Ali Larter

Before she hit the Oscars red carpet, Django Unchained star Kerry Washington put in a good old fashioned sweat session — and the hard work paid off.

“We worked out before the show,” says her trainer Juliet Kaska, who caught up with PEOPLE StyleWatch at the N.Y.C. launch of Activate water March 8. “We work out as often as four or five times a week. She’s so dedicated. I’ve never seen work ethic like hers!”

With spring — and shorter hemlines! — just around the corner, we asked Kaska, who also trains hard-bodied stars Ali Larter and Stacey Kiebler, how she’s getting her celeb clients ready for warmer weather this year.

The trick, says Kaska, is keeping weights light, reps high, integrating lengthening Pilates and yoga exercises, and working on oft-forgotten muscles in the core area.

NPG

For a toned behind like Washington’s, Kaska recommends V-lifts: Lie prone on bench with hips at the end, holding top with your arms. Draw abs in to support the lower back. With toes on the ground, feet flexed and legs extended in a V shape, lift legs up until your heels are in-line with your butt, keeping glutes engaged. At the top, hold for one count. Draw legs together, squeezing your butt, abs and inner thighs; hold another count. Bring feet down just above the ground. Repeat 10 to 15 times.

Read More

• Ali Larter,
• BodyWatch,
• Celebs,
• Fitness,
• Kerry Washington

Courtesy Ali Larter

Say hello to Ali Larter! The actress, fashion plate and new mom was in Chicago Thursday to celebrate Fashion’s Night Out at the 900 N. Michigan Avenue Shops, greeting style-savvy Midwesterners during a runway show. She was kind enough to give us an exclusive, inside look at her evening; read all about it below. And visit her on twitter.com/TheRealAliL to see even more photos from her evening out.

Fashion’s Night Out is one of my favorite fashion nights of the year, and I could not be more thrilled to be in Chicago for it. Not only is it one of my favorite cities, but [my husband] Hayes‘s parents also live here so it became a big family affair for us.

After a baby Teddy cry-free flight from L.A. on Wednesday night, I started out Thursday finding a dress to wear for the big night with Chicago stylist Eric Himel.

There were two beautiful options that I fell in love with, so setting my need to choose aside, I joined my mother-in-law for a bit of pampering at Exhale Spa in the Gold Coast, the downtown area of Chicago which is bustling with energy, amazing stores and restaurants.

Read More

• Ali Larter,
• Exclusive,
• Fashion's Night Out,
• Guest Blog

Splash News Online; Getty; FilmMagic

Before MTV Video Music Awards and New York Fashion Week mania set in, sneak a peek at what we spotted on the red carpet at the most glam Hollywood happenings this week, which led us to find the trends we’re loving — and the one we’re totally over:

Up: Flouncy leather skirts: Stars couldn’t get enough of summer leather, and it looks like they’ll be wearing the luxe fabric well into fall. Lucy Hale‘s mini is more sweet than sexy thanks to the flirty silhouette. Plus, we love that she paired it with a lace top (another trend we’re into this season).

Read More

• Ali Larter,
• Ashley Greene,
• Fashion,
• Lucy Hale,
• Red Carpet,
• Red Carpet Trend Report,
• Trends

Pacific Coast News; FilmMagic; Startraks

Was there a full moon last night? A designer clothing shortage, perhaps? Because something wasn’t quite right in the fashion world; we saw more than a few misses, and we’re slightly concerned. Let’s break it down:

Miley Cyrus stepped out in New York City Thursday evening … looking like she’d stepped off the set of a Nirvana video (left). Wearing high-waisted jean shorts with a camo jacket tied around her waist — plus some heavy boots and that super-short platinum haircut — she channeled the punky ’90s, but not in the best way.

Ali Larter took a big risk at the Bachelorette premiere in Los Angeles (center), wearing a black-and-white striped crop top and matching pants on the red carpet. While the ensemble left us speechless (though Ali definitely has the body to rock it), at press time, 20 percent of you “Loved It” in “Last Night’s Look.”

Read More

• Ali Larter,
• Fashion,
• Miley Cyrus,
• Whitney Port

Ramey, WireImage, Courtesy Brooklyn Decker, WireImage, Fame, BEImages, WireImage (2)

There were shags and bobs, bangs and pixies, and all sorts of crazy new looks in 2011. It seems that most stars wanted a change this year, and many of them made one — in the form of a big haircut.

Katherine Heigl freshened her look in March with a close cut (and new color). And of course there was the haircut heard ’round the world — Jennifer Aniston‘s February chop! Model Brooklyn Decker let her stylist take a whopping 10 inches off of her long blonde locks, while Evan Rachel Wood debuted a flattering short cut that took her into summer.

Read More

• Ali Larter,
• Dianna Agron,
• Evan Rachel Wood,
• Hair,
• Jennifer Aniston,
• Julianne Hough,
• Katherine Heigl,
• Vanessa Hudgens

Carlos Delgado/AP; Inset: Michael Kovac/WireImage

Ali Larter was so eager to chop several inches off of her hair recently that she took her tresses even shorter over the weekend. The actress paid another visit to stylist Andy LeCompte on Saturday, and debuted her chic and choppy look later that day at the Glad “One Bag” Tailgate in Los Angeles.

Though LeCompte recently said that “shorter hair is great for fuss-free styling,” Larter disagrees. Speaking to PEOPLE on Saturday during the Tailgate, Larter said her new look is “definitely” more work. “But it’s fun, too,” she countered. “It feels chic, and I love putting on clothes and kind of having a new look and experimenting with that. It’s like clothes, hair … you don’t take that stuff seriously. Have fun with it.”

Larter, who hasn’t had short hair since she was younger, said the cut was a way of “finding herself again” after welcoming son Theodore 10 months ago. “I’m excited to be fitting back in my clothes and going out,” she said. “I was excited for a change.” Tell us: What do you think of Larter’s short cut?

–With reporting by Jessica Wedemeyer

VOTE NOW ON STAR HAIR CHANGES

• Ali Larter,
• Hair