Designer Partiality

Kirsten Dunst Loves Rodarte

Even celebs play favorites, at least when it comes to choosing which costly creations to wear. And why shouldn't they? No one does sleek utilitarian better than Givenchy, just as Carolina Herrara's ladylike whimsy stands unparalleled. Here are a few more examples of just how much some stars love their prefered designers--and just how much the very designs love them (Rooney and her fits-like-a-glove white cocktail dress, anyone?).

Rooney Mara Loves Givenchy

Dianna Agron Loves Carolina Herrara

Carey Mulligan Loves Prada

Emma Stone Loves Lanvin

So ladies, what designer would you break the bank for?

While this is obviously the toughest decision I have had and will have to ever make, if I had to narrow my love of all things out of my price range down to five designers, they'd be Valentino, Dior, Elie Saab, Oscar de la Renta, and Marchesa. But let's pray I'll never have to make such a heart-wrenching compromise.

 Left to Right: Oscar de la Renta Fall 2012 RTW, Elie Saab Fall 2012 Haute Couture, Valentino Fall 2012 RTW, Marchesa Fall 2012 RTW, Dior Spring 2012 RTW


Photos via instyle.com and style.com

xo Heidi 

Cannes I Go Next Year?

Some of the best looks emerge in the idyllic south of France every spring (Rachel McAdams's red Marchesa stunner, Elizabeth Olsen's head-to-toe homage to the flapper, Natalie Portman's white, structured confection), and this year's Festival de Cannes was no exception. With the help of designers like Dior and Calvin Klein, stars such as Marion Cotillard, Diane Kruger, and Jessica Chastain exhibited the annual fest's perennial penchant for all things summery and chic. And it appears that the #1 rule of Cannes is to dress to the nines but look utterly unperturbed doing so. Still one to gush over the mere idea of wearing lipstick and an $80 dress, it's no wonder I haven't received my invitation yet.

Still on my mind...

Marion Cotillard's gleaming golden belt and lemon heels

Jessica Chastain's neon coral

Kirsten Dunst's soft blue pleats

Naomi Watts's nude minimalism

Paz Vega's ankle-grazing tea length

Freida Pinto's pastel peplum and jeweled camo print

Salma Hayek's navy, sequins, and, er...cleavage

Marion's voluminous bun (wrapped in diamonds, no less)

Jessica's earring bouquets

...and her simple twists

The ubiquitous high slit (on Freida Pinto & Shailene Woodley)

Freida's retro, chevron two-piecer

Kristen Stewart's printed pants

And of course, everything Diane Kruger wore...

Lace-up + pleats

Seafoam + one-shoulder

Leather + studs

All-out glam + Old Hollywood hair

Lace + purple bloom

Embroidery + peplum (+ straight-off-the-runway Chanel)

Bold print + pointy toes

Feathers + killer heels

Checks + volume

Just chillin' (this is what she looks like just chillin', in case you were wondering)

All images via fabsugar.com.au and instyle.com

xo Heidi

Obsessing Over...

...Kristen Stewart's chained chignon

Let's talk about Kristen Stewart. You either adore her or you despise her. Or, you sometimes love her style and mysteriousness but dislike that she rarely expresses emotion and stars in Twilight and its following flops. I happen to fall into the last category. But love her or hate her, there's no denying how fittingly princess-y she appeared at the UK premiere of Snow White and the Huntsman. And how fairy tale chic her bun entwined with a chain looked. While her Marchesa gown was, like Kristen herself, more of a love-it-or-hate-it situation--after much deliberation, I decided I couldn't like it because the bodice looks like a scary monster face--I think everyone can agree that a hairstyle so doable and edgily elegant deserves copying. Dig out an old necklace, twist away, and you'll soon enough resemble a character out of a bedtime story. A cool character from one of those European versions, though, so don't worry. As for you, K-Stew? This style earned you major points in my book.

Image via glamour.com

xo Heidi 

Inspired By...

...Audrey Hepburn, circa 1955

While most people picture Audrey Hepburn as the celebrated Holly Golightly in her little black dress that gave birth to the Little Black Dress, to me, there's something so much more appealingly classic about her real-life style. The connoisseur of striped boatnecks and cigarette pants, Audrey's everyday ensembles (though not Givenchy like her movie ones) were every bit as attainable as they were timeless and understated. But that isn't to say they weren't sportive to boot. Just take a cue from this mid-century snapshot of the icon on a bicycle; four simple pieces, one flawless outfit. If only it were that easy to achieve her dazzling, elfin looks as well. 

