huge fan of hot pink, and has worn variations of this look for the last couple of years. Copy her look and draw attention with River Island's tulip skirted number for £58.71.

Ashley Tisdale wore a crop of frilly, feminine, sparkly confections during the High School Musical promotional tour. This, from Rome, was one of the best, and can be copied on a budget with Miss Selfridge's £35 silver knot dress, some silver flat-back jewels and some super glue. I do love a craft project.

Anna Faris's starring role in The House Bunny meant she was another star doing the promotional rounds in the latter half of the year. Copy her bodycon red dress with another bodycon red dress from Dorothy Perkins for only £20.

If you're heading to a party straight from the office and you really can't change, take a note out of Eliza Dusku's book and try a pencil skirt and blouse...or one of the all-in-one dresses, like Peacocks' high-waisted offering for £20

With the launch of her dress line, Posh has been working the super-fitted, pencil skirted look for loooong time. Copy the frock she wore at the Marc Jacobs fashion show with this Goddiva frock for £55.85.

[CatwalkQueen]

Reasons why Charlize Theron is a movie star...

Charlize looks like she was born to wear Versace at the Venice Film Festival. It's a lesson in how to do red carpet glamour. The look is made by the soft hair, diamond bracelets, miniaudiere and intentional lack of any other jewellery. With a dress like this, less is definitely more when it comes to accessories.

Victoria Beckham 'worst-dressed celebrity'

Victoria Beckham, who markets sunglasses and jeans under her own designer label, has been judged the world’s worst-dressed celebrity by a leading fashion guru.

Acid-tongued Richard Blackwell, who was designing dresses for the rich and famous when he started the list in 1960, attacked entertainment’s biggest stars in his compilation of fashion disasters for 2007. It is the second time Mrs Beckham has made an appearance in the list’s number one slot.In 1998 she featured along with her Spice Girl band mates who were derided by Mr Blackwell as "the only spices on the planet that have no taste."

And the 85-year-old LA-based designer still had plenty of venom to heap on the mother-of-three this year.

He said: "Forget the fashion spice, wearing a skirt would suffice! In one skinny-mini monstrosity after another, pouty Posh can really wreck-em."

Other stars listed for their fashion disasters included singers Amy Winehouse, Fergie, Kelly Clarkson and Jessica Simpson, Bond girl Eva Green and actress Lindsay Lohan.

Missing from the list was Britney Spears, who has made it many times before.

"I felt that it was inappropriate at this time to make comment, when her personal life is in such upheaval. I hope 2008 is a better year for her," Blackwell said.

His best-dressed list for 2007, which is not ranked, included Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Reese Witherspoon, Jemima Khan, Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, Helen Mirren, Katie Holmes, Katherine Heigl and Prince William’s girlfriend, Kate Middleton.

Richard Blackwell started his own clothing line, The House of Blackwell, in the 1950s and dressed actresses Jayne Mansfield and Jane Russell as well as first lady Nancy Reagan, among other famous names.

He was an important designer and during the 1960s he became the first in history to present his line on a television broadcast; and the first to make his line available for plus-size women.

The emergence of casual-wear in the 1980s brought an end to his fashion-line.

He is now best known as a fashion journalist and for producing his annual best and worst dressed lists every January.

The top 10 roll-call of fashion dishonours is:

1. Victoria Beckham - singer/fashion designer. Posh has remained top of the tabloid agenda this year with her move to America and role in reforming the Spice Girls. But despite writing a fashion guide David’s wife, seen stepping out in a neon dress and matching acid-yellow shoes this week, has had her fair share of wardrobe disasters. Mr Blackwell said: "Forget the fashion spice, wearing a skirt would suffice! In one skinny-mini monstrosity after another, pouty Posh can really wreck-em."

