ElleGirl
ElleGirl- They say fashion repeats itself, but here’s one trend we never thought would come back on top (at least in our lifetime): overalls. This two-buttoned romper was a childhood favorite of ours, and now it’s popping up again—this time on stylish stars like Katie Holmes, Liv Tyler, and Alexa Chung. And this isn’t the first time overalls had a moment: In spring/summer 2010, Ralph Lauren set off a brief craze when he debuted stitched and patched pairs on his runway. So even though this trend isn’t the most flattering—The Man Repeller herself recently wrote a post on the onesie styled denim—we love it for its utilitarian style, comfort, and functionality (just look at all of those pockets!). Different designers are putting their own spin on the age-old trend this season, debuting pairs with stripes and rips in different lengths and colors. We’ve rounded up our favorite ones below, so get back on board with the trend!
Photo: Courtesy of Shopbop Joe’s Jeans short overalls, $154. 
Photo: Courtesy of American Apparel American Apparel denim short-all, $88. 
Photo: Courtesy of Topshop MOTO stripe denim dungarees, $70. 
Photo: Courtesy of Piperlime AG Adriano Goldschmied Chelsea short overalls, $198. 
Photo: Courtesy of Forever 21 Forever 21 wide leg overalls, $13. 
Photo: Courtesy of Far Fetch Vanessa Bruno Athé short dungarees, $215. 
Photo: Courtesy of Piperlime Blank Denim overall shorts, $51. 
Photo: Courtesy of YOOX 68 denim overall, $55. 
Photo: Courtesy of Planet Blue Jen’s Pirate booty striped overalls, $150.
- ElleGirl
Photo: Getty Images
Kim Kardashian is known for her stunning tresses and—of course—her signature ballerina bun. Some of Kim’s hairstyles certainly take hours to perfect plus the help of hair stylists to boot, but luckily this one can be done insanely quickly. Nothing says “chic” like a sleek, no-fuss hair-off-the-face look, so take a page out of Kim’s style book and try this classic ‘do out for yourself. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll be all caught up with this Kardashian!
You’ll need: a hairbrush, a hair elastic, bobby pins, hairspray, an old tube sock, and a pair of scissors.
1. Take your old sock and cut off the toe area so that the sock is now just a tube.
2. Open the sock and roll the edges repeatedly outwards until you have created a thick O-shaped band; put it aside.
3. Flip over your head and brush your hair up into a tight, slick ponytail with no part.
4. Apply hairspray all over scalp area to settle fly-aways and smooth hair.
Photo: Courtesy of Sephora
Living Proof hold firm hairspray, $24.
5. Take your sock roll (you can also use a hair donut) and pull your ponytail through the hole in the center, leaving it firmly planted at the base of your ponytail.
6. Take the hair from your ponytail and spread the ends evenly around the sock roll or hair donut covering the exposed fabric.
7. Once the sock roll or hair donut is totally concealed, take all ends from the ponytail and tuck and wrap them around the base of bun.
8. Secure all loose ends from the ponytail with bobby pins and coat with hairspray.
9. Dance around and pretend you’re Natalie Portman in Black Swan!
- ElleGirl
Photo: Splash News
Ashley Tisdale can always be spotted in trendy duds no matter where she is. We especially loved this laidback look she wore while doing some shopping in West L.A. The singer and actress wore a bright white outfit that was perfect for summer and added a few splashes of blue to make the look pop. Wearing all white is something we don’t see enough, but when we do it always looks clean and crisp. Ashley is a prime example of how this light and bright look can work for you too! Try these pieces for a similar style:
Photo: Courtesy of Piperlime The Perfect Shirt by Current Elliot, $200.
Photo: Courtesy of Delia's White Destroyed Skinny Jean, $46.
Photo: Courtesy of Revolve Clothing Michael Stars Tank, $48.
Photo: Courtesy of Piperlime Greyne Bootie by Tinley Rose, $40.
Photo: Courtesy of Shopbop Vanessa Mooney Cleodora Necklace, $86.
