Frugal Fashion: 'The Vow's' Rachel McAdams in spring florals

Fans of Rachel McAdams may know her best for roles in romantic movies, with appearances in  films such as  "The Vow," which opens Friday, and the tear-jerker "The Notebook," but the Canadian actress also has a talent for high fashion. From her first appearance at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival in that sheer, red lace embroidered Marchesa gown, the fashion world took notice. Other notable festival attire included a hot white  Maxime Simoens dress and Monique Lhuillier spring 2011 high-waisted raw silk trouser with nude sequined corset.

McAdams once again put herself on the fashion radar at the Los Angeles premiere of the new film "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island." She wore an electric blue short-sleeve knit top and floral maxi skirt from the Peter Som Spring 2012 collection.

The vibrant floral print could easily transition from a premiere to a daytime brunch with strappy sandals. For a comparable floral print skirt try the Velvet floral maxi skirt from Forever21.com for $20.99, Carnaby sheer maxi skirt by Mink Pink from threadsence.com for $94.50,  Glamazon floral maxi skirt by Cheap Monday for $44, also from threadsence.com.

McAdams' knit top could be replaced by any number of colored tee-shirts or blouses, but for a similar blue get the basic scoop neck tee from Loft.com for $16.50 or the Mossimo Supply Co. Juniors scoop neck tee in oxygen blue from Target.com for $8.

On the runway, McAdams' Peter Som look was shown with a pale blue pair of strappy sandals. For the premiere, she chose to accessorize with a blue snakeskin clutch and black Anouk pumps by Jimmy Choo. Snakeskin can be a bit pricey, but you can achieve the same look with any patterned or embellished colored clutch such as the Top Choice sequin clutch from Nordstrom.com for $20 and any pair of solid-colored heels you may already own.

Happy shopping.

Have an outfit you're dying to buy but need a frugal alternative? Email us a picture. We're up for the challenge.

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-- Jenn Harris
twitter.com/jenn_harris

Photos, from top: Rachel McAdams arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Feb. 2 in Hollywood. Credit: Jason Merritt /  Getty Images Entertainment.

Skirts, from left: Velvet floral maxi skirt, $20.99 / Forever21.com; carnaby sheer maxi skirty by mink Pink, $94.50 / Threadsence.com; Glamazon floral maxi skirt by Cheap Monday, $44 / Threadsence.com.

T-shirts: Basic scoop neck tee, $16.50 / Loft.com; Mossimo Supply Co. Juniors scoop neck tee, $8 / Target.com.

Clutch: Top Choice sequin clutch, $20 / Nordstrom.com.

Fashion News: Rules for shopping the Versace for H&M collection

Versace's capsule collection for H&M  -- enthusiastically reviewed by Times' fashion critic Booth Moore -- goes on sale this week: Thursday in the U.K. and Saturday in the U.S. and Canada. H&M has some rules for shoppers that should stave off the chaos that engulfed Target during its Missoni launch. The first 280 people in line to shop the women's collection will be issued bracelets giving them specific times to shop, and only 20 people will be allowed in at one time. They'll have 15 minutes to shop. After the first 280 have their chance, the doors will open to all. There are also some limits on how much a single customer can buy. In the U.S., the shopping is scheduled to start at 8 a.m.  [Fashionista]

Meanwhile, on the other end of the fashion continuum, Versace is planning to do a couture show in January, its first in eight years. [The Cut]

Alice Temperley has dressed both Middleton sisters and considers in a pleasure, as she tells instyle.com: “They’re the most humble, down-to-earth people I’ve ever dressed. They’re completely easy and wonderful to work with, and they look great in the clothes. They know exactly what they like.” Temperley shared her thoughts about the Duchess of Cambridge and her sister Pippa at a party for "True British," a book in honor of the 10-year anniversary of her label. [InStyle]  

We all know some people are passionate about shoes --- and shoe sales. Those passions took a turn to violence Tuesday, when police reportedly arrested several people in an unruly crowd waiting for a  Salvatore Ferragamo sample sale in Secaucus, N.J. [Racked]

Another shoe brand people are passionate about is Jimmy Choo, and word comes this week that co-founder and chief creative officer Tamara Mellon and Chief Executive Joshua Shulman have both announced that they are leaving the company, which was purchased by luxury group Labelux this year. Mellon says she plans to start her own lifestyle brand. [WWD] (Subscription required)

Urban Outfitters Inc. (which owns Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, among others) attributes a fourth straight quarter of losses in part to some of the products it sells. Specifically, to tops. Other items are selling fine, but tops are lagging. "We need more compelling product," company CEO Glen Senk is quoted as saying. "And we're getting it." [WWD]

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-- Susan Denley

Photo: A look from the Versace for H&M collection. Credit: Versace for H&M

Are these the sexiest shoes of 2011?