2. Amy Winehouse - singer. The soulful singer, one of the most photographed stars of 2007, is characterised by her slew of trucker tattoos, towering hair-do and thick black-eyeliner. Mr Blackwell said: "Exploding beehives above, tacky polka-dots below, she’s part 50’s carhop horror."

3. Mary Kate Olsen - actress. With sister Ashley she is one half of the hugely successful Olsen twins, who have starred in TV shows and films as well as having their own clothing and make-up line. Mary Kate has been a regular in the fashion magazines, singled out for her bohemian style and ultra-skinny figure, but it’s not to everyone’s taste. Mr Blackwell said: "She resembles a tattered toothpick-trapped in a hurricane."

4. Fergie - singer. Stacy Ann Ferguson, solo singer and member of the Black Eyed Peas group, has raised many eyebrows with her wardrobe of garish and revealing outfits. Mr Blackwell said: "Yes, when it comes to couture chaos, guess it’s all in a name!"

5. Kelly Clarkson - singer. Clarkson shot to fame after winning the American Idol talent show in 2002, but is regularly derided by fashion critics for her style, particularly her affection for cropped tops. Mr Blackwell slammed her for: "belly-baring bombs".

6 . Eva Green - actress. The French star of Bond film Casino Royale was noted by Vogue for her "killer looks, intelligence and modesty", and has modelled for numerous fashion brands including Armani and Dior. She is known for her quirky gothic style, but clearly not everybody is a fan. Mr Blackwell’s opinion is that she is "Stuck in neon nightmares".

7 . Avril Lavigne - singer. The Canadian Grammy award-nominated musician is famed for her punk-rock style popular among teenagers, and is often pictured wearing black. Mr Blackwell criticised her for "Gothic make-up courtesy the mad spatula."

8. Jessica Simpson - singer/actress. The blonde country and pop artist is admired for her pneumatic figure, and is not afraid to show it off. She garnered more attention for her tiny hotpants than her acting skills as Daisy Duke in her first film, The Dukes of Hazzard. But she has also had her fair share of criticism for her skimpy clothes. Mr Blackwell said: "She’s a global fashion curse."

9. Lindsay Lohan - actress. Child star Lohan, now 21, has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons in the past 12 months. The hard-partying actress has been in and out of rehab and was caught with cocaine by police and then arrested twice for driving under the influence. Style critics say her lifestyle has taken its toll on her appearance. Mr Blackwell said: "Fashion frenzy strikes again."

10. Alison Arngrim - actress/comedian. Best known for her "bad girl" role in US televison show Little House on the Prairie, the stand-up comic is accused of being frumpy. Mr Blackwell said: "Looks like a 1940’s fashion editor for the Farmers Almanac."

Source

Celebs who dress us

Who do the wannabes wanna look like? Rachel Wells asks the experts which stars set trends and which stars ruin them.

Flick through the racks at a chain store and chances are you'll stumble across a pretty good knock-off of those denim shorts Kate Moss was wearing in Who last month, or that maxi dress Paris Hilton was sporting in Famous a couple of weeks back.

Dressing like our favourite celebrities has become a multimillion-dollar obsession thanks to our preoccupation with celebrity culture and a proliferation of fast-fashion stores and online boutiques that can be selling the latest look within weeks, if not days.

A survey by credit card company Virgin Money last year revealed that Australian women aged 18 to 34 spent $4.6 million, or almost $2000 each, annually to look like celebrities. As a result, chain stores are more likely to look to the streets of London or Los Angeles than the catwalks of Paris and Milan for their style inspiration.

"Chain stores watch celebrities like hawks," says Kerrie McCallum, editor of fashion tome Shop Til You Drop. "Any celebrity that is hot property is on their radar and the chain stores can turn around outfits inspired by that celebrity in a matter of weeks. That's what the customer wants."

McCallum says celebrities provide a more wearable interpretation of new fashion trends than the catwalk ever can.

