Hello all,

I’m sad to announce that I won’t be the Smarter Fashion blogger anymore. Yes, I’m moving on, but I leave you in good hands. Evette, who has guest blogged a few times, will now be letting you in on the latest fashion news, hot trends and, of course, the best fashion deals online. I will still write from time to time, so look for me. Thanks for reading and supporting this blog.

Happy Shopping!

Valentina

It’s no secret that Kate Bosworth is a favorite among the fashion elite, including the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and, now, Calvin Klein. Bosworth stars in the all-American brand’s Spring ‘08 ad campaign, breathing new life into the label’s image.

She’s the perfect match for Calvin Klein, says creative director Kevin Carrigan: “Her purity of style and sensuality are a perfect match for the natural, clean modernity of the Calvin Klein Jeans line.” Hmmm…maybe she’ll bring back some Kate Moss magic.

I’ve never really taken to Calvins, but I bet they’ll get some converts once these pics start hitting the fashion magazines.

Source.  

Sarah Jessica Parker’s Bitten line comes out. I didn’t buy it, but it’s still going strong.

The white bag was a big trend, luring us with it’s chic and delicate nature.

The Met Costume Gala brought out the best and worst celebrity fashion. Christina Ricci was a winner in my book.

The Jeans-Bikini pants are a big hit in Japan but not here. Thankfully.
Fashion world icon Liz Claiborne passed away this year. Her company was the first woman-owed clothing business to hit the Fortune 500.

Paris Hilton is released from her stint in jail and uses the media blitz to promote her Kitson denim line. Sigh.

The tote bag takes makes a big showing in the world of eco-conscious trends.

Calvin Klein goes for color and volume for their Resort ‘08 line.  Applause.

Lily Allen poses for Elle and shows off her fashion chops.

Tim Gunn further challenges us with A Guide to Quality, Taste &  Style.

Color is the most fashiony of fashion stars this year.

Posh makes Vanity Fair’s Best Dressed list.  I don’t really get it.

Kate Spade leaves Kate Spade the label behind in favor of family and travel.

A Bathing Ape hoodies drive American teens crazy.

Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. is one of many to sue Forever 21 this year.

Giselle Bundchen tops Forbes’ Richest Model list. Kate Moss comes in a distant second.

The Simpsons join the fashion elite in fashion spread for Harper’s Bazaar.

High-waisted jeans come back.  Get used to it.

The Bra turns 100 years old, and still works.

The bold shoulder comes back to fashion.

Vogue comes to India and causes controversy with Gemma Ward dead center.

Marc Jacobs arrives two hours late, introduces us to the backwards shoe and repulses Posh at his Spring ‘08 show.

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Agent Provocateur seduce us with their sexy ads.

Fashion comes to the Great Wall of China and dazzles us with some Fendi.

Stella McCartney is named British Designer of the Year.

Cavalli covers H&M in leopard print and causes a frenzy.

Target strikes a deal with Rogan.  Could be promising.

Saleisha Stowers becomes America’s Next Top Model.

Peta targets the Olsens and their fur-loving ways with a website.

Happy New Year from Smarter Fashion Blog!!!

Well, the holiday season is quickly becoming a memory, and hopefully you’re geared up to hit the after-Christmas sales.  I know I am.  If you need a little inspiration, take a look at Style.com’s Holiday Windows of the World photospread. It’s totally delightful.

Merry Christmas from Smarter Fashion Blog!!! 

Here’s the new cast of Project Runway (a.k.a. the best show on television). They look like a pretty enthusiastic bunch, and Tim Gunn says they are “the most talented group of designers [yet], in terms of point of view and execution”(source). Well, their bios are certainly impressive, and many of the hopefuls are already in the middle of some pretty illustrious careers–lots of them have had their creations featured in prestigious stores and magazines as well as on the bods of celebrities. As usual, their backgrounds are deliciously diverse with two models, a former dancer, two first generation Americans, a designer who gets her inspiration from marionettes, a Korean immigrant, and a red carpet gown maker who hails from Ramallah counted among the ranks. Exciting!

Gutwrenchingly, we have to wait until November 14 for the extravaganza to begin. Ugh! That’s more than a month away still. But, I guess the anticipation is just part of the fun.

Alas, I feel so sorry for all those sad sacks who don’t watch Project Runway. Lord help them.

Trend #2: Big color, a trend that’s been hanging around for some time now and shows no signs of stopping, was alive and well last night. Plunging necklines, strapless dresses, and rusching and draping were also big hits. Pink is still major, but the shades of blue sported by America Ferrera and Kristen Bell are very refreshing, and Minnie Driver’s yellow gown is luscious:

Trend #3: Hayden Panetierre, Jenna Fischer, Jamie Lynn Sigler and Marcia Cross were victims of Good-in-Theory Dresses. Marcia’s art-deco inspired gown was probably stunning on the hanger, but it could have gone through a few more fittings in the bodice, where it bumps and lumps. Hayden’s gown isn’t the hideous, it’s just wrong for her proportions, giving her the dreaded pregnant-at-the-prom look. Likewise, Jenna is just plain too small for that big dress with the big bow–it’s a pretty dress but it upstages her. And Jamie Lynn’s pink chiffon is just boring–the idea is easy breezy but the result is yawny snorry.

