Wednesday marked the beginning of New York Fashion Week, but last week, one of the city’s biggest fashionistas was already out and about. Speaking to PEOPLE Thursday at Godiva’s 2012 Valentine’s Day event at the Andaz 5th Avenue in New York, Blake Lively showed off a stunning Valentino ensemble, pairing the chic getup with — you guessed it — Christian Louboutin shoes.

The Gossip Girl star is known for her love of Louboutins — the designer even helps her decide which of his shoes to wear sometimes — but her latest interaction with him really takes their relationship to a new level. “My gosh, [the spring collection] was sent to my house today, and they’re so beautiful,” she revealed. “They’re amazing. I walked around my apartment wearing them.”

Her favorites? “These cage, crystal-encrusted shoes and one with a feather detail coming off of it.”

Lively, who doesn’t have a stylist, described her style muses as “women from times past: Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly. I love the sophistication. I love every single detail.” Sounds like she’d love to live among them, too. “I would love if I could wear little cut-off gloves every day,” she mused. “That would make me so happy. I’d go to a grocery store in a beautiful hat with lace dripping over the eye.”

But her handbag would certainly be current. “I do love my Chanel bags,” she said. “They come with me everywhere. That’s the truth.”

–Catherine Kast

SHOP HOLLYWOOD’S HOTTEST SHOES — FOR UNDER $100

As if it weren’t enough having a heel in her honor, Blake Lively also considers Christian Louboutin her personal shoe stylist.

“When I’m going to an event,” she says in the newest issue of ELLE, “I’ll send Christian a picture of my outfit and say, ‘What shoes do you think I should wear with this?’”

If we had to guess, the footwear guru then suggests a pair of his design from her “embarrassing” arsenal of red-soled masterpieces.

“I hope to have a few girls one day,” Lively continues. “If not girls, they better be trannies. Because I have some amazing shoes and bags and stories that need to be appreciated.”

Some girls have all the luck!

–Justine Harman

PLAY THE NUMBERS GAME IN ‘GUESS THE STAR BARGAIN’

With 100 episodes — and an approximated 100,000 outfits! — there’s always been plenty of room for some Gossip Girl costume drama.

“There are a lot of Chuck outfits that are up for discussion,” wardrobe designer Eric Daman (left) admits to PEOPLE. ”Some people like to take things a little too seriously,” he adds, laughing. “There isn’t one ugly stepchild out there.”

Perhaps Daman is biased; over the course of five years, he’s watched the gang graduate from a shoestring budget to show-stopping couture. Since season one, there’s been a “huge turnaround,” he explains. “The star power has definitely helped that. On the budget we have, there would be no way to do what we do.”

What Daman does do, in fact, is create characters through costumes. And he does so with conviction. When we first met Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), she was doing a “flirty, girly thing,” which evolved into a sartorial “coat of arms” in college, comprised of structured looks from Victoria Beckham and Narciso Rodriguez. But as GG‘s resident princess evolved, she “reverted to an old world glamour,” says Daman, evidence of which is apparent in tonight’s royal wedding episode (8 p.m. EST). Tell us: Will you be watching?

–Justine Harman

CHECK OUT MORE HIGH-END HOT SHOTS IN OUR PARIS FASHION WEEK GALLERY

We’re counting down the days until Jason Wu’s Target collection goes on sale — mark your calendar for Feb. 5! — but starlets Blake Lively, Chloë Moretz, Emmy Rossum and Jaime King were among the lucky few who go to shop a preview sale Thursday night at the Skylight Soho in New York.

Featuring feminine dresses, colorful skirts and must-have bags, the line is sure to sell out in a second. To that end, Wu said he didn’t design the collection for a specific type of shopper, but that every girl will likely appreciate the line. “We all want to be a little glamorous, a little playful and a little mischievous at times,” he told PEOPLE. “And I think that the collection really brings that out.”

He also intimated that his cats, Jinxy and Peaches, helped inspire the kitten pattern that defines several of the looks (a cat stars in the campaign, too). “Cats are so elegant and embody the spirit of the collection,” he shared. “My cats are really sassy and sophisticated, but most importantly, they are picky.”