"Catwalk is still very relevant to the fashion industry but, for the average woman, a celebrity shows them how to take that look to the street. They get hold of trends before we know about them, then they break them down into a look that can be worn on the street. So they are almost showing us how to wear the trends before anyone else," she says.

Sarah Rovis, general manager and head buyer at fast fashion chain Dotti, agrees.

"We do look to the celebrities and we also mix it with what we see on the streets...We travel a lot and hit the streets of London, LA, New York and Tokyo to see what the girls are wearing and how they are putting their outfits together," she says.

Given this demand for the celebrity look, it is not surprising that the days of chain stores delivering new stock only two to four times a year are long gone. Nowadays most fast fashion stores stock new clothes on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis.

It is also not surprising that we have seen a spate of so-called celebrity-designed fashion ranges in recent times - think Kate Moss for Topshop, Madonna for H&M, Lily Allen for British chain New Look and Milla Jovovich and fellow model Carmen Hawk for MNG. Not too mention a flood of celebrity collections including J Lo by Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce's House of Dereon, Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B., Jessica Simpson's Princy and JS by Jessica Simpson lines, Justin Timberlake's William Rast collection and most recently Twenty8Twelve by Sienna and Savannah Miller and Paris Hilton's new namesake label.

So it seems everyone wants to look like their favourite celebrity, but which of them most deserve their following?

According to McCallum, former OC star and Hollywood "It" girl Mischa Barton and style stalwart Kate Moss are leading the celebrity fashion charge, right now. Meanwhile, one-time style leader Sienna Miller - famous for putting boho on the fashion map - has lost her fashion mojo.

"Mischa Barton is the ideal. She's on trend, elegant, young and beautiful, not too scandalous but naughty enough to be interesting. She's a real clothes horse...and Kate Moss still has it...despite her grubby personal life, she has single-handedly influenced the world's perspective on fashion," she says.

In terms of up-and-coming style icons, McCallum says celebrity wannabes should keep their eye on actors Michelle Williams, Camille Belle and Kate Bosworth.

A quick scan of the ever-growing number of online stores devoted to celebrity fashion also offers a good idea of who's hot and who's not.

At As Seen on Screen's website asos.com, an online store that sells shameless copies of clothes recently worn by celebrities, the most searched stars include: Paris Hilton, who turns up close to 60 garments (from printed maxi dresses to drawstring jersey mini shorts); Kate Moss, who inspires more than 40 items, from high-waisted denim flares to raw-hemmed denim shorts; and the naughty LA starlet triumvirate of Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie and Mischa Barton. Sienna Miller, Kylie Minogue, Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz, Jessica Alba, Lily Allen and J Lo are also popular.

At famousfashionsfound.com, where you can buy the same clothes that the celebrities are wearing, and search via TV show, movie, "magazine must-have" or star, Lohan, Richie and Hilton all feature strongly, along with Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Rachel Bilson, Cameron Diaz, Eva Longoria, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Nicky Hilton, Hilary Duff and J Lo.

Rovis says celebrities on Dotti's radar include Kate Moss, Rachel Bilson, the Olsen twins, Lily Allen and Peaches Geldof (the daughter of Sir Bob Geldof and Paula Yates), who the company has just named as the face of its spring/summer campaign.

These stars appeal to young, fashion- and budget-conscious consumers because they don't dress in head-to-toe designer brands. "Our customers look to these A-listers for their ability to mix designer brands with chain-store bargains or vintage finds," says Rovis. "They love that these celebrities take risks and mix it up a bit."

The most enduring style setters are those who look as though they've spent all of five minutes and little money throwing together a look before rushing out the door.

Being a celebrity doesn't guarantee style status. There are some, like tabloid trainwrecks Britney Spears, Courtney Love and Amy Winehouse, for example, who most women wouldn't part with a single cent to look like. Then there are others who have a "style" completely beyond the reach of average consumers. Victoria Beckham is a classic example. She was recently dubbed a "fashion liability" by a British newspaper - whenever she is spotted in a certain look "she kills it stone-dead".

