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Celebrity Fashion Smackdown. Who Wore It Better?

We've got some clear winners and losers and some close races this week! Here's who we think wore it better...

Nina Garcia vs. Becki Newton in Gucci

Winner: To quote her Project Runway co-star, Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia makes it work! We think its a stunning dress on both, but we prefer Nina's colorful clutch to the chrome accessories sported by Becki.


Lauren Conrad vs. Kim Kardashian in Diane von Furstenberg

Winner: We're gonna go with Kim by a bum. We've made it pretty clear how we feel about leggings (ew), and Kim's wide leg jeans and natural hair give the whole look a '70s retro feel that works with the graphic print.


Mandy Moore vs. Rumer Willis in a vintage Coca-Cola tee

Winner: Mandy by a mile! Her easy cool makes Rumer look like a total poser, and Rumer's sunglasses are completely unflattering. We also would like to raise the point that if you wind up in the Smackdown every week, (Rumer, Lauren Conrad, Kardashian sisters...) maybe you need to step up your game.

Nicky Hilton vs. Solange Knowles in a Lacey Parker dress

Winner: Nicky, no contest. She styles the dress with cool accessories and manages to take the cheesy star print to some level of chic-ness. Solange combines waaaay too many trends-- gladiators, oversize sunglasses, bangles-- and kills the look.


Jessica Alba vs. Tori Spelling in Corey Lynn Calter

Winner: In this maternity match-up, Jessica takes it. Obviously, with her makeup and hair done, she has a bit of an advantage over the casual 90210 alum, but we find Tori's sunglasses pretty much offensive. When will stars and regular folk alike realize that big sunglasses cannot hide your multitudes of style sins?

- Hayley Wells

Photos: People.com

Celebrity Style. 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival Looks.

The Cannes Film Festival displays more than just one kind of art-- the fashion is always incredible! Here are a few looks we are loving at SCS.

Cate Blanchett at the Blindness Premiere

Blanchett has totally mastered her ethereal look, and she proves that here. Despite its ruffled and layered organza, she carries this Armani Prive gown without it  looking frilly or silly. She also took a chance with her hairstyle, seen below.

With a gown as formal as this, straying from the classic with the hair can be a disaster, but Blanchett's distinct 'do works for her. Beautiful!

Natalie Portman at the Blindness Premiere

Portman sports a brightly-hued Lanvin bustier dress, with volume that threatens to swallow her up, but she manages to pull it off. Unlike Blanchett and Julianne Moore, Portman chose a bold color and paired it with bold make-up.

Now, that's the smoky eye done right. While she steered away from the pale beauty of Blanchett, she wore a similar hairstyle. We're digging this tousled evening 'do popping up at Cannes.

Mischa Barton at the Blindness Premiere

Though we aren't always sold on this young woman's style, she gets it right here. Here's an example of another ruffled gown appearing at Cannes, this time in dark indigo and by Alberta Ferretti. We like the dark eye and manicure, the nude lip, and the clutch... but here is hair done wrong.

This particular tousled, side-swept 'do distracts from the upper elements of the dress, and from that gorgeous necklace. Barton needs to get her California-girl hair up and out of her face!

We're looking forward to more Cannes style at SCS... we're sure for all this good, there'll be some bad, too!

Photos: WireImage.com

Celebrity Style. Nicole Richie Tries To Capture Her Fashion Fame...And Fails!

We used to love Nicole Richie's wardrobe. Funky, yet simple with a touch of class--she (or her stylist, go figure) knew exactly how to put an outfit together. But since the birth of baby Harlow, Nicole's passion for fashion has gone astray and considerably downhill. Take note:

Though we love her attempt, there's waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much going on here.  Elizabeth and James dress, Tom Ford fedora, vintage leather Gucci boots, gray tights...Nice try Nicole, but no no no!

What I used to notice about Nicole was that she always wore simple bright solid colors--yellow shirtdresses with black tights, elegant black and white pencil skirt and button down combinations, and occasionally the graphic print mini. But ever since (yes we have to say it again!) the birth of baby Harlow, her style has gone all over the place. Nowhere is this more evident then with this multicolor airplane-print Chanel sundress--beautiful on some but on Nicole with her bug-eyed frames, yellow Balenciaga bag and black Christian Louboutin heels, its just a little too over the top and a little too 'try too hard'.

