Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Fashion Forward: Obama shows off stylish stripes

By Donna Freydkin and Alison Maxwell, USA TODAY

Weekly style tips, from our closet to yours.

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MARCH 23

Right in line

We heart Michelle Obama's style, but we love it even more when she wears items that are easily accessible and relatively affordable. Take this striking Marc by Marc Jacobs Simone Stripe Dress she strutted out while boarding Air Force One for Chile on Monday. $628 at Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

The fashion community is coming together to help Japan. A sampling of great buys for a worthy cause:

Flag down this tee

Designer Tory Burch has designed a T-shirt inspired by the national flag of Japan, featuring rows of flags mixed with a heart motif. It is available for pre-order at toryburch.com for $29 and will be available in select Tory Burch boutiques in mid-April.

'Together' we wear

Designer Anna Sui has created two exclusive T-shirts with the slogan "We're all in this together." All proceeds from sales of the T-shirts will go to benefit Japan disaster relief. $20 each at shop.annasui.com.

A purposeful polo

All of the proceeds from the sale of Polo Ralph Lauren's charity polo shirt will be donated to the humanitarian effort through the Central Community Chest of Japan, a part of the United Way worldwide network. The polo shirt is available for men and women for $98 at select Ralph Lauren stores and RalphLauren.com.

Red bags rake in the green

Accessories designer Rebecca Minkoff will donate $100 from the sale of each of her red handbags at rebeccaminkoff.com to the Red Cross.

MARCH 16

Cruz looks simply Splendid

We want whatever she's having. New mom Penelope Cruz? who rocked a second-skin L'Wren Scott frock at the Oscars ? always manages to look sexy, this time in Splendid's slub-stripe henley while out in Los Angeles. $72 at Splendid.com.

Three cheers for Spears' style

Britney Spears, whose disc Femme Fatale drops March 29, was the vision of laid-back motherhood on Sunday, cheering her son Sean's Little League game in Australia Luxe Collective's Angel Tall boots. $330 at Australialuxeco.com.

Smell good, look good, do good

Stock up on the sweet smell of Creed and Hanae Mori perfume and help Japan. Part of proceeds from sales of products at hanaemoriparfums.com and creedboutique.com will be donated to the American Red Cross. Also, jeweler Alexis Bittar will donate 100% of sales at alexisbittar.com March 21-25 to Catholic Relief Services to assist in the earthquake recovery.

MARCH 9

Celebs cozy up to Coach's Kristin

Stars are going crazy for Coach's new Kristin Collection, which is just hitting stores. Halle Berry recently carried the Kristin Tote, while Eva Longoria and Emmy Rossum sported the Kristin Sage Satchel. Bags start at $298 at Coach.com.

Dresses GO to Target

Starting Sunday, Target welcomes back 34 dresses from 17 past GO International designers including Thakoon, Rodarte, Zac Posen and Erin Fetherston. All dresses are priced under $50. A sure hit for summer? The Proenza Schouler palm print dress in purple/pink for $39.99.

A time of PeaceLove

Spending money always seems so much easier when it's for a good cause. Watchmaker Philip Stein has teamed up with PeaceLove to produce limited-edition art watches; 25% of the profits go to PeaceLove, which is dedicated to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental illness. $225 at Peacelovestudios.com and Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus starting at the end of April.

MARCH 2

The Biebs loves BaubleBar

Gal pal Selena Gomez was teen heartthrob Justin Bieber's best accessory as he stepped out after the Oscars in a swanky (and pricey!) Dolce & Gabbana tux for the Vanity Fair party. But what he had around his wrist came in a close second: He sported two Black Wood Pop bracelets. $20 each at BaubleBar.com.

From red carpet to your closet

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara added some oomph to her lacy Zuhair Murad gown at the VF party with Stuart Weitzman's LILLE black satin platform pump ($385) from the designer's Red Carpet Collection. The 35 styles it includes are just hitting Weitzman stores.

Give Portman's tassels a try

Black Swan best-actress winner Natalie Portman is no ugly duckling. She wore chic Tiffany jewels to the Oscars. You can get the look with Heidi Daus Georgian Lace crystal-accented tassel earrings. $149.95 at HSN.com.

Share Sharon's look

Sharon Stone's basic instinct after spending time out of the Hollywood spotlight? To look sexy, of course. Get the look of her Oscar dress with the black chiffon ruffle long one-shoulder prom dress, $126 at UniqueVintage.com.