Photo: Courtesy of Lulu's Nine to Five Structured Royal Blue Handbag, $37.
- ElleGirl
Photo: Getty Images
Not too long ago, the only people who knew the name Aaron Paul were viewers of The Price is Right, but times have certainly changed for the young rough-and-tumble actor. Paul is now most well known for his Emmy Award-winning performance on AMC’s hit show Breaking Bad. The 32-year-old actor, who won the Emmy in 2010 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series plays Jesse Pinkman on the show, a troubled wannabe gangster with a big heart and an astounding amount of charm. We can’t help it: despite his cheesy lingo and oversized pants, there’s something about Jesse that is undeniably attractive. Whatever it is, this baby-faced bad boy has totally stolen a piece of our hearts! But who was Paul before he was a cast member of the six-time Emmy Award-winning show? Turns out, he isn’t quite the bad boy we envisioned him as. In fact, he was the son of a minister who got his acting career started by performing in his church’s plays. From there, he realized his heart was set on acting and since then, he’s made various appearances on shows such as Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, CSI, and most recently Big Love. Paul even played a role in the movie Mission: Impossible III, but his real fame began when he pulled on a beanie on the set of the AMC show. Originally, Paul’s character Jesse was supposed to be killed off at the end of the first season, but after only a couple of episodes, Vince Gilligan, the director, realized that would be a mistake as he watched Paul light up the set alongside Bryan Cranston, who plays Walter White, the show’s main character. Even though we’ve blown Paul’s bad boy cover, we’re still totally obsessed and can’t wait for the final season of Breaking Bad to begin on July 15th. Our only question for today’s crush of the week is, what next?
- ElleGirl
- We love a royal affair just as much as the next girl, so even though our invite for Queen Elizabeth II’s last-ever Diamond Jubilee got lost in the mail, we decided the next best thing was to dress for the occasion. We’ve kept our eyes peeled on Her Majesty as she’s celebrated her 60 years as Monarch, and we’ve been blown away by her amazing regal ensembles, including tailored skirt suits, eccentric headwear, and classic pearls. Following the Queen’s (and Queen-to-be’s) lead, we’ve compiled a guide to achieving timeless royal style. The Fascinator The Brits have been donning fascinators (code for fancy headpieces) since the days of Diana, and newbie Kate Middleton has taken the trend head-on—literally—sporting eccentric hats wherever she goes (the Duchess was even crowned “Hat Person of the Year” by The Headwear Assocation!). In short, you’re not dressing like a royal unless you’re wearing one of these babies on your head.
Photo: Courtesy of ASOS
Pieces fuille bow fascinator, $16. The Skirt Suit When we think of a skirt suit, we can’t help but picture something our grandma would wear—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Give the age-old look a chic update by mixing and matching the top and bottom—it’s just as dressy, but a little more fun.
Photo: Courtesy of Topshop
Topshop scallop edge boucle jacket, $130.
Photo: Courtesy of J.Crew
J.Crew no. 2 pencil skirt in double-serge cotton, $90. Patent Leather Pumps If you’re all dressed up in a skirt suit, you’d better have the shoes to match. A classic pair of patent leather pumps—in Kate’s go-to nude color—will tie together your ensemble (and lengthen your legs!).
Photo: Courtesy of Steve Madden
Steve Madden Remmedy pump, $90. Pearl Earrings When accessorizing for a regal affair, leave your chunky bracelets and statement necklaces at home. A dainty pair of pearl earrings add the perfect touch of fancy and don’t overwhelm your outfit with attention-grabbing jewels.
Photo: Courtesy of Lord & Taylor
Lauren by Ralph Lauren faux pearl stud earrings, $24. The Baguette It’s anything but royal to lug around everything you own on your arm, so for the Jubilee, keep it light: a small baguette is perfect for carrying just the essential items (i.e. phone, money, and lip gloss).
Photo: Courtesy of Straw Studios Straw Studios pink cornhusk clutch, $63.