Trend #4: Trumpet Skirts. Ah, the flattering trumpet skirt, great for balancing out a body. Katherine Heigel looks cute as always, and I love Julia Louis Dreyfus in that color, but is it just me or does Debra Messing wear the same dress to every event?

Photo Source and Source

I felt a little bad for just lumping the three hot men from Oceans 13 in one picture at the end of Hot Celebrity Men in Fashion: First Edition, not displaying their hotness individually, and not giving them praise to their full potential. So, I’ve found my favorite pictures on the web of Brad Pitt and Matt Damon looking stylish (Clooney will be in the next edition).

Brad Pitt: He is so good looking. The whole package is great. He has not received very much, but no bad press can down play his looks and charm. This picture, on the left, is an older picture of Brad. On the right, a picture of him at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival looking fresh and ready for summer in his light gray jacket.

                                                     Images: StarPulse.com

Matt Damon: I meet him before. Yes, I’m bragging, and so would you! He was the nicest and most down to earth guy. He was dressed in a HUGE black jacket with a beenie on his head. I think he was trying to look incognito, but low and behold, my friend spotted him. He was standing right behind me in line at Starbucks in Greenwich Village, NY. I didn’t even feel his “hotness vibes”. Shame on me. After he talked to us, I swear we were on cloud nine the rest of the day. Ah, memories. 

                                      Images: smh.com.au and StarPulse.com

Jaime Fox hasn’t been in the spotlight too much these days.  However, he has always shown is great sense of style on the red carpet.  (Yes, I know, maybe it’s his stylist style and not neccessarily his syle, but, the point is that he rocks whatever he wears.)

                               Images:  cdn.hfpa.org and eur.i1.yimg.com

Last, we have Ryan Reynolds:  he is so hot.  I’d rather he just wear blazers or jackets with no under shirts so he can show off his fantastic abs.  ;)  God bless him.  But, since he must cover up, he looks great in these two pictures below with his unbuttoned collared shirts showing a little skin. 

                        Images:  StarPulse.com  and imstars.aufeminin.com

Ah, the older a man gets the hotter he looks. The more us women age, the lower we sag. So tragic.

I give you:  Hot Celebrity Men in Fashion.  Do you sometimes look at a hot celebrity man, and while gushing over him for obvious reasons, (nice body, great hair, nice smile with perfect teeth, nice personality) also, realize that you wish your man would dress this way?  I’m sure you have.  Some men have issues about looking too “metrosexual” and are afraid to explore new styles that will compliment their features or good assests.  So, until you convince your man to dress “better”, here are my favorite celebrity men looking fine in their “metrosexual” clothes.

Jeremy Piven:  On the left, if you watch Entourage you know that he is always looking sharp ready to represent Vinny Chase as Ari.  He is always ready for the red carpet (kind of making a Zoolander pose here, on the right).

                                    Images: EOnline.com and NewsDay.com

David Beckham:  Always looks good.  Any crazy hairstyle, any style clothes, wearing no clothes. :)  His “ugly faces” are even cute.  The picture on the left was taken when he was out and about with Posh.  Super casual and super cute.  On the right, another picture with Posh where he is wearing an unbuttoned collared shirt with rosaries around his neck.  Normally, when anyone wears a rosary around their neck, I feel like it might somehow be sacrilegious.  But on Becks, I say, “Hallelujah” and “AMEN” to that.

                                 Images: FrostFirePulse.com and Techlogs.net

Now, lately I’ve had some mixed feelings about him, but Kanye West is always clean cut and well dressed.  He can even rock pinks and purples which most guys do not have the guts to even try.  On the left, I can really do without the chest chair, but the white jacket looks great on his skin tone.  On the left, performing with a light colored suit with a red scarf and handkerchief which styles it up a bit.

                                                       Images: MSN.com

Justin Timberlake:  Duh.  He is known for being a pretty boy and looks pretty darn good everywhere he goes.  He always looks like he is going to a photo shoot for GQ Magazine.  One the left, at the 2006 MTV VMAs with his vest and tie.  One the right, performing at the 2006 MTV VMAs.

                               Images:  Tittertatter.com and NewsDay.com

Last, I give you a picture of the men of Oceans 11, 12, 13 (how ever many there are now).  Basically, men, if you can try to look like one of these guys, that would be great.

                                        Image:  MovieWeb.com

So, men, I say to you:  You love when we get all dolled up with our high heels and make up,  so once in a while it wouldn’t hurt to attempt to be stylish.  Trust me,  your lady will thank you for it.