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Mar 16 2010 03:36 PM ET

The Low-Down On Fergie’s The E.N.D. Costumes

Evan Agostini/AP

Forget 2008! Fergie is looking more ‘3008‘ lately thanks to her futuristic Black Eyed Peas tour costumes. With the help of celebrity stylist B. Åkerlund, whose clientele includes the likes of Lady Gaga, the 34-year-old singer is rocking out in some major metallic styles. “I did a lot of research on what I thought would be an interesting vibe for Fergie and then incorporated all the things that I love into her costumes and made it all come alive,” Åkerlund tells PEOPLE of her handpicked outfits. “She was very open to my ideas and we collaborated on what would be the best options for the show.” One of the options ended up being one of Fergie’s most talked about costumes — a scintillating heavy armored look — made from a surprisingly light material. “[That] look brought the essence of futuristic armor [and is] made out of plastic with graphic print that gave the feeling of sci-fi meets street fashion,” Åkerlund says of the bodysuit, created by British designer Amy Thompson. “The details I did together with Swarovski crystals to make it sparkle on stage.” Other costumes on the tour consist of an opening look inspired by Deborah Harry and Giger, a flower that opens up to a dress, and one by former designer to Bono and Mick Jagger, Todd Lynn. To see Fergie’s elaborate costumes in-person, check out the blackeyedpeas.com, for the band’s complete tour schedule. –David Yi

Mar 16 2010 01:57 PM ET

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Olivia Palermo Launches ‘City’-Inspired Jewelry Collection

Elizabeth Lippman

Move over Whitney, there’s a new designer in The City. “Social” Olivia Palermo is channeling her love of accessories into a limited edition collection of five necklaces for New York designer Roberta Freymann. Inspired by Olivia and Roberta’s favorite cities and neighborhoods — including Paris, Berlin’s Mitte and Manhattan’s Tribeca — the collection, ranging in price from $175-$300, will hit Roberta Freymann boutiques nationwide and e-boutique robertarollarrabbit.com on March 24. “I am thrilled to be partnering with Roberta for my first foray into design,” says Olivia in a statement. “As a longtime supporter and admirer of her accessories, I felt a collaboration between Roberta and myself would be an ideal fit. I’m honored and excited to bring a touch of my own personal style aesthetic to her brilliant collection.” And the feeling is mutual: “I love how Olivia uses my accessories to complement other pieces she wears. She looks so elegant and adapts them to her wardrobe effortlessly; the partnership was obvious for me,” says the designer. Tell us: Will you buy Olivia Palermo’s jewels?

–by Andrea DeSimone

Mar 16 2010 12:14 PM ET

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Gwen Stefani’s “Backup Plan”: Her Booming Design Career

Courtesy InStyle

So how does Gwen Stefani balance her ultra-successful rock star career with her design lines? Well, turns out, it’s all part of her plan for life after music. The InStyle cover girl explains, “I wanted so badly to have a backup plan for when I’m not performing anymore. Let’s be realistic: It’s not going to be like this forever. So I wanted to continue having something creative to do.” And its something she’s done her entire life, saying “I made so many clothes growing up, and I used to do my own costumes…all I would do was just daydream about what I was going to make.” While Gwen certainly rocks some hot looks on stage, it’s her off-duty wardrobe that’s made her a style icon to millions around the world. So what will happen to her stock of Galliano and Westwood when she’s no longer wearing them? Hint: If she doesn’t have a daughter, it’ll pay off big to be one of her sons’ girlfriends later in life. “I don’t know. I’m not focusing on it right now, but it’s not up to me anyway, you know? These things are miracles, so we’ll see,” she says. “Otherwise, the clothes are probably going to go to some girlfriend of Kingston’s!” To read more from Gwen Stefani, pick up InStyle‘s April issue on stands now, or check out InStyle.com. –David Yi

Magazine Covers

Mar 15 2010 02:00 PM ET

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Ken Paves Learns the ‘Price of Beauty’ Himself with a Brazilian Wax!

Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup

Jessica Simpson‘s hair stylist and best buddy Ken Paves will never, ever get a Brazilian wax again. In an upcoming episode of Simpson’s new VH1 reality series, The Price of Beauty, which debuts tonight on Vh1, the singer takes her mane man to get the painful waxing treatment when they are visiting Rio de Janeiro. “Literally, I flew five feet off the table,” Paves tells PEOPLE. “I was like, ‘Ahhhhhh!’ I jumped off the table several times and said, ‘I can’t finish!’ I even had a little blood on my leg.” Simpson helped hold Paves down while the esthetician waxed some rather sensitive areas. Or tried to, at least. “I was sweating so bad that Jessica had to put towels on her hands to hold me down because I kept slipping out of her hands,” he says. “It was the most painful and humiliating experience of my entire life. I had no idea that women could be that much stronger than us.” Paves, who has a new hair care line called Self Help coming out in May that, like the series, “celebrates women and their uniqueness,” underwent the painful waxing and even donned a long, gold neck ring in the first episode so he could see for himself what women go through for the sake of beauty. “I thought it was really important to understand what women go through and to actually experience that,” he says. Tune into the show’s premiere tonight at 10 pm EST on Vh1.–KC Baker

Mar 15 2010 11:34 AM ET

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UPDATE: Madonna Gets Shady with Dolce & Gabbana on New Sunglasses Line

StarTraks

After announcing her juniors line for Macy’s last week, the Material Girl is already making headlines with her next venture under her MG Icon business: eyewear for Dolce & Gabbana! Madonna and the Italian design duo have teamed up for a collection of six new, luxe sunglass styles ($248-$289) debuting in May. “We’re so excited. This further strengthens our relationship with Madonna, and it was a very constructive experience for us,” Stefano Gabbana tells WWD. The new styles will bear the logo MDG, marking the first ever co-branded project by Dolce & Gabbana. Another thing to look forward to: Madonna’s ad campaign for the collection shot by Steven Klein — the same photographer who worked with the singer on the brand’s spring ready-to-wear ads. The seductive images will have a film-noir feel, with close crops of a red-lipstick-wearing Madonna and, of course, the shades. We can’t wait to get our hands on the collection, which will be available in Dolce & Gabbana boutiques and Sunglass Hut stores worldwide. Tell us: Will you buy Madonna and Dolce & Gabbana’s sunglasses?–by Andrea DeSimone

Steve Klein for Dolce & Gabbana

Mar 15 2010 08:14 AM ET

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Lauren Conrad’s Favorite Designer: Herself!

courtesy of Kohl’s

When Lauren Conrad needs a wardrobe update, she looks no further than her own collection for Kohl’s. “I think if you’re not willing to wear your own clothes, you’re doing something wrong. This line was meant to be about my style and pieces I want to walk into a store and want to buy. If you’re not wearing your own line, you’re taking all the fun out of it,” the former reality star tells Glamour.com. Known for her flirty frocks and California cool girl style, Lauren says her staple piece is the blazer. “We have one in every collection, and we usually update it and tweak it a little bit. In this specific collection, I also really love the biker jacket we did.” And come spring, Lauren says she’ll be pairing her sharp toppers with lots of watercolor prints: “I think they’re very romantic and kind of timeless. I almost did too much of it with this collection. When we were shopping for prints with Kohl’s, everything I picked was watercolor and floral. They’re very in because of the whole Alice in Wonderland thing.” However one fashion fad, the style author won’t be trying this season is hot pants. “You can’t wear them to the club, because you’re going to look like one of the dancers, but they could look cute on the beach!” says Lauren. Here more from Lauren at glamour.com.

Mar 14 2010 10:34 AM ET

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Gisele Bundchen to Launch Eco-Friendly Skincare Line

Black/Startraks

Always wanted to have beautiful skin like Gisele Bundchen? The supermodel — and new mom — is about to share the secrets to great skin with her new beauty line launching on March 15. Bündchen, who is a UN ambassador for environmental issues, is launching an eco-friendly line of products called Sejaa Pure Skincare next week, her agent confirms to PEOPLE. The line promises to use all-natural ingredients, “thoughtful” packaging and recycled paper; looking like a supermodel though, is no guarantee. This isn’t the supermodel’s only new project — she also shot ads this winter for Brazilian fashion line Coccli.–Charlotte Triggs