According to the annual poll conducted by Saks Fifth Avenue and industry trade publication Footwear News (FN), Valentino's $695 lace-embroidered leather peep-toe pump is 2011's sexiest shoe.

Nipping at its high heels as first runner-up is Jimmy Choo's Swarovski-crystal-encrusted sandals with double ankle straps ($2,095). A pair of knee-high leather boots by Prada was second runner-up with a pair of Chrissie Morris suede, mesh and stingray peep-toe ankle boots earning third runner-up.

Last year's winner was a pair of Swarovski-crystal-covered kicks by Christian Louboutin.

The online poll, which was open to the public, ran from Sept. 26 to Oct. 21, offered voters a choice between 25 finalists  chosen by the FN editors.

Do you think these are the sexiest shoes of the year? I mean, they're certainly saucy enough -- and I might begrudgingly admit they could qualify as the hottest heels of the year, but if you're talking about pure buzz-building, jaw-dropping, shoes-as-spectacle kinds of kicks, I might have to disagree and go a whole new direction entirely by nominating the 2011 Nike Air Mag -- or a certain pair of ruby slippers that are slated to become available in mid-December.

Feel free to weigh in on the above -- or offer your own choice -- in the comments section below.

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-- Adam Tschorn

Left photo: Valentino's lace-embroidered leather peep-toe pumps were dubbed 2011's sexiest heels in a recent online poll by Saks Fifth Avenue and trade publication Footwear News. Credit: Footwear News

Right photo: In second place was Jimmy Choo's Swarovski-crystal-encrusted sandals with double ankle straps. Credit: Footwear News 

Milan Fashion Week: Jimmy Choo SS12

For the first spring and summer collection of its relaunched men's footwear business, Jimmy Choo has added a dash of vibrant spring color and expanded its casual classifications, adding driving moccasins, sandals and even an uber-luxe skate-inspired slip-on.

The label's tasseled take on the driving moccasin -- most eye-catching in Yves Klein blue or yellow suede, switches out the traditional pebbled sole for a debossed crocodile-skin pattern and elongates the silhouette for a more elegant look.

The Choo boat shoe pairs a white sole with a denim-like canvas upper with mock crocodile trim, and the new range of strappy leather sandals has cuoio (natural leather) footbeds on top of rubber soles and kicks things up a notch with pewter-stud details.

Also new is the label's luxury version of the slip-on sneaker -- inspired by the venerable skate shoe, most memorable of which are a busy floral pattern and a Union Jack design (which also appears on a version of the formal slipper this season).

The Bond-inspired "porno paisley" velvet jacquard introduced last season is not only back again -- in new pink and turquoise colorways -- but the burlesque beauty hidden in that design  expands her role, appearing on the pewter "penny" tucked into the brand's new penny-loafer silhouette. (At this rate, she's well on her way to becoming a high-end version of the "mud flap" girl.)

When I saw the debut fall and winter 2011 collection in Milan last season -- the one that hits stores in July -- the retail distribution hadn't been determined, but I'm told it includes  Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

Most styles will retail from $597 to $795, with the skate shoe and the driving moccasins coming in slightly lower, at $495, and some higher -- like the blue crocodile formal slippers, which will cost a cool $18,000.

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-- Adam Tschorn, reporting from Milan

Photos: Jimmy Choo's first spring and summer collection expands into sandals, driving moccasins and skate-inspired slip-ons. Credit: Adam Tschorn / Los Angeles Times

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Hats win at Ascot. Jimmy Choo offers Natalie Portman's Oscar shoe. Jessica Simpson signs on for 'Fashion Star.'

 
I said on Monday that the recent attention on all things British (thanks to the royal wedding) has me dreaming of hats. And Tuesday brought a veritable hat-lover's festival with the opening day of the   Royal Ascot races in southern England. Hats, such as the fetching confection above, and the ones on the ladies striking a pose below, are part of the 300-year-old tradition here -- but never in a stuffy way! See more of the looks in our photo gallery.