"The problem is her look is too contrived and so obviously over-styled that it looks like she has tried too hard," says McCallum. And she says there is another kind of celebrity who never makes it to fashion "It" girl status because they choose not to follow trends.

"Even though they're beautiful, people like Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie have more of a classic style," she says. "They don't slavishly follow trends so aren't necessarily as interesting when it comes to pap shots."

Celebrities Undressed: Mary Kate "Mixed Bag Lady"

Mixed Bag Lady: It's easy to mock Mary-Kate Olsen's sartorial statements, which tend to be more secondhand haberdashery store than straight-off-the-runway haute couture (save for her au courant open-toe Louboutins, of course). But dig a little deeper and it becomes clear straggly MK's style inspirations go far beyond just used accoutrements -- they draw on kooky influences that span the pop culture landscape. Take her colossal, figure-obscuring striped scarf, which was last seen blowing in the wind behind a Sunday-driving Isadora Duncan, or her diaphanous black silk dress, which would perfectly suit Stevie Nicks as she twirls to the strains of "Gypsy." Mary-Kate's fedora, meanwhile, evokes both the '40s-era cool of Bogart and the summer of 2006 Hot Topic chapeau trendiness of Ashlee Simpson. As for the pocket-size mogul's lethargic, melted-butter-colored locks and kohl-ringed eyes, they are a subtle homage to two fashion-forward musical icons, Aquanet- and bandana-dependent Bret Michaels and panda-peepered Jared Leto, respectively. (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Source: MSN.com

Celebrity fashion labels a hit in Hamilton

Designer jeans worn by Hollywood stars have arrived in Hamilton.

Natalie Cameron of the newly opened Delilah Rose has a range of designer garments hanging on the racks of her black and gold-themed boutique in Hamilton's Alexandra St.

Her motivation for such splendour in the heart of the Waikato is her insistence that Hamiltonians not have to travel to Auckland for a pair of designer jeans.

Cameron is the only stockist of Rock and Republic jeans in the Waikato. The label has a range designed by Victoria Beckham, which should retail for $560 a pair but sells for $479 at Delilah Rose. Because Cameron believes, despite the beautiful fabric and Beckham's celebrity endorsement, $520 for a pair of jeans is more Hollywood than Hamilton.

But if celebrity endorsement is what customers are after, Cameron suggests True Religion, jeans which retail for under $400 and are worn by stars such as Eva Longoria, Jessica Simpson and Heidi Klum. Delilah Rose is also the only stockist of True Religion jeans for men in the Waikato.

The shop has been open for six weeks and already Cameron has regular buyers. With brands such as Wheels and Dollbaby, Fifi Chachnil and Australia's Natasha Gan she is confident business will steadily increase.

The former real estate agent has a love of fashion that shines through her shop, which looks like you've stumbled into a very stylish bedroom.

Silk gloves are draped over suede chairs, french candles burn on shelves and ornate mirrors with gold frames make the shop seem a lot bigger than it actually is.

"I love fashion. I love fashion magazines. I wanted labels that celebrities are wearing. True followers of fashion recognise the label in the store. It's an eclectic mix of styles. Wheels and Dollbaby have a cult following.

"I knew there was a market in Hamilton for these brands. I love coming to work, it's not like work. Word of mouth is out."

The Fug Girls: How to Hire a Celebrity Fashion Designer

Desperate to join the ranks of retailers who've used celebrities for brand cachet, cheapie clothier Steve + Barry's has decided to follow up its first attempt — Sarah Jessica Parker’s fashion line Bitten — by partnering with actress Amanda Bynes. Who? Exactly. Either Steve + Barry only watch Nickelodeon, or the founders just haven't had a proper lesson in picking the proper celebrity to pimp their wares. Thank God we're here with some sage advice (after the jump). You're welcome, boys.

