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With the fashion world’s constant hustle and bustle, it’s tough to stay up-to-date on the newest designers and trends.  But if you’re reading this, you probably have a pretty good headstart on those who only read magazines that feature the mainstream powerhouse brands.  By consciously cruising the interwebs for some new info on fashion, you’re on your way to becoming a style guru!

Ok, so where do you look?  A great place to start is, believe it not, facebook! As if you needed another reason to check your facebook, right?  Well, brands and fashion companies are utilizing social networking in a big way, and it’s showing no signs of stopping.  You can find all kinds of designers and stylists (Rachel Zoe, anyone?) on facebook and twitter.  Becoming a “fan” of a store’s facebook page is a really simple way to get regular updates on their brand and keep up with sales, new releases, anything!

Twitter is, of course, amazing for instant updates on your friends’ lives, but you might be surprised to learn there are plenty of your favorite brands tweeting their hearts out all day, too!  Most will link to sales or new arrivals on their sites, but sometimes they’ll post a personal picture of something goofy going on the office or of some amazing couture they spot in a designer’s studio on a business trip.  Whatever they post, it’s a super fun way to feel even more connected with your dream brands!

In addition to following and “fanning,” you can subscribe to sale sites like RueLaLa.com, ideeli.com, and HauteLook.com (and yes, they all have twitter accounts you should be following), and they will send you emails featuring some crazy-go-nuts sales from the powerhouse staples, as well as some budding designers about which you can’t BELIEVE you’ve lived this long without knowing.  It’s a pretty great deal.

We can’t all be besties with a designer or someone who always seems to know what’s going on, but we can play in the major leagues by utilizing as much social media as we can.  And it’s not like it’s not way fun anyway!  So how do YOU keep up?

Ah, men.  We love them.  And we know you’ll love your man no matter how he dresses, but wouldn’t it be nice if he showed a little interest in fashion?  Little bit??  Luckily for you, Milan’s fashion week had an awesome showing of menswear for summer, replete with masculine looks you’ll both love.

The general feel of the designer’s collections was tailored and travel-esque.  From safari jackets at Versace and earth tones at Salvatore Ferragamo to the red accents at the never-afraid-of-color Bottega Veneta, the key to success is a classic look with some fun punches of eclecticism thrown in there.  Don’t let him shy away from embroidery on his denim, whether in a dark wash or in the ripped-to-shreds look that has kept up its popularity.  On the other hand, a look that, understandably, can be avoided would be the surprisingly small and tight swim trunks shown at-where else?-Dolce and Gabbana and Versace.  You can’t win ‘em all, eh, ladies?

For a crisp look, go for slim trousers that narrow toward the ankle, and keep them short enough to show off his classic yacht loafers or maybe even some high-top shoes.  Up top, a fitted jacket with defined shoulders, or a skin-bearing vest (a’ la Cavalli) looks amazing in monochrome grey, white, or black.  Pops of orange (no, not hunter fluorescent orange) keep the ensemble fun, and for a more casual look, Versace and Gucci are telling us light colors are definitely a go.  V-neck, fitted tees in monochrome or even (gasp!) pastels work well over his favorite denim.

Overall, this is a battle you should win.  But it’s not like you weren’t expecting to anyway.  Actually, it probably won’t even be a battle with these trends.  Classic, simple looks that still allow him to be comfortable and not feel too flashy?  Can’t go wrong there.

….Continued from Part Uno!  Read on fashion frenzies….

6. create your own style - Taking cues from others is so crucial in developing your own style.  Thus being creative with what you see on somebody else and making it something that’s right for you is a triumph in itself.  Knowing you can’t pull off the acid wash torn-to-shreds skinny jeans, but finding some torn-up boot cut jeans in a darker wash and doing the grunge look is a success!  You’ve taken a style and made it work for you, instead of letting the clothes overpower.

7. stand out from the crowd - Who wants to be boring when you could be bangin’??  Doing as celebrities do is a surefire way to stick out a little bit.  While your buddies are in standard attire, you can shine in your celebrity-inspired ensembles without going overboard.  Now, it’s easy to pile on the accessories in an attempt to look put-together, but take cues from our girls featured on the site and note that sometimes, less is more.

8. leave behind the jeans & t-shirt regimen - It’s easy to get stuck in a clothes rut.  Break out of those boring regimes by checking out what your favorite celebrities are wearing and getting some fabulous ideas.  Noting a different pairing of styles (i.e. a plaid button-down worn under a boyfriend cardigan) or a flowy skirt pulled up to your chest, belted, and worn as a dress are easy ways to shake up your routine.  Plus, they make getting dressed in the morning a little more fun if you feel like you’re wearing something you’ve never worn before, eh?

9. rest assured you’re doing something right - Worried about looking too trendy or not being able to pull off a look?  Relax.  Celebrities have stylists.  And they usually do as those stylists say.  So if you’re using some of your fave celebs as a fashion guide, you really can’t go wrong.  As long as you make sure the look meshes with your personality, and you make sure you really wear the clothes, and not the other way around, know that you are doing something right.

10. feel fabulous - You know that awesome feeling you get when you just know you look great?  If you find a celebrity style you like and make it your own, you won’t be able to keep yourself from smiling!  A lot of how we approach our days and how we approach people is a direct result of how we feel, and if you’re feeling fabulous, can you imagine what a wonderful day it’s going to be?  Everything starts from within you, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to make your insides smile with a really great outfit.

1. stay ahead of trends – You know you’re not going to get the latest fashions by thinking about it really hard. You’ve got to LOOK around at what others are wearing to know what looks fresh and what looks tired. And who better to look at than those beautiful (and sometimes not-so-beautiful) people who are photographed for a living? Half of them were GIVEN designer duds to show off anyway, so you know they’ve got some good stuff.

2. know what’s appropriate – A lot of dressing well has to do with dressing appropriately. We know that wearing an evening dress every day—whether it’s gorgeous or not—is not going to attract the right type of attention to your clothes. Being well-dressed in every situation means knowing how to rock tattered jeans and a loose T-shirt downtown without looking plain, and, alternately, look completely at home in a cocktail dress at the swag uptown hotspots.

3. get new ideas – You know how you go through your closet and wonder why you ever wore certain pieces, and then a year later, you find some awesome new way to wear it and are SO glad you kept it? Credit that lovely rediscovery to your careful eye on celebrity styles! Think back to a time when naval-bearing shirts were the greatest things ever. (Eew. I know.) But consider that same shirt with a poufy mini skirt pulled up to your waist, belted something fierce, and accessorized with a statement necklace. Adorable, right? Who would’ve thought that awful belly trend could morph into a completely crucial part of your current wardrobe?

4. better than copying your friends’ styles – Love your friends, but don’t copy their styles. Likely, your group of girlfriends all dress somewhat similarly, and if everyone keeps dressing like everyone else, nothing good will result. A look outside of the group can have an amazing impact on not just your own style, but your friends’, too! So help your girls out! Take note of what the A-listers are sporting and start the trend!

5. good gossip – Remember Bjork’s swan dress a few years back? And how many times have you debated with your girlfriends about the wearability of the Lauren Conrad hippie hair twist? Little quirks in celebrity styles are memorable, and it’s always fun to talk about pop culture. Because fashion is such a huge part of many celebrities’ lives, taking note of their styles helps you learn more about them, and definitely gives you something to talk about!

…..Don’t be upset! Part Dos of Learn & Love Celeb’ Style will be coming shortly! Fashion frenzies stay tuned….