Vickie B. in Donna Karan (source)

Kate Walsh (source)

OK, please excuse the bad “orange” pun (it was either that or “Leap into Spring!” you know…for Leap Year?). All bad jokes aside, I can’t ignore the need for orange in my wardrobe any longer. I already gave Rihanna some serious props for her orange pumps (and now am in dire need of a pair for myself) and am giving second thoughts to this former “no no” fashion color.

The bottom line is that orange is no easy hue to pull off. You have to match the right shade to your skin tone or else you could just look like a great big mess. But don’t be afraid; there are many ways to incorporate some orange into your look without washing yourself out. Check out these fresh squeezed ideas:

1) Earrings

Vintage Faux Coral and Wood Earrings, $32.00

I love the new-age tropical vibe that these earrings inspire…this is the perfect amount of orange for the wary fashionista, and a great addition to your spring wardrobe. These earrings are just begging to be taken to the beach.

2) Dresses

Free People Sylvie Dress, $148.00

I honestly like this better than Mrs. Beckhams Donna Karan kimono dress…so flirty and springy, you could wear this virtually anywhere. Dress it down with a jean jacket for a dinner date, or dress it up with heels and a clutch for a wedding or party.

3) Bags

Marc Jacobs Quilted Mary Bag 

This coral quilted bag from Marc Jacobs is perfect for spring and will go with just about anything. Whether paired with jeans and a tee shirt, business attire or a flirty spring dress, an orange bag will get you more mileage than you think.

You don’t have to over-do it with the orange…the whole purpose of wearing this hue this spring is to add an element of surprise to your look. Pair an orange clutch with a solid white tee and jeans, orange earrings with a floral dress or (if you are lucky enough to find them) orange heels with a solid colored ensemble. Use your imagination to create your own juicy looks this spring.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Smile ‘it’ Sexy The It Lists [The It Lists]

How to Wear Fishnet Stockings without Looking Trashy [Omiru]

Victoria’s Secret: Pink Collection for Spring 2008 [Shopaholics Anonymous]

Christian Dior Fall/Winter 2008 Paris Fashion Show [Courtorture]

Natalie Portman Makeup Chic [Chic Intuition]

Who Wore It Better? Yves Saint Laurent Strapless Grey Dress [FabSugar]

The Forgotten Fashionable Fan [Trendinista]

Popularity: 7% [?]

Spring is in the air, and so it’s time to ditch those dark colors and start lightening up your wardrobe! One of the easiest ways of course to transition into spring is with jewelry! Check out these hot new jewelry looks at TheFind to see how you can add a little sunshine into your ensemble:

Floral Earrings:

Round Floral Drop Earrings at Nieman Marcus

Floral earrings are an easy and subtle way to sneak a little spring into your wardrobe. These round floral drop earrings are a classic and sophisticated way to update your look (and are also about the cost of my mortgage for two months…). If you don’t want to blow the rent, TheFind also has more modestly priced floral and flower earrings for you to choose from as well.

Bulgari Ring:

While celebs are usually the only ones that can afford Bulgari, this Bulgari-inspired ring is affordable for almost anyone at only $6! Bulgari and cocktail rings like this one will never go out of style and are the perfect addition to an evening dress or your favorite “going out” ensemble.

Chandelier Earrings:

Chandelier earrings are so 2003…and they are back and better than ever for 2008. It was only a few years ago that celebs started wearing chandelier style earrings everywhere, and I am so glad that they are back again. Great with jeans and a tee to pick up the drycleaning, or the perfect addition to your favorite spring dress, chandelier earrings are back and super hot. These dangly earrings are only $22!

Check out TheFind for more great floral earrings, chandeliers and Bulgari inspired rings at great prices!

Popularity: 9% [?]

If you drool over dresses and baubles at Anthropologie, but can’t bring yourself to spend $200.00 on a casual dress, then you must check out Shabby Apple! Bringing you retro-inspired, shabby chic and uptown dresses at prices the working girl can afford, Shabby Apple is one of my new favorite boutiques.

