LC has added yet another title to her ever-growing resume…author.   The Hills starlet has penned the first in a series of books based on her not-s0-real life in LA.  The book will follow the story of a 19-year old girl as she moves to La La land, lands and internship and finds her own way…sound familiar??  I’m sure this was a huge mental stretch for Ms. Conrad but on a positive note, the cover is super-cute!!

The book hits shelves on June 16th.  So what do you think of LC’s latest project…will you be reading LA Candy?

$328 Black Halo

It’s really rare that I like every piece in a collection or that I want more than just a few pieces from one line, but upon introduction to Black Halo all of that went out the window! The make the most flattering, modern and beautiful clothes ever and it’s exactly waht I would wear if I worked at Vogue or had endless cocktail dates! I happened to find one of their dresses at a warehouse sale where it was marked down to $49.99…it was 2 sizes too big and the zipper was busted but those are easy fixes for my tailor and I was determined to add one of their signature dresses to my wardrobe!

I’ve gotten so much mileage from just one dress (and countless compliments), so you can bet that I’m always on the look-out for a sample sale or a clearance markdown from one of the big retailers…but so far, no luck. Until today…

$49.50 Alloy

I was doing my daily online browsing when I came across an near perfect replica of one of BH’s dresses on the Alloy website for only $49.50. The length is a little shorter but that saves me from having to hem it and I actually like this legnth better than the original. Aside from that, it’s just perfect and I know it’s not the same label, but given these financial times, it will have to do for now…and at the end of the day, after incorporating some signature accessories, I’m sure no one will know but me!

Charlotte Russe $24.99

This week’s deal is in-store only, but I must urge you to go and go fast to your local Charlotte Russe.

They’re running a buy one, get one for $10 shoe sale and I scored these beauties and another pair of fabulous platform gladiator sandals (there wasn’t a picture online) for only $34.99 …for BOTH! That means each pair came to $17.50!!

They have a pretty good selection of both sizes and styles from what I saw in the store. Most of the styles were right on trend for Spring and they had cute wedge sandals, platforms, dressier heels and everything in between! But if you go, be patient… the sales girls were a little flustered since everyone was buying at least 4 pairs of shoes!

According to the New York Post, Rachel Zoe is seriously pissing off her celebrity clients like Debra Messing and Cameron Diaz. So much so, that Debra supposedly gave the tiny fashionista a pink slip!  Her clients are annoyed that Zoe is working on her reality show too much and losing focus when it comes to her first job (and the reason she even has a TV show), styling.

Rachel can do no wrong in my book and as far as I’m concerned these stars are just jealous that they now have to share the spotlight with Rachel and that the rest of us get to pick up on her styling tips free of charge!  And Debra Messing, really??  She’s got bigger, brighter stars to worry about like Oscar nominated, Anne Hathaway!

Some seem think that Rachel needs her celeb clients to survive in this business and make a good TV show, but let’s not forget that this woman’s life would be worth watching if just for the clothes and accessories…and Brad of course!

Bring back my ZOE TV already!!

I know you might not be ready to see yourself in a swimsuit, but Memorial Day will be here before you know it and Forever 21 has just launched their first ever swimwear collection!

They have a variety of bikinis and even a few monokinis…which I’m not a huge fan of. I hate regular bikini tan lines, so I can’t even imagine having to deal with the tan lines from those things!

They also have prints galore (be sure to check out the neon splatter style!) so no matter what your taste, I’m sure they’ll have something that’s to your liking.

And since this is F21 we’re talking about, the suits retail from $12.80 for separates to $22.80 for a monokini. At that price, I’ll be curious to check out the quality and the elasticity…a dead giveaway of a cheap swimsuit! I’m quite partial to suits from Target, Old Navy, and H&M but another budget swimwear line is always a welcome addition for a bikini junkie like me!

Click here to find a store near you that carries the collection!

Style Links (L to R): Grey Satin Bow Dress $43.50, Navy Striped Dress $37.50, Purple Bow Dress $49.50

Style Links (L to R): Star Print Dress $29.99, Color Block Dress $42, Nude Tunic $24.50

We knew the one-shoulder look would be a huge trend for Spring, but who knew it would stick around for Fall as well?  I saw many designers like Alexander Wang, Marchesa and Marc Jacobs send this style down the runway in updated fabrics and colors for Fall, but one thing remained the same…it’s still all about the shoulder!

I happen to love this look for the Spring and Summer and I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these dresses…but don’t think you have to wait until the temperature warms up to wear them!  Pair these with tights (try a ligher hue instead of black) and strap on those sandals for the perfect transitonal outfit!

With such a sleek and stylish laptop, I can’t be expected to put it into one of those dorky, computer cases that they sell at Office Depot, so I’ve been searching for just the right case to carry my laptop in.  I saw this Goyard case in the January issue of Vogue and instantly fell in loooooooove, but the $830 price tag killed my crush.

Maybe one day if I ever become the CEO of some important TBD company I’ll reward myself with something this extravagant, but until then, I think something equally as stylish and much more budget-friendly, like this fab faux-croco one will have to do!

NOTE:  This is in store ONLY, so click here, print it out and SAVE!

Style Links: Dress, Earrings, Clutch

Style Links: Dress, Earrings, Clutch

Style Links: Dress, Clutch, Rhinestone Cuff

And here are some expert style tips from Naz Cupelian and Dominic Cruz to help you recreate the hair and make-up looks seen on the night’s biggest stars courtesy of Beauty Xpose:

Hair
Want Oscar-worth hair for your big night out?  International Hair Artist Naz Kupelian, a member of the elite Rusk© creative design team responsible for developing the latest hair trends, gives these tips for a soft, loose look with ethereal waves (as seen on Nicole Kidman):

1. Part your hair on the side, pulling it back loosely to the side with pins.
2. Get waves that begin from the eyes or the chin by wetting the hair and applying gel.
3. Then, comb your hair from front to back until it forms a “S” shape. Notice that the top of the hair is flat yet polished – the focus of the look is on the ends of the hair.
4. Dry your hair and then brush it again – this will give you the wave look to the front pieces.

Makeup
For makeup, it doesn’t matter if you’re going for smoldering or sweet – it’s all about the glow. Dominic Cruz, professional make-up artist and educational director for Kryolan Professional Makeup, says you can get your skin glistening in five easy steps:

1. First properly clean the skin to remove any oil or dirt from the skin.
2. Next add a daily moisturizer, wait two minutes,  and apply a light coating of a silicone-based primer to even out the skin, creating a smooth and flawless surface
3. For a natural look, use a tinted moisturizer, but DO NOT POWDER – it must remain dewy, which creates a healthy glow.
4. For a little more coverage, try a cream foundation.  Apply with a foundation brush, blot with a tissue to remove any excess, and apply a loose powder, working in small circular motion from the chin on up to the temples and down the nose.  Repeat on the other side.
5. For added glow, top it off with a little shimmer powder.

I’m a heels girl, for sure…but I also can’t pretend that I don’t carry a pair of flats in my bag to change into on the walk to/from work!  There’s no way I can get through an entire day in a pair of 4″ stilettos and unfortunately, my budget doesn’t have room in it for a chauffeured town car to shuttle me around the city at my beckon call!

So the next best thing IMO is a cute pair of flats!  They pack up nicely, they’re lightweight, and thank to some great designers over at Old Navy, now they’re ador-a-ball!  These floral flats are a must-buy for the upcoming spring season and they’ll look super cute paired with just about anything from jeans to dresses…only $19.50 at Old Navy!