Recently in Celeb Fashion Category

All the attention Kate Moss has gotten for sporting some gray streaks aside, her looks that seem to consistently draw the most attention involve leopard. Above on the left is photo of the Pencey High Collar Coat ($380) which looks like it could have been plucked out of Moss' closet. She has worn leopard coats, jackets, and separates on more occasions than I could count and like most of what she wears I want to run right out and get one for myself! Unfortunately while Moss pulls off the looks effortlessly, I look like I'm about to go work a street corner or in the midst of getting ready for a costume party every time I try on a leopard jacket. Plus I can't help but feel like an imitator because -- at least in my mind -- I think leopard I think Moss. So, alas, I shall remain leopard-less (at least if you ignore the lining of my Dolce&Gabbana shoes, bags, and a few bras:-) )

What do you think about Kate Moss-inspired leopard? Snob or Slob?

Simply put: Usher is the man. In the gravy train that seems to drop on us a new singer/rapper every other day, Usher has what many don't: longevity. The same can also be said of his style. While his counterparts wore diamond grills and logo everything, Usher tapped an inner elegance thanks to Giorgio Armani. These days, he's expanded his sartorial pursuits--and I like the results. At the Grammy Awards this past weekend, the always dapper entertainer wore a stunning Neil Barrett black blazer with dual leather collar that had me doing a double take--largely because it had just been shown during Milan Fashion Week two weeks prior on Jan. 17! Usher undoubtedly wore the runway sample, but if you've got the body...why not? When he performed on stage, he removed the jacket to reveal another Barrett piece: a waistcoast with leather inserts. Gents, take a note from Usher: it's all about fit, fit, fit. Barrett designs for a swimmer's body (think lean) and his precise cut is incredibly sharp and sleek--he's the closest men's designer to Savile Row in my opinion. While Usher is certainly at the top of the game, he shares his perch with the likes of John Legend and Jay-Z--two other heavyweights who have perfected the art of balancing street cred and high style with panache and, most importantly, dignity. Because at the end of the day, would Cary Grant have worn a pimp cup?

Brian Atwood is fast becoming my favorite shoe designer, his designs are edgy yet timeless and have plenty of sex appeal!  What else can you ask of a shoe?  Seriously, look at the "Kendall" shoe Amanda Seyfried has on-- this is one of the hottest shoes of the season!  I am not loving her dress, however, the plunging waistline neckline thing is really tired.  I prefer a bare back.  Brian Atwood at Net-a-porter.com

The peplum belt looks to be a big trend for the upcoming season. On Sunday, Jennifer Hudson sported a beautifully cut Victoria Beckham dress complete with peplum detailing to the Grammy Awards and just a few days earlier, Fergie donned the accessory while accompanying husband Josh Duhamel to the premiere of his new film, "When In Rome." I don't know about you, but I think not only does this look--courtesy of Michael Kors and his pre-fall collection--befit Fergie's personality, but she should've worn this outfit to the Grammys in place of another bright and boring minidress. The black felted flannel fabric of the strapless Kors sheath dress hugs her curves beautifully and the leather peplum belt adds just enough of rock 'n' roll glamour (is it any surprise that Kors was inspired by Helmut Newton for this season?). It's also flirty and feminine--not to mention covers the bum for those self-conscious folks out there. FYI the dress comes with a standard fabric peplum belt; the leather version is available for $995. Topping off the outfit is a pair of Michael Kors black & nude leather slit pumps ($795) and Cole Haan's Tiana clutch ($198).

Dress: $1,695 available at Michael Kors Boutiques Nationwide.

I'm supposed to report on these new sunglasses by Alexander Wang for Linda Farrow ($325) but I can't get over Chloe's jeans!  This is why Earl jeans came into fashion in the early 90s, no?  Because the high waisted ones were so unflattering?  But back to the glasses, Alexander Wang has created a line of sunglasses for Linda Farrow and though I wouldn't wear these in public, they certainly will come in handy come Halloween.  Check out the entire line here.