Whether you are looking for a few dresses to wear to work, a unique dress for an upcoming baby shower, or just something sophisticated and hot to wear to your ex’s wedding, Shabby Apple has the dress for you. I just love the Ballerina dress:

Ballerina Dress, $46.50

They also have totally trendy jewelry and accessories and prices even the mall can’t beat, like this cinch belt:

Cinturon $14.00

See? Totally cute…you can check out all that Shabby Apple has to offer, and if you see something you like, they are offering Couture in the City readers 15% off their first order! Just use this code:

Code for 15% off Shabby Abble: SAMarketingCoutureintheCity15off

*valid through 9/2008

Shabby Apple also offers free shipping BOTH ways if you don’t get the fit of your dress just right, so go ahead and order that little retro floral number!

Oh yeah, did I mention that you could enter our Shabby Apple Giveaway? One lucky reader will recieve this super cute dress from Shabby Apple!

Jackie O. Dress Enter HERE to win!

Deadline ends March 12, 2008 at midnight, so enter now for your chance to win! Good luck!

Popularity: 12% [?]

My favorite must read of the day fashion blog Chic Stories wrote a great post: Christina Aguilera Stephen Webster’s New Jewelry Line

I am very glad, that Christina Aguilera succeeded to find a new way both to keep herself very busy and to earn a lot of money. Famous London jeweler Stephen Webster has developed a new jewelry collection and made Christina Aguilera its face.

To learn more about Christina Aguilera Stephen Webster’s New Jewelry Line see entire article at Chic Stories.

Popularity: 8% [?]

So, this may be the first year in a long time that I was truly, truly interested in watching the Oscar’s to see who won, and not to see who wore what. I was surprised to see some of my favorites win, like Marion Cotillard for Best Actress in “La Vie en Rose” and Daniel Day-Lewis in “Their Will be Blood.”

As usual, there were a number of hits and misses on the red carpet, thankfully the hits outnumbering the misses. There were some outfits that were totally snooze-worthy, and few that were really buzz-worthy this year. Check out our list of Oscars red carpet hits and misses to see if you missed any of these fab (or drab) frocks:

Hits:

Marion Cotillard (source)

Though some people hated it, I really loved Marion Cotillard’s mermaid inspired dress. I thought it was the most creative, yet “old Hollywood” classic look of the night. She was so elegant and her hair and jewelry were perfectly paired with this unusual dress.

Cameron Diaz (source)

This is another look that some people hated, but I thought that it was creative and elegant. Yes, it does look like an expensive bed sheet, artistically repurposed into a dress, but those folds! That casual surfer girl glam! Only La Diaz could make this work, and work it she did.

Jessica Alba (source)

Thank ye gods for Jessica Alba…she has proven that pregnancy does not always hinder someones sense of style. She’s appropriately dressing her burgeouning belly while still looking cute: pretty color, great cut, classy details…a call a winner!

Jennifer Garner (source)

I think that I may have a girl crush on Jennifer Garner…the lady is always perfectly turned out and I can’t help but be jealous. Yes, her dress is black and therefore boring…blah blah blah. If you ask me, the Oscars are a black tie gala and Jen Garn is right on the mark. I don’t know if she could have dug up a more stylish black dress look…beautiful hair, fab jewels, statuesque dress…pefect.

Heidi Klum (source)

Is it just me, or is there something about Heidi Klum that evokes Grace Kelly? Klum made major fashion headlines with her red Galliano creation (her OWN dress…imagine that!) and this is easily the best dress the the 2008 Oscars. To top it all off, Klum is auctioning this dress off for charity…if only I were a size two…sigh.

Misses:

Ellen Page (source)

Oh Ellen…so young! So cute! So anti-establishment! I was really hoping she’d wear something strapless and purple…oh well. This is the ” Juno” stars first Oscars, so I’m going to cut her some slack, but I feel like she could have worn something more youthful, more fun, and less dowdy.

