London Fashion Week Superstars *

Kate Moss and Kristen Stewart at Mulberry

Pamela Anderson at Vivienne Westwood

Kanye West at Burberry

Mario Testino at Burberry

Pippa Middleton at Temperley London

Olivia Palermo at Mulberry

Sienna Miller at Matthew Williamson

Tina and Beyonce Knowles at House of Dereon

Rosario Dawson at House of Dereon

Many Marilyns

Nearly five decades since her passing, Marilyn Monroe is one of the most imitated movie stars of all time. Her trademark features - the hair, make-up, body, dresses, voice, demeanor, etc. are such a consistent standard of beauty that it's no wonder why so many have copied the looks time and time again.

In the upcoming film, "My Week With Marilyn" (debuting at the New York Film Festival), 31-year-old Michelle Williams portrays the icon at the prime of her hectic, too-short life, both physically and emotionally...

The Transformation
Monroe was a star in an era that embraced women's bodies in more natural shapes - her own curves were legendary. Williams, who is naturally petite, had to gain weight in order to successfully emulate the public figure. According to her Vogue interview, she even padded her hips while learning Monroe's walk.

Photos from Williams' Vogue photo shoot:

Other celebrities who've done it...

Lindsay Lohan recreating Monroe's final nude shoot for New York mag

Scarlett Johansson for a Dolce & Gabbana ad

Angelina Jolie subtly borrowing the hair and soft make-up for one of her roles

Paris Hilton dressed up as Monroe for the launch party of her latest fragrance

Madonna imitating Marilyn at the '91 Academy Awards

Rachel McAdams perfecting the look at Cannes

Megan Fox's famous forearm tattoo of Marilyn Monroe, which, rumor has it, she is in the process of removing. 

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/13/michelle-williams-marilyn-monroe_n_959702.html

Best of NYFW '11: Where was the cool crowd?

 

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, front row at Michael Kors

Debra Messing at Michael Kors

Olivia Palermo and Vanessa Hudgens, front row at Tibi

Leighton Meester at Marc Jacobs

Anna Wintour, at the Rag & Bone show

Matthew Williamson and Sienna Miller, at the designer's after-party

Alexa Chung at Rag & Bone

Erin Wasson at Alexander Wang

Jessica Stam at Rag & Bone

Celebrity Fitness

A common mentality among humans is that summer is the only season deserving of a healthy diet and consistent exercise routine. A logical mindset, considering the fact that summer is, to most, the season of warm weather; less layering and more skin-showing. However, the celebrity world functions differently.

We are currently in the middle of New York Fashion Week. The pressure of fitting a sample size is at an all-time high, not to mention, the inevitable comparisons that will be made to pin-thin supermodels on the catwalk. What can I say? The lives of the rich and famous can't always be fair and lenient. And speaking of fitting sample sizes, Autumn means that award season is just around the corner. The Golden Globes/Oscars will not pity those who forget to stay in shape past September. The keywords here are "sleeveless" and "form-fitting." Besides public events, a consistently fit body is important year-round because of the consistently unforgiving paparazzi. How many times have they shined an unflattering light to ignite a false pregnancy rumor? Dozens, unfortunately.

If there's one superficial lesson that celebrities are indirectly teaching us, it's that the lazy, fatty days of summer are over. No more BBQs - Labor Day was our "last supper." The pressure is on to hit the gym and avoid any drive-thru establishments along the way.


So how should we do it?
fitnessmagazine.com has a list of realistic steps for everyday women with jobs and responsibilities to take to help themselves achieve a "hot celeb body."

Celebrity Fitness Tips 1-17

1. Ooze Confidence
Tyra, we love you because you strut with confidence. Banks's "SO WHAT!" campaign, which encourages women to embrace their bodies -- flaws and all -- shows that even supermodels can champion the beauty of being super-real.
2. Hit the Road Penelope Cruz gets her fitness outside. "Workouts aren't just about burning calories, they're about getting in shape for the things you love," says trainer Gunnar Peterson. For more ways to get fit without having to step foot in a gym, see our outdoor workouts feature.

3. Be a Fit Mom
To shape up for her upcoming movie, The Kingdom, Jennifer Garner did lots and lots of lunges with shoulder presses, says trainer Valerie Waters. In real life, toddler Violet stands in for some dumbbells.

4. Get on the Ball
Jessica Simpson uses one for wall squats, says trainer Harley Pasternak, keeping the ball behind her back to maintain proper form as she sculpts her legs and butt. For more stability ball moves, check out our insider's guide.

5. Build Strong Bones and Muscles
Trainer Joe Dowdell has actress Claire Danes hoist some hefty weights during her high-intensity workouts.