- ElleGirl
- Summer is almost here, and with the hot weather comes even hotter trends. This season, designers are steaming up the runways with skin-bearing bandeau tops, form-fitting one-pieces, and teeny-tiny jumpsuits—all colorful, playful, and perfect for some fun in the sun. We’ve rounded up our five favorite trends of the season below, so check out the styles that will brighten up your wardrobe.
1. Printed Pants
(From left) Thakoon, Ports 1961, and Erdem; Imaxtree
Prints are always on-trend in the warmer months, and this season they’re especially big on the bottom. Loud tropical prints add a pop of color to your outfit and make it look very feminine. (If you really want to take the trend head-on, rock different printed patterns in the same outfit for a fashion-forward and oh-so-chic look).
2. Bandeaus
(From left) Jen Kao, Zero + Maria Cornejo, and Willow; Imaxtree
While it may be a bit intimidating to step out of the house with no shirt on, the bandeau is anything but scandalous when worn right. Pair yours with high-waisted bottoms and a tailored jacket to cover-up, but still show enough of your bare midriff to turn heads.
3. One-Piece Swimsuits
(From left) Suno, Band of Outsiders, and Alexander Wang; Imaxtree
Even though a one-piece conceals most of your assets, it can still be very sexy. Many designers are enhancing the bra area with different cuts that can really showcase what you’ve got. And these pieces aren’t just for the pool: they double as slim-fit tops that look great under high-waisted skirts and shorts.
4. Midi Dresses
(From left) Joseph, Vera Wang, and Organic by John Patrick; Imaxtree
We’ve seen the maxi and the mini, so why not bring that length in between for a dress that works for any occasion? Midi’s can be tight and fitted or loose and casual. You can dress them up (with wedges) or down (with sneakers), making them perfect for wherever you go.
5. Jumpsuits
(From left) Jill Stuart, Kenzo, and Marc By Marc Jacobs; Imaxtree
The jumpsuit is a simple and easy piece to have in your wardrobe: it looks polished and put together, and it’s easy to glam up for a night on the town by simply adding some statement jewels and swapping your flats for heels (a little bit of bold lip color, as seen on the models above, doesn’t hurt either).
- ElleGirl
Photo: Courtesy of Parker Fitzgerald
We developed a total fan girl crush on Anya Marina when she covered rapper T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” on season three of Gossip Girl. If you didn’t catch that episode, you’ve probably heard the songstress’ soft, childlike voice on other hit shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, 90210, and How I Met Your Mother—not to mention her big screen debut on The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack. In addition to making the rounds on TV shows, the Michigan-born singer-songwriter has also toured with acts like Jason Mraz, Spoon, The Virgins, and, most recently, Nikka Costa at NYC’s Highline Ballroom. We caught up with Anya while she was out promoting her new album, Felony Flats (released in March) and chatted with her about producing her own music, life on the road with Jason Mraz, and whether she’s Team Edward or Team Jacob.
ELLEgirl (EG): How were you discovered? Anya Marina
(AM): I guess I was discovered by Alexandra Patsavas at Chop Shop Records when I was a DJ in San Diego and I was part-timing as a musician. I had recorded my own album, Miss Halfway, and she heard the title track from that and put it in a show that she was music supervising called Grey’s Anatomy, and that was my big break if you will.
EG: You used to act. Do you incorporate acting bits into your onstage performances?
AM: I think I can’t really help my somewhat entertainer personality—it comes out during shows, so there’s certainly an element of that. But I don’t think about it, I just like to connect with the crowd and get whatever is in my head out—it’s very therapeutic to connect with people that way. I don’t do a standard music show where you just play songs and say “good night.” I like to also talk to people. It’s not an elevated rock show either, it’s a little more casual. I think once I had Shaun Cassidy come up and sang a song with me. Just a couple weeks ago, I grabbed a person onstage with me who was one of my seatmates on a flight and made him tell me half the stories he told me onstage. Sometimes some stories get told about my mom, she’s Russian, so there’s all that, but it’s really whatever went on that week or whatever things are bothering me. I tend to overshare.