Diablo Cody (source)

Oy, the “Juno” girls were just striking out…while I was so excited that Diablo Cody won for “Best Screenplay,” I was much less excited about her leopard print caftan. I’m pretty sure that her modified Christian Dior Resort number was mean as a cover up while you sun bathe at St. Barts, and not for the red carpet. The girl is unusual, and I know that animal print is her thing, but I would have liked to see her in something to show off her cute figure and HEELS at least (I’m pretty certain she was wearing flats). Oh well, there’ s always next year…

And the worst look of the night goes to:

Tilda Swinton (source)

Anyone who watched the Oscars should have seen this one coming…though Tilda won an Oscar for  “Best Supporting Actress,” I just can’t seem to get past this dress. Tilda is another unusual actress that usually dresses this way, so it’s not that much of a surprise, but her quirky taste in clothes still does not save this dress from being the worst at the Oscars this year.

Hope you enjoyed our Oscars red carpet hits and misses this year! If you haven’t seen “La Vie en Rose” or “The Will be Blood,” check them out ASAP…you won’t be dissapointed.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Couture in the City is happy to bring you B.O.W. - the Best Of the Web in a weekly roundup of posts from fine blogs and sites.

Tot Snob: Erica Tanov for Hip Little Boy Casual clothes for little boys… (finally something besides navy and khaki)! Mom’s, you can dress your little men in clothes that they will love, and so will you!!

GlamSpirit: This Beats the Exercise Ball Here’s a little post to brighten your day. Ellen Degeneres demonstrates the “Hawaiian Chair”–more than just an abs workout while sitting at your desk.

Moms Buzz: Bleach Myths about Fabric Safety & Bleaching Doing laundry is one of our most time-consuming home chores, and when it comes to bleaching we always have our doubts and concerns about it. Read what Dr. Laundry has to say about this.

Señora Cartera: MARC by Marc Jacobs Softy Faridah Hobo Get ready for Spring with a fabulous, chic designer handbag that’s as colorful as the Spring itself.

Shrimpton Couture: Shows Us Who Wore Vintage to The Oscars There is always a smart starlet who knows vintage is the way to go. Can you guess which fabulous girl wore a 1970’s frock?

Stylenotes: Oscar-Worthy Dresses — Red Carpet Style for Less We were inspired by the Oscars to find dresses that emulate those worn by the stars, but don’t come anywhere near them in terms of price. Here’s our picks for how to look red carpet ready, even if your just going to a friend’s wedding!

Couture in the City: Fringe Benefits: How-to Get Celebrity Style Bangs Confession: last week I officially broke my 15-year stance against bangs and made the cut. I haven’t had bangs since I was a little girl (and those were heavily feathered to match my thick plastic glasses), so it was a hard move for me. However, I think that my bangs are super cute and love them much more than I thought I would.

Popularity: 8% [?]

MAC wants to introduce you to a few of their new friends…Monoka, Ermine and Eriko are the three muses behind the MAC Fafi line. Bursting with color, life and edgy energy, these grafitti queens are the inspiration for this colorful new line. Check it out!

MAC Fafi’s packaging is emblazoned with images from the amazing artist Fafi for a cute and fun take on their classic black cases. These highly pigmented colors are available in paint pots (liquid to powder eye shadows), lip glosses, lip sticks, nail polishes and blush. MAC Fafi’s girly pearlescent hues, Easter egg blues and lots and lots of pinks are also just in time for spring.

Been dying to get your hands on some of the new goodies from the MAC Fafi collection? Read my MAC Fafi review to see why these spritely compacts and pretty pots need to grace your vanity:

My MAC-over with the MAC Fafi Collection

1) First, I started with the MAC Fafi lipstick in Utterly Frivolous, then topped it off with MAC Fafi lipglass in Totally It. As any makeup maven knows, a good lip gloss is hard to come by, and this one is one of the best. It stayed put without being sticky for hours and kept it’s bright hue.