This outfit would seem OK---if it wasn't so blah. I mean, couldn't Nicole have done up her hair just a little? Where are the blunt bangs? Where are the tousled curls? It looks like she rolled out of bed and forgot to do her hair. It's limp and the roots are noticeable. Other then that, the outfit is ok except its just a white dress with a black leather jacket and peeptoes. Blah, blah, blah. The one bright spot? That cute, graphic print clutch. I'd love to find out who designed it? Anybody? Anybody?

 
--Simona Kogan

Photos: Wireimage, People.com

Photo Op. Oh No She Didn't! The Sex in the City Version

We are as excited about the Sex and the City movie as anyone, but...

...look what the cat dragged in. It's on Sarah Jessica Parker's head! Yes, SJP channeling Carrie Bradshaw, really wore this hot mess hat to the world premiere of the Sex and the City movie in London. Just now!

Cynthia Nixon on the other hand looks amazing!

Here are all the girls! Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Catrall and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Photos: WireImage

Political Nuptials. Jenna Bush in Oscar de la Renta

Clearly, there has been a lot of talk about Jenna Bush's recent wedding in Crawford, Texas to Henry Hager, and more specifically, to what she was wearing. Though it has been getting a lot of hate from bloggers the web over, I'm going to defend the Oscar de la Renta gown Jenna chose. I like it because, 1) it's not your totally trendy celebrity wedding gown-- strapless, satin, and A-line. Those gowns are going to look dated when you look back at the photos in 20 years; this one might be less placeable, I think. No one is going to look at it and go, "Well she obviously got married in the early 2000s." 2) It's appropriately modest. For all of the flack Jenna has gotten for past behavior, she looks young, pretty, and well covered here. I would even say, classy. 3) Most importantly, she looks comfortable and natural in the dress, which is sometimes hard to do in designer wear. She is wearing the dress, it isn't wearing her. She looks happy. Isn't that what weddings are all about, after all?

And hey, George and Laura look nice, too. Jury's still out on Barbara.

But that is going to make a fine holiday card this year.

-Hayley Wells

Photos: NYPost, AP, Reuters

Celebrity Style. Ricci's On A Role.

In the miles of media coverage Christina Ricci has been getting recently for the opening of Speed Racer, we haven't seen her slip up once, style-wise. The quirky actress has definitely made some mistakes in the past, but she seems to have finally tapped into her personal style. The girl has been showing up to every major event looking gorgeous, and has even gotten snapped by the paps looking good! Here are some of her recent looks that have been infinitely pleasing. We're aspiring to follow in her glamorous footsteps!

Her best look was possibly her gown for the Costume Institute Gala. She channeled the superhero theme better than anyone, without looking cutesy or campy. Of course, her tiny waist helps her pull of the dress like a superwoman.

Next, she showed a casual look at TRL that was event appropriate and still young and chic. It's amazing how she pulls off the black flared jean on her petite frame.

She's worked multiple cocktail dresses at the various premieres of Speed Racer. Here are two she wore that we love, even in the rain.

And finally, the papparazzi shot we promised. She's caught offguard and still looks great!

She repeats the shoes and jacket from an earlier look, and makes them look chic in a whole new way with the white dress. She even pulls off the oversized sunglasses that we don't always love! So well done, Miss Ricci, we're digging it all!

Photos: WireImage.com

Designer News. Heidi Klum by Jordache.

This week, Heidi Klum moved from spokesmodel to designer for Jordache when she introduced her new line, Heidi Klum by Jordache. She and friend Sports Illustrated covergirl Marisa Miller looked fabulous as usual, at a private dinner at the Chateau Marmont, hosted by Jordache, in celebration of the line. We love their model-esque sense of style, that they still pull off flawlessly, and we love their continued success as models at the ages of 34 and 29. If Heidi has brought this freshness to her new line for Jordache, then we think it will be a success! It's available at Bloomingdale's.

Heidi models her own look with similarly coiffed mannequins at the launch.

Heidi Klum by Jordache awaits purchase! Check the line out here.   

WTF Was She Thinking?! The Week in Bad Celeb Style.