While Moretz, Rossum and King showed up wearing head-to-toe Wu for Target, Lively chose to wear a Target collection black trench over her designer peplum mini-dress, also by Wu.

But it seemed the more demure styles suited Moretz, 14, who revealed to PEOPLE that her stylist isn’t the only one who weighs in on her fashion choices. “My mom definitely still helps me choose outfits,” she shared. “She has the final word on a look. If she says no, it’s a no.”

Lively admitted that despite her reputation for wearing designer duds, she loves to shop at department stores. “I’m a pretty good discount shopper,” she revealed to reporters. “[With] the last designer Target brand I was online when the site was crashing. I had three computers out!”

Still, she explained that she doesn’t really have a staple clothing item, high-end or otherwise. “I have so many clothes, there’s nothing I wear all the time,” she said sheepishly, adding, “which is a really good problem to have.” Tell us: Who do you think wore Wu’s new collection best?

–Catherine Kast

YOU ASKED, WE FOUND: STAR LOOKS

On Monday, Gossip Girl‘s ‘Queen B’ Blair Waldorf becomes … a princess. It’s the royal wedding the whole Upper East Side is talking about — and we have an exclusive sneak peek!

In the clip above, costume designer Eric Daman talks about creating TV land’s very own royal wedding, and selecting a stunning Vera Wang gown. “[It's] so couture but has that old-world feeling to it that makes sense for who Blair Waldorf is, becoming the Princess of Monaco,” he explains. “I think what the wedding is going to look like is going to set the bar for what the 100th episode is.”

That’s right — Monday’s wedding episode also happens to be the show’s milestone 100th. And in that time, Daman estimates the cast has gone through a seriously staggering number of costume changes. Click to find out how many — and see Waldorf walk down the aisle. Tell us: Will you watch Gossip Girl‘s 100th episode?

SEE MORE TV AND MOVIE STYLES IN ‘LIGHTS! CAMERA! FASHION!’

While 2011 was the year of Blake for Chanel, Rihanna for Armani and Demi for Ann Taylor, many retailers are introducing lesser-known faces for spring 2012 campaigns.

WWD recently confirmed the appointment of Alice Dellal as the face of Chanel’s Boy collection. Best known for her half-shaved head and punk rock band, the British model is noticeably edgier than Lively, who fronted the collection’s Mademoiselle handbag range. “Alice Dellal represents the perfect incarnation of all that is unique about the Boy Chanel handbag collection, which strives [to be] far from conformist notions of femininity,” brand reps told the trade publication.

Courtesy Macy’s INC

This season, Prada takes a chance with indie darling Michael Pitt, who appears in the brand’s menswear spots, while Burberry backs Eddie Redmayne, a British actor relatively unknown to American audiences.

For their first-ever celebrity ambassador, Macy’s INC taps up-and-comer Max Irons (left), son of Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons. “We liked his polish and the fact that he isn’t well known yet in the U.S.,” SVP of marketing, Nancy Slavin, tells WWD. “He’s on a trajectory and is quintessentially this brand. He wears the clothes very naturally.” Tell us: Do you think brands should hire lesser-known celebs more often?

 –Justine Harman

VOTE ON MORE STYLISH SHOWDOWNS IN ‘FASHION FACEOFF’

Not every 14-year-old gets to spend an evening with Drew Barrymore, Blake Lively, Emma Stone and Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. But that’s how Chloë Moretz spent her Tuesday night — albeit with her mother in tow.

“Mom’s a pretty good date,” the actress told PEOPLE before Tuesday’s star-studded tribute to director Pedro Almodóvar. “We look exactly alike and she’s beautiful.”

Moretz’s ensemble was also beautiful: the rising star wore a sparkly black-and-blush Chanel number and black heels. But the outfit came with a couple of complications. “I had to be sewn into it,” Moretz admitted. “There are no clips in the back and these aren’t real buttons.”

The Kick-Ass star has had her fair share of sartorial milestones since hitting the scene: she’s been dressed by just about every big-name designer, and even won an award for her fashion sense at last week’s Hollywood Style Awards. But a major highlight for the teen was trying on Hick costar Blake Lively‘s Christian Louboutins.

“We were [on set] in North Carolina,” Moretz recalled, “and she brought like 40 pairs with her. And she said, ‘This is like one-third of my collection.’” What was her impression of the designer shoes? “They’re tall,” she said. “Really tall.”