2) Next, I brushed the apples of my cheeks with the MAC Fafi powder blush in Fashion Frenzy. This is the perfect blush for spring and is subtle and girly.

3) Finally, I used my beloved paint MAC Fafi paint pots (highly pigmented eye color) in Perky (pink) and Rollickin’ (turquoise) to shade my eyes. I’ve never used these two colors together on my lids and they truly made my hazel eyes pop!

4) Also great for spring is their pinky-pearlescent nail lacquer (I tried Girls will be Girls).

The greatest thing about the MAC Fafi line is that you can use the paint pots, lip glass and other goodies at the level of intensity that you want. I prefer a more subtle look, so for me, less was more; but I could have easily amped it up harajuko girl-style with a little help from MAC Fafi’s Eye Kohl eye pencils in white and black and a few more swipes of blush.

Snag these spring must haves from MAC Fafi here before your favorite colors sell out. And many already have…lucky for you, Couture in the City is hosting a fab MAC Fafi Giveaway!

Enter HERE to Win our MAC Fafi Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive:

Powder Blush - Fashion Frenzy
129 SE Powder /Blush Brush and Fafi travel pouch
LipGlass - Cult Fave
Lipstick - Flash-N-Dash
Eyes 1
Fluidline - Blacktrack
Paint Pot: Layin’ Low
210 Precise Eye Liner Brush
Rectangle MAC Small Clearly Fafi

MAC Fafi Giveaway valued at $189.00

Don’t forget to ENTER our MAC Fafi Giveaway for your chance to win! Deadline is March 17, 2008 at midnight…good luck!

Popularity: 12% [?]

Rihanna in D&G (source)

Rihanna in Gucci (source)

Rihanna (source)

Rihanna with orange pumps (source)

Where did this girl come from? It seems like this time last year, Rihanna was nowhere to be seen on the fashion radar, but then she went to Paris and pulled a major Katie Holmes on us.

The Proof:

Rihanna at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards

Her old look was definitely “eh”…not terrible, but nothing to blog about. Classic dress, classic shoes, classic long hair. Utterly forgettable. Now, every time she steps out she looks like a million bucks. You know, if I was a celeb, I would have whoever is dressing her on my speed dial.

Dressing like Rihanna is no small feat, and it certainly helps if you have a killer young bod like she does (I think she won some “best legs” in the biz award from Venus razors last year or something). But, it can be done. With these few tips, you can get under her umbrella-ella of fashion with ease. Here’s how to dress like Rihanna:

1) Hair: If you are looking for a major fashion overhaul, then you have to start with the hair first. Rihanna ditched her Mariah Carey-inspired locks and opted for an edgy pixie cut instead and it SO works. Not only does it disguise her very high forhead, but her pixie cut gives her new couture pieces a much better canvas to play off of.

2) Clothes: It’s obvious that Ri has access to the greatest designers in the world and thus, the greatest looks. While we all can’t afford to strut it in Gucci every day, we can still take cues from their look. Rihanna’s look is very distinct, so pick out distinct (read: avant-garde, not gaudy) pieces to stand out from the crowd. Instead of a plain top under your blazer, add a lacy top with a pencil skirt and bright colored shoes instead.

3) Accessories: It must be noticed that Rihanna’s accessories have gone from bland to fierce. I have never wanted orange pumps more than I do now. Look for fierce but femme clutches, unexpected colors with an all black ensemble, and over the top earrings and bangles with a pretty top and skirt.

Popularity: 37% [?]

Q&A: How to Fly in Style [Omiru]

Celebrity Style: Reese Witherspoon [FabSugar]

Milla’s Target “It” [The It List]

Work Chic: Nice & Neutral [Shopaholics Anonymous

Look From London [Coutorture]

London Fashion Week: D&G’s Russian Peasants [Trendinista]

Ask Chic: Yellow Flats? [Chic Intuition]

Popularity: 10% [?]