Cents of Style

3/4-Sleeve Sateen Blazers $39.50 at Old Navy, Exposed Layer Zipper Clutch $38 at Arden B, Dollhouse Hugo Ankle Boot $58.95 at Endless.com, Abstract Print Knit Dress $59.50 at New York & Co.

This is a look any woman can and should wear – perfect polish in a flirty printed dress and boyfriend blazer.  The deep V on this New York & Co abstract print dress gives some sex appeal and the boyfriend blazer offers a little coverage and a casual vibe.  This really is a go-anywhere outfit.  You can work in this outfit.  You can go out with girlfriends in this outfit.  You can go on a date in this outfit.  Black or metallic accessories won’t compete with the print on the dress.  Keep the look funky with a hip platform shootie and a zipper edge clutch.  Best part, all of these super versatile pieces together total $195.95.

Stylishly yours – Holly Wood Goody

Metallic Wristlet Clutch $8.99 at Charlotte Russe, Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses $30 and Hanging Heart Necklace $40 both at Topshop, Michael Antonio Women’s Frappuccino Pump $39.95 at Endless, Ainsley V Neck Organic Cotten Dress $100 on sale at EdunOnline.com.  Budget outfit = $218.94.

SJP is looking every inch the glamazon in this white v neck dress with disco gold touches, especially mirrored gold aviator sunglasses.  When baring your clavicles a statement necklace is a sassy touch.

I about peed myself when these pix made their way to my inbox this week, as I was unawares that that Sex & the City 2 had gone in to production.  According to IMDB.com, it’s slated for a release May 2010.  Guess I’ll keep my studded belt ala SATC1 in rotation until then!  The blue dress is not a terribly cutting edge look.  Then we’ve got this perm situation… one can only but assume that we’re dealing with a 1980s flashback situation.  There’s no other reason or era that Carrie Bradshaw should be running around NYC with a big poodle perm on her head.  Not a cute look.

Can’t wait for more looks Sex and the City.

Stylishly yours – Holly Wood Goody

Production stills from Sex and the City 2

Mixed Chain Halter $48.29 on sale at Bebe, Pleated Front Mini Skirt $50 at Topshop, SR SQUARED by Sondra Roberts Sueded ‘Swirl’Kisslock Clutch $41.25 at Endless.com, Type Z pewter Mesa shooty $99 at 6pm.com.  Total $238.54.

Kerry is tres chic here in her Catherine Malandrino chain embellished top.  Her outfit exudes ease and elegance.  This look can be recreated for less with a Bebe chain-draped halter, which comes in both cadet gray and black.  With so much bare skin, the key to keeping this look tasteful is by keeping the pieces looser and not skin tight.  Remember with an embellished top, you don’t need much more jewelry if any.  Let the top be the focus of your outfit.  I’m loving this look with a clutch that matches the skirt.  There’s flexibility with the shoe, you could do grey, silver or pewter.  I prefer an open toe shoe in warmer months.  A shooty like this Type Z pewter “ Mesa ” shooty is a great transition shoe, and could be worn with dozens of outfits.

Stylishly yours – Holly Wood Goody

Lattice Back Bodycon Dress $80 at Topshop, Chinese Laundry Studded Clutch $39.95 on sale at DSW.com, Nine West Bonfire Platform Peep Toe $89.95 at Endless.com.

Oh Ashley Greene, I love this dress on you girl!  We’re so used to you giving us cutsey!  Did it take a make out session with Chase Crawford in the back of a limo to get you to give us hot and sexy?

For us girls who don’t star in Twilight, but wanna achieve this look, TopShop’s Lattice Bodycon dress is going to give you that sexy open back detail you’re looking for.  I love Ashley’s pop of color with the clutch, you could do any bright color here, or a metallic clutch would also be hot.  Note, I’m not loving the choice of cream shoes with this rocker hot evening look.  I also would not pair cage or cut out booties with this look – too many cut outs!  Ideally , black patent platform pumps would be chic with this dress.

Keep it up Ashley, You’re dishing sexy glam!

Stylishly yours – Holly Wood Goody

Tianni Leather Zip Top Clutch at eBags.com on sale $27.99 was $36, Charles Albert Peep Toe T Strap Wedge at Endless.com $29.95, Nautical Stripe Dress at Forever 21 $14.50.