FEB. 2

SAGs style for less

Coveting Hilary Swank's stunning (and pricey!) Versace gown from the Screen Actors Guild Awards? Get the look with Mignon's beaded alabaster one-shoulder dress, $298 at UniqueVintage.com.

Here's more Harlow

Starting Thursday at noon ET on Gilt Groupe, you can be one of the first fashionistas to shop Nicole Richie's House of Harlow 1960 shoe line and Winter Kate apparel line for spring. The site also will feature two exclusive pieces of House of Harlow jewelry. The sale, accessible at gilt.com/houseofharlow, runs through Sunday at midnight ET. All merchandise is full price.

Eight deals a day at NoMoreRack.com

There's a new discount shopping site joining the likes of Ideeli, Gilt Groupe, Ruelala and The OutNet. NoMoreRack.com features brand-name and designer merchandise such as Gucci, Stila and Clinique at up to 90% off retail prices. Eight new item deals are revealed every weekday at noon ET and last for 24 hours or until they sell out.

JAN. 26

Kelly Rutherford, Becki Newton, Padma Lakshmi and other celebrity moms are fans of Zulily.com, which offers daily deals on favorite baby brands such as Little Giraffe, Melissa & Doug, Life is good, Baby Nay and Kate Quinn Organics. Deals are up to 70% off retail prices. Pictured here: Pedoodles Brenda butterfly shoes, $15.99; Knitwits hat, $28.99.

Vested interests

Stars, such as Susan Sarandon, and volunteers at the Sundance Film Festival are stepping out in a sleek Kenneth Cole vest. You can snag one, too, to help soothe your January blues. $98 at Sundance.org and KennethCole.com. A percentage of net profits from the sale will be donated to the Sundance Institute, which discovers and develops independent artists in film and theater.

Express yourself in pink

It's easy to be pretty in pink this February. Starting Friday, you can pick up a limited-edition studded faux leather jacket with a bright pink lining from Express. The retailer has teamed with Bright Pink, the breast and ovarian cancer prevention charity, to produce the jacket, designed by Dani Stahl. $148 at Express.com.

20% off for H&M shoppers

Through Feb. 9, H&M customers who donate to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in store will receive a coupon for 20% off one item from the H&M children's collection.

JAN. 19

Thanks to a variety of style statements (think Helena Bonham Carter's mismatched footwear), Sunday's Golden Globes red carpet was the most interesting in years. Here's how you can re-create some of the top looks:

Champagne tastes

Either you loved it or you hated it, but Anne Hathaway's champagne-colored Armani gown made many experts' best-dressed list. You can re-create the glam, edgy look. Long sleeve cocktail dress by Jovani, $400 at eDressMe.com.

Take a bow ? tie

It's tough for guys to make a big impact in a standard monkey suit, but Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson thought outside the box with a brilliant, budget-friendly bow tie from TheTieBar.com. Whiplash paisley bow tie in black/lime, $15 at TheTieBar.com .

Emerald city

Going green was the name of the game with Angelina Jolie, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Elizabeth Moss and Mila Kunis all wearing the shade. Kunis paired her Vera Wang frock with a nature-friendly leaf cuff. Get the look with Mudd's gold-tone leaf cuff bracelet, $16 at Kohls.com.

Ring around the rosy

Glee's Lea Michele paired her pink Oscar de la Renta confection with a unique ring. Get the look with Ramona Singer's turquoise and diamond sterling-silver cabochon ring. $229 at HSN.com.

JAN. 12: Take a style leap with the 'Black Swan' stars

Natalie & Me&Ro

In the Golden Globe-nominated flick Black Swan, Natalie Portman is pretty in pink as troubled ballerina Nina Sayers. Get her look without a tutu by investing in the delicate jewelry she wears from Me&Ro. Sterling silver and 10-karat gold small double flower pendant, $145 at Meandrojewelry.com.

Kunis' shoes are on point

Portman's Swan co-star Mila Kunis traded her ballet slippers for some snazzy workout shoes from K-Swiss. Speedster Tubes, $75 at Kswiss.com.

Rain, rain, stay away in style

In inclement weather, fashionistas such as Dakota Fanning and Sasha and Malia Obama stay dry and stylish in Oilily's raincoats. The Chiara jacket is great for younger kids. $82 at OililyShopUSA.com.

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Saira Mohan Halle Berry Missy Peregrym Susan Ward Sienna Guillory

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