Ask Style: How to Pull Off a Romper? Tue., Jul. 27, 2010 6:00 PM PDT by StyleSpy Jada Pinkett Smith, Jessica Simpson I'm noticing that some celebrities have been looking really bad in rompers. How do I ensure I look great when wearing the trend? —Vanessa, via the Ask Style inbox Style Spy Says: Berry True that. You'd think that if even the svelte and sexy Jada Pinkett Smith can't manage to rock a romper, then what hope is there for the rest of us? Plenty, as it turns out. Read More Print Share Link Comment Categories: shopping , jada pinkett-smith , Fashion , jessica simpson , Jessica Simpson , tips , celebrity fashion , fashion tips , ask style Photo by: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup via AP IMAGES; NATIONAL PHOTO GROUP Ask Style: How to Wear Neon in 2010? Thu., Jul. 22, 2010 6:00 PM PDT by StyleSpy Mac and Jac Vest Neon is back, but I haven't worn it since the '80s! Is it for all ages? How can I make it 2010, and what do I pair it with? —Erica, via the Ask Style inbox Style Spy Says: Berry First, it's more neon-inspired than real neon. Let's call it neon-bright. Anyway, the real trick to modernity is to avoid the hallmark shapes of the 1980s—specifically, cropped looks or boxy shirts with leggings underneath. And, Corinne Phipps of the style franchise Urban Darling adds, "Don't put your hair in a scrunchy, either. Hel-lo!" Read More Print Share Link Comments (4) Categories: Fashion , tips , shopping , fashion and style , ask style Photo by: dillards.com Ask Style: Can Tie-Dye Go Beyond Boho? Tue., Jul. 20, 2010 6:00 PM PDT by StyleSpy Hammit Westwood Tie Dyed Leather Satchel Is there a way to wear the tie-dye trend without looking like I'm headed to a Phish concert? —Pika, via the Ask Style inbox Style Spy Says: Berry I sense your disdain and echo it fourfold; tie-dyed fashion tends to be hideous no matter how it's draped, cut or colored. In general, tie-dye is seen as what you wear when you're too burned out to choose a decent outfit. You've given up completely. You surrender. There is some good news, however. The truly 2010 way to wear tie-dye lacks the hippy-dippy tinge that made previous incarnations so undesirable. In some ways, you could even say that the tie-dye we're seeing is, well, structured, even a bit polished. Read More Print Share Link Comments (2) Categories: ask style , tips , Fashion , fashion and style , fashion tips , dresses , handbags Photo by: zoeybloom.net Ask Style: How to Cover Up a Leg Wound on the Eve of a Party? Thu., Jul. 15, 2010 6:00 PM PDT by StyleSpy Lindsay Lohan, Serena Williams, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry I have a cut on my leg—and I have a party to go to tonight. I want to wear my hot dress. What do I do? —Lora, via the Ask Style inbox Style Spy Says: Berry Well, for one, don't panic. You may trip and cut yourself again, and our cardinal rule is First, Do No Fashion Harm. I consulted top makeup artist Scott McMahan for some help with your fashion SOS. Here's what he has to say. "Normally, I wouldn't try covering it up with makeup," he starts. "It could get infected. But, with that said, I totally understand why you might want to cover a cut or scrape for an important night out in your 'hot dress.'" So where does that leave us? No cover-up, like Lindsay Lohan? Bandages, like Carrie Underwood and Serena Williams? Surgical band, like Katy Perry? Siding with LiLo on this one, believe it or not. Read More Print Share Link Comments (3) Categories: ask style , Beauty , serena williams , beauty tips , tips , katy perry , makeup , katy perry , lindsay lohan , carrie underwood Photo by: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Image; Charley Gallay/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/Getty Images; George Pimentel/Getty Images Ask Style: Should I Consider Using a Facial Mask? Tue., Jul. 13, 2010 6:00 PM PDT by StyleSpy Osea Face Masque Are facial masks necessary for a good, basic skin care routine? —Helene, via the Ask Style inbox Style Spy Says: Berry Masks sure do seem superfluous when you're looking at them on the store shelf, but they're more than just frivolous treats, skin care experts tell me. "Face masks, depending on the ingredients, are good to use once every two to three weeks for exfoliation and to stimulate skin cell turnover," says dermatologist Dr. Howard Sobel. "Masks are great at absorbing sebum for acne-prone skin and also help to retain moisture in the skin, making it look younger and more luminous." So where to start if you don't have one? Good news: There is one type of mask that is universally loved by all skin types, and it's easy to find. Read More Print Share Link Comments (3) Categories: tips , shopping , Beauty , beauty tips , skincare , ask style Photo by: oseaskin.com Ask Style: What's the Secret to Looking Terrific in Tulle? Thu., Jul. 8, 2010 2:20 PM PDT by StyleSpy Ashley Greene I love the look of girlie tulle, but don't want to look bigger than I am. Got any advice? —Lauren, via the Ask Style inbox Style Spy Says: Berry Indeed, there can be such a thing as too much tulle. Ashley Greene flirted with that danger recently—as you can see—but in the end, she won. Why? "She had tulle on the bottom. But she created a silhouette by using a belt and showed skin to ensure the skirt was not overpowering," explains Monica Barnett, president of image consultancy Blueprint for Style. "Tulle requires balance." Read More Print Share Link Comment Categories: shopping , ask style , Fashion , dresses , fashion tips , tips , celebrity fashion Photo by: Fotonoticias/WireImage Ask Style: How to Protect Hair From Chlorine? Tue., Jul. 6, 2010 4:00 PM PDT by StyleSpy Woman with Wet Hair What are the best ways