Frugal Fashion: Lauren Conrad’s Teen Vogue party look for less
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Teen Vogue hosted its 8th annual Young Hollywood party at the Paramount Studios in Los Angeles last week with all of Tinseltown’s hottest celebs under 30. Among the stylish attendees were actress Emma Roberts, Twilight saga star Nikki Reed and designer and former reality television star Lauren Conrad.
Conrad became famous after MTV’s show “Laguna Beach” spun off into the Los Angeles fashion scene on “The Hills.” She hasn’t made it to the runways of Milan or Paris yet but she does have her own clothing line, aptly named LC Lauren Conrad. Her personal style, like her clothing line, plays up simple wardrobe pieces such as well-fitted, solid-colored tops and pants for an everyday look that is anything but ordinary.
At the Teen Vogue bash, the 24-year-old sported an updated 1950s glam vibe with her soft blonde curls, black eyeliner and bright red lipstick. She kept her wardrobe simple but elegant with an olive green, silk blouse tucked into some high-waisted, pleated black trouser shorts and plain black heels. She slung the ultimate, timeless accessory over her shoulder: a quilted black Chanel bag with chain straps.
Her 3/4 length rolled up sleeves and loosely buttoned shirt gave her menswear inspired shirt a feminine softness. The green silk dressed up the shorts for a look that could easily take her from a relaxing day at the beach to a bar downtown.
Conrad makes looking good seem effortless, and it really is with our frugal alternatives.
This Military Silk Blouse from Express for $69.90 adds a shiny soft touch to any pair of trousers or jeans. The breast pockets and button up sleeves bring the shirt back to the military feel of last week’s frugal fashion trend.
Tuck the shirt into these pleated Trouser Shorts with gold button detail from TOPSHOP for about $55. The shorts are super versatile and worth adding to your wardrobe to pair with anything from summer tanks and plain white tees to slinkier party tops.
We could have kept to our usual $100 limit but decided to make an exception this week. When you’re dealing with a silk blouse it’s a good investment to stick to the real thing. In our search for our frugal alternative to Conrad’s chic green blouse, we came across a lot of cheaper versions that looked well, cheap. So whether you skip your mid-afternoon coffee splurge to save up a little cash, or bring your lunch to work, it will be worth the extra dollars to steal this week’s look.
The grand total comes to $125.24 before taxes. Still pretty frugal with two new wardrobe pieces that will spruce up any work or party outfit. Happy shopping.
Have an outfit you’re dying to buy but need a frugal alternative? E-mail us a picture. We’re up for the challenge.
-- Jenn Harris
Photos top: Lauren Conrad attends the 8th annual Teen Vogue Young Hollywood party on Oct. 1, 2010 in Los Angeles. Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images. Photo left: Military blouse from Express. Credit: Courtesy of Express. Photo right: Shorts from TOPSHOP. Credit: Courtesy of TOPSHOP.