This look is so easy breezy fab and transcends celebrity to being a great evening out look any woman could pull off.  The formula for success here is so simple, the dress itself is on the casual side, but by choosing an oversized clutch, instant style impact is made.  You could choose any two-toned strapless or super trendy tank dress to make this look work.  Look for dresses that mix a solid element with a printed element.  Stripes are always a timeless choice, enabling you to wear the dress for seasons to come.  Note, you’ll also be wearing this dress casual style for weekend erranding with flats or flops. 

To style your dressy evening out look, pick an oversized statement clutch in the vibrant color on the dress.  Since most of us don’t have a mortgage payments worth of cheddar to throw down on a pair of Louboutin sandals, look for a multicolor shoe that picks up on the colors in your dress.  This Charles Albert t strap wedge oozes sexy casual style for just $29.95, wow, I’ll take a pair in every color please!

Eva’s look really nails that pretty and put together without trying too hard vibe.  Budget outfit: $72.44.

Stylishly yours – Holly Wood Goody

Angie & Lola Clutch with Zippers $8.74 was $34.99, Gabriella Rocha Mylie Pump at Zappos.com $65, Multi Chain Linear Earring at Arden B $9.80 on sale, Ruffle Front Dress at AkiraChicago.com $64.

A few stars have graced the red carpet in this delightful zipper trim ruffle frock by 3.1 Phillip Lim.  I love this dress on Kate Bosworth, as it adds some heft to her oft too wiry frame.  At times, I’d like to gently wrestle her to the ground and cram sandwiches and cupcakes down her gullet.  I digress…

This 3.1 Phillip Lim Zipper Dress originally retailed at Bergdorff Goodman for $895 and is now on sale at for $537.  If you have an extra five hundred benjis laying around for a cocktail dress, go for it, this frock is fab.  While the budget version doesn’t have a zipper trim on the ruffles, it has ruffles and style aplenty!  Because you really love the zipper detail, the ultimate bag pairing would be this zipper trim Angie & Lola clutch at Target for $8.97.  Say what?  Yes, that is eight dollars and ninety-seven cents.   Buy 10 and givem away as Christmas gifts!

When you get to the styling stage, please resist the urge to glom on a whole bunch of jewelry, and you certainly would not wear a necklace!  There’s already so much going on with the dress, the look doesn’t need much else.  Choose one item – a big cocktail ring, a bangle or pull your hair back in a simple pony and wear a pair of chandelier length earrings.   Budget outfit – $147.50

Stylishly yours – Holly Wood Goody

Antonio Melani Wide Leather Belt at Dillard’s $38, Mossimo Paz Faux-Snake Wedge $29.99, Calvin Klein Sunshyne Platform at Endless.com $100.27 on sale/ was $129.95, Pucker Pocket Jacket $128 and High Waist Yoked Skirt $59.50 both at The Limited.

In another episode of, “It’s hot – what do I wear to work?”  I present Marion Cotillard looking effortlessly gorgeous and cool in a crisp off white skirt suit.  Achieving this look is as easy as running to the Limited and pulling out your credit card!

This is such a great summer work look, and styling is so simple.  I’m loving the belt over the jacket.  You could even do a metallic shoe for day as Marion does with her strappy silver sandals.  Look for darker silvers or pewters.  Beware; cheap metallic shoes can look more evening, as in lady of the evening.  You never want to look like you turn tricks at your job, unless your job is to turn tricks! If you worry a strappy metallic sandal is too flashy for day/work, try a reptile wedge like the Target version here.  (I have this shoe, it’s totes comf!) You can easily take this look day to night just by swapping out your sandals!

I love when I see stars in looks that easily translate to the everyday woman as Marion Cotillard’s skirt suit does here.    Budget Outfit – $325.77

Stay cool & stylish ladies – Holly Wood Goody

Dobby Dress at Eddie Bauer $49.99/ was $89.99.  Accessory options left of the dress:  Wood-framed clutch at Newport News $29/ was $39, Wide Patent Belt at Spiegel.com $29/ $39, Double Rhinestone Rings at Forever 21 $5.80, Derosa at Aldo $39.98/ was $80.  Accessory options right of the dress:  Gianni Bini Wrap Belt at Dillard’s $34, Wooden Clutch at French Connection $59.99/was $88, Blu Bijoux White Oval Rings Cocktail Ring at MaxandChloe.com $20, Rabenhorst Pump at Aldo $59.98/ was $80.