Somebody screws it up every week... and we love it.

Kendra Wilkinson at the Crown Royal Playboy Lounge at the Kentucky Derby

Comment: We love team spirit. We just don't love THAT team's spirit with THAT metallic dress. Hef's girlfriend can wear this bag to the game, but not because she couldn't make it to the game!

She Was Thinking: Maybe if I was a Laker Girl, I wouldn't have to share my boyfriend with two other bunnies?

Kathryn Joosten at the 134th Kentucky Derby

Comment: Those hose with the open-toed shoes are bad... The hat is not so good... But what really got this outfit into the worst of the week is the pose. Is it just us, or does it look like she's already taken a horse for a few laps? Close those legs, lady.

She Was Thinking: ...Giddy up?

Lee Ann Womack at the 134th Kentucky Derby

Comment: We get that the Derby is about pageantry and frivolity, a little costumery, and big hats. But this looks like one of Britney's fedoras, with a few of Carrie Bradshaw's giant flowers stuck to it, topped off by some Bob Mackie thing Cher would wear to the Oscars. Every theme has its limits.

She Was Thinking: The bigger the better! (...She thought wrong.)

Joy Bryant at the Costume Institute Gala

Comment: This is another example of taking liberties too far. The Met Gala is about being over the top, but this all-over print is literally all over her... her legs, hers arms, and hands? Do we see thumb holes? We're surprised she didn't come with a hood and mask, too (it was Superhero themed, after all). The turtle neck extends the busy-ness even more, and makes her swanlike neck look a bit creepy. Was she trying to hide a hickey?

She Was Thinking: I just burned myself with the curling iron, I swear!

Rachel Zoe at the 2nd Annual Allure "Most Alluring Bodies" Exhibit

Comment: Rachel Zoe? Most alluring bodies? Was she the only person available? She didn't even do herself justice with this outfit. We're so tired of Zoe's personal style and how she vomits it all over Hollywood's starlets.

She Was Thinking: All that not-eating finally paid off! This grimace IS alluring, isn't it!

Sia at the Coachella Music Festival

Comment: Why do musicians feel the need to break the rules of style with something so fugly? We have no problem with rockers going against the grain of fashion, but can't they at least make their odd combos somewhat aesthetically pleasing? This pixiedust and cotton candy blueberry shortcake tutu assaults our eyes.

She Was Thinking: Sequins! I'm a rebel! Because David Bowie didn't do this better 25 years ago!

That was just plain cathartic. We can't wait until next week.

- Hayley Wells

Photos: Wireimage.com 

Celeb Style. If You're Going To Do Leggings...

...Don't do them like Lindsay Lohan, or Sass&Bide, but work them out like Camilla Belle.


Belle in Miu Miu at The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian premiere in NYC.

Of a look like this, we actually approve! The barely knee-length gray leggings set off her dress and bag perfectly. (What did we say about gray being a great neutral for Spring? See who else got gray right.) Camilla manages to avoid the aerobics look with the leggings' length and color, and they add emphasis to those killer kicks. She uses them in a way that actually changes the outfit for the better, and they look like a conscious decision, not just a trendy afterthought. Pretty much you can get away with anything (yes, even leggings) if you do it right, and Belle has aced it! Kudos.

Source: Fashionologie.com

More Celebrity Designers. Perez, You Too?

Perez Hilton knocks as many bad celebrity designers as we do, but now... he's joining their ranks? Oh, no. The mud-slinging celebrity blogger has made fun of Lauren Conrad's overpriced duds, so maybe he'll keep his pieces appropriately priced. He's teased Heidi Montag about her hooker-wear, so hopefully he won't design sexy clothes for juniors. He's mocked Avril Lavigne for sticking her name on ugly pink-and-black skull-adorned sweatshirts that she clearly had no part in designing... so will he use his own hand in his line's designs? And if he does, what will be produced? Graphic hoodies and cargo shorts for the portly gentleman? We're dying to see. According to Gawker.com, Perez says that because he covers fashion disasters on his website, he has "a good eye for what's hot and what's not" and that he's trying to expand the "Perez Brand." We have very, very, very mixed feelings. Maybe he should just hawk hair-dye instead.

Photos: Gawker.com