Not to leave out the French, who were partying along with an a crowd of international millionaires at a fund-raiser Tuesday night for the Louvre that featured Champagne, a silent auction of diamond-encrusted watches and other covetables, and a power-packed performance by Janet Jackson under I.M Pei's pyramid. Houston socialite Becca Carson Thrash, dressed in Alexander McQueen, helped with the auctioneering and guests included Juicy Couture co-founder Gela Nash-Taylor with husband, rocker John Taylor; Diane Kruger; Prince Albert of Monaco; L.A. man-about-town Cameron Silver; and Joshua Jackson. [WWD]  

Jessica Simpson, who served as a guest judge in the final installment of last season's "Project Runway," has been tapped to mentor fashion hopefuls on NBC's new "Fashion Star" series, starring Elle MacPherson. The show will feature singing, dancing, a runway show and a live audience. Whew! [Fashionista]

Designer Jean Paul Gaultier appears on the cover of the French daily Libération, timed to run just before his major career retrospective at The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts opens Friday (it runs through Oct. 2). For the magazine shoot, he made over the paper’s staff -- and himself -- with outfits made from recycled newspapers. Journalists, accountants, photo editors and Web developers posed in paper versions of iconic Gaultier outfits. [WWD] 

Swedish retailer H&M will launch a line of children's clothes to benefit its All for Children initiative with UNICEF. The clothes for girls and boys will be available in 160 stores worldwide, with 25% of the sales prices going to UNICEF. [WWD]

Jimmy Choo is celebrating its 15th birthday with a capsule collection of 15 archived shoe styles, including a feathered pair worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in an early episode of "Sex and the City," and the "Macy" worn by Natalie Portman to the Academy Awards this year.  Prices run from $850 to $3,785, with  10% of proceeds slated for charity. [StyleList]

-- Susan Denley

Photos, From top: A race-goer on opening day of the Royal Ascot races on Tuesday shows off her sweet confection of a hat (credit: Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters); a group of behatted women at Royal Ascot's opening day. (Alastair Grant/ Associated Press)

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Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: Princess Beatrice's hat sells for big bucks. Rihanna makes a classy entrance at the Billboard Awards. Jimmy Choo changes hands.

Jimmy Choo is being sold to Labelux GmbH, a German luxury goods holding company that also owns Bally shoes, clothier Derek Lam and jeweler Solange Azagury-Partridge. Choo, which was founded in 1996 and rose to fame when its stilettos were featured on HBO's "Sex and the City," has changed hands three times in seven years. [Wall Street Journal] (Subscription required)  

Rihanna looked sedate and elegant when she arrived at the Billboard Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday night, wearing a white blouse, white jacket, white trousers and nude Christian Louboutins. But it was a different story when she performed her hit "S&M" onstage with Britney Spears. Then the fishnets, thigh-high boots and leather corset came out. Still in white, though. [Telegraph]

We've got  more pictures from the awards over on The Envelope (including the one of Rihanna and Spears in their "S&M" costumes). 

  
The much-talked about Philip Treacy hat Princess Beatrice of York wore to the royal wedding, below, fetched $130,000 on eBay, sold to an anonymous buyer. Proceeds will go to benefit UNICEF and Children in Crisis. We think selling the hat shows that the princess has both a sense of humor and a heart. [People]

Balmain plans to launch a new diffusion line, Pierre Balmain, with a first collection scheduled for Spring/Summer  2012. The line will skew younger than the traditional Balmain brand. [Telegraph] 

It's worth watching Beyonce's new music video for "Run the World (Girls)" for the clothes alone. The singer wears seven different designer outfits, including Alexander McQueen, Gareth Pugh, John Paul Gaultier, Emilio Pucci and Normal Kamali. She even walks hyenas on a leash, clad in a cream couture gown by Givenchy.  [Telegraph]

Prada got the official go-ahead for its initial public stock offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, expected to take place June 23 or 24. The company plans to sell a 20% stake. [The Cut]  

--Susan Denley

Photo: Left, Rihanna looking elegant on Billboard Awards red carpet. Credit:  Reuters. Princess Beatrice, at the royal wedding, in the Philip Treacy hat that fetched a pretty penny at auction. Credit: Getty Images 

Milan Fashion Week: Jimmy Choo men's debut is part James Bond, part Austin Powers

The debut of the relaunched men's footwear collection for Jimmy Choo has a little bit for everyone and includes many of the signatures found in the women's collection.

"It's basically for the boyfriend of our existing Jimmy Choo customer," as one company representative put it, "but also someone who appreciates details." (And by that she presumably means details beyond simply the fact that his lady friend wears Jimmy Choos.)

Something to look forward to -- at the men's fall-winter 2011-2012 European collections

If you think there's not much excitement about the men's shows coming up in Milan and Paris (other than some more wacky suit lengths from Thom Browne), well, think again. Our very own  Adam Tschorn reports: "Based on the lineup of new and returning labels on the European calendar, one gets the distinct impression that the economic malaise of the last couple of seasons -- which saw luxury brands pairing down, scaling back, and opting for less expensive presentations, or in some cases, forgoing a spot on the schedule altogether -- may be waning."