Mom Teri Moretz admitted to being “a little less glamorous” at her daughter’s age. “I was climbing trees and playing hide-and-seek,” she told PEOPLE. But she’s enjoyed watching her daughter’s rise to fame — and reaping some benefits, too. “Having tea in Martin Scorsese’s living room,” she said of her biggest ‘pinch-me’ moment thus far. “That was amazing!”

–Jeffrey Slonim

MEET HOLLYWOOD’S MOST STYLISH TEENS AND TWEENS

Blake Lively was swept off her feet by another man on Tuesday night: designer Christian Louboutin. Lively, along with stars like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Calvin Klein and Tyrese, came out to Barneys New York to fête the legendary shoe designer on the 20th anniversary of his collection.

“They are the most beautiful shoes out there,” Lively told PEOPLE of Louboutin’s scarlet-soled creations. “And incredibly innovative.” Wearing her own pair of splatter-paint snakeskin stilettos, the Gossip Girl star said “it’s embarrassing” how many pairs of the heels she owns. But she’s not alone: more than 200 fashion lovers toasted the designer Tuesday and waited patiently as he autographed copies of his new self-titled book. When he signed Klein’s tome, he wrote, “For my dear, Calvin.”

After the Barneys bash, VIP guests headed to a private celebration at Le Caprice in the Pierre Hotel — and Lively was lucky enough to get a lift, courtesy of Louboutin. There, Alicia Keys — another fan of the designer — joined the intimate group for dinner.

–Reporting by Stephanie Davila

SHOP STARS’ HOTTEST FALL SHOES

For years, style mavens have been lusting after the high-fashion ensembles worn by the ladies of Gossip Girl, and now, we’re one step closer to channeling those impeccable styles.

Contemporary label Romeo & Juliet Couture has partnered with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Warner Bros. Television Group — the producers behind the CW hit — to create a collection of clothing inspired by the show.

Look for embellished tops, bottoms, novelty sweaters, draped chiffon dresses and more that bear a strikingly stylish resemblance to outfits worn by Blake Lively and Leighton Meester‘s characters Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf. But what good is a leather-trimmed skirt without the extras? Never fear: the line’s designers plan to expand to handbags and accessories for spring.

The collection, priced from $80-$200, will makes its debut Sunday at the Coterie exhibition and sell at Kitson, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue this fall. Tell us: Will you buy Gossip Girl-inspired pieces?

Courtesy Romeo & Juliet Couture

–Kim Peiffer

SEE MORE ON-SET STYLE IN LIGHTS! CAMERA! FASHION!

With the intense heat and sizzling sunshine, we can’t even fathom summer’s end just yet. There are still trips to take, frozen treats to eat and shoes to buy! But with Labor Day creeping up ever so quickly, thoughts begin to turn toward cooler weather and fall fashion. When stocking up on styles for your post-summer wardrobe, do you consider white? Though it was once considered taboo to go so light anytime between Labor Day and Memorial Day (or in some cases, perhaps Easter), stars and civilians alike have defied the trend in recent years. Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Blake Lively all stepped out in white in April, and not one fashionista blinked an eye. So why not rock white pants at a fall fête, don a snowy dress to a winter bash or warm up in a stark white sweater? Though it may still feel like breaking the rules, weren’t rules meant to be broken? Tell us: Do you wear white after Labor Day?

WEIGH IN ON BURNING STYLE QUESTIONS IN ‘WOULD YOU WEAR THESE TRENDS?’

She may be headed back to blonde, but Blake Lively isn’t totally a towhead yet. Currently in color transition — she went red in April for her role in Hick — the actress has a new name for her hue, courtesy of Green Lantern costar Ryan Reynolds. “Ryan named my hair color ‘sierra sunset,’ which I like,” she told reporters Wednesday night at the film’s Los Angeles premiere. (So not quite red, but not quite blonde!) In the film, Lively plays Carol Ferris, who happens to be brunette. So how did she feel about going dark? “Having brown hair for this movie was so much fun,” she said. “When I play a character I love to completely transform. That’s the only way I feel like I can disappear behind them.” We can’t wait to see her go jet black — or maybe blue — next time she has a film that calls for a color change. Tell us: What hair color would you like to see Lively rock next? –Reporting by Scott Huver

VOTE ON STAR HAIR CHANGES!