6. Swing into Action
Catherine Zeta-Jones hits the links for some R&R. If she forgoes the cart and carries her own clubs, she'll burn about 261 calories an hour.
7. Two-Step
Boxer Laila Ali says doing some fancy footwork on Dancing with the Stars required the same focus and intensity she finds in the ring. We say she looks amazing.
8. Focus on Yourself
"It's important to get out of your head and into your body," says trainer Gregory Joujon-Roche, who works with Avril Lavigne. "Do whatever feels good, because that's what it's really all about."
9. Log On for Success Share the same workout advice as Jennifer Aniston, J.Lo, and dozens more celebs at podfitness.com, which offers "trainer in your ear" programs from more than 75 experts on everything from weight loss to walking.
10. Train for the Finish Line
Singer Sheryl Crow regularly cross-trains with a combo of running and cycling. In addition to regular jogs, she's prepping for a 100-mile bike ride by cranking up the resistance on a stationary bike until she can barely pedal, then bringing it back down, says trainer Greg Bahnfleth.
11. Mix Things Up
"Every day should be something a little different when it comes to your workout routine," says trainer Michael George, who has worked with Reese Witherspoon. "Otherwise, your body gets bored and you stop seeing results."
12. Band Together
Julia Roberts stays in shape with do-anywhere resistance-band exercises from trainer Kathy Kaehler, including standing on the band for double biceps curls and front and lateral shoulder raises.
13. Run for a Cause
Meredith Vieira often participates in charity run/walks that help raise funds for everything from cancer to mental health.

14. Nix Boredom
Kate Hudson keeps fit by mixing things up. In addition to running, she takes Sheila Kelley's S Factor (pole dancing and striptease) classes regularly -- in 6-inch heels!

15. Ride On
Madonna should wear a helmet while she rides, but even so, cycling is a great way to cross-train, burning more than 500 calories an hour at a moderate pace and sculpting the abs, legs, and butt.
16. Shake It
Nikki Blonsky, just 18, loves dancing and adored training (hard!) for her role in the movie Hairspray. She told FITNESS that at one point, she was losing weight so quickly she had to drink protein shakes to stay at her character's size.
17. Be Fluid
"Drinking before and at frequent intervals during your workouts prevents dehydration, cramps, and overheating," says Pilates expert Daniel Loigerot, who works with Naomi Watts.

Link to source: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/real-plans/celebrity/celebrity-workout-secrets-17-fitness-tips/

And here are some of my favorite (healthy) stars staying fit...

Jennifer Aniston

Britney Spears

Kim Kardashian

Gwenyth Paltrow

Jessica Biel

Kate Hudson

Do's and Don'ts of Summer to Fall Transitional Dressing

With the weather changing rapidly, it's easy to fall victim to bad styling choices. I consider it an awkward time of the year when some people are settling into their boots while others are still waiting another month to put the sandals away. There is a fine line between successful transitional dressing and just a plain old hot mess. Hopefully some do's and don'ts can bring a bit of clarity on how to avoid looking like a disaster. 

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: http://www.glamour.com/fashion/2011/09/the-dos-and-donts-of-2011-fall-fashion-trends#slide=1

Marina's Do's and Don'ts

DO: Begin blending sweaters, summer (read as "early fall") scarves, and knits into your wardrobe, they look cute with sandals.

DON'T: Dress for cold weather too early. Rocking your puffer coat as soon as the air temp drops below 80 degrees is... silly. I know, I know, it's brand new and you're dying for some compliments. HOWEVER, Winter doesn't start for at least 2-3 months and you will look like a moron. The same rules apply to wearing fur, cashmere scarves, etc.

DO: Keep wearing your shorts (body-type permitting) well into September. You've worked hard (or paid hard) for that tan so embrace the indian summer!

DON'T: Over-accessorize. This applies to all seasons, really. Too many necklaces, hats, scarves, and belts create a painfully tacky (and confusing) look - especially when worn all at once. Don't do it.

DO: Step out of your comfort zone in terms of color and shape. It's so easy to buy a few grey wool cardigans and call it a fall wardrobe - don't take the easy way out this year! This season, bright colors and tailored pieces are making a big statement - think wide-leg trousers, silk pants and button-down shirts.

ONE FINAL DO...

DO: Think before you spend. Mostly just a mental note for myself - but a new season should also inspire a progression in personal maturity. Is a hot pink-dyed mink coat really worth the same as, say, an apartment downpayment? Probably not. It's important to buy things you love but it's just as important to be certain that these items will be worm often and loved forever.

Turning Over a New Leaf

The calendar tells us that January 1st begins a new year but it's always been my belief that the end of Labor Day marks that turning point - perfect timing to begin a new blog.




For the real world September means going back to school, putting away the bikinis and turning off the A.C. For the fashion world September is that exciting, defining month we've waited for (while tanning on the beach for the 3 months prior). The annual fall Fashion Week shows in New York display the latest, greatest, and, most essentially, predict the future. To those who care, this one week is nothing short of revolutionary. The 758-page September Vogue issue tells us that THIS IS THE NEW YEAR. Such a transitional season means turn down the central air conditioning and turn up the rest of your life.

So what does Autumn mean in the celebrity world? Thanks to genius stylists like Rachel Zoe and invasive paparazzi, our favorite celebrities are walking fashion editorials. All year long, the trendy famous girls inspire us to accessorize to the gym, throw on stilettos for a supermarket trip, and keep our pets groomed and polished (especially at the airport). In other words, Step. It. Up.

Because of their means and notoriety, celebrities set the bar for how to do it right. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge advocate for having your own style and owning it. As independent women of the 21st century, it is our duty to be leaders, not followers. However, a little inspiration is never a bad thing.