to protect my hair from damage from the pool or the beach? —Cara, via the Ask Style inbox Style Spy Says: Berry First, let's take a look at your hair color. Extremes are big for summer—or so my hair guru, Jon Patrick, tells me. I myself recently went very dark, which may seem ill-advised for summer unless you're very passionate about it—which I was! Read More Print Share Link Comment Categories: health , shopping , ask style , hair , Beauty , beauty tips Photo by: iStock How to Have Melt-Free Makeup This Holiday? Thu., Jul. 1, 2010 2:00 PM PDT by StyleSpy Tarte Natural Cheekstain The Fourth of July holiday is right around the corner. Can you recommend some liquid makeup that won't melt? I'm going to a few barbecues and doing some other fun-in-the-sun activities all weekend long! —Irene, Slate Hill, New York Style Spy Says: Berry Liquid makeup? In the molten heat? Where it could all slide off like a...I can't even think of a metaphor. I'm just too disturbed. But you asked, so here you go. Read More Print Share Link Comments (12) Categories: shopping , Beauty , makeup , ask style Photo by: tartecosmetics.com Ask Style: How to Pull Off Skinny Cargo Pants? Tue., Jun. 29, 2010 6:00 PM PDT by StyleSpy Halle Berry I've been noticing tons of celebs rocking skinny cargo pants. I'm used to the loose styles. How do I wear the updated version? —Lyra, via the Ask Style inbox Style Spy Says: Berry You sure you want to? They do flatter some people, and by "some people," I mean "people who look like Nicole Kidman." Even some of the most gorgeous movie stars out there are trying to conquer this look—and may not be succeeding. Take the lovely Halle Berry, who was snapped recently wearing a pair of the pants. Granted, she looked better than average—as always—but was the look her best? Read More Print Share Link Add your comment Categories: ask style , shopping , halle berry , Fashion , celebrity fashion , Halle Berry Photo by: GEVA/GSI Media Ask Style: How to Wear Orange Makeup? Thu., Jun. 24, 2010 5:00 PM PDT by StyleSpy Kirsten Dunst I cannot believe orange makeup is hot this summer. Who on earth can pull that off? —Amanda, via the Ask Style inbox Style Spy Says: Berry Not the people you may think. We recently tested all manner of bright orange nail polishes, shadows, blushes and lip colors. The surprise: The color works brilliantly on precisely the skin types that shouldn't make any sense. I refer to pale skin, the kind that often comes with pink or rosy undertones. Kirsten Dunst makes a mighty fine example. Read More Print Share Link Comment Categories: tips , Kirsten Dunst , makeup , beauty tips , ask style , Beauty , kirsten dunst , nail polish , shopping Photo by: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com Ask Style: Any Makeup Tips for Spectacle-Wearers? Tue., Jun. 22, 2010 4:00 PM PDT by StyleSpy Lucy Liu I wear relatively thick glasses and would like to know what kind of makeup to wear so my eyes don't get lost. I have chosen a smaller frame so the lenses aren't so thick, but they still tend to make my eyes look small. —Joyce, via the Ask Style inbox Style Spy Says: Berry If contact lenses or Lasik surgery are not in your future, fret not. Experts say it's surprisingly easy to make your eyes look bigger, and without a lot of effort in front of a mirror. First, some basic no-nos: No dark eye shadow. No eyeliner, period. New York makeup artist Lyn Lynch says both will make those windows to the soul seem more like peepholes. Last night, actress Lucy Liu proved that point when she opted for just lots of mascara, which is absolutely necessary. More on that later. Read More Print Share Link Comments (2) Categories: ask style , shopping , Beauty , makeup , tips , lucy liu , beauty tips Photo by: Jason Kempin/Getty Images Ask Style: Are There Any Innovative Khaki Styles? Thu., Jun. 17, 2010 6:00 PM PDT by StyleSpy Rachel Roy Khaki Jacket I see the khaki trend is back, but it just seems like a retread of Banana Republic circa 1986. Isn't there anything fresh in khaki? —Johanna, via the Ask Style inbox Style Spy Says: Berry Oh yes. Whether we're talking about pants, dresses, even coats, there are designers who have abandoned the classic flat-front or pleated look and gone for something more refreshing. You won't generally find such pieces in the mass market space; after all, mass market retailers are all about safe bets, and while Gap has some very reliable khaki basics, they aren't exactly innovative. Let's start with pants. Read More Print Share Link Add your comment Categories: ask style , shopping , Fashion Photo by: rachelroy.com Ask Style: Why Are Celebs Wearing Wedding Gowns on the Red Carpet? | Hollywood yohana

Well, no one's going to arrest you if you show up to a formal event dressed like Kate Hudson at the Globes, if that's what you mean. Same with the cute but still quite bridal-looking thing that Emmy Rossum (shown) wore to a wildlife conservation event just last week.
Still, what do both of the examples above have in common?

Two important things, actually: They were both celebrities, and they were both on red carpets. Red carpet outfits are a bit like runway looks during New York Fashion Week. You don't take those looks and run with them next time you get invited to a fancy black tie event of your own. Kate got away with it not because she's Kate Hudson, but because she's Kate Hudson at the Golden Globes. No one is going to stop her and make some joke about how she looks like she's headed to the altar. But if you try rocking that same dress? You bet that's what'll happen. So do yourself a favor: Enjoy this trend, but at a distance. It's just not worth the headache.
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