Mrs. Madden Glams It Up

How good did Nicole Richie look in this cut-out dress at an Oscars after-party this past weekend? The woman can do no wrong!

Dress: Haston; Shoes: Christian Louboutin; Jewelry: Lorraine Schwartz, Ofira

image via people.com

Currently Loving: Lace

What I'm loving at the moment: lace. Lots and lots of lace. I know, I know, maybe I'm a bit late with this... I have no doubt whatsoever that bloggers left and right have already written about this pretty trend, maybe several times already. But, for whatever reason, it wasn't until I spotted some photos of Michelle Williams sporting this beautiful Oscar de la Renta number at the 2011 National Board of Review Awards Gala that I thought to myself, Hmm... I have yet to feature this on MY blog. And so here we are! Lace, if done correctly, is classy and elegant... yet it can also be used to give the look a bit of an edge, which I love. Which brings me to Jessica Biel, showing off a bit of skin in this gorgeous Emilio Pucci dress (pictured below) back in June. This look alone is walking proof of that old saying, "a little bit goes a long way". Jessica shows us all how to use lace to look sexy without looking, well, trashy. Personally, I love lace in classic shades like black or ivory. And, my advice would be do as Jessica does when incorporating lace into your outfit: don't go overboard with it! Pair a lace top with a solid skirt or leather shorts. Step into some lace pumps to add a little kick (no pun intended) to your LBD. At the same time, don't be scared to use lace to spice up your outfit. If you're going for an all-over lace dress, make sure it isn't too long and drapey, and that it's overall flattering for your figure, otherwise it will age you and distract from your bod. And to prove our point, we have Kirsten Dunst. I tried to like her look, but for some reason this Valentino dress wasn't doing it for me. I don't know if it was the sleeves, or the fact that the dress is a little stuffy with the tights... but the whole look was kind of a flop for me. It's just so unflattering and does nothing for her. While Michelle's lacey look is classy and Jessica's is sexy, Kirsten's is just old woman-ish. But I digress.

I will leave you all now with these stunning Alexander McQueen flesh lace pumps...

So... what do YOU think of lace? And of the looks I featured? And of these swoon-worthy shoes? Oh and as always, thank you so much for the sweet comments. xo

images via justjared.com; alexandermcqueen.com

Get the Look: Miranda Kerr

For today's Get the Look post, I decided to feature an outfit recently worn by Miranda Kerr, whose style I adore. She always looks so sweet and chic, even in the simplest of outfits. Miranda was photographed last month as she stepped out with her beau, Orlando Bloom, shortly after the two tied the knot. I love the whole maxi dress/scarf/flats combination... comfortable without looking like a mess! And not only was her outfit a hit, she herself looked so, so happy which I think is really key to a great look -- a smile.

What do you think of this look? Or of Miranda? Remember, you can click the photo above for a closer look!

images via justjared.com; gap.com; freepeople.com; stevemadden.com; nordstrom.com

Get the Look: Nicole Richie

One of my favorite style icons, Nicole Richie, stepped out to attend driving school earlier this summer looking effortlessly cool, as per her usual. Although I did catch myself wondering how weather appropriate the outfit was (thick black tights, a denim jacket and an oversized scarf in June? in Los Angeles??), I can't bring myself to say anything negative about her choices, as each and every piece comes together to create such a pretty look without looking like she's trying too hard... or trying at all, for that matter. The Nicole we see now seems so far removed from the Nicole who got her in this whole driving school mess in the first place -- and her style reflects that completely. Further goes to show that one's style is an extension of oneself. Nicole has embraced her current role as mother, girlfriend, designer, and philanthropist and she really looks the part. Gone are her Simple Life days of partying with Paris Hilton, and I have to say I adore this Nicole much more than the younger firecracker one. And so, for those of us who don't exactly have the Nicole Richie budget, I recreated the look using much more affordable and accessible pieces (some of which you might already have in your closet, ie the scarf or tights!). Here's what I came up with...

And voilà... a chic and easy outfit à la Nicole Richie, perfect for a lunch date or even a day out running errands (for a closer look, click on the picture to enlarge). 

What do you think of this look, or Nicole in general? Whose style are YOU head over heels for? Let me know in the comments! xo

images via popsugar.com; urbanoutfitters.com; forever21.com; nordstrom.com; fredflare.com