Just in time for summer, Blake Lively is once again a golden girl. The Green Lantern star, who dyed her hair red for her role in Hick, recently returned to a blonder, slightly strawberry hue. When she went red, Lively told PEOPLE she “loved” the look. “I feel like Ariel [the Little Mermaid],” she said. The color change allowed her to get into character, too. “It helps when you’re playing a role, when I don’t feel like myself,” she explained. “And I don’t really feel like myself with red hair.” Lively, who’s been globetrotting with rumored new beau Leonardo DiCaprio, debuted the fresh blonde tresses at a Green Lantern press conference in L.A. last week, then took the look public in New York City last night at the Ghetto Film School spring benefit at the Standard Hotel. We love the starlet as a blonde or a redhead, but what do you think? Tell us: Do you prefer Lively with blonde or red hair?

VOTE ON MORE STAR HAIR CHANGES!

She’s a designer’s “dream girl” and has even had a Christian Louboutin shoe named after her, but as it turns out, Blake Lively is the lone force behind her own stylish appearances. In the July issue of Glamour, the Gossip Girl star tells pal Florence Welch that her fashion obsession started at an early age. “My mom modeled and made clothes, so I always had such an appreciation for design. And then Gossip Girl completely blew open the door to fashion for me. I’d go to fashion shows and call my publicist and say, ‘Can I wear that?’” says the face of Chanel Mademoiselle handbags. “I think I became my own stylist by not knowing any better. And once I was told it was time to get one, I thought: This is one of my favorite hobbies! And I’m going to pay someone to steal my hobby from me? That’s a terrible idea!” For big awards shows, Lively (recently linked to Leonardo DiCaprio) says she keeps her beauty routine simple so the clothes have a chance to shine. “I like it to be easy. I don’t feel like I have to do so much with hair and makeup, because I’m the mannequin for these beautiful clothes, so I never want to do anything too distracting,” she explains. “Most of the time, I put my hair in a ballerina bun, and I take it down and it’s wavy, and then I leave. I feel shy when people are fussing on me.” But just because she has to fit into designer dresses doesn’t mean she’ll be skipping a meal. “My diet of choice before events is a chicken potpie from Tea & Sympathy,” she reveals, “because they never have enough food at these things.” Tell us: What do you think of Lively’s self-styling skills? –Kim Peiffer

SEE LIVELY’S SEXY SUMMER STYLE SECRETS!

Uniqlo has partnered with 10 famous faces to design a special T-shirt as part of the new Save Japan! campaign, helping to raise money for the Red Cross. The T-shirts feature messages of encouragement from artists around the world, and Uniqlo hopes to be able to donate around $1.2 million from the sales to recovery efforts. Famous faces that have designed tees include Lady Gaga (above, left), who has previously designed a bracelet for the relief efforts, Blake Lively (above, right), Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman and more. Get your own tee for $20 in Uniqlo stores starting June 25.

Blake! Beyoncé! Kristen! Renée! Literally everyone was on the red carpet at the Met Costume Institute Gala in New York City last night, wearing gowns, minis and even pantsuits that sparkled and stunned. And while a picture is worth one-thousand words, well, sometimes you need a video to show a little more. Check out the clip above to see Rihanna and Renée Zellweger flash some leg, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony give good face, and Beyoncé get some help walking up the stairs. Tell us: Which Met Gala look was your favorite?

Spotted: Blake Lively ditching her blonde locks for a new, reddish hue! The Gossip Girl star stunned at the TIME 100 Gala in New York City Tuesday night, but her gorgeous green Zuhair Murad dress wasn’t the only thing onlookers were talking about. The actress — the new face of Chanel handbags — arrived on the red carpet sporting strawberry-tinged locks. “It’s for the film Hick,” Lively told PEOPLE. “I thought [my character] needed red hair. It helps when you’re playing a role, when I don’t feel like myself. And I don’t really feel like myself with red hair.” Colorist Rona O’Connor transformed Lively’s locks about a month ago, however, the actress managed to fly under the radar following her last public appearance at CinemaCon in early April. So how does she like her new look? “I love it,” she gushed. “I feel like Ariel.” We love Lively’s new hue, but what do you think? Tell us: What do you think of Lively’s red hair? –Reporting by Jeffrey Slonim

WEIGH IN ON STAR HAIR CHANGES IN ‘WHAT’S HER BEST HAIR?’