Think Jimmy Choo for men. Think Thierry Mugler menswear ... and, of course, think Thom Browne.  And look for  Adam's regular blog posts from the shows, starting this weekend.

-- Alice Short

Photo: A look from Phillip Lim 3.1 spring-summer 2011 men's runway show in Paris. Credit: firstVIEW.com

The new Jimmy Choo fragrance is for a true glamour girl

As one might expect, the first fragrance from Jimmy Choo is strong, sexy, alluring and hits you on the head like a 5-inch spiked stiletto. The baby pink perfume, housed in a round, faceted bottle inspired by Murano glass, contains notes of Tiger orchid, toffee and Indonesian patchouli.

The outcome of these various notes smells warm, spicy and woodsy and isn’t for the woman who wants to go noticed during a night out -- in fact, just the opposite.

“The Jimmy Choo fragrance evokes a sense of feminine confidence, seduction and sensuality,” says Tamara Mellon, founder and chief creative officer of the luxury accessories brand. In fact, the scent is very fitting of Mellon and any glamour girl or femme fatal just like her.

Mellon will even be starring in the ads for the fragrance, dressed in a draped, off-the-shoulder, pink python print dress (similar to the print on the perfume’s box, which is patterned after a pink python shoe in the spring 2011 collection) and shot by Inez van Lamsweerde Vinoodh Matadin.

The scent certainly embodies a glamorous woman who isn’t afraid to make an entrance and possibly leave a distinct trace of her scent whereever she goes.

The Jimmy Choo fragrance collection is at Saks Fifth Avenue.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: Jimmy Choo fragrance/Jimmy Choo

[Updated] Frugal Fashion: Emmy Rossum in the buff

Actress Emmy Rossum is well on her way to making a name for herself as a Golden Globe nominee (for "The Phantom of the Opera" in 2004) and budding fashion icon. Her most recent career endeavor is her role as Fiona in the new Showtime series "Shameless," where she plays the oldest sibling in the inappropriately shameless Gallagher clan.

Lucky for fashion fans, she's been busy on the media circuit this year, giving us plenty of envy-inducing outfits to fawn over. The 24-year-old starlet managed to claim headlines last week when she rang in the new year with a bang by going buff. No, not in the buff, but in the kind of low-key neutral color that turns heads without an excessive exposure of flesh. Rossum attended the New Year's Eve grand opening of the lavish Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas clad in a neutral nude colored, curve hugging dress by Julien Macdonald, gold Jimmy Choo heels and a cream Misela clutch.

Rossum elevated her neutral color with bands that snaked loosely around the dress. The color may seem delicate but the dress' body-conscious fit and thick straps are tough-chic and anything but subdued.

A neutral clutch and gold heels balanced all elements of the party outfit nicely.

You too can come off your holiday high of sparkling metallics and sequins and settle into 2011 with a more relaxed, neutral-colored dress. The bright colors and neon tones of spring are fast-approaching, so now is the time to take a color breather. Just keep things interesting with an eye-catching design. These delightfully neutral dresses should do the trick, without busting your post-holiday budget:

From left, the MM Couture by Miss Me Drape Mini Dress with sassy black waist detail for $92 on revolveclothing.com and the sexy knitted nude cut-out Bodycon Dress from TOPSHOP for $50.

For a simple clutch that is versatile enough to accompany you to all your 2011 parties, invest in one of these fun but neutral tones: BCBGeneration Maya Clutch available at Macy's for $48 or the Sparkle Nighttime clutch from Forever21 for just $7.50 -- that has to be less than the sandwich you bought for lunch yesterday.

For your heels, it might be fun to go vertiginously high, but any pair of strappy neutral heels you might already own will complete the look. Mix and match the bags and dresses to fit your budget and get ready to leap into a rainbow palette for spring.

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

Upper photo: Actress Emmy Rossum arrives at the Cosmopolitan Grand Opening and New Year's Eve celebration in Las Vegas. Credit: Ethan Miller / WireImage

Middle photo, from left: MM Couture dress by Miss Me. Credit: Revolveclothing.com. Knitted nude cut- out dress from TOPSHOP. Credit: TOPSHOP

Lower photo, from left: BCBGeneration clutch from Macy's. Credit: Macy's. Nighttime clutch from Forever 21. Credit: Forever21

[Updated January 5, 2011 at 3:52 PM. An earlier version of the post incorrectly stated that Emmy Rossum is 23-years-old.]