Somebody get Justin Timberlake back in his Dior Homme tuxedo STAT! I did a double take--and not for good reason--when I saw him at the SAG Awards. This Dolce & Gabbana outfit is all wrong on him. While I love, loved it on the Spring 2010 runway, I think it's completely age inappropriate on Justin (he's no longer 20!). The blue denim ruffled shirt is great looking, but it's not black-tie appropriate--particularly for a mass audience event like the SAG Awards. The shirt would be right at home with a pair of cords on an off day--or if he was attending a fashion industry event. I actually at first thought he pulled it from his own William Rast line. As a designer, he should have just plain known better. But to play devil's advocate, I think both the tuxedo and bowtie were red carpet appropriate--a fitted white shirt would just have been 1,000 times better. Hey, at least the shirt matched his eyes. Couture Snobs: what do you think?

Calvin Klein Collection is the preeminent house for masterful minimalism--and we continue to be reminded why: Michelle Monaghan at the SAG Awards. The actress was lucky enough to be the recipient of a custom-designed beaded single sleeve gown designed by Francisco Costa and I thought she was the best dressed of the night. While the dress had an exotic reptilian feel to it, it's sleek and refined--and Michelle pulled off monochromatic design amazingly in my opinion. I also love that her hair was side-swept to compensate for the purposefully naked arm. Chic! The pewter Louboutins platforms lent her height--not that she needs any--but didn't compete for attention. And in keeping with the anti-bling theme that the New Year seems to have ushered in, she kept her jewelry simple courtesy of Bruce Hoeksema of VBH (who also designed her clutch): a pair of 18-karat oxidized white gold pendant earrings and an 18-karat oxidized white gold ring.

Note to Diane, this is what you shoulda worn to the Globes! I'm a huge fan of Diane Kruger and it kills me that she listened to a misguided stylist on one of the biggest nights in Hollywood! Look at her in this draped Donna Karan gown from the night before the Globes-- it's so much more tasteful and elegant than the Charo inspired Lacroix gown in my opinion. I am no expert but looking like a Grecian Goddess is preferred over a Mariachi dancer, is it not? I am so bummed this was not on the red carpet at the Golden Globes, it would have landed Diane on the best dressed list of every publication and blog instead of here.

What do you think, should she have saved this for the Globes instead of the Lacroix?

Beyond the superficial color trends of Sunday night's Golden Globe Awards--shiny metallics and blush tones anyone?--one theme reigned supreme: texture. The lovely ladies who walked the soggy red carpet embraced one of two options--beads and lace (Penelope Cruz's Armani Privé, Olivia Wilde's Gucci, Jennifer Garner's Atelier Versace) or oh-so-feminine fabric manipulation (Maggie Gyllenhaal's RM by Roland Mouret, Diane Kruger's Lacroix Couture, Drew Barrymore's Atelier Versace, Marion Cotillard's Dior, Kate Hudson's Marchesa).

Was it just me or did in-your-face jewelry of years past not rear its ostentatious head this time around? Don't get me wrong; I love a Cartier, Bulgari, or Van Cleef & Arpels bauble as much as the next Couture Snob, but it was refreshing to see them whittled down this season as elegant complements not vying for attention with the dress (perhaps the unfortunate Haiti earthquake had one positive aftershock). I think two of the evening's best examples of texture and fabric manipulation came courtesy of Carey Mulligan and Chloë Sevigny--both by designers that look like they're making positive comebacks after much designer shuffling. The former's elegant Nina Ricci gown, designed by Peter Copping, featured what appeared to be a crater-cum-floral motif, which perfectly suited the actresses' sweetheart persona while the latter's Valentino gown, masterminded by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, fill both the dramatic and red carpet quotients to a tee.

W-O-W. That was the reaction I had when I saw my friend Camilla Belle arrive at The Art of Elysium's benefit gala over the weekend. Not only was her striking updo very Jackie-O a la Camelot, but this fashion-forward actress looked like walking art in this Valentino ensemble (dress, shoes and clutch). Valentino has struggled to renew its identity since its namesake designer retired in 2008 but it finally looks like new creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli are showing lots of promise as they forge a new path. Belle's chiffon capelet dress with full skirt and bow detail is straight off the Spring 2010 runway and is ethereal at its utter best. I like that the jewelry--in this case, Cartier--was kept to a minimum, allowing the fluid lines of the dress to serve its purpose. Admittedly, this is not a look that every woman can pull off, but it's also not as experimental as it initially appears. This dress features a prominent portrait collar, which means your makeup has to be of utmost brilliance to complete this look. The clutch in matching hue fits perfectly, as do the tough gladiator heels with flower detail. Guys and gals: keep your eye on this fashion ingénue. What do you think?