Pick Someone Who's Actually Into Fashion
True, budding designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen — whose line The Row is being sold at Barneys — have a history of trotting around town looking like they’ve dragged themselves out of a dumpster. But their passion for fashion is well documented by their appearances at couture shows and Fashion Week events. Showing up is half the battle, Amanda; simply saying you want to move to New York because it's chic (and while your roots are showing) does not make you qualified to design good pants.

Don't Get Duped By Fictional Fashion SenseJust because Patricia Field can stuff Carrie Bradshaw in something avant-garde doesn't mean Sarah Jessica Parker knows what she's talking about in real life. There’s a big difference between being able to pick out a pretty dress (or having a pink-haired crone do it for you), and being able to design one. No wonder bloggers are savaging SJP’s line before it's even in stores. We can't imagine how Bynes will fare given that her biggest onscreen fashion moment consisted of two "hilarious" montages at the same flea market in What a Girl Wants. Besides, Colin Firth is in that movie, so was anyone actually watching Amanda?

Avoid People Who Have Nothing Better to DoThe Bynes deal smacks of someone designing on a whim, which didn't work out so well for Nicky Hilton. The sulky heiress was best known for spending most of her time looking bored at parties until deciding to create her Chick line a few seasons ago. Considering Nicky’s total lack of charisma, her addiction to wearing the same shapeless black shirt several weeks in a row, and the fact that she had never given us any prior reason to believe she could design her way out of a paper bag, it's no surprise Chick flopped.

Bynes is generally photographed lounging around Los Angeles in nondescript jeans and tees. And that’s fine … if you haven’t been hired to shill a line based on your awesome fashion sense.
Find a Brainy Business PartnerWhat does Bynes bring to the deal, aside from maybe Colin Firth's phone number? The Olsens have been mini-moguls practically since they were in utero. Fellow wholesome starlet Hilary Duff started slow with lip gloss and cheap accessories before graduating to a clothes line for kids. And at the other end of the age spectrum, Madonna brought a lifetime of savvy. Her H&M collection was more benign than she is, but that's why it worked: Madge knew H&M shoppers needed a trench coat more than, say, a cone bra.

When All Else Fails, At Least Pick Someone People Have Heard OfSienna Miller's Twenty8Twelve line, designed with her sister, is mostly a bunch of drab, ruffled stuff Sienna herself would likely wear with leggings on the red carpet. Would we buy it? Two words: No. But given the enormous attention her controversial personal style has received in the last few years, it's logical that she tried. Conversely, we dare you to name even one thing that Bynes wore out of the house last year. We'll just pop out for the weekend while you're thinking. —The Fug Girls

Celebrity Watch: Hollywood A-lister Scarlett Johansson

Some looks are so sizzling, we lack the words to describe it. The platinum blonde, seen here in a strapless satin dress in pink and blue ombre is always at home, whether it's on a red carpet, a film set, or a benefit for charitable causes.

It's so rare in Hollywood that one is blessed with both looks and talent. Add charitable causes to that list, and you've got a star who's one in a million. Actress Scarlett Johansson recently played hostess at the Louis Vuitton LoVe party for his new LoVe collection and the Oxfam charity organization. Twenty-two-year-old Johansson has been a model and spokesperson for the French design house since 2005. And in November 2006 was named Esquire magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive. It's not hard to understand her appeal to both men and women, looking at this photo of her, taken May 3rd, at the charity gala event.
Lost in Translation
Some looks are so sizzling, we lack the words to describe it. The platinum blonde, seen here in a strapless satin dress in pink and blue ombre is always at home, whether it's on a red carpet, a film set, or a benefit for charitable causes. In fact, earlier in the year Johansson actually spent time in Sri Lanka and India with the Oxfam organization meeting survivors of the tsunami disaster. Now that's a trend worth setting! Scarlett's next big Hollywood project is director Woody Allen's film Midnight in Barcelona in the summer of 2007.

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