With the royal wedding days away, white dresses are on everybody’s minds — none more so than the starlets who have stepped out in the wildly popular minidresses from Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2011 fashion show. The collection was actually modeled on a bride’s hope chest, the designers said at September’s show in Milan; this was evident in the pure hue and delicate lacy details on the dresses, which have become white-hot in Hollywood. Though each dress recalls the other, the starlets put their own spin on them, from Kate Bosworth‘s military jacket and pointy-toe boots, to Anne Hathaway‘s killer platforms and side-swept locks, to Blake Lively‘s chic two-tone cardigan and suede booties. Diane Kruger and LeAnn Rimes let the dress (and their killer legs) shine, adding only simple shoes and sweeping their hair up. All the stars looked sweet and sexy in their Dolce & Gabbana minis, but which was your favorite? –Alex Apatoff

SEE MORE IN ‘KATE MIDDLETON’S ROYAL WEDDING DRESS: 25 FANTASY PICKS’

There may not have been any walks down the wedding aisle this week (with the exception of Reese!), but there was an abundance of white dresses at CinemaCon in Last Vegas. Leading ladies Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Blake Lively all proved that you don’t have to be a bride to don a white dress — and you don’t have to wait until after Memorial Day, either! Lively rocked a Dolce & Gabbana lacy mini and topped it with a jacket to promote her new film, Green Lantern, at the event Wednesday night (she later swapped it for red). Meanwhile, Diaz flaunted her toned physique in a cotton waffle ribbon-strap dress from the spring/summer 2011 Victoria Beckham collection on Thursday, as she picked up an award for female star of the year. Pal Barrymore, who surprised her Charlie’s Angels costar by presenting her with her statuette on stage, wore an Akris white cotton silk long-sleeve dress from the line’s spring/summer 2011 collection, rounding out the bold and bright trend. Tell us: Would you wear a white dress out this weekend? –Kim Peiffer

VOTE ON SIMILAR STAR STYLES IN ‘FASHION FACEOFF’

Hot on the heels of the first of Chanel’s Mademoiselle handbag ads featuring Blake Lively, the famed fashion house has released another image from the campaign. This one features the young starlet perched on the infamous steps of the brand’s Parisian headquarters, her red, quilted baguette replaced by a sparkly, blue design. The striking continuity in the ads lies in the actress’ gaze, which is locked dead on with the viewer — or in this case, Chanel creative director, Karl Lagerfeld, who photographed the ads. It’s no surprise then, that Lively has revealed her admiration for Lagerfeld, telling WWD, “I have such a respect for fashion and such an appreciation for it that if there are people like Karl Lagerfeld out there designing, who am I?” We’ll break it down for you: You’re Blake Lively. In Chanel ads. And you look great! –Justine Harman

Courtesy Chanel

CATCH UP ON THE LATEST CELEBRITY AD CAMPAIGN NEWS

Mon Dieu! Chanel’s newest face, Gossip Girl star Blake Lively, is a (double!) vision in her new advertisement for the brand’s Mademoiselle handbags, released Monday. Shot by Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld in the company’s Parisian headquarters, the photos are the first in a series that will appear in April magazines. Lively’s new role was announced in January, when Lagerfeld called her “kind of an American dream girl.” The actress was humbled, saying the opportunity to front the campaign was more than a “dream come true.” After the photo shoot, an in-awe Lively whipped out her cell phone and shot her own picture — this one of Lagerfeld behind the lens, reports WWD. “I have such a respect for fashion and such an appreciation for it that if there are people like Karl Lagerfeld out there designing, who am I?” she told the publication. “I want to bow down to them and be a representative for them if they’ll have me.” Seems that adoration has paid off! Tell us: What do you think of Lively’s first Chanel photo? –Kate Hogan

SEE STAR ACCESSORIES IN ‘I REALLY LOVE MY …’