EG: Your song, “Satellite Heart” was featured on the The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack. Why do you think the song and its lyrics worked so well in the movie?
AM: I think that the director, Chris Weitz, thought that it really spoke to the Bella character. I wrote it for her in mind, I got to see the movie before it came out. I just felt really moved by that character’s sense of really feeling lost and spun out without her soulmate, and I think that is such a romantic idea to have a soulmate and someone that you really feel lost without…I wanted to write a song that spoke to that real romantic Shakespearean love where you feel lost without someone.
EG: Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob? AM: I have to be Team Edward, it’s so obvious. I don’t know, it seems like it would be a person without arms if she wasn’t with him.
EG: You’re probably sick of hearing this, but your sound is quite different from T.I.’s. Why did you decide to cover “Whatever You Like”?
AM: I loved the melody of that song and I thought it was really catchy obviously. I heard it in a club and everybody was singing. It has sort of childhood lyrics…it’s such a sort of nursery rhyme-y childlike refrain so that called back to me. I think I was seduced by the melody right away, and of course the lyrics. I really wanted to showcase the lyrics and I think that comes across [in the song].
EG: What was it like touring with Jason Mraz? AM: I love touring with Jason, not only because he and I go way back and are friends from San Diego days but also because he has a wonderful woman named Tricia Huffman who was his “joyologist”—she would lead us in yoga every day and prepare these amazing raw vegan meals. I felt really high on life because we were eating this really fresh organic amazing food and playing music and it was amazing to really take care of ourselves and play music, so it was just a lot of fun. And we had a lot of dance parties on the bus.
EG: You live in Portland, which is known for its trendy hipster style. Did it influence how you dress?
AM: It’s influenced me in that I don’t wear as much makeup as I used to. There’s not really such an emphasis on covering up or looks as much. I think it’s a very natural sort of place, and obviously everybody’s interested in organic this and that, so I think it’s really influencing in that way. I don’t wear makeup a lot of times.
EG: You produced your new record, Felony Flats, all by yourself. What were the struggles you faced?
AM: The biggest struggle I faced was just doubting I could do it, and once I got over that, it was really fun. And I had a great engineer that helped me out, Gregg Williams, and if it wasn’t for him, I couldn’t have gotten a lot of the sounds that I needed to get, and he had so many great ideas too. It was really fun. It was really empowering to know that I could do something that was completely out of my wheelhouse.
EG: A lot of your first album, Miss Halfway, talked about your ex’s. What does Felony Flats focus on? Has your sound changed?
AM: [The sound is] not totally far off. In fact, I just listened to Miss Halfway a few days ago, and even though it sounds a lot different, a lot of the spirit is the same—there’s still the same themes that pop up here and there. Felony Flats is much more tough and confident, and as a sound, I’ve definitely graduated to a place where I don’t think I’ll look back on this record and cringe.
EG: Do you cringe when you listen to your first record?
AM: I really didn’t know how to arrange songs that well yet and everything sounds so sweet sometimes to me, but when you really listen to the lyrics, the edges are still very much there. It’s still got a lot of snark and pain and yearning and honesty, so I’m really proud of that. Even though something can sound really pretty, that doesn’t mean that it lacks heart. A lot of [Felony Flats] is just believing in yourself, like that song “Believe Me I Believe”…moving, transitioning—I was moving from L.A. to Portland—saying goodbye to old relationships, there are a lot of subtle things. You kind of have to listen to it and figure it out for yourself. For me, it’s mostly that transition and really digging deep and getting over hurdles and growing up.
- ElleGirl
- Boy bands were all the rage from the late ‘80s through the early ’00s, stealing the hearts of young girls all over the world. But as its members dispersed and moved on to other projects—be it solo careers, acting gigs, or in some cases, outer space—the era of joint harmonies, matching jumpsuits, and synchronized dances slowly came to a halt. But all hope isn’t lost: British-Irish import One Direction has recently come on the scene attempting to revive the infamous all-male music act. The band consists of five members: Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles (yes, that’s his real name), and Louis Tomlinson—all aged 18-20 years old—who met on The X Factor in 2010 as separate talents. The group’s first album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, so perhaps these boys really do have what it takes to bring the boy band back in vogue. Either way, One Direction is giving us some serious nostalgia for boy bands past, so we thought now would be a better time than ever to revisit our favorite acts. Click through for some super embarrassing photos.