Cameron Diaz got a star on the HollyWood Walk of Fame this week, and she totally gave outfit at the ceremony in lacy white Oscar de la Renta sundress.  Similar dresses on Net-A-Porter’s website were originally $4500, but are currently on sale for about $1800.  I don’t have any friends that would spend mortgage on a sundress, but I know plenty of ladies that would love to rock this sizzling white with red accents look. 

Let’s break it down – I’m going to give you a couple options here, one is more staid and a little less expensive, they other has more detail and texture.  Start with a retro-inspired white sundress, one fitted at the waist is going to accommodate this belt styling feature.  This Eddie Bauer sundress is a steal for $49.  I think Camie’s outfit would have been much more lovely with a red peep toe pump instead of a closed toe pump.  I suspect maybe Camie forgot to get a pedi!  She is a tomboy.  I prefer the funkier corset style belt with the patent/suede combo peep toe, that’s me though, I like to make outfit statements rather than go with the flow.

When accessorizing for summer, I really love styling with some natural elements, especially wooden bangles or bags with a wooden embellishment.  The French Connection clutch is slightly metallic burlap, like a disco potato sack.  It’s a great summer bag you’d be able to pair with any sundress.

Best thing – not only are all of these items super affordable, nearly everyone of them is on sale! 

Budget outfit version on the left = $152.78
Budget outfit version on the right = $222.97

Stylishly yours – Holly Wood Goody

Kimchi Blue Tie Dye Clutch $29.99 was $38.99, Rhinestone Lacquered Bangle at Forever 21 $2.99/ was $7.80, Beaded Twisted Teardrop earrings $11.25 and Embellished Multichain Bracelet $34.50 at Express (Buy 1, get 1 50% off), Dolce Vita Ruby Pump at Endless.com $73.12/ was $132.95, Cara dress at French Connection $98.

While you couldn’t pay me a million dollars to date a Jonas Brother, I still love this girl’s style.  How could anyone not love her, she’s gorgeous!?!  I love looks that are chic and pulled together, but also have an effortlessness in their styling.  She doesn’t look desperate to impress (Bai Ling I’m talking to you!!!) 

In the styling of this particular outfit, I’m super-duper loving that she paired this sea-foamy green dress with a gray shoe.  Green and gray is a great combo; I usually reserve it for fall, so this seems very fresh and unexpected to me.  The tie-dye clutch is a young edgy addition and keeps the look hip.  Urban Outfitters has a very similar clutch with some greens in it that pick up on the greens in the dress I sourced from French Connection.

This is another look you could strut your stuff in if invited to a wedding or other event this summer, and can be put together for $249.85.

Stylishly yours – Holly Wood Goody

Macee Clutch at Nine West $39.99/ was $69, Rachel Reinhardt blue resin cabochon and drop earrings at Bluefly.com $59, Miss Me Urban-4 Slingback Sandal $49.95, Mixed Bangle Set at Arden B $14, Max & Cleo Side Bow Dress  at Nordstrom $138.

As promised, I’m continuing to focus on looks that are great if you’re invited to a wedding or other more formal summer event.  While this is a not too recent Becki Newton look, It’s still translates and is a great style lesson.  All too often I see women try to make outfits make too much sense or make predictable accessory choices.  Taking a solid well fitted frock and choosing an accessory color that’s not a shade of that hue, but different color that’s also a jewel tone and equally saturated is really unexpected.  Becki does that here with her violet toned strapless dress and teal-turquoise accessories, but she doesn’t go overboard, the blue is the shoe and earring color.  Matching the shoe to the earring is a unique choice.   We usually see shoes matched to a belt or a handbag.

In making an accessory choice like this, I wouldn’t really choose more than two pieces to work this sort of look.  If every single accessory was that accent color it would be way too matchy matchy overboard.  Becki isn’t holding a handbag in this pic (often celebs assistants hold their bags when they are working the red carpet) I imagine that her handbag with this outfit has lux glam hardware, but is a fairly neutral bag.  A few gold bangles give sparkle but don’t overwhelm.

This look could easily be achieved with other fun color pairings:  kelly green and lemon, teal and fire orange, violet & lemongrass. Try some color pairings of your own!

Stylishly yours – Holly Wood Goody

PS – Becki you are fabulous and I would love to go shopping with you!