ASOS Gingham Pants (I love them in red, as well), $52.19, asos.com// Deena & Ozzy Pointy-Toe Skimmer, $39, urbanoutfitters.com// Kate Spade New York Sailor Stripe Yellow Silk Scarf, $64.99, zappos.com// Women's Pintuck Sleeveless Top, $22, oldnavy.com

Audrey Image via

xo Heidi

Double Take

[Emma Stone at the 2012 Met Gala and Rachel McAdams way back in 2004 at the Young Hollywood Awards]

While poring over pictures from Monday's Met Costume Institute Gala, I was delightfully surprised. I couldn't help but notice how much Emma Stone resembled a young-and-rising Rachel McAdams. The cheeky red mini, the flippy updo, the generous smile--8 years difference didn't affect the spitting image! At 23 and 33 years old, respectively, they're omnipresent in Hollywood at the moment. Other ways they're similar? While Rachel played a love interest in the Sherlock Holmes franchise, Emma will be hitting screens in The Amazing Spiderman this summer. In addition to having penchants for action flicks, they both have proven their acting abilities in comedies and dramas alike and starred alongside the lovable Ryan Gosling. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a little red dress to buy.

Images 1, 2 

xo Heidi 

[PRESS PLAY: "Half Mast" by Empire of the Sun. Available on iTunes.] 

To Put It Bluntly...

[Yeah, I'd be smiling this much too if I was in her place.]

...I'm a little bit jealous of Emily Blunt (and I can never resist a good play on words). She's got a filmography full of big movies, is the face of a YSL fragrance, gets to don all the designer duds she wants, includes Michael Buble as an ex-boyfriend, and--sigh--is now married to John Krasinski. And that isn't all. She stars in the recent film Salmon Fishing in the Yemen with Ewan McGregor--sigh again, love him in Moulin Rouge!--and will hit theaters soon in The Five-Year Engagement with Jason Segel--third sigh, "How I Met Your Mother," anyone? 

But somehow, despite how much I curse my life when I compare it to this woman's, I can't help but really like her (and maybe feel another girl crush coming on). Because even though she has landed my dream role as Mrs. Jim Halpert, she can really act and always looks so polished yet original on the red carpet (see below). And I have to admit that her posh accent gets me too. Ah, it's always back to the accent with me. Something about those Brits' voices is just so mesmerizing. 

10.

[Cleaned-up hippie in Andrew Gn]

9.

[Fit for a royal wedding in Zuhair Murad]

8.

[Sleek and gamine in Tom Ford]

7.

[Peachy (and gorgeous) in an intricate Elie Saab Haute Couture design]

6.

[Playful print, classic shape by Naeem Khan]

5.

[Refreshing in a cool blue Roksandra Ilincic number]

4.

[Dramatic in a businesswoman-meets-fashion-plate confection]

3.

[Red-hot in Edition by Georges Chakra]

2.

[Sweet but not saccharine in Prada]

1.

[All-out glamourous in Calvin Klein Collection]

Photos via emilyblunt.net & instyle.com

xo Heidi

[PRESS PLAY: "Ocean Breathes Salty" by Modest Mouse. Available on iTunes.] 

Grecian Getaway

[Beach hair and a good tan--that's the dream!]

With Spring Break around the corner, all that's on my mind right now is lounging. On a beach. In the sun. And although I won't be partaking in such activities, there's no reason I can't appear that I was in, say, Greece (I recently watched Mamma Mia!) over break. Bronzed skin, a carefree mane, and a suitcase full of beachy, boho pieces are just as attainable in a chilly Midwest city as they are in the Mediterranean. Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried breaking into ABBA song and dance, on the other hand? That'll only happen in Hollywood.

[An easy vacay combo: a one-piece swimsuit under an eyelet skirt.]

[When in doubt, braid, braid, braid.]

[Intricate beading and a rustic adorned head wreath complete this delicate, heirloom-inspired ensemble.]

[A tribal print bathing suit in cool blue hues complements crashing ocean waves.]

1. Lace Stripes Maxi Dress in Soft Grey, $168, freepeople.com// 2. AEO Braided Ankle Cuff Sandal, $29.50, ae.com// 3. Watered Kaleidoscope Maillot, $178, anthropologie.com// 4. Vintage Lace Crop, $48, topshop.com// 5. Pretty Vacant Aztek Print Dress, $53.72, asos.com// 6. Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, $24, sephora.com// 7. Multi Strand Bead Headwrap, $16, urbanoutfitters.com// 8. Scalloped Lace Maxi Skirt, $22.80, forever21.com

xo Heidi