The Backstreet Boys
Photo: Getty Images
The Backstreet Boys are pretty much the reigning kings of boy bands. The quintet started the music industry trend back in 1996, only to be quickly followed by similar acts like ‘N Sync and 98 Degrees. Even though these guys are over 30, we’ll always have a special place in our hearts for their smash-hits, including (but definitely not limited to) “I Want It That Way.”
‘N Sync
Photo: Getty Images
When ‘N Sync formed in 1996, they already had the recipe for musical success: five young guys who can sing and dance (two of whom starred alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera on The Mickey Mouse Club). Even though the group disbanded in 2002—only seven years after they came together—its star member, Justin Timberlake, has achieved a ton of success in music, film, and fashion.
New Kids on the Block
Photo: Getty Images
As LFO once sung, “New Kids on the Block had a bunch of hits”—and they really did: seven certified singles between 1988 and 1990. The boys eventually went on hiatus, reuniting in 2008 with the album The Block. In 2011, the band came together again, partnering with The Backstreet Boys for the compilation album NKOTBSB.
Boyz II Men
Photo: Getty Images
Boyz II Men brought R&B to the fore when they joined together in the late ‘80s. Known for their emotional, heartfelt ballads like the hit single “End of the Road” (about a man who really doesn’t want his woman to leave him), this quartet tugged on the heart strings of girls nationwide (and won four Grammys in the process).
98 Degrees
Photo: Getty Images
98 Degrees is comprised of Ohio-born brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons. The group had a strong run of hits from 1998 to 2000, including “The Hardest Thing,” “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche),” and “My Everything.” Although the group dissolved in 2002, when Nick starred on Newlyweds with then-wife Jessica Simpson, there are talks of a reunion show this summer.
Hanson
Photo: Getty Images
Everyone remembers when these three brothers from the Midwest came out singing “Mmm bop, ba duba dop.” Even though the lyrics sounded like complete nonsense, the hit song was nominated for a Grammy award—one of three noms the band has earned so far in their career. Most recently, “Call Me Maybe” singer Carly Rae Jepsen opened for them on their Shout It Out World Tour (can you think of two more infectious pop songs? Us either.)
The Jonas Brothers
Photo: Getty Images
Following in the Hanson’s footsteps, three more brothers gained popularity in the mid-2000s for their work on the Disney Channel. The Jonas Brothers showed the world that more can come out of the state of New Jersey than tan lines and fist pumps: They’ve sold over eight million albums worldwide, and even though they’re on hiatus, with Nick on Broadway and Kevin living the married life, we’re sure we haven’t seen the last of this handsome trio.
- ElleGirl
- Much like Carrie Bradshaw’s flower pin, Rachel Zoe’s oversized glasses, or Kate Moss’ skinny jeans, sometimes all it takes to define an icon’s style is one timeless piece. For spring, similar classics were reworked from decades past to bring the coolest looks of today. From ’40s chic to ’80s geek, we’re rehashing fashion’s greatest hits fit for an icon.
The LBD: ’50s
Glee diva Lea Michele revamps vintage wearing a glamorous lace update to Audrey Hepburn’s swing skirt and sumptuous silhouette.
- ElleGirl
Photo: Courtesy of Caspar Balslev
This week, Brit singer-songwriter Marina And The Diamonds is back with her new single “Primadonna”, the latest track off her upcoming album, Electra Heart, out July 17. The pop song has tinges of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry (she opened for Katy on select dates of her California Dream Tour) with a bumping beat and entertaining tongue-in-cheek lyrics to boot. We talked to Marina about her new album, love and relationships, her personal style, and her must-have beauty products. Check out the Q&A below and click through to watch the video for “Primadonna”!
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